International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Activity concentration of radionuclides in plants in the environment of western Ghats, India

P. K. Manigandan

Dhafir Institute, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 16 July, 2019

Abstract 

Background: A field study on the transfer of primordial radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and fallout radionuclides ²¹⁰Po in different plant species in tropical forest of western Ghats environment, India, is presented. Material and Methods: The Top storey, Short storey, Shrubs and Epiphytic plant species were sampled and concentration of these radionuclides in plant and soil were measured by employing a gamma ray spectrometer and an alpha counter. Results: The soil-plant concentration ratio shows the variation of radionuclide accumulation in different species while a wild plant Elaeocarpus oblongus and epiphytic plants indicated preferential uptake of these radionuclides. Conclusion: The dust particles dust trapped in the root system of epiphytic plants could be used as bioindicator to monitor fallout radionuclides in the Western Ghats. The concentration of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in leaves depends on the age of the leaves

Key words: Western Ghats, primordial radionuclides, concentration ratio, Elaeocarpus oblongus, bioindicator.