BIKINI EXCAVATIONEXPERIMENT
The object of this experiment
is to demonstrate
removal on reducing the concentrations
the effectiveness
of soil
of 137CS in the soil, and thus plants,
at Bikini Island and whether crops could be grown on the remaining nutrient
deficient
soil.
A 1.5 acre plot was cleared of all trees and excavated
to 40 cm depth.
A con-
trol plot of the same size, where only trees were removed and no excavation
occurred,
In situ
tion.
was established
immediately adjacent.to
gamma spectroscopy measurements
the excavation
were made prior and subsequent to excava-
Soil profiles were also taken before and after excavation.
different
site.
About 30
plant species were plaited in the excavation and control plots.
All plants in the excavation
the exception
plot received micro-nutrients
and N, P, K, with
of one row of various plants which received only micro-nutrients.
All plants were carefully irrigated and fertilized
as required.
The piants generally did very well with this careful attention to nutrient and
water supply.
The unfertilized
row is vastly inferior to the fertilized rows.
Thus, plants can be grown on the nutrient deficient
soil if adequate nutrient
and water are applied correctly.
This requires a significant commitment for a
long period of time if excavation
is the selected cleanup option.
The in situ gamma measurements
and the analysis
and control plots show a significant decrease
that of Eneu Island.
22
of samples from the excavation
in 137CS to levels at or below