The mission of the Upland Crops Production Group is to mitigate the transfer of radioactive cesium (RCs) from soil to upland crops, targeting soybean, buckwheat, wheat and fruit trees. Upland crops such as soybean and buckwheat accumulate relatively higher amount of RCs compared to paddy rice. It is also known that high concentration of RCs is recorded in dried persimmons occasionally. So we are trying to develop the technology to reduce absorption of RCs and to clarify the mechanism of RCs absorption.
Until now, we showed that the absorption of RCs is decreased in soybean and buckwheat by the increment of soil potassium concentration (soil exchangeable potassium). We have also identified several promising varieties of wheat and soybean, which do not absorb much RCs from soil.
In the future, we will determine the minimum amount of potassium amendment to reduce RCs absorption of upland crops, clarify the mechanism of RCs absorption, and develop convenient cultivation technologies for farmers.
Major analytical equipment for radio cesium determination
(Germanium semiconductor detector)
