不同有机物及其堆肥与化肥配施对小麦生长及氮素吸收的影响

采用15N示踪技术,选用水稻土和灰潮土在宜兴进行小麦盆栽试验,研究了稻草、猪粪及其堆肥与化肥配施对作物生长及氮素吸收的影响。结果表明,在水稻土和灰潮土上,不同有机物及其堆肥与化肥配施分别比单施化肥增产4.46%～24.82%和1.01%～20.53%,稻草堆肥和猪粪堆肥配施化肥处理籽粒产量分别高于稻草和猪粪直接与化肥配施处理。稻草和猪粪堆肥后更利于作物吸收氮素,增加植物体内15N累积。两种土壤上15N回收率表现为相同配比的堆肥处理未堆肥处理单施化肥处理。随着小麦生育期的推进,土壤微生物量氮和矿质态氮含量均呈下降趋势,稻草和猪粪处理的微生量氮含量始终高于稻草堆肥和猪粪堆肥处理。有机无机肥配施处理土壤矿质态氮在小麦生育前期低于单施化肥,成熟期则高于单施化肥。整个生育期中,稻草堆肥和猪粪堆肥处理土壤矿质态氮含量分别高于稻草和猪粪处理。因此,有机物堆肥后与化肥配施更有利于提高产量,促进作物对氮素的吸收利用。     

Effects of digestate from anaerobically digested cattle slurry and plant materials on soil microbial community and emission of CO2 and N2O

Anaerobic digestion of animal manure and crop residues may be employed to produce biogas as a climate-neutral source of energy and to recycle plant nutrients as fertilizers. However, especially organic farmers are concerned that fertilizing with the digestates may impact the soil microbiota and fertility because they contain more mineral nitrogen (N) and less organic carbon (C) than the non-digested input materials (e.g. raw animal slurry or fresh plant residues). Hence, an incubation study was performed where (1) water, (2) raw cattle slurry, (3) anaerobically digested cattle slurry/maize, (4) anaerobically digested cattle slurry/grass-clover, or (5) fresh grass-clover was applied to soil at arable realistic rates. Experimental unites were sequentially sampled destructively after 1, 3 and 9 days of incubation and the soil assayed for content of mineral N, available organic C, emission of CO₂ and N₂O, microbial phospholipid fatty acids (biomass and community composition) and catabolic response profiling (functional diversity). Fertilizing with the anaerobically digested materials increased the soil concentration of NO₃⁻ ca. 30–40% compared to when raw cattle slurry was applied. Grass-clover contributed with four times more readily degradable organic C than the other materials, causing an increased microbial biomass which depleted the soil for mineral N and probably also O₂. Consequently, grass-clover also caused a ∼10 times increase in emissions of CO₂ and N₂O greenhouse gasses compared to any of the other treatments during the 9 days. Regarding microbial community composition, grass-clover induced the largest changes in microbial diversity measures compared to the controls, where raw cattle slurry and the two anaerobically digested materials (cattle slurry/maize, cattle slurry/grass-clover) only induced minor and transient changes.     

Using time domain reflectometry to characterize cattle and pig slurry infiltration into soil

Abstract. The rate and extent to which cattle or pig slurry infiltrates into soil after application is one of the important factors determining the rate and extent of subsequent ammonia (NH₃) volatilization. Better characterization of the infiltration process is required to improve predictive models of NH₃ losses after land spreading. This paper describes a laboratory system using time domain reflectometry to measure slurry infiltration into soil columns. This system enabled semi-continuous, non-destructive infiltration measurements to be made, assessing the influence of slurry type, dry matter (DM) content, soil type and soil water tension. Differences were noted in the infiltration behaviour of cattle and pig slurries. For cattle slurry, DM content (range 1.7–7.1%) was the main influencing factor. Infiltration rate rapidly decreased with increasing DM content and there was no influence of soil type or water tension. For pig slurry, all of the slurry infiltrated into a sandy clay loam soil within the first hour, regardless of DM content (range 1.5–4.7%), whereas only 60% infiltrated into a clay loam soil over the same time period (slurry DM content 2.1%).     

Effect of extraction techniques on soil pore‐water chemistry

Abstract

The retention of contaminants in soil and overburden is often estimated using a solid/liquid partition coefficient, Kd, which lumps all the processes into an empirical value. Determination of this value in unsaturated porous media requires the separation of the pore water from the solid phase. Soil pore‐water recovery and composition were investigated in three chemically and texturally different mineral soils and one organic soil. The removal of pore water was achieved through centrifugation at low (1000 to 2500 rpm) and ultra (10,000 to 20,000 rpm) speeds, ceramic plate extraction and immiscible displacement. Pore‐water recovery was highest using ceramic plate extraction and lowest with displacement. Pore‐water quality was not affected by centrifugation time. However, the pore‐water concentrations of F, Cl, NO₃, Fe, and Na suggest that the effect of centrifuge speed on the element or ion of interest should be determined prior to extraction. Ceramic plates retained both cations and anions, and the immiscible displacent depressed the pH of the soil slurry affecting the pore‐water composition. Comparisons between distilled water extracts, standardized to field capacity moisture, and the centrifugate for a sand and an organic soil indicated that with low solid/liquid ratios, pore‐water concentrations are influenced by dissolution or desorption. Therefore, Kd values based on centrifuged pore water will be lower than those based on extraction/ desorption.     

Soil Organic Carbon Molecular Properties: Effects of Time Since Reclamation in a Minesoil Chronosequence

Studies on molecular characterization of soil organic carbon (SOC), although critical to understanding SOC dynamics, are relatively scarce for reclaimed minesoils. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of time since reclamation on SOC molecular properties in a reclaimed minesoil chronosequence using different spectroscopic indices. The chronosequence consisted of four minesoils, with similar soil‐forming conditions, reclaimed to pasture ecosystem, and distinguished only by time since reclamation varying from 1 to 22 years. Results indicated that the SOC molecules in the older minesoils were comprised of highly humified polyaromatic and polycondensed species with higher proportions of O‐containing and N‐containing functional groups. In each minesoil, resistant and labile SOC fractions were identified. The resistant SOC fraction constituted >20 and <10 per cent of total SOC (g kg⁻¹) in the oldest and youngest minesoil, respectively. Among the spectroscopic indices, the ϵ₂₈₅ ultraviolet‐visible index, diagnostic of aromatic C, was the most efficient in identifying the intrasite short‐term (1‐year) changes in SOC molecular properties. Strong positive relationships found between different spectroscopic indices and total SOC (g kg⁻¹), with consistently higher r² values observed in older minesoils, indicated that SOC molecular characteristics played a key role in overall SOC dynamics, becoming more influential with increasing time since reclamation. In addition, significant relationships between the spectroscopic indices and different soil quality parameters indicated that SOC molecular properties influenced soil quality as well. Overall, the results indicated that SOC molecular properties were useful indicators of both SOC dynamics and soil quality in this minesoil chronosequence. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phytoremediation of Mixed Soil Contaminants

Tests were conducted to study the influence of non-ionic surfactants Triton X-100 and Tween 80 on the removal of mixed contaminants from a sandy soil using phytoremediation. Cd(II) and Pb(II) were used to form the inorganic contaminant, while used engine oil was selected to form the organic contaminant. The Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) plant was the plant chosen for phytoremediation of the sandy soil that contained the mixed contaminant. Thirty days after the plants were grown in the greenhouse, surfactants were applied to test pots in which the soil had been spiked with 50 mg kg⁻¹ of CdCl₂, 500 mg kg⁻¹ of PbCl₂ and 500 mg kg⁻¹ of used engine oil. Two control tests were conducted in this study. Planted and unplanted control tests were conducted using soil without surfactants. Following these tests, the tests were completed using the plants and surfactants at different concentrations. Test results showed that Triton X-100 and Tween 80 at concentrations higher than their critical micellar concentration enhanced Cd(II) and Pb(II) accumulation in the plant roots. Further, test data showed that translocation of contaminants to plant shoots occurred for Cd(II) but not for Pb(II). At the same concentrations, Tween 80 was more effective than Triton X-100 in facilitating rhizodegradation of used engine oil. This study demonstrates that simultaneous phytoremediation of Pb(II), Cd(II) and oil can be enhanced by using non-ionic surfactant Tween 80. Leaching test results indicated that the enhanced phytoremediation could remove the mixed contaminants safely from the point of view of limiting groundwater contamination.     

沼液处理对连作西瓜枯萎病发生、产量及品质的影响

利用沼液防治土传病害是实现沼液高值利用重要途径。以西瓜优佳018为材料,采用田间试验方式,研究等氮磷钾养分下,沼液结合覆膜、闷棚等综合防治措施,对西瓜连作土壤中尖孢镰刀菌数量的削减效果以及对西瓜产量及品质的影响。结果表明:水或沼液结合覆膜、闷棚等处理连作土壤20天,能有效降低土壤中尖孢镰刀菌的数量,其中沼液处理降低幅度更大。处理期间,沼液和水处理土壤温度、湿度显著高于对照。沼液处理减缓了西瓜枯萎病大面积发生的时间,前期(西瓜移栽后的45天内)西瓜枯萎病发病率和病情指数均显著低于水处理和对照,开花期之后发病率大幅提高,因而西瓜收获时沼液处理与对照发病率无显著差异,但病情指数显著低于对照。与对照和水处理相比,沼液处理西瓜产量、商品果产量、维生素C含量均显著提高,而硝酸盐含量降低,但沼液处理西瓜含糖量低于对照。以上表明,利用沼液处理西瓜连作土壤能有效增加西瓜产量,提升品质,并对枯萎病的发生有一定的延缓作用。     

Earthworm response to 10 weeks of incubation in a pot with acid mine spoil,sewage sludge,and lime

Applications of sewage sludge and lime have been used to restore some of the nearly 1.0 million ha of unreclaimed acid mine spoils in the United States. Earthworms might also aid in the reconstruction of mine spoils, but the earthworm response to mine spoils and sludge has not been widely studied. The objective of the present study was to examine growth of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris in pots containing acidmine spoils, sewage sludge, and lime, and the growth of two common reclamation grasses, timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), to the addition of earthworms. After 10 weeks, earthworms growing in the mine spoil treated with sewage sludge showed an increase in mean specific mass of 26.9% and in projected specific area of 24.5%. In contrast, earthworms growing on mine spoils without sludge decreased in mass by an average of 39.6% and in area by 21.0%. Soil pH influenced earthworm area, but not mass: earthworms growing on mine spoils (with or without sludge) showed an increase in mean surface area of 2.9% at pH 5.3 and a decrease of 11.2% at pH 6.5. The presence of earthworms significantly increased the belowground production of plant roots, but had no effect on either soil bulk density or above-ground production of plant biomass. The addition of earthworms to acid mine spoils treated with sewage sludge and lime might aid in the redevelopment of soil quality and biological diversity.     

秸秆不同还田方式对土壤低吸力段持水能力及蒸发特性的影响

利用张力计测定蒸发过程中低吸力段土壤水分特征曲线,对比研究了秸秆在经过粉碎、氨化及与无机土壤改良剂混合三种措施处理后对土壤饱和含水量、低吸力段土壤持水及供水能力和早期干旱过程中土壤脱水速度的影响。结果显示:粉碎秸秆施入土壤后提高了土壤饱和含水量、持水及供水能力,而长秸秆对土壤饱和含水量、持水及供水能力的影响较小;粉碎并氨化的秸秆对土壤饱和含水量、持水及供水能力的提高作用更为显著。粉碎秸秆及长秸秆处理均易造成早期干旱过程中脱水速度过快,氨化后或当秸秆与无机土壤改良剂混合施入土壤时,土壤低吸力段脱水速度明显减慢,利于土壤有效水的保存。该结果为提出新的能最大效率发挥秸秆改良土壤作用的秸秆还田方式提供了一定的理论基础。     

Yield,quality and K/(Ca+Mg) ratio of tall fescue breeding lines on amended and nonamended minesoil

Abstract

Surface mineable coal is abundant beneath many farmland areas in Missouri. Presently, 90% of the electricity generated in the state is by coal powered plants. Surface strip‐mining laws now require reclamation of these lands after drastic disturbance. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinancea Schreb) cultivars and breeding lines have been evaluated for yield, nutrient composition and quality on undisturbed lands, but not for these qualities and for adaptability to revegetate drastically disturbed lands.

Six breeding lines and 2 cultivars of tall fescue were evaluated for yield, nutrient composition, crude protein and IVDMD on limed and unlisted minesoils in west‐central Missouri. The experimental design was a randomized split‐block with lime treatment the split‐block, 3‐replications, with individual plots 1.21 × 3.05 m. Agriculture lime with ENM index of 291 at rate of 19 mt/ha was incorporated, fescue seeded and the experimental area mulched during August‐September, 1978. The 1979 harvest samples were composited for crude protein, nutrient and IVDMD analyses and the 1980 harvest samples were analyzed for individual plots.

The 1979 yield was not significantly different between genetic materials, but mean yield from limed minesoil was significantly higher than from unlimed minesoil. Yield data evaluation suggest Kenny, WG3B, HMR to yield highest on unlimed minesoil and WG2B, LMR and HMR highest on limed minesoil, with MO‐96 lowest in yield limed or unlimed. The calculated K/(Ca+Mg) ratio of HMR and Kenhy was interpreted to be borderline for potential occurrence of grass tetany under limed environment. Differential divalent cation accumulation capacities of the breeding lines LMR and HMR was expressed on both the limed and unlimed minesoil. Potassium was not judged to reach a sufficiently high or Mg sufficiently low level to suggest potential problem of hypomagnesaema.

Lime increased IVDMD, but not crude protein. Crude protein varied by year, but IVDMD remained nearly constant. The genetic materials MO‐96 and H‐I accumulated higher quantities of Mg upon liming, but had lower IVDMD. Differences in yield were not significantly related to cation accumulation or forage quality on this minesoil, limed or unlimed.     

Potential use of rare earth oxides as tracers of organic matter in grassland

Tracing organic matter (OM) in soil is challenging, because runoff and leaching processes are interrelated and have multiple sources. Therefore, multiple tracers with low background concentrations such as rare earth element oxides (REOs) are necessary to delineate the origin of sources of the organic materials in groundwater, rivers or in catchments. The main objective of this study was to examine the potential use of REOs as a tracer in various forms of OM (1) whole slurry, (2) solid, and (3) liquid phase of cattle slurry after mechanical separation. A laboratory experiment was carried out using five REOs (La, Gd, Sm, Pr, and Nd oxides) mixed directly into soil or mixed with various fractions of cattle slurry and then applied to the soil surface. In the additional grassland experiment, Gd oxide was spiked with soil and cattle slurry and then applied to the soil surface. The mineral N in the liquid phase (urine) of the slurry in the grassland experiment was labelled with ¹⁵N urea (16 atom%). In the laboratory experiment, results showed that the five REOs concentration of soil in 0–1 cm soil section after the rainfall simulation was still up to 20 times more than the background values. In 1–2 cm soil section, the concentration of only Gd (two fold higher) and La oxides (50% higher) were significantly higher than the soil background values. Therefore, we hypothesized that Gd and La oxides were associated also with relatively finer organic particles in slurry, thus 1–2 cm soil section were enriched with these oxides. The five REOs concentration below 2 cm soil depth were similar to the background values in all treatments. In line with the laboratory experiment, Gd concentrations in the deeper soil layers (2–4 and 4–8 cm) in the grassland experiment were not significantly affected by any treatment. Both in grassland and laboratory experiment, solid phase of the slurry (dung) was collected from the soil surface after rainfall simulation. Here, about 56% of REOs were measured on the solid phase of the slurry which indicates the strong binding potential of REOs on slurry OM. The present novel study, where REO tagged slurry was uniquely tested to study geochemical cycle of organic fertilizers, clearly highlighted the potential for their use as multiple‐tracers of (animal derived‐) OM in agricultural soils.     

天然有机添加物提高植物修复污染土壤效率：研究进展综述.

Environmental pollution caused by metals, radionuclides and organic pollutants affects quality of the biosphere: soil, water and air.Currently, great efforts have been made to reduce, remove or stabilize contaminants in polluted sites. There has been increasing interest in phytoremediation—the use of plants to reduce concentration of pollutants or to render them harmless. This paper provides a brief review of recent progress in the research and practical application of phytoremediation techniques. Improvements in phytoremediation due to utilization of organic amendments, namely, agro- and industrial wastes(such as sugar beet residue, composted sewage sludge or molasses), biochar, humic substances, plant extracts and exudates are discussed, as well as their influences on soil structure and characteristics, plants growth and bioavailability of pollutants. Both plant-assisted phytoremediation and the use of natural materials in the absence of remediating plant are believed to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly approaches for soil cleanup. However,the characterization and quantification of a range of natural materials used in phytoremediation are essential in order to implement these approaches to practice.     

Subsoil water available in suction and poor in amount under continuous grassland use

Soil water storage in grassland is critical to regulate herbage yield while it may be threatened by continuous land use without plowing because of the progress of soil compaction associated with worsening soil hydraulic properties. This study aimed at contrasting the quantity and the availability of soil water in a meadow which had not been renovated for 13 years. We monitored matric potentials and mass soil water contents to 100 cm depth from autumn to winter in which plant transpiration was dormant. Soil water capacities were determined with soil water characteristics. The measurements were made in both a harvesting area in which agricultural vehicles had been operated, and a tree cover area which had experienced almost no vehicle loads. The soil layer in the tree cover area had a larger capacity for readily available moisture than that in the harvesting area. The matric potentials in the tree cover area varied in time between 0 and -1000 cm regardless of depth while those in the harvesting area were rather steady. These suggested better pore water continuity in the tree cover area. In the subsoil layers in both the harvesting and the tree cover areas, the soil water contents in terms of actually stored water did not reach as high a level as those expected from the soil moisture characteristics of the matric potential of -1000 cm. On the other hand, the measured matric potentials were consistently readily available for plants during the entire period of measurement. The apparent discrepancy between the matric potentials in readily available vs. actually stored water implied that the subsoil layers had become drier than observed during the study period, and that soil water hysteresis had prevented the full recovery of the water storage.     

Estimation of water dynamics in a vertical-flow constructed wetland with a growing plant species

Purpose  

Vertical-flow constructed wetland (VFCW) is a promising technique for wastewater treatment comparable to conventional wastewater treatment plants. The physical, chemical, and biological processes and interactions in a VFCW are highly coupled with water movement, and thus the performance of a VFCW to remove contaminants hinges on a better understanding of its water dynamics. The aim of this study was to develop a model for estimating water dynamics in an artificial VFCW with a growing plant system.     

Removal of Heavy Metals from Soils using Enhanced Electrokinetic Soil Processing

In order to remediate contaminated land, a new process of electrokinetic purging of heavy metals from saturated soil is examined by laboratory experiments. Electrokinetic soil remediation is one of the most promising soil decontamination processes as it has high removal efficiency and time-effectiveness in low permeability soils such as clay. Being combined with several mechanisms-electromigration, electroosmosis, diffusion and electrolysis of water, electrokinetic soil processing can remove non-polar organics as well as ionic contaminants. This study suggests that the removal efficiencies for Pb and Cd are significantly influencedby applied voltage and current, type of purging solutions, soilpH, permeability and zeta potential of soil. The removal efficiencies for Pb and Cd were 75–85% for the kaolinite soil and 50–70% for the tailing soil over the duration of 4 days. For heavy metals, their adsorption capacities on the soil surface and mobilities in soil have significant effects on the removal efficiency.     

Fluorescence analysis of copper(II) and zinc(II) binding behaviour of fulvic acids from pig slurry and amended soils

The evaluation of the mechanisms and extent of interaction of Cu(II) and Zn(II) with fulvic acids (FAs) is of importance for understanding the mobility and bioavailability of these metals in pig slurry (PS)‐amended soils. In this work, a fluorescence titration method and a single site model were used to characterize the interaction of Cu(II) and Zn(II) with FAs isolated from PS, from soils amended with 90 and 150 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of PS for 7 years and from the corresponding unamended soil. The binding capacities of FAs and the strengths of metal ion‐FA complexes were larger for Cu(II) than for Zn(II). With respect to the unamended control soil FA, PS‐FA was characterized by smaller binding capacities and stability constants. The binding capacities and affinities of PS‐amended soil FA were intermediate between those of unamended soil FA and PS‐FA, and tended to decrease with increasing amounts of PS applied to soil, thus suggesting a partial incorporation of FA fractions of PS into native soil FA.     

Improving Soil Fertility to Support Grass–Legume Revegetation on Lignite Mine Spoils

The short-term sequential effects of different treatments on soil fertility and revegetation of mine spoils were examined in a lignite mine in northwestern Spain. Experimental plots were established both on old and recent spoils after tillage and treated with compost or nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), + magnesium limestone before seeding with a grass–legume species mixture. Compost improved plant production and, contrary to NPK, maintained soil N levels and supplied enough P for the establishment and early growth of the vegetation. Severe magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and K limitations in recent spoils were only alleviated by compost + magnesium limestone, allowing the rapid growth and coating of the soil surface. The amendment based on NPK + magnesium limestone improved plant production in the short term but caused proliferation of weeds. Results suggest that revegetation in combination with the appropriate amendments is a key issue for the reclamation of lignite mine spoils.     

Sustainable Management of Nutrients in Forage-Based Pasture Soils: Effect of Animal Congregation Sites (5 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope   Grazing animals have a dominant effect on the movement and utilization of nutrients through the soil and plant system, and thus on the fertility of pasture soils. Grazing can accelerate and alter the timing of nutrient transfers, and increase the amount of nutrients cycled from plant to soil. Long periods, position of shade, and water resources for grazing cattle can influence the spatial distribution of soil biochemical properties including soil organic carbon (C), total extractable inorganic nitrogen (TEIN), and Melich 1 extractable total phosphorus (TP). The objective of this study is to test whether cattle congregation sites typical on most Florida ranches, such as mineral feeders, water troughs, and shade areas are more nutrient-rich and may contribute more nutrients to surface and groundwater supply than in other pasture locations under Florida conditions. Materials and Methods: Baseline soil samples around and beneath three congregations sites in established (>10 yr) grazed beef cattle pastures at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Subtropical Agricultural Research Station (STARS), Brooksville, FL, were collected in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Results: The levels of soil TEIN and TP were significantly (p ≤ 0.001) affected by the interaction of congregation sites and distance away from the center of the sites. Mineral feeders had the highest concentration of TP followed by shades and water troughs. The concentrations of soil TP decreased almost linearly with distance (x = meter) away from the center of the mineral feeders (-5.24x + 55.10; R2 = 0.92; p ≤ 0.001) and the shades (-6.25x + 57.21; R2 = 0.85; p ≤ 0.001). However, the level of TP around the water troughs (-0.25x + 16.91; R2 = 0.09) does not appear to change significantly with distance, staying close to about 13-18 mg kg-1. The levels of TEIN decreased linearly with distance away from the mineral feeders from the center of the shades. A linear model can describe the relationship between TEIN and distance away from the center of shades: -11.3x + 78.2; R2 = 0.95; p ≤ 0.001. The shaded sites (34.25 ± 1.7 mg kg-1) had higher levels than the mineral feeders (7.22 ± 0.60 mg kg-1) or water troughs (10.06 ± 0.8 mg kg-1) sites. Discussion: The higher soil TP near and around the mineral feeders can be attributed to the presence of phosphorus in the supplemental feeds. The average level of soil TP in the mineral feeders of 34.05 ± 0.44 mg kg-1 was not high enough to be of environmental concern. Losses of soil phosphorus by overland flow are becoming a big concern when the concentrations for soil phosphorus exceeded 150 mg kg-1 in the upper 20 cm of soils. With TN, the shaded sites (34.25 ± 1.7 mg kg-1) had either higher levels than the mineral feeders (7.22 ± 0.60 mg kg-1) or water trough (10.06 ± 0.80 mg kg-1) sites. Higher TEIN content at the shade sites may have been more likely due to frequent urination of animals and lack of vegetation immediately adjacent to shades. The lack of vegetation within and/or near the shades then had no uptake mechanism for removal of inorganic nitrogen, unlike the heavy demand for inorganic nitrogen by bahiagrass in other areas of the pasture. An accumulation of TEIN immediately adjacent to shades could lead to a potential point source that would be susceptible to leaching or gaseous losses to the environment. Conclusions: Early results of the study are suggesting that cattle congregation sites in beef cattle operations in Florida are not nutrient-rich, therefore may not contribute more nutrients to surface and groundwater supply under Florida conditions. Recommendations and Perspectives: Since there is no apparent vertical build up or horizontal movement of TEIN and TP in the landscape, we can then surmise that cattle congregation sites may be considered not a potential source of nutrients at the watershed level, at least on the sand ridge soils in Florida. Further research is continuing, including sampling at cattle congregation sites at other locations in north and south Florida, which started in July 2004.     

The application of vegetable,fruit and garden waste (VFG) compost in addition to cattle slurry in a silage maize monoculture: Effects on soil fauna and yield

In Flanders, vegetable, fruit and garden (VFG) wastes are collected selectively and composted. We studied the effects of the combined application of three different doses of VFG compost and cattle slurry during 7 years on maize dry matter yields and three soil faunal groups: nematodes, micro-arthropods (springtails and mites) and earthworms. Combined application of VFG compost and slurry resulted in the highest yields. Initially, there was a clear yield depression on plots amended with compost in contrast to an upward trend in the last application years, proving a significant residual N effect from cumulative compost applications. The plant parasitic nematodes Pratylenchus sp. and the Tylenchidae were less abundant on plots receiving organic amendments, while the population of the bacteriophagous Rhabditidae was higher on these plots. Adding organic amendments resulted in increased numbers of micro-arthropods, springtails as well as mites. Earthworms were significantly more abundant when organic amendments were applied. The VFG compost had a larger overall positive effect on the three soil faunal groups than cattle slurry.     

Metsulfuron methyl sorption-desorption in field-moist soils

Pesticide sorption coefficients (K(d)) are generally obtained using batch slurry methods. As a consequence, the results may not adequately reflect sorption processes in field-moist or unsaturated soil. The objective of this study was to determine sorption of metsulfuron methyl, a weak acid, in field-moist soils. Experiments were performed using low density (i.e., 0.3 g mL(-)(1)) supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SF-CO(2)) to convert anionic metsulfuron methyl to the molecular species and remove it from the soil water phase only, thus allowing calculation of sorption coefficients (K(d)) at low water contents. K(d) values for sorption of the metsulfuron methyl molecular species on sandy loam, silt loam, and clay loam soil at 11% water content were 120, 180, and 320 mL g(-)(1), respectively. Using neutral species K(d) values, the pK(a) of metsulfuron methyl, and the pH of the soil, we could successfully predict the K(d) values obtained using the batch slurry technique, which typically has a predominance of anionic species in solution during the sorption characterization. This application of supercritical fluid extraction to determine sorption coefficients, combined with sulfonylureas' pK(a) values and the soil pH, will provide an easy method to predict sorption in soil at different pH levels.