No abstract available

No abstract available

[en] Studies on dynamics of redistribution of radionuclides through of profile of the different soils on uncultivated agricultural lands of Belarus during the 1986-1995 period show that vertical migration occurs with low rate. In arable soils the radionuclides are distributed in comparatively uniform way through the whole depth of the 25-30 cm cultivated layer. Investigations on migration of radionuclides with wind erosion on the drained series of wet sandy and peat soils and water erosion on sloping lands show that one should take into consideration the secondary contamination of soils while forecasting a possible accumulation of radionuclides in farm products

[en] Potatoes is one of the basis food products of man diet, especially in country area. Recent research has shown that ¹³⁷Cs content in potato tubers does not exceed the permissible level at the potato growing on radioactive contaminated land in Belarus. However up to 240-300 kg of potatoes is consumed per man during year and potato yield determines significant share of the internal dose of radiation. Moreover, extra potato yield sold on market is forming the essential part of the rural family budget. Therefore the reducing of ¹³⁷Cs content in potatoes and increasing of potato yield could be allowed to improve of quality life of rural inhabitants on contaminated areas. The application of protection measures on private plots are restricted by lack of the knowledge and financial deficit. The involvement of rural inhabitants in processes of self-rehabilitation and self-development could be a way to improve the quality life on radioactive contaminated territory There is strong motivation for inhabitants to increase the yield and to reduce the radionuclide concentration in potatoes. How to develop the conditions for the sustainable potato production by private producers on affected land? There are several factors to consider. Firstly, the rural inhabitants should be actively involved as initiators to improve their quality life. Secondly, the potato technology should be adopted to the local territory and tested by producers on radiological and economic efficiency. Thirdly, the common village initiatives should be developed for supplying by new varieties of seeds and fertilizers, selling of yield, consulting, crediting etc. The step-by-step solution of described strategy could allow improving and stabilizing the potato production by rural community. The training of rural people as an initial step was realized to transfer to the inhabitants the practical skills that can be used in their day-to-day life within framework of 'ETHOS-II' project. The experimental potato technology was developed and tested by stakeholders on 130 plots of Stolyn and Slavgorod districts during 2001-2003. The results have shown that potato yield in experiment was increased up to 35 t ha^-1 or in 1.6 times to the control with usual technology. The 1 euro invested to the potato experiment provided 1.5-2.0 euros of net return on the average. The careful testing of technology by some participants allowed to reduce the ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr accumulation in potatoes up to 50-70% and the nitrate concentration in 1.5-2.6 times to the control. Presumably the ⁹⁰Sr concentration on plots contaminated by radionuclide and nitrate concentration in tuber should be permanently controlled. (author)

No abstract available

[en] This paper is intended to review existing data on the efficiency and acceptability of agricultural countermeasures for reducing of internal exposures introduced by consumption of foodstuff produced on land contaminated by ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr. Currently, there are strongly reduced state budget resources for mitigating the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. No more than 50% of the required agricultural protective measures could be financed in the last years. There is an increased need for an optimal use of available resources. New efforts are needed to identify sustainable ways to make use of the most affected areas that reflect the radiation hazard, but also revive the economic potential for the benefit of the community. For this reason the practical complex assessment and justifying of countermeasure application in the most contaminated rural districts of Belarus are the main directions of rehabilitation activity to ensure the radiation protection of people for long term after Chernobyl accident. Countermeasures have to lead to the profitable or self-sufficient production of harvests with low radionuclide contamination. The complex of the effective countermeasures has been worked out and implemented mostly in public sector of agriculture. However, particular attention must be given to the production of private farms of several hundred settlements, where samples of milk still contain radionuclides of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr in excess relative to the established limits

[en] Reducing the risk of people internal irradiation based on decreasing of radionuclide concentration in consumed food stuff is a main objective for justified application of the countermeasures on contaminated agricultural land at the last period after Chernobyl radioactive fallout. Liming, fertilizers and manure application are the most widespread, applicable and effective countermeasures to restrict the soil-to-plant radionuclide transfer. Efficiency of the fertilization depends on radionuclide deposition, texture and chemical properties of the soils, biological characteristics of plants and type of the fertilizers. The selection of the types of agro-chemical treatments should be considered with combined economical and radiological justification. Countermeasures treatments have to lead to the profitable or self-sufficient production of extra yield with low radionuclide contamination. As objective of this work, mentioned is the assessment of the different types of agro-chemical countermeasures on agricultural land contaminated by ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr based on radiological economical justification. The efficiency of K fertilizer on different K supply soils, the efficiency of balanced fertilization at the different rates of manure utilization and the efficiency of liming and K fertilizer rates are presented. In conclusion, the soil fertility improvement based on balanced fertilization and liming to achieve the optimal agro-chemical properties allow significantly (up to 2-4 times) reduce the concentration of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr in crop production with the simultaneous yield increase. The agro-chemical countermeasures targeted for balanced plant nutrition should have priority, on the assumption of providing the profitable or self-sufficient production of extra yield to pay for expenses. The profitability of agricultural production is a main criterion for justification of countermeasure application in long-term period after Chernobyl accident

[en] The direct application of finely ground rock phosphate (RP) imported from Russia has been suggested as an alternative to the almost twice more expensive water-soluble monoammonium phosphate (MAP) on acid (moderately limed) Sod-podzolic and peat soils. A pot experiment was conducted in 1997-1998 for a comparative evaluation of P availability from RP and MAP using the ³²P isotope dilution technique. The lupine was grown on Sod-podzolic silty clay loam soil with pH 6.0 and a medium level of available P. Ryegrass plants were grown on peat soil with pH 4.9 and a low level of native soil P fertility. Application of RP and MAP at a rate of 40 mg P/kg soil supplied similar moderate mount of P to lupine plants. The Pdff values, i.e. the fractions of P in the plants derived from the applied RP and MAP, were 7.4 and 8.4%, respectively. The application of the same P fertilizers to the peat soil had different effects on P nutrition of ryegrass plants. The Pdff values were 14.9% for RP and 22.1% for MAP. It may be concluded that for most annual crops water-soluble P forms such as MAP should be preferred. Direct application of RP is recommended for plants with an adequate rhizosphere ability to utilize P, such as lupine on acid Sod-podzolic silty clay loam soils (pH<6.0). Considering cost differences of the P fertilizers, RP application on acid peat soil (pH<5.0) may be reasonable for major improvement of radionuclide-contaminated grassland. The results of the second pot experiment suggested that direct application of RP may be more effective than the use of water-soluble P fertilizers in reducing the plant uptake of ¹³⁷Cs on contaminated, moderately limed Sod-podzolic silty clay loam and peat soils. These soils are widely spread in the radioactive contaminated area of Belarus after the Chernobyl accident. Direct application of RP may be one of the effective countermeasures for the decrease of ¹³⁷Cs transfer from the contaminated acid soils to crop production. (author)

[en] The direct application of finely ground rock phosphate (RP) imported from Russia has been suggested as an alternative to the almost twice more expensive water-soluble monoammonium phosphate (MAP) on acid (moderately limed) Sod-podzolic and peat soils. A pot experiment was conducted in 1997-1998 for a comparative evaluation of P availability from RP and MAP using the ³²P isotope dilution technique. The lupine was grown on Sod-podzolic silty clay loam soil with pH 6.0 and a medium level of available P. Ryegrass plants were grown on peat soil with pH 4.9 and a low level of native soil P fertility. Application of RP and MAP at a rate of 40 mg P/kg soil supplied similar moderate mount of P to lupine plants. The Pdff values, i.e. the fractions of P in the plants derived from the applied RP and MAP, were 7.4 and 8.4%, respectively. The application of the same P fertilizers to the peat soil had different effects on P nutrition of ryegrass plants. The Pdff values were 14.9% for RP and 22.1% for MAP. It may be concluded that for most annual crops water-soluble P forms such as MAP should be preferred. Direct application of RP is recommended for plants with an adequate rhizosphere ability to utilize P, such as lupine on acid Sod-podzolic silty clay loam soils (pH<6.0). Considering cost differences of the P fertilizers, RP application on acid peat soil (pH<5.0) may be reasonable for major improvement of radionuclide-contaminated grassland. The results of the second pot experiment suggested that direct application of RP may be more effective than the use of water-soluble P fertilizers in reducing the plant uptake of ¹³⁷Cs on contaminated, moderately limed Sod-podzolic silty clay loam and peat soils. These soils are widely spread in the radioactive contaminated area of Belarus after the Chernobyl accident. Direct application of RP may be one of the effective countermeasures for the decrease of ¹³⁷Cs transfer from the contaminated acid soils to crop production. (author)

[en] The involvement of rural inhabitants in processes of self-rehabilitation and self-development could be considered as a way to improve the quality life on radioactive contaminated territory after Chernobyl accident. The results of the application of experimental technology for potato cultivation on radioactive contaminated land developed by participants in cooperation with scientists are described. The potato yield in experiment was higher on 13-27 t.ha^-1 or in 1.6 times than on control plots. The ¹³⁷Cs content in potatoes in experiment was lower on 20-30% than in control plots and lower than republican permissible level of radionuclide content. The 1 EURO invested to the potato experiment provided 2.0 EURO of net return. Therefore the management of yield and radiological quality of potatoes cultivated on private contaminated plots allowed to reduce of irradiation dose on rural inhabitants and to increase the outcome of their family. (orig.)