We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Nonlinear transfer of elements from soil to plants: impact on radioecological modeling.
- Authors
Tuovinen, Tiina; Kolehmainen, Mikko; Roivainen, Päivi; Kumlin, Timo; Makkonen, Sari; Holopainen, Toini; Juutilainen, Jukka
- Abstract
In radioecology, transfer of radionuclides from soil to plants is typically described by a concentration ratio (CR), which assumes linearity of transfer with soil concentration. Nonlinear uptake is evidenced in many studies, but it is unclear how it should be taken into account in radioecological modeling. In this study, a conventional CR-based linear model, a nonlinear model derived from observed uptake into plants, and a new simple model based on the observation that nonlinear uptake leads to a practically constant concentration in plant tissues are compared. The three models were used to predict transfer of U, Ni and Pb into spruce needles. The predictions of the nonlinear and the new model were essentially similar. In contrast, plant radionuclide concentration was underestimated by the linear model when the total element concentration in soil was relatively low, but within the range commonly observed in nature. It is concluded that the linear modeling could easily be replaced by a new approach that more realistically reflects the true processes involved in the uptake of elements into plants. The new modeling approach does not increase the complexity of modeling in comparison with CR-based linear models, and data needed for model parameters (element concentrations) are widely available.
- Subjects
RADIOECOLOGY; RADIOISOTOPES; SOILS; PLANTS; PLANT cells &; tissues
- Publication
Radiation & Environmental Biophysics, 2016, Vol 55, Issue 3, p393
- ISSN
0301-634X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00411-016-0655-4