Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

A Method to Preserve Wetland Roots and Rhizospheres for Elemental Imaging
Published on: February 15, 2021
Uranium and trace elements in phosphate fertilizers--Saudi Arabia
1Physics Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Khater_ashraf@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Manufactured phosphate fertilizers and their agricultural applications are considerable sources of environmental pollution. In this study, composite samples of phosphate fertilizer (PF) of different physical forms (granular, G, and water soluble powder, L) were collected. The activity concentration of 238U in Bq kg(-1) was measured using gamma ray spectrometers, and the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead and selenium in mg kg(-1) were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometers (ICP-OES). The main aims of this study were to evaluate PF quality according to its physical form, determine manufacturers (local, L, or imported, I), and estimate the hazardous impacts of long-term phosphate fertilization. There was significant variation in the concentration of uranium and other elements in PF samples. In order to have globally normalized data, it is highly recommended to express the concentration of trace elements as per phosphorus mass instead of fertilizer mass. The annual addition of these elements to soil due to phosphate fertilization was calculated. The possible accumulation of added uranium and other trace elements due to fertilization in the subsurface soil layer and/or shallow underground water should be studied in the soil environment of Saudi Arabia.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
The Phosphorus Cycle
Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
Minerals
Sulfur Assimilation
Nuclear Transmutation

