Influence of fertilizing on the 137Cs soil–plant transfer in a spruce forest of Southern Germany

Fertilization with 2.5 t/ha limestone: (83% CaCO3, 8% MgO, 6% K2O, 3% P2O5) reduces the 137Cs transfer from spruce forest soil into plants like fern (Dryopteris carthusiana) and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) by a factor of 2–5 during at least 11 years as measured by the aggregated transfer factor Tag. In 1997 and 2006 these results were confirmed by additional measurements of the 137Cs transfer factor TF, related to the root zone (Oh horizon), which were explained by the selective sorption of 137Cs in the root zone by measurements of the Radiocaesium Interception Potential (RIP) in fertilized (RIP > 179 meq/kg) and non-fertilized soils (RIP < 74 meq/kg).