• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.1781-1795
• /
• 2024

This study investigated the levels of radioactivity in soil surrounding a phosphate fertilizer factory in Egypt, aiming to assess potential risks to the population exposed to radiation. Concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were measured in soil samples collected from two subsites: one near the factory (subsite 1) and another further away (subsite 2). Two different systems were used for measuring radioactivity, a high-purity gamma ray spectroscopy system with an HPGe detector for gamma-emitting isotopes and a CR-39 solid nuclear track detector for alpha-emitting radon gas. Subsite 1, located close to the factory, displayed significantly elevated levels of ²²⁶Ra compared to global background levels (514 and 456 Bq/kg vs. 35 Bq/kg). Additionally, the concentrations of ²³⁸U (241.06 Bq/kg vs. global average 35 Bq/kg), ²³²Th (16.15 Bq/kg vs. global average 30 Bq/kg), and ⁴⁰K (146.36 Bq/kg vs. global average 400 Bq/kg) were all above global averages. Furthermore, a high concentration of radon gas (337.06 μSv/y) was measured at subsite 1. The strong positive correlation observed between ²²⁶Ra and ²³⁸U (0.96256) provides further evidence of potentially elevated radioactivity levels near the factory. In contrast, subsite 2, situated farther from the factory, exhibited natural radioactive background levels within international limits. Quantitative analysis revealed that gamma ray absorbed doses for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th exceeded global averages in some samples. Specifically, ²²⁶Ra doses ranged from 7.8 to 46.26 ppm (exceeding the 20 ppm global average in some cases), and ²³²Th doses ranged from 1.98 to 9.14 ppm (exceeding the 10 ppm global average in some cases). The concentration of ⁴⁰K, however, remained within the global range (0.07%-0.69 %). The observed imbalances in the ratios of Th/U (0.17-0.24 Bq/kg and 0.73-0.24 ppm) and U/Ra (0.81-0.73 Bq/kg and 0.73-0.17 ppm), both of which are significantly lower than their respective global averages of 4 and 2.4, point towards the presence of fertilizer-derived contamination. This conclusion is further supported by the high phosphate concentrations detected in the samples. Overall, this study suggests that radioactive contamination near the phosphate fertilizer factory significantly exceeds global background levels and international limits in some cases. This raises concerns about potential risks posed to surrounding agricultural land and crops.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.384-390
• /
• 2003

Removal of phosphate from soil by leaching, runoff, and plant uptake is strongly influenced by the content and absorption characteristics of P in soil. In this study the relationships between water soluble phosphate and phosphate retention capacity of the soil was investigated. Water soluble and available phosphate, and phosphate absorption characteristics of 35 paddy soils were measured during incubation at $25^{\circ}C$. Water soluble phosphate content was highly correlated with available phosphate content, phosphorus absorption capacity (PAC), and phosphate absorbed (PS) in air-dried and wet soils. The most significant relationship was found between water soluble phosphate and the ratio of available phosphate and phosphate sorbed, and the relationship $0.01M\;CaCl_2-P=0.0828$ (Av. $P_2O_5/PS$)+0.0374 could be suggested for the estimation of water soluble phosphate from soil phosphorus characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.405-411
• /
• 2007

This study was carried out to measure insoluble phosphorus fractions content fixed in different soil type and isolate a superior phosphate solublizing bacteria(PSB) producing free phosphate in citrus orchard soil. Distribution of insoluble phosphate fraction ordered Al-P>Ca-P>Fe-P in the investigated citrus orchards. Insoluble phosphate fraction such as Al-P, Ca-P, Fe-P were higher in volcanic ash than in non-volcanic ash soil. A PSB with high holo zone in PDA-P medium isolated from citrus orchard soil. This strain identificated by MIDI system as Bacillus sphaericus. The optimum growth of pH and temperature were at 4~5, $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. When Bacillus sphaericus cultured at $25^{\circ}C$, 150 rpm condition in LB broth medium included different phosphate. Bacillus sphaericus produced free phosphate in the culture broth medium from tricalcium-phosphate(207.0 ppm), aluminium phosphate(324.5 ppm) and hydroxyapatite(334.8 ppm) and Phosphatase activity of Bacillus sphaericus was higher at $35^{\circ}C$ culture condition than that of $25^{\circ}C$. Two type preparation inoculated Bacillus sphaericus made with carrier materials such as Bentonite, $CaCO_3$, Sodium alginate. Density of PSB in this preparation conserved at $10^5c.f.u.\;g^{-1}$ level during storage in different temperature condition for 7 month. It also showed that free phosphate produced at PDA-P medium.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.677-681
• /
• 2016

Excessive nitrogen fertilization influences crop yields and quality as well as environmental pollution. In this study, yields, nitrogen use efficiency and free sugar contents of burdock (Arctium lappa L.) were evaluated at different levels of nitrogen fertilization. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at 5 levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200%) based on the conventional fertilization ($N=230kg\;ha^{-1}$), and phosphate and potassium fertilizer were treated by conventional P and K fertilization ($P_2O_5-K_2O=140-210kg\;ha^{-1}$) in all plots. The root yields of burdock were the highest in N 100~150% treatment plots. Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen recovery decreased from over N 150% treatment. Nitrogen uptake of root was greater than that of shoot in N 50~200% treatments. Fructose contents in root were inversely proportional to the level of nitrogen fertilization. As considering nitrogen recovery and root quality, economical burdock yield was obtained in N $230kg\;ha^{-1}$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.26-36
• /
• 1979

Through several trials that has done for making the fertilizing-counter plan on the soil improving species, some results have been got as follows; 1. In the non-phosphorus dressing plots soil improving species have very poor survial ratio and show us to be died step by step. It may be resons that root can not make the nodule in case of non-phosphorus dressing and so tree could not absorb the nitrogen nutrient fixed by the nodule. And root competition with the weedy speces for utilizing the nutrient and oxygen in the soil could be reasons when planting in the heavy weedy rooting site. 2. Triple super phosphate, Fused Mg Phosphate and Fused super phosphate have showed the remarkable effects on the growth of soil improving species within 3rd year after planting. But Koreaan tablet fertilizer(9-12-4) for forest purpose have reacted considerably lower effect in comparision with the above powder and grain type phosphorous fertilizer. 3. In case of tablet type fertilizer tree root will have very little phosphorus absorbing surface because phosphorus can be utilized only from the tablet surface and root can not penetrate into the tablet. This my be reson to show the poor dressing reaction of tablet fertilizer but tablet fertilizer has a possibility to be utilized during long years as a sympton in photo 6. So tablet fertilizer can have a recommendation to dress much fertilizer at p]anting year and then tree root can get much more chance for absorbing the phosphorus that could keep the high survival and for utilizing it during many years without after dressing. 4. The granurar and powder type phosphate can develop the dense root mat like photo 8 because of giving the large surface for absorbing the phosphorus and weedy root can approch to the nodule for taking the nitrogen element. So this type seems to present better effect than tablet type to control the soil movement, stem weight as 200g per meter(l meter long${\times}$0.1m width). When added the lime any effect could not be found and rather give the negative effect. So Lespedeza seed sowing and phosphorus dressing system seems us to be very reasonable method for covering the raw material of basket making, fodder and fuel wood supply. 7. Fused Mg phosphate and Fused super phosphate are good fertilizer to the soil improving species and dressing more than 30g per seedling can be recommendable amount. 5. In the unproductive and dry soil with phosphorus fertilizer Robinia pseudoacacia and Alnus firnui can grow more than 2.3m in height at 3rd year and Alnus inokumae have the rapid height growth that is more than 1.8m at 2nd year. Depending on the growth situation like the above example minirotated management has possibilities and rapid covering of erosed land can be done with the soil improving species and phosphorus fertilizer. 6. In the Lespedeza sowing plot with 40g Fused Mg phosphate dressing per meter in the eroded and unproductive forest soil Lespedeza have completely covered this poor land and produced the green.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2011

A strain of phosphate solubilizing bacterium was isolated from rhizosphere and identified as Burkholderia sp. by 16S-rRNA gene sequence analyses. The bacterium was found to release gluconic acid and the solubilization of hydroxyapatite in the liquid medium by a significant drop in pH to 3.7 from an initial pH 7.0. The soluble-P concentration continuously increased during the incubation periods and the total amount of soluble P released in culture filtrate was detected at 990 mg $L^{-1}$ after 10 days of inoculation. Most promoted maize growth was found in the standard NPK (240-120-120 kg $ha^{-1}$) soil inoculation with Burkholderia sp. (Twenty milliliters/plant, 106 CFU) and also in the absence of Burkholderia sp. inoculation, the soil amended with only 2/3 levels of P gave significant higher plant yield compared to 1/3 levels of P or without P supplementation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.482-486
• /
• 2013

Assessment of nutrient balance in region unit is important to make a decision on nutrient management in agriculture. In this study, the nutrient demand in arable land and nutrient supply from livestock manure and chemical fertilizer were estimated from pig-concentrated areas. Three regions (H, I and J) were selected on the basis of pig numbers per unit area of arable land. In H and I regions, nitrogen amount from pig manure occupied about 50% of total livestock manure. Nutrient supply was three times higher compared to the nutrient demand in each of 3 regions. Soil available phosphate of higher pig-populated area in regional unit was higher than less populated livestock area. Therefore, livestock manure-derived regional management and monitoring of soil nutrient contents is necessary for the minimization and improvement of nutrient surplus.

• Plant Resources
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.181-186
• /
• 2004

To find out the optimum fertilizer level for high yielding variety, Paldanghomil, experiment was conducted with 15 compositions of fertilizer levels at the experiment field of forage rye in Sunchon National University from Sep. 1998 to Aug. 1999. The effects of nitrogen fertilizer on plant growth were large significant but increasing rate of application in potassium and phosphate fertilizers above 10kg/10a had negligible effects on plant growth. Raising nitrogen application rate of fertilizers turned out to be 18-10-10kg/l0a of N-P$_2$O$_{5}$-K$_2$O. Content of crude protein was the highest and that of crude fiber such as NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin were lowest at this rate. Furthermore, IVDMD was high and dry matter yield were the highest at the optimum rate.e.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
• /
• 2004.11a
• /
• pp.96-98
• /
• 2004

At the previous papers, we showed that K2O-CaO-P2O5 glasses had a solubility in air so that they could be used for glass fertilizer. In this work, we fabricated the Eco-glass fertilizer containing trace elements such as B, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, Co, and Mo by a melt-quenching process and the dissolution properties of these glasses were investigated with pH meter and ICP analyzer. In case of the glasses containing the trace elements, effect of trace elements on the dissolutions is not obvious and ignorant the stability of mother glass. Also, the dissolution amounts of each trace elements depend on the mother glass composition and the quantity of each trace element, and mother glasses determined the dissolving velocity of chemical elements.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.57-63
• /
• 1976

The lecturer pointed the agriculture in change brought about population bomb and economic development, and he appealed the scientists of soil and fertilizer to make proposals for establishing their constructive attitudes toward the situations of agriculture. The points emphasised by the lecturer for the improvement of future food situation were: fox example the elucidation of the ancient agricultural technology of Korea which is a important attempt for development of agricultural technology of Korea and Japan, and soil improvement with special attention to the efficiencies of phosphate, silicate, cations and trace elements. He showed some Japanese examples of natural pollution as both of a sufferer and an assailant of agriculture which are resulted from the high economic development, and some methods of solution, for example active application of legumes capable for fixing atmospheric nitrogen to wasted soils. He also pointed the need of lower consumption of energy and resources, and new understanding of wild plant species for the future agriculture. Some methods of other fields of sciences were emphasised for developing the soil and fertilizer researches.