Relationships of 137Cs inventory with magnetic measures of calcareous soils of hilly region in Iran

► Simple linear regression mass magnetic susceptibility (χL) explained only 33.64 % of Cs-137 variability. ► Non-linear regression model explained 45% of variability in Cs-137 in the transects studied. ► Magnetic Susceptibility measures could not directly be used in calcareous soils to evaluate soil redistribution. ► Magnetic characteristics as an alternative technique instead of Cs-137 in calcareous soils should be further investigated.