Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 September 2011
A greenhouse pot culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of graded levels ofwaste mica (0, 10, 20 and 40 g kg-1) on reducing the radiocesium uptake byspinach (Spinacia olerecea L) and lettuce (Lactuca sativaL.) grown in 134Cs-contaminated (at 37 k Bq kg-1 soil)Inceptisols, Vertisols and Ultisols. The biomass yield, and potassium content and itsuptake by crops have been significantly improved by waste mica application. The cropsgrown in Vertisols recorded higher biomass yield, and K content and its uptake as comparedwith Inceptisols and Ultisols. The average 134Cs transfer factor valuesrecorded were : 0.21, 0.17 and 0.26 at the first cutting, 0.15, 0.12 and 0.28 at thesecond cutting and 0.07, 0.05 and 0.23 at the third cutting from Inceptisols, Vertisolsand Ultisols, respectively. Waste mica significantly suppressed radiocesium uptake, theeffect being more pronounced at 40 g mica kg-1soil. There exists an inverserelationship between the 134Cs transfer factors with plant potassium contentand also the K uptake by the crops