Natural radioactivity of forest landscape soils

Abstract

The article discusses the study of the content of natural radionuclides (40К, 226Ra, 228Th) in ordinary chernozems of the Kamennaya Steppe reserve. The studies were carried out in soils not subject to any anthropogenic impact under the forest belt, as well as in the mowed and unmowed fallow. The development of nuclear energy, the widespread use of radioactive sources in industry, medicine, and agriculture has led to an increase in the content of not only artificial, but also natural radionuclides. It was revealed that the accumulation of natural radionuclides is determined by the organic matter of soils. In the chernozems under the forest belt, with the highest carbon content of organic compounds, a slightly larger amount of natural radionuclides (40К, 226Ra, 228Th) is noted. This phenomenon occurs due to selective complex formation with soil organic ligands, which enrich the studied soils. The highest coefficient of variation is typical for 226Ra, which indicates the inhomogeneity of the activity of the radionuclide in space. 40К and 228Th are characterized by lower values of this indicator. Activity data radionuclides are more uniformly distributed in space. The results obtained are recommended to be used in monitoring studies. In order to prevent soil contamination with radionuclides.