Estimation of soil–soil solution distribution coefficient of radiostrontium using soil properties

We propose a new approach for estimation of soil–soil solution distribution coefficient (Kd) of radiostrontium using some selected soil properties. We used 142 Japanese agricultural soil samples (35 Andosol, 25 Cambisol, 77 Fluvisol, and 5 others) for which Sr-Kd values had been determined by a batch sorption test and listed in our database. Spearman's rank correlation test was carried out to investigate correlations between Sr-Kd values and soil properties. Electrical conductivity and water soluble Ca had good correlations with Sr-Kd values for all soil groups. Then, we found a high correlation between the ratio of exchangeable Ca to Ca concentration in water soluble fraction and Sr-Kd values with correlation coefficient R=0.72. This pointed us toward a relatively easy way to estimate Sr-Kd values.