Soil radiocesium distribution in rice fields disturbed by farming process after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

► The Fukushima nuclear accident caused wide soil radionuclide contamination in Japan. ► This study investigated radiocesium distribution in rice fields in Niigata area. ► The radiocesium concentrations in the rice soil samples were ~ 300 Bq (kg dry soil)− 1. ► Radiocesium was concentrated in the upper layers, although soil was disturbed by rice farming process. ► The planar distribution pattern near the water inlet suggested influx of radiocesium by irrigation.