Investigating the association between dry deposition of cesium and different growth stages of aboveground parts of Chinese yam.

This article investigates the dry deposition of aerosol cesium (Cs) particles on Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya) seedlings at different growth stages to understand radiocesium transfer into crops following nuclear facility accidents. Using stable Cs as a proxy for radiocesium, seedlings grown for varying durations (29 to 178 days after transplantation, DAT) were exposed to aerosol Cs, revealing that total leaf area largely determined the amount of Cs deposited on aboveground parts. However, Cs deposition density (amount per unit leaf area) was significantly higher at earlier growth stages, correlating with leaf traits such as leaf mass ratio, leaf area ratio, and specific leaf area. These findings suggest that both leaf area and developmental stage influence Cs deposition, which has implications for assessing radiocesium contamination in crops near nuclear sites.