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AEC MS Final Thesis Draft 2020.pdf (5.93 MB)

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An Investigation of Fertilizer-Derived Uranium in Ohio Agricultural Soils

Calero, Adolfo Eberhard
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3694-0315
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587651244115868

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Earth Sciences.
The evolution of modern agricultural practices as a result of a growing global population has led to increases in the flux of agricultural chemicals and compounds to both natural waters and soils. The most studied of these impacts are the addition of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) through the application of chemical fertilizers, leading to their increase in surface runoff from agricultural operations, causing eutrophication in natural waters. Uranium (U) is a trace element that is often associated with P-rich fertilizer use, having the potential to accumulate in soils, crops, and surface waters, due to its natural occurrence in phosphate rock, along with various weathering and erosional processes that make it mobile. Studies have suggested phosphorus fertilizer is a source of uranium contamination in natural waters and soils. This study investigates chemistry of agricultural soils treated with P-fertilizer and compares them with the chemistry of agricultural soils under different management practices. This study also characterizes historical Geographic Information System (GIS) data in order to correlate uranium concentrations in Ohio soils with Ohio’s glaciated compared to non-glaciated surfaces, underlying bedrock geology, and current land use/land cover. Total U concentrations in the soils ranged from 2.7 – 5.4 μg/g, and the water-, base-, and acid-soluble concentrations of U ranged from 2.2 x 10^-4 – 1.4 x 10^-3, 0.09 – 0.58, and 0.27 – 0.76 μg/g, respectively. The average concentration of the sum of the U in each of the soluble/extractable phases gave a maximum value of 18% of the total U. Using previously published data from the USGS, there are higher U concentrations in soils from the glaciated portion of the State, as opposed to those from the unglaciated portion of Ohio. This research clearly demonstrates that soils having fertilizer application show no statistical difference in U compared to similar soils without fertilizer application.
William Berry Lyons (Advisor)
Nicholas Basta (Committee Member)
Rattan Lal (Committee Member)
169 p.
Agriculture; Analytical Chemistry; Environmental Science; Geochemistry; Geographic Information Science; Soil Sciences
Uranium; Ohio Soils; Phosphorus Fertilizer; Soil Chemistry; Agricultural Soils; Management Practices

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Calero, A. E. (2020). An Investigation of Fertilizer-Derived Uranium in Ohio Agricultural Soils [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587651244115868

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Calero, Adolfo. An Investigation of Fertilizer-Derived Uranium in Ohio Agricultural Soils. 2020. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587651244115868.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Calero, Adolfo. "An Investigation of Fertilizer-Derived Uranium in Ohio Agricultural Soils." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587651244115868

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1587651244115868
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