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

Select target paragraph3