Comparing the radioactivity of fertilizers and soil from uncultivated and fertilized fields

Abstract For nearly half a century, Greek farmers utilize a quiver of fertilizers containing different ingredients, primarily phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. It is under investigation whether the composition of the soil of fertilized fields slightly changes through the decades due to the continuous application of these substances. In this study, soil samples from never-cultivated and fertilized fields in Greece, along with samples of commonly used fertilizers, were analysed using high-energy resolution γ-spectroscopy to determine their composition of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides. An interesting finding was the slightly higher concentrations of natural radioactivity ( 226 Ra, 238 U, and 40 K) in fertilized fields compared to neighboring never-cultivated fields. In contrast, the concentration of 137 Cs, a radionuclide originating from the Chernobyl disaster, was higher in the upper soil layer of never-cultivated fields. Additional measurements of radioactivity concentrations in fertilizers commonly used in Greek agriculture showed a correlation with the radioactivity levels observed in fertilized soil.