Transfer factors of 134Cs to crops from Typic Haplustept under tropical region as influenced by potassium application

Under greenhouse condition a pot culture investigation was carried out using Inceptisol soil (Typic Haplustept) contaminating with 134Cs @ 1 μCi kg−1 soil to study the transfer factor to Mustard, Gram, Spinach and Wheat crops as influenced by potassium application (0, 27.3, 54.6 and 81.9 mg K kg−1 soil). Potassium application in general improved the biomass, grain yield and also the potassium concentration in all the crops. Irrespective of the crops, 134Cs transfer factor to straw and grain was highest in control treatment (no K addition) and found to decrease significantly with increase in K application levels. The 134Cs uptake was highest in Spinach followed by Mustard, Gram and Wheat crops. The weighted transfer factor values (straw plus grain) to Spinach, Mustard, and Gram were observed to be 5.54, 4.38 and 2.20 times higher as compared to Wheat crop.