Differences in the ability for barley and rye grass varieties to absorb caesium through the roots

In areas with intensive farming, as in Denmark it is of great interest to identify possible countermeasures to be taken in order to reduce the long-term effects of radioactive contamination of arable land. Different crop species and varieties have been tested for their sensitivity to an indirect radiocaesium contamination, i.e. absorption through the root system of radiocaesium that have entered the soil. Significant differences have been revealed. Sila barley and Italian rye grass were identifed among the species tested as plants with a relative high uptake of caesium. Radiocaesium was the most important isotope at long distances from the Chernobyl accident. Changes of agricultural practices towards the use of plant species and varieties with low sensitivity might contribute to a significant reduction of the contamination levels perhaps even below a critical level.