H. RIEKERK and S, P. GESSEL

1365

Toble 1. Rates of application of ®P, ®®Rb, and ™Ca
—

Spring
mCifin2 ‘Yotal mCi
.
™
wey

0.018
0.017
0.009

12
i0
6

1963

Fall
mCifin.2 ‘Fotal mCi
0.016
0.023
0.010

«et elements is given in the tables and
iv." as parts per million (ppm) and expresses
tw “caction of the radionuclide recovered in a
wr This can be converted to per cent by
tanne by 10,000,
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Talc 1 presents information concerning the
umf application of the tracers. Larger
uw. nts have been applied during [964 because
"*'- emphasis on the measurement of uptake

mGifin.2 ‘Votal mCi
0.056

17
25
is!

1964

Spring

O.VEL
0.018

Fall

mCifin.2 Total mCi

102

0.056

200
32

100

O11!
0.017

202
30

radioactivity after subtraction of leaching
losses. Table 2 presents the totals leached during
the various periods of sampling.
The ratios between the amounts released by

the forest floor and the surface soil during similar
periods of leaching indicate the degree of
retention in the surface soil.

Phosphorus and

rubidium appearto be retained more thancal-

cium. For phosphorus this might be related to

the high iron content of the soil as indicated by

the presence of iron concretions throughout the

i rrns and subsequent return to the soil with

surface soil. A potassium deficiency of trees in

Tc count data have been corrected for decay

fixation in the soil," and very likely also
rubidium. Calcium has also been reported to
move throughthe soil at a low rate.
Some variation between the levels of total

» etall and rainwash.

2 background radiation due to fallout prodwx The corrected data were converted to
"per rain/ml, and to ppm of the remaining

the general areca mayindicate a high potassium

Table 2. Parts per million* of =P, 88Rb and Ca released by the forest floor and surface soil

‘t'r of application

Spring
ppm
days

1963

Fall
ppm
days

XP Torest floor
Surface sil
Ratio

149,000
31
4860

4
4

23,300
26
900

48
72

"Xh Forest floor
Surface soil
Surface soil
Ratio

18,800
5
—
3750

4
4
—
—

13,400
19
—
710

135
98
—
—

“C3 Forest floor
Forest floor
Surface-soil
Surface soil
Surface soil

572
41,200
2
2
—~

4
454
4
454

662
1020
22
49
—

72
251
72
251

Surface soil

Ratio.
Ratio

286
20,500

* Parts per million x [0-4 = per cent.

30
82

Average
ratiof

Spring
ppm
days

1964

2800

37,200
0
—

78
78

38,200
4721
8

133
133

2200

—
_—
—_
—

—_
—_
—_

99
8
!
12-99

133
133
133

848
16,400
0
2080
0

78
290
78
320

8650
—_—
27
—
th

132

731

320

—

.

160

—
8-22

* Partial application to the mineral soi! makes direct comparisons invalid for 1964 data.
&

Fall
ppm
days

320-790
—

=«132
132

Select target paragraph3