SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

RADIOCESIUM IN GRASS AND PADDY STRAW - A COMPARISON
Govindarajan, D. and Lalitha, P.S.



Abstract


To summarise, this study has shown that grass samples tend to show slightly higher 137Cs levels than the paddy straw samples. The paddy straw samples also show a decreasing concentration of radiocesium with increasing storage period. Hence, it is probable that the contamination with 137Cs can be reduced by feeding animals with straw samples stored for considerably longer periods than feeding them immediately after harvest. It is also probable that conversion of grass samples into hay may possibly reduce the radiocesium levels in them. However, a definite conclusion regarding this observation can be made only after analysis of numerous samples covering different seasons.