Studies are devoted to the cultivation of oilseeds in radioactive contaminated areas. A scheme of research was developed based on the agro-ecological characteristics of agricultural crops. The ecological and functional role of growing oilseeds in the zone of radiation pollution is theoretically substantiated. It has been established, that ecologically safe agriculture in these territories is possible only with a reduction of transition from soil to plants and then – in crop production with the use of innovative anti-radiation means and measures: the correct selection of species and plant varieties, doses of mineral fertilizers, soils according to their density contamination of 137Cs.
A description of the soil profile has been made, radiological indices of the soil have been determined, 137Cs transition coefficients have been calculated according to the indices of specific activity of 137Cs in green mass and seed oilseeds, and contamination of oil and oilcake 137Cs.
It was established, that the environmental and climatic conditions of the place of stationary research are quite favorable for the growth and development of oilseeds. The ground is typical for the Polissya area. It was established, that in the distant period after the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, 85% of 137Cs were found in the arable layer of sod-podzolic soils 0–30 cm.
During analysis the technology of cultivating crops, it can be noted that they are all suitable for growing on sod-podzolic soils of Zhytomyr Polissya, since after evaluating the yield of green mass and seeds of oilseeds it was found that they are all suitable for growing on sod-podzolic soils Zhytomyr Polissya. After analyzing the dispersion analysis of the effect of the hydrothermal coefficient and the application of fertilizer on the final yield of green matter and oilseed crops, it can be said that the share of variants with fertilizers is 10.9 %, the share of hydrothermal coefficient – 16.4 %, the share of the variety 70.7 %, and the interaction of these factors – 1 %.
Indicators of specific activity of 137Cs of oilseed crops exceed the permissible levels (70 Bq/kg), therefore, it is necessary to look for ways of its further processing, one of which is application in oil production.
Hydrated oil obtained from seeds of all crops can be used in the food industry, as the indicators of specific activity of 137Cs do not exceed State Hygiene Standards “Permissible levels of 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclide content in food and drinking water”. Oilcake, as a product for the processing of seeds of sorghum “SU”, wild turnip “Svitanok”, white mustard “Etalon”, amaranth “Grozynskyy”, “Carmen” and “Kremovy” can not be used as an additive to feed when feeding animals. This is explained by the fact, that 137Cs is water soluble, and therefore it is easily washed out of oil heated to 60°C, during the purification of water (70°C), which is passed through it in a dispersed state.
The proposals concerning the cultivation of oilseeds in radioactive contaminated territories are formulated. Knowing the coefficients of transition of 137Cs into different types and varieties of oilseeds at different density densities of soil 137Cs can predict the level of contamination of oilseeds production in order to plan its rational use and protective measures. Despite the excess of State Hygiene Standards “Permissible levels of 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclide content in food and drinking water”., seeds of such crops as sorghum “SU”, wild turnip “Svitanok”, white mustard “Etalon”, amaranth “Grozynskyy”, “Carmen” and “Kremovy”, can be grown for oil production for obtaining normative pure products (green mass, oil and oilcake) in the III zone of radioactive contamination. Forecast of the level of contamination of oilseeds is tentative, however, it allows us to outline ways of using it in excess of permissible standards.
Thus, oilseeds will become an alternative option for the restoration of radioactive contaminated soils in the remote period after the Chernobyl accident.
