农用化学品及废弃物对土壤环境与食物安全的影响

综述了农用化学品和废弃物(化肥、农药、酸沉降、污水污泥、畜禽粪便和“三废”等)利用现状及其对土壤环境污染与食物安全的影响。     

A comparison of soil and water properties in organic and conventional farming systems in England

Organic farming and improvements to agricultural sustainability are often seen as synonymous. However, an extensive European review demonstrated that in practice this is not always true. This study aims to compare the status of soil and water properties between separate fields managed in either an organic or a conventional manner. Soil samples were collected from 16 pairs of farms, throughout England, with both arable and grass fields within each pair on similar soil type. Chemical (nutrients, pesticides, herbicides) and physical (aggregate stability, field capacity, shear strength, soil organic matter, infiltration rates) soil properties were measured in four main soil texture classes in organic and conventional fields. The physical soil properties varied significantly between the different classes of texture and land use. The heavier textured soils have significantly higher soil organic carbon (SOC), aggregate stability and shear strength. The coarse‐textured soils have significantly lower field capacity moisture contents. The grassland has a significantly higher level of SOC, field capacity moisture content, aggregate stability and soil shear strength. However, there were no significant differences between organic and conventional treatments for any of the soil physical properties measured. There were fewer traces of agrochemicals in the soil water from the organic fields compared with the conventionally managed fields. The conventional arable fields had higher levels of total inorganic nitrogen than the other land uses and treatments. There was evidence to show that infiltration rates were significantly higher on organically managed grassland soils (7.6 mm/h) than conventionally managed grassland (2.5 mm/h) with lower stocking rates. The results suggest that improved grassland management, whether organic or conventional, could reduce predicted runoff by 28%.     

施用化学农药对大豆田土壤线虫群落的影响

针对大豆生长期内单一与复合施用乙草胺和呋喃丹对土壤线虫群落结构的影响进行研究。研究结果表明,乙草胺和呋喃丹单一与复合处理中土壤线虫的数量在各采样时期之间、处理之间及二者的交互作用之间均呈现极显著差异(P<0.01);在大豆生长的不同时期,线虫各营养类群的数量受到不同程度的抑制。对线虫生态指数的分析结果表明,乙草胺单一处理对线虫的丰富度表现出促进效应,而呋喃丹单一处理和二者复合处理对线虫丰富度表现出抑制效应;各处理均显著降低了线虫的总成熟度指数(ΣMI),表明线虫群落受到扰动,食物网受到胁迫。     

土壤线虫群落对过量施用农用化学品的响应

为研究施用过量的农用化学品对土壤线虫群落组成及多样性的影响,采用定点试验的方法,在哈尔滨市呼兰区选择典型农田生态系统进行试验,对比研究土壤线虫群落对施用过量的氮肥、磷肥、钾肥、除草剂及杀虫剂的响应。在试验田中共鉴定出土壤线虫27科45属,其中Cephalobus和Aphelenchus为优势属。施用不同浓度的各类农用化学品对土壤线虫群落组成、多样性均产生一定影响。线虫总数及食细菌线虫、食真菌线虫、植物寄生线虫数量在不同处理间均存在显著差异(P<0.05);其中,植物寄生线虫的相对丰度随化肥施用量的升高呈增加趋势。从土壤线虫的生态指数来看,除PPI(植物寄生线虫成熟指数)外,其他生态指数[MI(成熟度指数)、F/B(食真菌线虫与食细菌线虫数量比值)、Evenness(均匀度指数)、SR(丰富度指数)、H’(多样性指数)]在施用不同农用化学品处理之间也存在显著差异,并且,MI随着施用钾肥、氮肥浓度的增加而降低。土壤线虫可以作为揭示施用农用化学品过程中土壤质量变化的生物学指标,其群落及多样性的变化表明土壤线虫群落对农用化学品的过量施用产生了响应,过量施用农用化学品会增加土壤生态系统的干扰,对土壤环境造成威胁。     

Effect of forage crop establishment on dissolved organic carbon dynamics and leaching in a hill country soil

Intensive agricultural activities could affect the dynamics and leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrate from agricultural soils to receiving waters. This study investigated soil DOC dynamics immediately (0–12 days) after spraying a hill country perennial pasture with agrochemicals to establish a winter forage crop for supplementary feed production. Two treatments were examined—perennial pasture (without agrochemicals) and swede (Brassica napobrassica Mill.) cropping (after spraying with agrochemicals), both growing on a Typic Eutrudept. Soil samples were collected from various depths down to 1 m, before the application of agrochemicals (day 0) and 1, 6 and 12 days thereafter. Dissolved organic carbon concentration below the surface soil (<5 cm) was generally not altered by the agrochemicals. This was further proved by the isotopic monitoring of DOC leaching on this soil. Conversely, the agrochemicals significantly (p = 0.03) increased DOC concentration within the 0–5‐cm soil depth on day 1, due to the direct contribution of organic molecules and/or displacement of organic compounds at adsorption sites by the agrochemicals; and on day 6, due to root necromass decomposition. The increase of nitrate in soil solution at this depth (0–5 cm) on days 6 and 12 suggests that the agrochemicals may have also enhanced nitrogen (N) mineralization in the surface soil. However, the significantly (p = 0.04) higher DOC/nitrate (molar ratio) of the agrochemical treatment suggests that the agrochemicals used for clearing out pasture before forage crop establishment could lead to a short‐term increase in surface soil denitrification.     

Sorption of triazine and organophosphorus pesticides on soil and biochar

Sorption and degradation are the primary processes controlling the efficacy and runoff contamination risk of agrochemicals. Considering the longevity of biochar in agroecosystems, biochar soil amendment must be carefully evaluated on the basis of the target agrochemical and soil types to achieve agricultural (minimum impact on efficacy) and environmental (minimum runoff contamination) benefits. In this study, sorption-desorption isotherms and kinetics of triazine (deisopropylatrazine) and organophosphorus (malathion, parathion, and diazinon) pesticides were first investigated on various soil types ranging from clayey, acidic Puerto Rican forest soil (PR) to heavy metal contaminated small arms range (SAR) soils of sandy and peaty nature. On PR, malathion sorption did not reach equilibrium during the 3 week study. Comparison of solution-phase molar phosphorus and agrochemical concentrations suggested that degradation products of organophosphorus pesticides were bound on soil surfaces. The degree of sorption on different soils showed the following increasing trend: deisopropylatrazine < malathion < diazinon < parathion. While sorption of deisopropylatrazine on SAR soils was not affected by diazinon or malathion, deisopropylatrazine suppressed the sorption of diazinon and malathion. Deisopropylatrazine irreversibly sorbed on biochars, and greater sorption was observed with higher Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of biochar (4.7-2061 mg g(-1)). The results suggested the utility of biochar for remediation of sites where concentrations of highly stable and mobile agrochemicals exceed the water-quality benchmarks.     

耕地质量构成要素间的影响分析——以吉林省前郭县为例

耕地质量各构成要素的特点和相互间的影响,决定了耕地质量的外在表现。从构成耕地质量的自然因素和环境因素入手,研究具体区域耕地质量构成要素间的相互影响关系,以便针对耕地质量的特点,选择适宜的利用方式。本文以吉林省前郭县为研究区域,基于农用地分等成果和地球化学评估成果,分析该研究区内耕地质量构成要素的特点和相互影响关系。结果表明:在本研究区内耕地利用等与土壤肥力等呈正相关趋势,说明耕地生产能力随土壤肥力的增高而增大;耕地利用等与土壤环境健康等呈负相关趋势,说明研究区内的耕地利用方式对耕地的土壤环境状况造成了负面影响;土壤肥力等与土壤环境健康等呈负相关趋势,说明人们改善土壤肥力的方式,对土壤环境健康造成了负面影响。尽管目前研究区内耕地的土壤重金属含量尚未超标,但土壤环境健康等的变化趋势向我们发出了警示,应注意合理施用化肥农药,避免耕地土壤环境的恶化。     

Matrix and bypass-flow in quaternary and tertiary sediments of agricultural areas in south Germany

In hilly areas of south Germany with tertiary and quaternary sediments, percolation has been studied applying an isotope tracer of the water molecule in small-scale field experiments to better understand the hierarchies and interconnections of quick and slow seepage. On a catchment-related scale, these results have been connected with traditional and environmental isotope analysis of discharge to better quantify quick and slow seepage components, and to better assess the export of agrochemicals into ground- and surface waters. Consequently, the development of improved application techniques of agrochemicals and better strategies for ground and surface water protection is possible. The unsaturated zone of the study area was traced with Deuterium on areas of about 50 m². Results show that infiltration splits into bypass and matrix-flow. Bypass-flow exceeds flow velocities of 0.5 m day⁻¹, which is close to flow velocities of overland-flow, and matrix-flow ranges between 0.7 m year⁻¹ (Loess) and 1.2 m year⁻¹ (Tertiary gravels and sands). In these unconsolidated rocks, bypass-flow seems to (1) be strongest under wet and dry conditions at the soil surface; (2) be more dominant in coarse than fine-grained sediments; (3) be more pronounced in terrestrial than in marine sediments; and (4) penetrate to an average depth of less than 1 m in fine-grained sands and silts, and deeper than 3 m in gravels before it either finally incorporates into matrix-flow or generates interflow. Hydrographic analysis shows that more than 21% infiltration produces interflow by the transformation of bypass-flow into lateral flow, and about 75% infiltration groundwater recharge; 4% of bypass-flow incorporates into matrix-flow. In the study area, plowing techniques and field size influence significantly and proportionally the distribution of overland- and interflow-flow. However, groundwater recharge is not significantly changed. As matrix-flow is too slow an indicator to clarify how changes in land use affect groundwater quality over time, the analysis of direct discharge may be considered a good early indicator to assess land use changes on the export of agrochemicals.     

化学农药施用技术与粮食安全

化学农药在保证粮食供应方面发挥了重要作用,这是粮食安全的传统意义。但是农药大量投入导致农产品中农药残留超标,影响了粮食安全的另一个方面。化学农药对农产品的负面影响与农药的施用方法有密切的关系。发达国家在改善环境质量、提高农产品品质的同时,建立了完善的农药使用和管理法规,并通过农药施用技术改造,大大提高了农药的利用率,从而基本解决了农药环境污染和农产品农药残留超标的问题。我国在农药施用过程中,由于长期忽视施用质量的提高,加之缺乏相应的管理措施,农药对病虫草害的防治效果一直是以农药的大量投入来保证的,对农产品质量造成了很大的影响。要解决农药的使用问题,首先须通过行政管理和立法限制单位土地面积上农药的施用量,其次建立农户农药购买登记制度,保证农户实际所用农药不会超过允许使用量,最后加强农药施用者的培训,培训合格后发给操作证,持证施用农药。确保这3个环节的落实,可激发农户农药施用技术的改进,使有限投入的农药发挥最大的效用,减少农药用量,缓解农药与环境及农产品质量之间的矛盾     

环境样品氨基甲酸酯类农药的分离和检测技术研究进展

氨基甲酸酯类农药是一类高效广谱型杀虫剂，近年来在农业生产中被广泛使用，然而由此带来的环境污染和食品健康问题也日益引起关注。无论是样品的前处理方法还是仪器检测方法都有待不断地完善和发展，因此，开发理想的样品前处理方法和更加有效的仪器分析方法成为该领域的研究热点。本文在查阅了近年国内外相关文献61篇的基础上，就环境样品氨基甲酸酯类农药的分离提取方法以及不同方法的优缺点做分析，同时对氨基甲酸酯类农药的仪器分析方法及其发展趋势做总结，以期为研究环境样品氨基甲酸酯类农药的分析技术提供有益的参考。     

Karst rocky desertification in southwestern China: geomorphology,landuse, impact and rehabilitation

Karst rocky desertification is a process of land degradation involving serious soil erosion, extensive exposure of basement rocks, drastic decrease in soil productivity, and the appearance of a desert‐like landscape. It is caused by irrational, intensive land use on a fragile karst geo‐ecological environment. The process is expanding rapidly, and it is daily reducing the living space of residents and is the root of disasters and poverty in the karst areas of southwestern China. The tectonic, geomorphic and environmental background to karst rocky desertification is analysed. Population pressure and the intensive land use that have led to this serious land degradation are described. Although the problem concerns the Chinese Government and some profitable experience in the partial restoration or reconstruction of the ecological environment has been gained, effective remedial action has not been achieved on a large scale. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Combined effect of fertilizer and herbicide applications on the abundance, community structure and performance of the soil methanotrophic community

The use of agrochemicals, such as mineral fertilizers and herbicides in agricultural systems, may affect the potential of soils to act as a sink for methane. Typically, the effect of each agrochemical on soil methane oxidation is investigated separately whereas in the field these agrochemicals are used together to form one comprehensive land management system. Here we report the results of field experiments that assessed the combined effect of multiple fertilizer and herbicide (nicosulfuron, dimethenamide and atrazine) applications on the soil methanotrophic community. Soils treated with organic fertilizer had three times higher methane oxidation rates compared to soils receiving mineral fertilizers. These higher oxidation rates were positively reflected in a significantly enhanced abundance of methanotrophs for the organic fertilized soils. In contrast, herbicide application did not alter significantly the soil methane oxidation rate or the methane-oxidizing population abundance. Subsequently, the methanotrophic community structure was analyzed with group-specific DGGE of 16S rRNA genes. Cluster analysis of the methanotrophic patterns clearly separated the mineral from organically fertilized soils. Less pronounced clustering differentiated between chemical and manual weed control. Furthermore, cluster analysis of the methanotrophic community revealed that soil type was the primary determinant of the community structure. Our results indicate that fertilizer type had the greatest influence on methane oxidizer activity and abundance. Soil type had the most pronounced effect on the microbial community structure.     

Prototype agricultural land evaluation systems for Canada: II. Selected applications and prospects

Abstract. This paper describes the application of prototype Canadian land evaluation systems to selected issues. Two categories of applications are recognized. Routine evaluations employ standardized data sets and provide a backdrop for framing broader land-related concerns (e.g. assessments of land supply and suitability). Iterative analyses investigate implications of modified conditions (e.g. soil erosion, global climatic warming, altered food demands) on land use and production options, and require additional data and expertise. The paper demonstrates the capacity of land evaluation systems to address a wide range of issues, and illustrates the range of skills required to maintain and apply these systems.     

Hydrogen cyanide production by soil bacteria: Biological control of pests and promotion of plant growth in sustainable agriculture

Currently, plant diseases and insect infestations are mainly controlled by the extraneous application of pesticides. Unfortunately, the indiscriminate use of such agrochemicals can cause ecological and environmental problems, as well as human health hazards. To obviate the potential pollution arising from the application of agrochemicals, biological control of soilborne pathogens or insect pests using antagonistic microorganisms may be employed. Certain soil bacteria, algae, fungi, plants and insects possess the unique ability to produce hydrogen cyanide(HCN), which plays an important role in the biotic interactions of those organisms. In particular, cyanogenic bacteria have been found to inhibit the growth of various pathogenic fungi, weeds, insects, termites and nematodes. Thus, the use of HCN-producing bacteria as biopesticides offers an ecofriendly approach for sustainable agriculture. The enzyme, HCN synthase,involved in the synthesis of HCN, is encoded by the hcnABC gene cluster. The biosynthetic regulation of HCN, antibiotics and fluorescent insecticidal toxins through the conserved global regulatory GacS/GacA system is elaborated in this review, including approaches that may optimize cyanogenesis for enhanced pest control. In addition, the effects of bacterially synthesized HCN on the production of indole acetic acid, antibiotics and fluorescent insecticidal toxins, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase utilization and phosphate solubilization may result in the stimulation of plant growth. A more detailed understanding of HCN biosynthesis and regulation may help to elaborate the precise role of this compound in biotic interactions and sustainable agriculture.     

海藻多糖抗蚀剂对土壤抗剪与入渗特性的影响

施用土壤抗蚀剂是提升土壤流失治理效果的有效途径之一，现有材料生态效益不能满足耕地的使用需求，寻找生态效益优良的新型土壤抗蚀材料是目前的研究热点与关键。该研究以土壤内源性多糖为基材制得的土壤抗蚀材料为对象，通过直剪试验、土壤崩解试验与变水头入渗试验分析施用量、养护时间对土壤抗剪、入渗等特性的影响，以探讨其防治耕地水土流失的潜质。试验结果表明，海藻多糖抗蚀剂可以在较大程度上提升土壤内聚力，在相同养护时间下，土壤内聚力与其施用浓度呈正相关，在施用浓度1%时4种养护时间下平均提升3.33倍；在同一施用浓度下，土壤内聚力随养护时间延长而增加，短时养护就能取得较好效果。施用浓度与养护时间对内摩擦角的影响较小，施用海藻多糖抗蚀剂后内摩擦角仅小幅增加。土壤抗崩解性随施用浓度的增加而增加，少量施用就能取得良好效果，在施用浓度0.25%时，土壤崩解系数减少66.1%，当施用浓度达到1%时，试验条件下没有崩解发生。渗透系数随施用浓度增加先增加后减小，于0.25%时达到最大值2.86×10-5 cm/s，于1%时达到最小值0.91×10-5 cm/s，都属中等透水层。对固土机理进行了探讨，并通过扫描电镜测试进行验证，结果表明海藻多糖抗蚀剂可通过土壤孔隙渗透扩散到土体内部，包裹土壤颗粒，进而利用自聚交联、凝胶固结在土壤表面和孔隙形成网状膜结构，增强土壤颗粒间的连接，提升土体强度，可拓宽坡耕地土壤侵蚀防治材料的选择范围。     

柴达木农田土壤Cd的积累影响及风险预测

【目的】土壤重金属空间结构特征是土壤环境质量评价及重金属污染评价的基础。本文用地质统计学方法研究了柴达木盆地原生地和耕种50年的农田土壤镉的空间分布特征,对土壤镉进行质量评价,同时分析了农业耕种对土壤镉积累的影响,调查统计了灌溉水、肥料、农药等农业源土壤镉的输入量,为农田镉积累的风险预测提供参考。【方法】以柴达木盆地诺木洪农场的一块原生地（从未耕种过的土地,可以认为无化肥污染）和一块耕种地（已种植了50年的农田）为研究对象,从原生地采集22个土壤样本,耕种地采集50个土壤样本进行镉含量的测定,同时检测灌溉水、农药、化肥中的镉含量,并进行每年农田输入量的统计。用Excel软件进行数据处理,反比权重法（IDW,Inverse Distance Weighting）插值,GIS9.3进行空间分析和图像处理;以单项污染指数法评价土壤镉质量,评价模式为Pi=Ci/Si（Pi为污染物镉的单项污染指数,Ci为污染物镉的实测数据,Si为污染物的评价标准）。评价标准分别以农业部公布的行业标准《无公害食品 枸杞生产技术规程》（NY/T 5249-2004）和《绿色食品 枸杞》（NY/T1051-2006）产地环境标准要求下的《绿色食品 产地环境技术条件》（NY/T 391-2000）为依据。依据农业源土壤镉输入量,以土壤现状值为起点,以绿色食品标准限量值为终点,测算输入量积累突破两端差值的年限。【结果】原生地22个土壤样品的镉平均含量为0.30 mg/kg,是土壤背景值的两倍（0.14 mg/kg）,达到无公害食品（0.60 mg/kg）和绿色食品（0.40 mg/kg）标准;种植50年农田的50个土壤样品的镉平均含量为0.43 mg/kg,是土壤背景值的3倍,达到无公害食品标准,但超过绿色食品标准。用于灌溉的河水的镉含量为0.0036 ng/kg。检测生产中使用的15种农药和7种肥料,其中的镉导致每年土壤镉增加3444 mg/hm2。最严重的污染源是鸡粪,施入土壤后每年导致土壤镉增加2025 mg/hm2,其次依次为复合肥（使土壤镉增加576 mg/hm2）,磷酸二铵（增加432 mg/hm2）,有机肥（增加360 mg/hm2）。【结论】以小尺度空间分布和全量统计研究的诺木洪农场土壤镉含量这一单一指标衡量,可以看出诺木洪原生地土壤是清洁的,能够满足无公害、绿色食品的生产;但是研究选择的多年耕种田已经遭到重金属镉的污染,只能达到无公害食品标准,而达不到绿色食品标准。现行生产中的施肥措施是导致诺木洪土壤重金属镉污染的一个重要因素,其中鸡粪对镉污染的贡献最大,其次是复合肥、磷酸二铵和有机肥。如果继续现在这种耕种方式,以现有的原生地镉含量均值为0.30 mg/kg进行计算,76.3年后该土地镉含量将超过0.40 mg/kg的绿色标准上限。     

Earthworm distribution and abundance predicted by a process-based model

Earthworms are significant ecosystem engineers and are an important component of the diet of many vertebrates and invertebrates, so the ability to predict their distribution and abundance would have wide application in ecology, conservation and land management. Earthworm viability is known to be affected by the availability and quality of food resources, soil water conditions and temperature, but has not yet been modelled mechanistically to link effects on individuals to field population responses. Here we present a novel model capable of predicting the effects of land management and environmental conditions on the distribution and abundance of Aporrectodea caliginosa, the dominant earthworm species in agroecosystems. Our process-based approach uses individual based modelling (IBM), in which each individual has its own energy budget. Individual earthworm energy budgets follow established principles of physiological ecology and are parameterised for A. caliginosa from experimental measurements under optimal conditions. Under suboptimal conditions (e.g. food limitation, low soil temperatures and water contents) reproduction is prioritised over growth. Good model agreement to independent laboratory data on individual cocoon production and growth of body mass, under variable feeding and temperature conditions support our representation of A. caliginosa physiology through energy budgets. Our mechanistic model is able to accurately predict A. caliginosa distribution and abundance in spatially heterogeneous soil profiles representative of field study conditions. Essential here is the explicit modelling of earthworm behaviour in the soil profile. Local earthworm movement responds to a trade-off between food availability and soil water conditions, and this determines the spatiotemporal distribution of the population in the soil profile. Importantly, multiple environmental variables can be manipulated simultaneously in the model to explore earthworm population exposure and effects to combinations of stressors. Potential applications include prediction of the population-level effects of pesticides and changes in soil management e.g. conservation tillage and climate change.     

Accelerated degradation of methyl iodide by agrochemicals

The fumigant methyl iodide (MeI, iodomethane) is considered a promising alternative to methyl bromide (MeBr) for soil-borne pest control in high-cash-value crops. However, the high vapor pressure of MeI results in emissions of a significant proportion of the applied mass into the ambient air, and this may lead to pollution of the environment. Integrating the application of certain agrochemicals with soil fumigation provides a novel approach to reduce excessive fumigant emissions. This study investigated the potential for several agrochemicals that are commonly used in farming operations, including fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors, to transform MeI in aqueous solution. The pseudo-first-order hydrolysis half-life (t(1/2)) of MeI was approximately 108 d, while the transformation of MeI in aqueous solutions containing selected agrochemicals was more rapid, with t(1/2) < 100 d (t(1/2) < 0.5 d in some solutions containing nitrification inhibitors). The influence of these agrochemicals on the rate of MeI degradation in soil was also determined. Adsorption to soil apparently reduced the availability of some nitrification inhibitors in the soil aqueous phase and lowered the degradation rate in soil. In contrast, addition of the nitrification inhibitors thiourea and allylthiourea to soil significantly accelerated the degradation of MeI, possibly due to soil surface catalysis. The t(1/2) of MeI was <20 h in thiourea- and allylthiourea-amended soil, considerably less than that in unamended soil (t(1/2) > 300 h).     

A review on phorate persistence, toxicity and remediation by bacterial communities

Pesticides are an integral part in maintaining agriculture and horticultural productivity and play a vital role in meeting the increasing food, fiber, and fuel needs of the growing population. Globally, organophosphate pesticides(OPPs) are among the most common pesticides used due to their high proficiency and relatively low persistence in the environment. However, recent studies have reported problems due to pesticide use, e.g., phorate contamination of aquatic ecosystems(fresh and groundwater), sediments, fruits and vegetables, and forage crops. This review highlights many cases where phorate has been detected above its respective maximum residue limit values. Organophosphate pesticides, including phorate, have negative impacts on both the environment and human health. The ecological and public health concerns of recurrent pesticide utilization have encouraged the research related to environmental fate of pesticides.Bioremediation is an effective, eco-friendly, and financially viable approach for the decontamination and degradation of toxic OPPs from the environment,compared to the costly, unecological, and time-consuming physicochemical approaches, which lead to the generation of byproducts of higher toxicity.Researchers have recognized that a wide range of microbes, mainly bacteria, can degrade this extremely hazardous pesticide. Therefore, this review discusses the present pesticide scenarios, especially phorate contamination, its toxicity, biodegradation, and metabolic products via bacterial communities, both in India and globally. The latest and up-to-date literatures on the use, contamination, and bacterial application of phorate degradation are also summarized. This article offers national and international food safety organizations and public health authorities the ability to be involved in preventing the risks associated with the use of food and nutrition products contaminated with extremely toxic phorate pesticide. This article would also enable researchers to develop comprehensive and sustainable methods to effectively remediate pesticide-contaminated environments. In conclusion, it is envisaged that the successful application of bacterial communities for degradation of phorate would help in understanding the fate and persistence of such toxic pollutants in a better way.     

Impact of short‐rotation coppice with poplar and willow on soil physical properties

As the land area of short‐rotation coppice (SRC) increases, their soil physical impacts have to be evaluated. The objective of this study was to detect the effects of long‐term SRC with poplar and willow on the vertical distribution of soil physical properties (bulk density, water retention, penetration resistance) and on solute transport patterns. An 18‐year‐old SRC located in northeastern Germany was compared to an adjacent continuous arable cropping system by means of soil sampling, penetrologger measurements and dye tracer experiments. The topsoil's bulk density was significantly lower under SRC than under cropland. This effect was especially pronounced in the uppermost 10 cm, where also the air capacity and the plant‐available water content were higher under SRC. The penetration resistance in 25–50 cm depth was reduced under SRC compared to the cropland, indicating a loosening of the plough pan. Dye tracer experiments showed that the importance of preferential flow was higher under SRC due to tree root channels and an increasing colonisation with invertebrates. SRC has ecologically advantageous effects on soil physical properties of the topsoil, however, combined with an enhanced risk of preferential solute transport upon application of agrochemicals.