Application of Finnish phlogopite to reduce radiocesium uptake by paddy rice

Field and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of coarse Finnish phlogopite application to reduce radiocesium uptake by paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.). The application of phlogopite was expected to reduce radiocesium uptake by crops through K supply and radiocesium retention. Three fields were set in Fukushima Prefecture, and coarse (mean particle size of 450 μm) phlogopite from Siilinjärvi (Finland) was applied at a rate of 5 t ha^-1. Paddy rice was cultivated for 2-4 successive years. In all fields, the average ¹³⁷Cs transfer factor (TF) of brown rice harvested from plots with added phlogopite was significantly lower than that of brown rice from plots without added phlogopite over the 2-4-year experiments. TF was decreased by up to 80% following phlogopite application, without an adverse effect on yield. Exchangeable K and soil solution K were higher in the soils with added phlogopite, suggesting K released from phlogopite reduced ¹³⁷Cs uptake by paddy rice. Moreover, in a pot cultivation experiment, even when 55% of the total K was removed from phlogopite prior to application, the TF in pots with phlogopite application was less than half of that in pots without added phlogopite. The results from the field study and the pot cultivation experiment suggested that the application of Finnish phlogopite is effective to reduce the TF of brown rice. Exchangeable K and tetraphenylborate-extractable-K (TPB-K) at rooting stage, and soil solution K at tillering and heading stages showed significant negative correlation with TF. TPB-K was significantly positively correlated with soil solution K at tillering stage and heading stage, whereas exchangeable K at rooting stage did not exhibit significant correlation with soil solution K at heading stage. The results suggest that TPB-K is more reliable than exchangeable K, which could facilitate as a basis of K fertilizer recommendation for radiocesium-contaminated fields.