The Positive Effect of Sulfur on Selenium Detoxification Under Selenite Condition in Wheat

An experiment was performed to evaluate the regulatory effects of varied amounts of sulfur (S) on selenium (Se) uptake and distribution within wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in response to selenite (SeO₃^2-). The results showed that an appropriate amount of SeO₃^2- (≤5 mg kg^?1) improved the agronomic traits of wheat, and the addition of S significantly alleviated wheat growth inhibition caused by excessive SeO₃^2- (≥15 mg kg^?1). The Se concentration of different fractions in wheat grain showed a tendency of alkali-soluble Se > alcohol-soluble Se > water-soluble Se > salt-soluble Se. The use of S significantly reduced Se accumulation in each wheat part when the addition of SeO₃^2- was ≤15 mg kg^?1, but the Se distribution ratio of various wheat parts was not influenced by S supply. Overall, the application of S fertilizer is an effective technical measure to promote wheat production safety in high-Se areas.     

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) biofortification with selenium: How do sulphate and phosphate influence the efficiency of selenate application into soil?

ABSTRACT

The connection between sulphur (S) and selenium (Se) metabolism makes rapeseed (Brassica napus) an attractive candidate for Se fortification. Unfortunately, fertilizers may interfere with the availability of selenate (SeO₄^2-) in numerous ways, including both soil and physiological processes. Experiments on two agricultural soils amended with SeO₄^2- (32 μg Se kg^?1 soil), sulphate and phosphate (each at three levels of supply) were established to elucidate the effect of these anions on the selenization efficiency. Maximal efficiency in Chernozem soil was roughly two-fold higher (455 μg Se kg^?1 seed) than in Cambisol. Sulphate significantly decreased (up to 28%) the seed Se contents in Cambisol, while an enhancement (up to 33%) was found in Chernozem. In the Chernozem, the induction of collective S and Se translocation toward the seed more than compensated for any competition effects due to the highest sulphate supply. In Cambisol, plant Se distribution did not follow that of S as closely as in Chernozem. Phosphate did not significantly alter the fortification efficiency. Resistance of rapeseed proteins to protease hampered a quantitative investigation of changes in Se speciation under different S supplies. Nevertheless, protein-bound selenomethionine was the predominant Se storage form and traces of other Se species were also identified.     

Evaluation of Two Products Recently Introduced as Nitrification Inhibitors

This study compared the relative effectiveness of two products recently introduced as nitrification inhibitors with other materials used to inhibit nitrification. Four soils were treated with 0, 0.2, 1, 5, and 25 mg kg^?1 of nitrapyrin (NP), a new microencapsulated nitrapyrin product (ENP), dicyandiamide (DCD), a new maleic-itaconic polymer product (MIP), and ammonium thiosulfate (ATS). The soils were also treated with 200 mg N kg^?1 as urea, and percent inhibition of nitrification determined after 2 or 4 weeks of incubation. After 4 weeks, similar levels of nitrification inhibition were provided by 1 mg kg^?1 of NP (72%), 5 mg kg^?1 of ENP (79%), and 25 mg kg^?1 of DCD (73%), averaged across soil. After 4 weeks with a sandy soil, the highest rate of MIP and ATS provided 15 and 36% inhibition, respectively. MIP and ATS were ineffective at inhibiting nitrification when added to the other three soils.

Abbreviations: ATS: ammonium thiosulfate; DCD: dicyandiamide; ENP: encapsulated nitrapyrin; MIP: maleic-itaconic polymer; NP: nitrapyrin; UAN: urea-ammonium nitrate liquid fertilizer     

Soil organic carbon balance and nutrients (NPK) availability under treated wastewater irrigation for bioenergy sorghum production in an arid ecosystem

This column study evaluated the effects of irrigation with two water qualities (WW and FW) to produce bioenergy sorghum on SOC balance, nutrients availability and salt constituents in two soils (TX and NM) amended with gypsum & elemental sulfur (S) and un-amended. Study results indicated that SOC concentration was higher in freshwater irrigated columns (7.41 g kg^?1) than wastewater irrigated soils (7.32 g kg^?1) across growth year-soil type-amendments-depth. Soils amended with gypsum and sulfur registered significantly higher value of 7.52 and 7.41 g kg^?1 compared to 7.30 and 7.23 g kg^?1 in non-amended soils under fresh and wastewater irrigation, respectively. Lower SOC in WW irrigated columns could be due to the combined effects of increased salinity and priming effects. Although SOC content initially increased in gypsum and S amended soils to about 10g kg^?1, at the end of the study SOC in all treatments decreased to levels significantly below the pre-study. WW irrigation added 2.00, 1.10 and 4.40 times the N, P and K added by fertilizers and was able to meet 65%, 87%, and 210% of bioenergy sorghum uptake of respective nutrients. Sulfates and chlorides of sodium and calcium were dominant salts, which significantly affected SOC and nutrients.

Abbreviations: FW: freshwater; WW: treated wastewater; G + S: gypsum and elemental sulfur; NA: no amendment, TX: Texas soil and NM: New Mexico soil     

Sorption behavior of selenium and antimony in soils as a function of phosphate ion concentration

Abstract

Both selenium (Se) and antimony (Sb) are major soil and water pollutants. Their sorption behavior in a soil–plant system was studied. Soil–soil solution distribution coefficients (K _ds) for Se and Sb were measured, using a radiotracer, as an indicator of their sorption levels. Both Se and Sb behave as oxoanions (SeO^2? ₄, H₂PO^? ₄ and SO^2? ₄) in soil; thus, the effects of concentrations of two major oxoanions (SeO^2? ₄ and SeO^2? ₃) on Se and Sb sorption were also examined. The K _d values for Se for Japanese soils significantly correlated with the K _d values for Sb (n = 141). The K _ds of both Se and Sb similarly decreased with increasing SbO^? ₃ concentration. These results indicated that the sorption of Se and Sb was similarly controlled by a ligand-exchange mechanism such as phosphate sorption in soil. However, an increase in the concentration of SeO^2? ₃ did not decrease the K _ds of Se and Sb. Furthermore, the ligand-exchangeable fractions of stable Se and Sb in major Japanese soils were determined by extraction with 0.1 mol L^?1 Na₂HPO₄ solution. For both Se and Sb, the phosphate-extractable fractions were 10-fold higher for Se and fivefold higher for Sb than their water-soluble fractions. Although the total Se and Sb amounts in soils were the same, their ligand-exchangeable fractions were different. Approximately 0.9–12% of total Se and 0.2–1.3% of total Sb were extracted by the phosphate solution. These findings suggested that Se was more likely to be mobilized by the addition of phosphate than Sb. The effect of plant-available phosphate in the soil and the phosphate sorption capacity of soil on Se and Sb availabilities for plants were also examined using a pot experiment with soybean plants. The experimental results suggested that a high content of available phosphate and/or low phosphate sorption capacity of soil increased both Se and Sb availabilities to the plant. However, the results also suggested that the soil Se availability to the plant was higher than that of Sb even though the soil total Se and Sb amounts were the same.     

Effect of Boron on Antioxidant Response of Two Lentil (Lens culinaris) Cultivars

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for plants through paticipating key reactions such as reproduction, development, and regeneration. Similar to its deficiency, its over-concentations possess toxic effects on plant growth. In this work, possible boron toxicity was researched through evaluating alaterations in antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress biomarkers, and chlorophyll contents for two types of lentil species as red (native) and green (winter flake 11) lentil (Lens culinaris L.cv) cultivars, which are indigenous to Turkey. Ten days old seedling lentil plants were subjected to low as 0.5, 1.0 mM and high 2.0 and 5.0 mM boric acid treatments for 7 days. B worked as a growth-promoting nutrient for 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mM concentration by enhancing length and weight of both shoot and root tissues, while it started showed its suppression effect on these tissues at 5-mM cocentration, which were obtained more dramatic for green lentil in comparison to red lentil. In contrast to this, oxidative stress markers such as MDA, H₂O₂, and proline concentrations showed increasing trend for 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 mM B treatment, accompanied with a change in photosynthetic pigment concentrations (p < 0.01). MDA in red lentil shoot control was 30,3871 (μmol/gFW) and it was significantly increased to 36,5806 and 51,7414 by the 2.0 and 5.0 B rates, respectively. However, enzymes in anti-oxidation metabolism include superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), lipoxygenase (LOX), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were obtained higher in high-B-treated groups, while decreased and stable activities were obtained for catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzymes. CAT and APX activities were higher than those were obtained for 2.0 and 5.0 mM B treatments in both root and shoot tissues. The lentil species manipulated their metabolism to suppress B-stress, and enhanced growth in shoot and root tissues up to 5-mM B stress even though oxidative stress markers showed increasing trend from low B concentrations, 1.0 mM. Therefore, B stress can be claimed as “doubled edge sword” for these lentil species.

Abbreviations

AOS, active oxygen species; APX, ascorbate peroxidase; CAT, catalase; DAB, diamino-benzidine tetrahydrochloride; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide DW, dry weight; EDTA, ethylenediamine-N,N,N₀,N₀-tetraacetic acid; FW, fresh weight GPX, guaiacol peroxidase; GSH-P_x, glutathione peroxidase; LOX, lipoxygenase; MDA, malondialdehyde; NBT, nitroblue tetrazolium; PEG, polyethylene glycol; ROS, reactive oxygen species; SOD, superoxide dismutase; H₂O_2, Hydrogen peroxide;     

Ameliorative effect of selenium on tomato plants grown under salinity stress

The ability of selenium (Se) to counteract salt inhibitory effects in crop plants, especially in tomato, is still poorly documented. In order to examine the impact of Se addition on the growth, some biochemical parameters related to osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense of salt-stressed tomato, a two-factorial experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. The plants were supplied with NaCl (0, 25, or 50 mM) and Se (0, 5, or 10 μM), individually or simultaneously. The results showed that salinity had a deleterious impact on plant biomass and physiological parameters studied. The application of Se alleviated this adverse effect by improving the integrity of cell membranes and by increasing leaf relative water content under stress conditions. Moreover, the application of 10 μM Se significantly increased the photosynthetic pigments concentration under salt stress. Salt stress also caused an inhibition of catalase activity, but its activity was restored in the presence of Se. The free radical scavenging activity significantly increased in plants subjected to 25 mM NaCl and supplied with 5 µM Se, compared to NaCl-alone treatment. Both physiological and biochemical results indicate that 10 µM Se treatment can increase plant performance under salt stress, especially under high NaCl concentration.

Abbreviations: CAT: catalase; Chl: chlorophyll; DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; DW: dry weight; FW: fresh weight; POD: peroxidase; REL: relative electrolyte leakage; RWC: relative water content; free radical scavenging activity (FRSA); TW: turgid weight     

Uptake and remobilization of selenium in Brassica napus L. plants supplied with selenate or selenium‐enriched plant residues

Selenium (Se) biofortification via crops is one of the best strategies to elevate the daily Se intake in areas where soil Se levels are low. However, Se fertilizer recovery (SeFR) is low and most of the Se taken up accumulates in non‐harvested plant parts and returns to the soil with plant residues. A pot experiment with soil was undertaken to study the efficiency of inorganic Se (Na₂SeO₄) and Se‐enriched plant residues for biofortification, as well as to identify the bottlenecks in Se utilization by Brassica napus L. The soil was fertilized with Na₂SeO₄ (0 and 7 µg Se kg^?1) or with Se in stem or leaf residues (0 and 7 µg Se kg^?1). A treatment with autoclaved soil was included (0 and 7 µg kg^?1 as Na₂SeO₄) to unravel the impact of microbial activity on Se uptake. The Se‐enriched plant residues produced a lower Se uptake efficiency (SeUPE) and SeFR than did inorganic Se, and soil autoclaving enhanced Se accumulation in the plants. The time required for decomposition seems to preclude crop residues as an alternative source of Se. Furthermore, B. napus had a limited capacity to accumulate Se in seeds. The study shows that the bottlenecks in Se biofortification appear to be its low bioavailability in soil and poor loading from the silique walls to seeds. Thus, improved Se translocation to seeds would be a useful breeding goal in B. napus to increase SeFR.     

Inorganic anion sorption and interactions with phosphate sorption by hydrous ferric oxide gel

The sorption of inorganic anions by hydrous ferric oxide gel (Fe gel) from 10 ^?1 M NaClO₄ at pH 6.5 decreased in the order: orthophosphate (H₂PO₄)>arsenate (H₂AsO₄) = selenite (HseO3) > silicate (H₄SiO₄) > molybdate (MoO²₄^?) > sulphate (SO²₄^?) > selenate(SeO²₄^?)>chloride (Cl^?) = nitrate (NO^?₃). When each anion was added to Fe gel with an equimolar quantity of H₂PO^?₄, there was no detectable effect of SO²₄^?, SeO²₄^?, Cl^?, and NO^?₃ on the amount of H₂PO^?₄ sorbed. Other anions depressed H₂PO₄ sorption in the order H₂AsO₄ >HseO₃ > H₄SiO₄ > MoO²₄. At the lowest level of anion addition (500 mmol kg ^?1), H₂PO₄ sorption was depressed by no more than 6% of the sorption level in the absence of a competing anion. In contrast, at the highest level of anion addition (1700 mmol kg-¹ of each), H₂AsO₄ decreased H₂PO₄ sorption by 44%. The sorption of SO₄^? was completely eliminated when this anion was added with equimolar amounts of H₂PO₄. The ability of anions to compete with H₂PO₄ for sorption sites could not be explained solely by the results obtained for the sorption of each anion alone. Thus, H₂AsO₄ was more competitive than H₂PO₄ when added together, even though more H₂PO₄ than H₂AsO₄ was sorbed when each anion was added alone. Although H₂PO₄ was sorbed in larger amounts, there is no evidence to suggest that H₂PO₄. H₂AsO₄, and HseO₃ were sorbed on different sites.     

Effect of moisture stress on Nitrate Reductase Activity (NRA) in PEA (Pisum sativum L.) [C3] and sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) [C4] plants

Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was studied in pea, a C₃ plant, and sorghum, a C₄ plant, at various stages of growth and development. Influence of moisture stress and nitrogen application was also observed since these factors have profound influence on growth and development.

In pea, NRA was maximum at pod maturity stage and minimum at flowering stage. In sorghum plant there was gradual increase in NRA upto grain formation followed by a fall in activity at maturity.

Nitrogen treatment as nitrate and ammonia significantly increased nitrate reductase activity over control in both pea and sorghum. Treatment with potassium nitrate was found to stimulate more NRA in pea than with ammonium sulphate. In sorghum, both forms of nitrogen did not differ much in their influence on NRA.

Influence of moisture stress in reducing NRA was more clear in sorghum, a C₄ plant than in pea, a C₃ plant. In general, control plants recorded low NRA in both the crops when compared to nitrogen treated plants except at pod formation stage in pea.     

黑麦草对硒的吸收、分配与累积

用营养液培养方法研究了黑麦草(Lolium.multiflorum,Lamaubada)对硒的吸收、分配和累积特征以及硒对黑麦草生物量的影响,以探讨黑麦草对硒的吸收和利用规律。结果表明,不同SeO32--Se浓度处理的黑麦草在不同生育期的硒含量大小顺序均表现为分蘗期拔节期抽穗期苗期,且其差异在低硒浓度([Se4+]0.05.mg／L)时表现不明显,在非中毒范围内,黑麦草体内含硒量随供硒水平的提高而增加。在不同硒浓度处理中,黑麦草不同器官的硒含量大小顺序均为根叶茎,黑麦草吸收的SeO32--Se大部分在根部累积,少部分转移到茎与叶中,SeR／SeL3,SeR／Ses4。当营养液中加入低浓度硒([Se4+]=0-0.1.mg／L)时促进了黑麦草的生长,其生物量随外源硒浓度的增大而增加;高浓度硒([Se4+]1.0.mg／L)时抑制黑麦草的生长甚至引起中毒死亡。抽穗期黑麦草对硒的阶段累积率最大,达40.42％。     

The relative efficiency of ionic iron(III) and iron(II) utilization by the rice plant

Uptake of iron by rice plants was equally rapid when supplied as ionic iron(II) or iron(III) at pH 3 and 4. Iron(III) uptake was reduced at pH 5 and uptake of iron when supplied as FeEDTA was relatively low at all three pH levels.

At pH 4 in the presence of plant roots, reduction of iron(III) to iron(II) occurred as indicated by Fe²⁺ BPDS formation. BPDS in a 3:1 ratio to iron(III) suppressed iron uptake by about 70%. The reduction was observed to be located in the endodermis of young roots and exodermis of older roots.

A capacity to oxidize iron(II) at the root surface was also observed under local anaerobic and relatively high pH conditions.

The significance of these two counteracting processes in affecting the oxidation state of iron at the root surface is discussed.     

Establishing sorption isotherm to meet phosphorus requirement for tomato seedling growth 1

An Indiana silt loam soil was equilibrated with various amounts of Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ H₂O and a 0.01 M CaCl₂ solution to construct its phosphorus sorption isotherms. Using the isotherms, the P buffering capacity of the soil was calculated and amounts of fertilizer P necessary to give several levels of P in the soil solution, for experiments conducted over a 2 year period, were determined. Twenty‐four day old tomato seedlings were grown and measured for leaf area, root length, dry weights and P concentrations in leaf, petiole, stem and root.

Phosphorus concentration in soil solution increased slowly with the first increment of P added to the soil. Subsequent P additions increased the P concentrations in solution exponentially. The maximum P absorption by the soil was 324 μg P/g soil and the constant related to P binding energy was 1.37. In addition, the soil buffering capacity decreased with an increase in the amount of P in the soil solution.

Plant shoot dry weight increased linearly with P increase in the concentration range 0.65 to 6.5 μM P in soil solution. However, beyond this level the response was low. The leaf area rate of increase in the 0.65 to 6.5 μM P solution concentration range was 75 times that in the 6.5 to 84 μM P. The root length: shoot dry weight ratio decreased with increasing P supply in the soil solution. P uptake by the plants increased with increased P concentration in soil solution. At soil solution concentrations above 6.5 μMP the rate of P uptake in the shoot was 20 times less than the rate for concentrations below 6.5 μM P. Of the P taken up by tomato seedlings about 65% was in the leaf, 13% in the stem, 13% in the petiole and 9% in the root.     

Iron nutrition of sunflower(Helianthus annuus L.) as affected by various levels of p and ZN

The effects of various P and Zn levels on iron nutrition of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.c.v. Record) were studied in two separate experiments in nutrient solution under greenhouse conditions.

In the first experiment, sunflower was grown in nutrient solutions containing four levels of P(1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 mM/l) and three levels of Fe(0.25, 0.75, and 1.5 ppm) as FeCl₃ or FeEDDHA. In the second experiment (following the first experiment), the treatments were three P levels (0.75, 1.50 and 3.00 mM/l), three Fe levels (0.25, 0.75 and 1.5 ppm) as FeEDDHA and three Zn levels (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 ppm).

The plants receiving Fe‐chelate, except for 0.25 ppm Fe, showed no symptoms of iron chlorosis. With inorganic Fe treatments, iron chlorosis appeared after 7–10 days depending on P level, but except for 0.25 ppm Fe which remained chlorotic, plants recovered completely within 3–4 days thereafter due to pH regulating mechanism of sunflower under iron stress condition. With both sources of Fe, chlorosis was associated with high P:Fe ratio.

Increased P and Fe levels in nutrient solution resulted in general increases in the dry weights of roots and shoots. The Fe concentration of shoots, except in few instances, was not affected by P levels, indicating that the sunflower cultivar used in this experiment could utilize inorganic Fe as well as Fe‐chelate under our experimental conditions.

Increasing P levels caused significant increases in Mn content of the shoots as 0.25 and 0.75 ppm inorganic Fe³⁺. Increased Fe levels increased shoot Mn content with inorganic Fe and decreased it with Fe‐chelate. The effects of P, Fe and Zn on sunflower indicated an antagonistic effect of Zn on 1.5 ppm Fe for all P levels. Increased Zn levels in nutrient solution generally increased Zn content of the shoots without having any marked effect on their Mn content.     

Anthropogenic Heavy Metal Pollution in the Surficial Sediments of the Keratsini Harbor, Saronikos Gulf, Greece

The contents of ten elements [Cd, Pb, W, Zn, Mn, As, Se, Cr, Cu, and organic carbon (C_org)] have been determined in the surficial sediments of Keratsini harbor, Saronikos Gulf, Greece. The contamination of the sediments was assessed on the basis of geoaccumulation index and to corresponding sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) effects range low/effects range median. The results revealed highly elevated Cd, Pb, W, Zn, As, Se, Cr, Cu, and C_org values (Cd, 190–1,763 mg kg^?1; Pb, 521–1,263 mg kg^?1; W, 38–100 mg kg^?1; Zn, 409–6,725 mg kg^?1; Mn, 95–1,101 mg kg^?1; As, not detectable–1,813 mg kg^?1; Se, not detectable–58 mg kg^?1; Cr, 264–860 mg kg^?1; Cu, 195–518 mg kg^?1; and C_org, 0.69–4.41%). The enrichment of metals in the sediments results from the contribution of the central Athens sewage outfall through which the waste of the Attica basin ends up in Keratsini harbor as well as from industrial and ship contaminants.     

Chemical Behavior of U(VI) in the Presence of Soil Components

Soil components from different environments (forest (OF), semiarid (SZ), and sand (AS)) were separated from fulvic and humic substances, characterized by DRX, EDS(SEM), and zero-charge points were determined. The sorption of U(VI) by these materials was determined considering contact time, concentration of U(VI), pH, ionic strength, and presence of sodium chloride and humic acids. The time to reach the kinetic sorption equilibrium was ca. 1 min for the components of the SZ and AS soils, whereas those from OF required longer times. The zero-charge points of the materials indicate that in the experimental conditions, the surfaces of the materials are positively charged, as are uranyl ions. The sorption kinetic data were well fitted to the pseudo-second-order model, which indicates chemical sorption. The maximum sorption capacities for U(VI) obtained from data fitted to the Langmuir model of OF and SZ were 49 and 19.8 mg g^?1 respectively. Sorption isotherm data for AS were best fitted to the Freundlich model (q_e?=?5.4 mg g^?1). The maximum values of distribution coefficients (K_d) were 23?±?7 L kg^?1, 545?±?64 L kg^?1, and 1178?±?229 L kg^?1 for AS, SZ, and OF, respectively; these values may depend on pH, contact time, initial concentration of U(VI), and the composition of the materials. Sodium chloride in the aqueous solutions affects U(VI) sorption by the materials SZ and AS. The effect of humic acids depends on pH, only in acid media soluble humate complexes may be formed.     

Specific sorption of antimony (III) by the hydrous oxides of Mn,Fe, and Al

The hydrous oxides of Mn, Fe, and Al avidly sorbed Sb from μM Sb(OH), solutions, with uptake levelling off as initial Sb concentration increased. Capacity values decreased along the sequence MnOOH > Al(OH)₃ > FeOOH. The amount sorbed by each substrate decreased gradually at pH values > 6. Addition of 0.4M CH₃COONa to the aqueous phase (to minimise retention of weakly bound Sb) had little effect on MnOOH uptake capacity (～160 mmol, kg^?1 at pH < 7) but retention dropped rapidly at higher pH. With the other two substrates (pH 6–7) the calculated capacity values for specific Sb sorption were ～ 45 mmol kg^?1 FeOOH and ～ 33 mmol kg^? Al(OH)₃; about a third of the total capacity values. On these substrates specific Sb sorption tended to peak in the pH 7 to 8 region. The pH response pattern was modified using Sb tartrate sorbate solutions. Factors influencing Sb sorption included substrate surface charge, chemical form of Sb and surface interactions. Formation of a sparingly soluble metal coating was indicated by the uptake plateaus observed when increasing amounts of solid were added to Sb solutions containing acetate.     

Steam activation of biochars facilitates kinetics and pH-resilience of sulfamethazine sorption

Purpose

Sulfamethazine (SMT) is increasingly detected in environmental matrices due to its versatile use as antibiotics. We aimed to investigate the benefits and roles of steam activation of biochars with respect to SMT sorption kinetics and equilibrium sorption.

Materials and methods

Biochars were produced from burcucumber plant and tea waste using a pyrolyzer at a temperature of 700 °C for 2 h. The biochar samples were treated with 5 mL min^?1 of steam for an additional 45 min for post-synthesis steam activation. The SMT sorption on the unmodified and steam activated biochars were compared.

Results and discussion

The time taken to reach equilibrium was significantly less for steam activated biochars (～4 h) than non-activated biochars (>24 h). Up to 98 % of SMT could be removed from aqueous solutions by steam activated biochars. The sorption kinetic behaviors were well described by the pseudo-second model and SMT sorption rates of steam activated biochars (k ₂?～?1.11–1.57 mg g^?1 min^?1) were significantly higher than that of the unmodified biochars (k ₂?～?0.04–0.11 mg g^?1 min^?1) because of increased availability of accessible porous structure with averagely larger pore diameters. Moreover, the equilibrium sorption on the unmodified biochars was significantly influenced by increasing solution pH (～30–50 % reduction) because of speciation change of SMT, whereas steam activated biochars manifested much stronger sorption resilience against pH variation (～2–4 % reduction only) because the enhanced porosity offset the effect of unfavorable electrostatic repulsion.

Conclusions

The observed features of steam activated biochars would render their applications more versatile and reliable in field throughout changeable environmental conditions.

     

Chloride interaction with nitrate and phosphate nutrition in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)

Tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse in 100 liter containers containing nutrient solutions. A 4 × 3 × 3 factorial experiment of Cl × N × P was conducted. The Cl^‐ concentrations were 0, 10, 35 and 70 meq/1; NO^‐ ₃ concentrations were 7.5, 15, and 20 meq/1; and H₂PO^‐ ₄ concentrations were 1, 2, and 5 meq/1. Fifteen different plant parameters were analyzed. There was a decline in dry matter yield with increasing Cl^‐ concentration in solution at all NO, and H₂PO^‐ ₄ levels. The effect of NO^‐ ₃ levels on dry matter at each Cl^‐level was varied and resulted in a significant Cl^‐ x NO^‐ ₃ interaction. The Cl^‐ affected all measured plant parameters but K and P content in the plant. Chloride content in the plant was depressed by increasing NO^‐ ₃ concentration in the solution at all levels of Cl^‐ in the solution. There was a little effect of H₂ PO^‐ ₄ on Cl^‐ and Mg content in the plant. The possibility of using NO^‐ ₃ fertilizers to depress Cl^‐ uptake by the plants is discussed.

Interaction between solution salinity and plant nutrition was investigated for several crops by Bernstein et al. (1974). Their experiments were conducted at relatively low nutrient solution concentrations which contained only 2 and 4 meq/l of NO^‐ ₃. Low NO^‐ ₃ concentrations are justified when very low C1^‐ concentrations are present in solution. Letey et al. (1982) did not find any response of tomato to increases in NO^‐ ₃ concentration beyond 1 meq/l in a chloride‐free solution. Hiatt and Leggett (1974) reported that increasing Cl^‐ concentration in the solution suppressed NO^‐ ₃ uptake by the plant. Direct competition between NO^‐ ₃ and Cl^‐ on uptake by plants was also reported by DeWit et al. (1963). There is therefore a possibility that yield reduction due to increased salinity is not entirely from Cl^‐ toxicity, but may be partially due to induced deficiency of NO^‐ ₃ by the increased external Cl^‐concentration (Wallace and Berry, 1981).

Reports on the effect of H₂FO^‐ ₄ interaction with salinity are conflicting (Champagnol, 1979). Some investigators report positive and others report negative effects of increased H₂PO^‐ ₄ concentrations on plant resistance to salinity. Nieman and Clark (1976) found that decreasing H₂PO^‐ ₄ from 1 to 0.1 meq/l increased resistance of the plant to salinity.

The purpose of the work reported herein was to check the hypotheses that increasing NO^‐ ₃ and H₂PO^‐ ₄ concentrations in the nutrient solution will decrease Cl^‐ uptake and thus increase plant resistance to Cl^‐ salinity or conversely high Cl^‐ in the water requires higher NO^‐ ₃ concentration for adequate N supply as compared to low Cl^‐.     

Competitive sorption of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) surfactants and the antibiotics sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin in wastewater-irrigated soils of the Mezquital Valley,Mexico

Purpose

The increasing reuse of wastewater for irrigation introduces surfactants and antibiotics into the environment. How these two kinds of compounds interact with regard to their sorption processes in soil is not clear.

Materials and methods

We performed batch experiments to investigate the sorption of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) and its effect on sorption of sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin in irrigated and non-irrigated soils with different organic matter (OM) contents.

Results and discussion

LAS sorption was non-linear in the presence of the antibiotics, and as general trend, it increased with rising OM content of soils. Free LAS was also removed from solution by complexation with Ca²⁺. Dissolved organic compounds released from soils with OM contents ≥18.4 g kg^?1 further reduced LAS sorption. Sorption of sulfamethoxazole was reduced by LAS sorption only in one soil with a small OM content of 9.5 g kg^?1.

Conclusions

The strong sorption of ciprofloxacin is not affected by LAS. Sulfamethoxazole sorption only competes with LAS sorption in organic matter-poor soils. Accumulation of organic matter in soils, for example due to long-term wastewater irrigation, provides extra sorption capacity for LAS and sulfamethoxazole so that competition for sorption sites is reduced.