Studying Erosion with the Help of Radionuclides

14 August 2015

Producer:
Producer: Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture (NAFA)

Soil erosion is a global threat. Each year 75 billion tons of fertile soil is lost from world agricultural systems. The magnitude and rate of soil erosion can be determined through gamma spectrometry by comparing the content of the radionuclide caesium-137 in eroding or depositing sites with the caesium-137 content at undisturbed stable areas. If the content is lower than that of the reference site, soil has been lost to erosion - if it is higher soil has been deposited.

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Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications Organizational Structure Department of Technical Cooperation Technical cooperation programme Nuclear technology and applications Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Section Food and agriculture Food and agriculture Crop nutrition Crop nutrition Soil erosion control Soil erosion control Land and water management Land and water management

Studying Erosion with the Help of Radionuclides

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