Use of nuclear techniques in soil science: A literature review of the Brazilian contribution

Luiz Fernando Pires,Vladia Correchel,Fábio Augusto Meira Cássaro

doi:10.36783/18069657rbcs20210089

Abstract

This review presents the basic research and some applications of the gamma-ray attenuation, neutron gauges, and 137Cs fallout techniques for studying soil physical processes and properties. The selected studies aimed to give the readers a general idea of the use of these nuclear techniques carried out by Brazilian researchers in the past decades. It is expected to assist future researchers by identifying knowledge gaps and opportunities for applying the methods presented here. Around 100 studies were selected for this [...]

Highlights

The discovery of radioactivity was followed by the discovery of X-rays in 1895 by the German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen
This review presents the basic research and some applications of the gamma-ray attenuation, neutron gauges, and 137Cs fallout techniques for studying soil physical processes and properties
The papers dealing with gamma-ray attenuation are mostly related to the analysis of soil radiation interactions, the measurement of basic soil physical properties, the evaluation of hydraulic conductivity, water retention curve, and soil mechanical analysis

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The discovery of radioactivity was followed by the discovery of X-rays in 1895 by the German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen. To mention some of them, gamma-ray attenuation, neutron gauges, and monitoring radioactivity materials deposited in the soil have been employed to complement other conventional techniques in agricultural experimentation (Visvalingam and Tandy, 1972; Ritchie and McHenry, 1990; Pires, 2018). Among the nuclear techniques utilized in soil science, the gamma-ray attenuation method (GAM) has been widely applied in the field as well as in laboratory studies through transmission and scattering experiments. The technique was first used for measuring the soil bulk density, for analyzing appropriate beam geometries, for developing detection and electronic instrumentation, and for investigating the best radioactive sources to be employed in environmental studies (Vomocil, 1954; Bernhard and Chasek, 1955) Another nuclear technique regularly utilized for soil investigation is related to the use of neutrons and their interactions with the soil. The multiplier 10, present in equation 15, is a factor used for unit adjustments

METHODS

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Methods