Radiocesium migration in the litter layer of different forest types in Fukushima, Japan

Cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) migration in the litter layer consists of various processes, such as input via throughfall, output via litter decomposition, and input from deeper layers via soil organism activity. We conducted litter bag experiments over 2 years (December 2014-November 2016) to quantify the inputs and outputs of ¹³⁷Cs in the litter layer in a Japanese cedar plantation (Cryptomeria japonica) and a mixed broadleaf forest dominated by Quercus serrata located 40 km northwest of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. The experiments included four conditions, combining contaminated and non-contaminated litter and deeper layer material, and the inputs and outputs were estimated from the combination of ¹³⁷Cs increases and decreases in the litter layer under each condition. The ¹³⁷Cs dynamics differed between the two forests. In the C. japonica forest, some ¹³⁷Cs input via throughfall remained in the litter layer, and downward ¹³⁷Cs flux passed through the litter layer was 0.42 (/year).Upward flux of ¹³⁷Cs from the deeper layer was very restricted, < 0.017 (/year). In the broadleaf forest, migration of ¹³⁷Cs in throughfall into deeper layers was restricted, downward ¹³⁷Cs flux was less than 0.003 (/year).Upward input of ¹³⁷Cs from the deeper layer was prominent, 0.037 (/year). ¹³⁷Cs output via litter decomposition was observed in both forests. The flux in the C. japonica forest was slower than that in the broadleaf forest, 0.12 and 0.15 (/year), respectively.