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Published on: August 22, 2014
Fertilizer P-derived uranium continues to accumulate at Rothamsted long-term experiments
1Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES) - Soil Science and Soil Ecology, University of Bonn, Germany; Institute of Bio and Geosciences, IBG-3: Agrosphere, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
The Science of the Total Environment
|January 18, 2022
Summary
Phosphorus fertilizers continue to add uranium to agricultural soils, with accumulation rates remaining constant over 130 years. Global data show varying uranium input from fertilizers, suggesting a need to re-evaluate regulatory limits.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Soil Science
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Phosphorus (P) fertilizers are a significant source of trace elements, including uranium (U), in agricultural soils.
- Fertilizer-derived U accumulation was first documented in Rothamsted Research in 1979.
- Long-term agricultural practices contribute to the persistent buildup of U in topsoil.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term accumulation of fertilizer-derived U in agricultural topsoil (0-23 cm) from 1876 to the 2010s.
- To assess the global rate of U accumulation from mineral P fertilizers in agricultural systems.
- To provide data for re-evaluating regulatory limits for U input from P fertilization.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of topsoil samples from Rothamsted Research (Broadbalk and Park Grass) spanning over 130 years.
- Compilation and analysis of existing literature data from 36 experimental trials across 11 countries.
- Calculation of U accumulation rates and comparison with global averages.
Main Results:
- Total U accumulation rates in Rothamsted topsoil ranged from 2.8 to 6.1 μg U kg-1 yr-1, consistent with rates from 40 years prior.
- The proportion of fertilizer-derived U in the plant-available fraction did not significantly increase over 130 years.
- Global mean U accumulation from P fertilizers is estimated at 0.85 μg U kg-1 soil per kg P ha-1 annually, with Rothamsted rates being relatively lower.
Conclusions:
- Uranium accumulation from P fertilizers is an ongoing and global issue in agricultural systems.
- While plant-available U has not significantly increased, the total U load persists.
- Current regulatory limits and acceptable U input levels from P fertilization warrant re-evaluation.
