The extractability of potassium and radiocaesium in soils developed from granite and sedimentary rock in Fukushima, Japan.

Potassium (K) and radiocaesium (RCs) were chemically extracted from soils derived from granite (G soils) and sedimentary rock (S soils) in Fukushima, Japan. The extractants employed were 1 M HNO3, concentrated HNO3, and HF + HClO4. As S soils contain a lower amount of trioctahedral 2:1 phyllosilicates than G soils, the RCs/K ratio was higher in S soils than in G soils with 1 M HNO3 extraction, indicating that the potential risk of soil-to-plant transfer of RCs is higher in S soils than in G soils. In conclusion, information about surface geology is important in predicting the spatial pattern of soil characteristics related to transferability of RCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]