Potassium applications reduced cesium uptake and altered strontium translocation in soybean plants

After the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant accident in 2011, radioactive cesium (RCs) was released greater concentrations than strontium (RSr) surrounding environment. Most of countermeasures were developed to mitigate RCs transfer from soil plants. However, avoid what has happened after Chernobyl and Mayak accidents, preventing RSr plants should be a priority. Although application potassium (K) fertilizers is most effective method for agricultural crops absorbing contaminated fields, this implementation increases cost labor requirements. Considering preparedness nuclear it remains unclear how countermeasure will affected if are simultaneously. We aimed explore effect K applications on (Cs) (Sr) uptake their interaction with correlation other elements soybean soil. The field experiments conducted Prefecture, Japan, using different (i.e., no, normal, high applications). dry weight mineral K, Cs, Sr, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N) concentration exchangeable (ExK), Cs (ExCs), Sr (ExSr), Ca (ExCa), Mg (ExMg), NH4+ (ammonium), NO3- (nitrate) soils evaluated. This study revealed that reduced Ca, but did not affect ExSr, ExCa, ExMg change Sr. On hand, plant especially at later growth stage, which indicates re-translocation negatively regulated by concentration.