VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF 137Cs IN THE SOIL PROFILE FOREST BIOCENOSES  IN THE REMOTE PERIOD AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

Authors

  • Mikalai M. Tsybulka International Sakharov Environmental Institute, Belarusian State University
  • Evgeny B. Evseev Polessky State Radiation and Ecological Reserve
  • Gennady F. Lasuta University of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus

Keywords:

pollution density, 137Cs, vertical migration, soil profile, forest biocenoses

Abstract

Studied of vertical distribution of 137Cs of Chernobyl origin in the profile of sod-podzolic gley sandy, peat-podzolic-gley and peat-gley soils of forest biocenoses represented by blueberry birch, acid birch and fern birch in the remote post-accident period have been studied. Migration processes of 137Cs in undisturbed soils of forest biocenoses proceed rather slowly. Analysis of the vertical distribution of radionuclide in the soil profiles of the studied soil types showed that 85–94 % of it is concentrated in the upper 10-centimeter soil layer. The intensity of vertical migration of 137Cs depended on the type of soil, the degree of its hydromorphism, the granulometric composition and the underlying rock of the uppermost. The migration of radionuclide proceeded more intensively in conditions of increased moisture on peat-gley lowland soil, then on sod-podzolic gley sandy soil, less intensively on peat-podzolic gley soil. On peat-gley lowland and sod-podzolic gley sandy soils, 63–66 % and 85–86 % of radionuclide were concentrated in the upper layers of 0–5 and 0–10 cm, respectively, and its reserve centers were at the level of 8.5 and 6.6 cm. On peat-podzolic-gley soil, 86 and 94 % of 137Cs were concentrated in these layers, respectively, and its reserve center was located at the level of 5.8 cm. This is due to the presence of a compacted podzolic horizon.

Author Biographies

  • Mikalai M. Tsybulka, International Sakharov Environmental Institute, Belarusian State University

    doctor of science (agriculture), full professor; head of the research sector

  • Evgeny B. Evseev, Polessky State Radiation and Ecological Reserve

    PhD (agriculture), docent; head of the department of radiation and environmental monitoring

  • Gennady F. Lasuta, University of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus

    PhD (agriculture); professor of the department of humanities

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Published

2026-11-11

Issue

No. 3 (2026): ЖУРНАЛ БЕЛОРУССКОГО ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО УНИВЕРСИТЕТА ЭКОЛОГИЯ

Section

Radioecology, radiation biology, radiochemistry (problems of nuclear and radiation safety, etc.)

How to Cite

[1]
Tsybulka, M.M. et al. 2026. VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF 137Cs IN THE SOIL PROFILE FOREST BIOCENOSES  IN THE REMOTE PERIOD AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology. 3 (Nov. 2026).