137Cs deposition and vertical migration in soils from Argentina

J. JURI AYUB, M. RIZZOTTO, J. P. TOSO, H. VELASCO

Viena, Austria

Conferencia; International Conference on Environmental Radioactivity; 2007

IAEA

The spatial distribution and vertical migration of global fallout 137Cs were studied in soils from Argentina. The sampling area is located in natural and semi-natural grassland in San Luis Province (33º 40`10`` S, 65º 23` 27`` W). This area is positioned within National Institute of  Agropecuary Technology (INTA, abbreviations in spanish) of Argentinean National Government. Two sites under field condition with undisturbed soil at least in the last four decades were selected. The dominant vegetation in these areas consists of herbaceous gramineous used for feeding of cattle. The soils were Sandy type, with 4% clay content. In each site 3 or 4 sampling point were made. Soil profiles were sampled down from 0 to 25 cm depth, in 5 cm-sliced , in each sampling point. Soil samples were taken cutting profile, with palette knife. Samples were dried and crushed to pass through a 2 mm sieve and homogenized. 137Cs activity concentration was determined by gamma spectrometry by Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear.