Abstract
Substitution of a species or cultivar with higher uptake of an element by one with lower uptake has been proposed as a remediation strategy following accidental releases of radioactivity. However, despite the importance of pasture systems for radiological dose, species/cultivar substitution has not been thoroughly investigated for forage grasses. 397 cultivars from four forage grass species; hybrid ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. x Lolium multiflorum Lam.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.); were sampled from 19 field-based breeding experiments in Aberystwyth and Edinburgh (UK) in spring 2013 and analysed for caesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) concentrations. In order to calculate concentration ratios (CRs; the concentration of an element in a plant in relation to the concentration in the soil), soils from the experiments were also analysed to calculate extractable concentrations of Cs and Sr. To test if cultivars have consistently low Cs and Sr concentration ratios, 17 hybrid ryegrass cultivars were sampled from both sites again in summer 2013 and spring and summer 2014. Tall fescue cultivars had lower Cs and Sr CRs than the other species. Three of the selected 17 hybrid ryegrass cultivars had consistently low Cs CRs, two had consistently low Sr CRs and one had consistently low Cs and Sr CRs. Cultivar substitution could reduce Cs CRs by up to 14-fold and Sr CRs by 4-fold in hybrid ryegrass. The identification of species and cultivars with consistently low CRs suggests that species or cultivar substitution could be an effective remediation strategy for contaminated areas.
Highlights
MethodsCaesium and strontium analyses were made on samples of 397 cultivars from four forage grass species
Caesium concentration ratios (CRs) varied by 14-fold between the 100 hybrid ryegrass cultivars grown in Aberystwyth (Fig 1), and approximately 2-fold between the 29 hybrid ryegrass cultivars grown in Edinburgh
Less variation was observed between the Italian ryegrass and tall fescue cultivars sampled (Fig 1); Cs CRs varied by only 2-fold in the eight Italian ryegrass cultivars grown in Aberystwyth, the 16 Italian ryegrass cultivars grown in Edinburgh
Summary
Caesium and strontium analyses were made on samples of 397 cultivars from four forage grass species. Lam.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.). Samples were collected from established breeding experiments in Aberystwyth, UK and Edinburgh, UK, in the spring and summer of 2013 and. Due to the ongoing structure of the ongoing breeding experiments not all cultivars were available for sampling at each site or time period. As one of our key objectives was to test whether cultivars behaved in terms of Cs and Sr uptake over different seasons and in multiple years, we organised our work to maximise the number of samples from each site and time period
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