A study on the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated soils in Srirangam (Tamil Nadu, India)
Phosphate fertilizers are enriched with 238U during its production from phosphate rocks. Since, application of phosphate fertilizers in modern agriculture is ever on the increase, the present study investigated the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated (fertilize...
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doaj-25a539b26f9b4501ab29705e869f0c952020-11-25T01:40:36ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences1687-85072014-10-0174463471A study on the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated soils in Srirangam (Tamil Nadu, India)P. Shahul Hameed0G. Sankaran Pillai1R. Mathiyarasu2Environmental Research Centre, J.J. College of Engineering and Technology, Tiruchirappalli 620 009, Tamil Nadu, India; Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 9894112582 (mobile).Environmental Research Centre, J.J. College of Engineering and Technology, Tiruchirappalli 620 009, Tamil Nadu, IndiaRadiological Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, Tamil Nadu, IndiaPhosphate fertilizers are enriched with 238U during its production from phosphate rocks. Since, application of phosphate fertilizers in modern agriculture is ever on the increase, the present study investigated the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated (fertilized) soils as against virgin soils. Thirty soil samples each from cultivated fields and virgin fields were collected from Srirangam taluk and analyzed for the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K employing gamma ray spectrometry. Similar analysis was also undertaken in commonly used phosphate fertilizers. Among the phosphate fertilizers analyzed single super phosphate (396.3 Bq/kg) and triple super phosphate (284.2 Bq/kg) registered higher level of 238U. The mean activity level of 238U in cultivated soil (8.4 Bq/kg) was 25% higher than that of virgin soil (6.8 Bq/kg), while the mean 232Th and 40K activities in cultivated soil (98.4 Bq/kg & 436 Bq/kg) were elevated by 12.4% and 4% respectively as compared to virgin soil (87.5 Bq/kg & 419 Bq/kg). The mean radium equivalent (Raeq) value for virgin and cultivated soil samples was found to be 164.5 Bq/kg and 181.7 Bq/kg respectively. It is evident that the application of phosphate fertilizers elevated 238U level of the soil. However, the mean Raeq value for soil samples is well below the permissible limit of 370 Bq/kg and hence cultivated soils do not pose any radiological risk. Keywords: Phosphate fertilizers, Gamma ray spectrometry, Uranium activity, Srirangam talukhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687850714000879 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
P. Shahul Hameed G. Sankaran Pillai R. Mathiyarasu |
spellingShingle |
P. Shahul Hameed G. Sankaran Pillai R. Mathiyarasu A study on the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated soils in Srirangam (Tamil Nadu, India) Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences |
author_facet |
P. Shahul Hameed G. Sankaran Pillai R. Mathiyarasu |
author_sort |
P. Shahul Hameed |
title |
A study on the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated soils in Srirangam (Tamil Nadu, India) |
title_short |
A study on the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated soils in Srirangam (Tamil Nadu, India) |
title_full |
A study on the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated soils in Srirangam (Tamil Nadu, India) |
title_fullStr |
A study on the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated soils in Srirangam (Tamil Nadu, India) |
title_full_unstemmed |
A study on the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated soils in Srirangam (Tamil Nadu, India) |
title_sort |
study on the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated soils in srirangam (tamil nadu, india) |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
series |
Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences |
issn |
1687-8507 |
publishDate |
2014-10-01 |
description |
Phosphate fertilizers are enriched with 238U during its production from phosphate rocks. Since, application of phosphate fertilizers in modern agriculture is ever on the increase, the present study investigated the impact of phosphate fertilizers on the radioactivity profile of cultivated (fertilized) soils as against virgin soils. Thirty soil samples each from cultivated fields and virgin fields were collected from Srirangam taluk and analyzed for the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K employing gamma ray spectrometry. Similar analysis was also undertaken in commonly used phosphate fertilizers. Among the phosphate fertilizers analyzed single super phosphate (396.3 Bq/kg) and triple super phosphate (284.2 Bq/kg) registered higher level of 238U. The mean activity level of 238U in cultivated soil (8.4 Bq/kg) was 25% higher than that of virgin soil (6.8 Bq/kg), while the mean 232Th and 40K activities in cultivated soil (98.4 Bq/kg & 436 Bq/kg) were elevated by 12.4% and 4% respectively as compared to virgin soil (87.5 Bq/kg & 419 Bq/kg). The mean radium equivalent (Raeq) value for virgin and cultivated soil samples was found to be 164.5 Bq/kg and 181.7 Bq/kg respectively. It is evident that the application of phosphate fertilizers elevated 238U level of the soil. However, the mean Raeq value for soil samples is well below the permissible limit of 370 Bq/kg and hence cultivated soils do not pose any radiological risk. Keywords: Phosphate fertilizers, Gamma ray spectrometry, Uranium activity, Srirangam taluk |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687850714000879 |
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