Mass balanced based LCA of a common carp-lettuce aquaponics system

An aquaponics system (AS) is an integrated system that combines a recirculating aquaculture system and a hydroponics system (HS). It is designed to recover nutrients released from fish and transfer them to plants to provide a system more environmentally-friendly than the two systems working separately. As a result, several AS are under development, but little information is available about their overall performances. The aim of this study was to assess nutrient-use efficiency and environmental impacts of an AS, specifically a common carp-lettuce AS located in a greenhouse. Nutrient budgets of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were calculated and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed for the AS and for a lettuce Individual Hydroponics System (IHS), similar to the HS of the AS, operating in the greenhouse at the same time. The experiment was performed over a 52-day cycle, which corresponds to the growing time required to harvest marketable lettuce. The nutrient budgets were well balanced, with 24.6% of the N unaccounted-for, most likely due to N2 gas emission, and 6.6% of the P unaccounted-for, most likely due to having underestimated the quantity of sediment. At the beginning of the experiment, N represented 55.9%, 37.1% and 0.1% of the total N input in the formulated feed, stocked fish and lettuce seedlings, respectively. At the end of the experiment, N represented 47.6% and 0.4% of the total N input in the harvested fish and lettuce, respectively. At the beginning of the experiment, P represented 56.94%, 40.20% and 0.03% of the total P input in the formulated feed, stocked fish and lettuce seedlings, respectively. At the end of the experiment, P represented 51.52% and 0.42% of the total P input in the harvested fish and lettuce, respectively. LCA clearly indicated two environmental impact hotspots: the origin of nutrients and energy use. One kg of lettuce growth in the AS clearly had lower environmental impacts than that in the IHS for climate change, acidification, eutrophication, land competition and cumulative energy demand; however, a decrease in water dependence was not observed. The indicator for net primary production use highlighted the dependence of the AS on natural resources, especially fish meal and fish oil. Compared to the use of chemical nutrients in the IHS, the use of nutrients from formulated feed in the AS decreased climate change impact but increased the use of natural resources.     

Removal of Vegetative Clippings Reduces Dissolved Phosphorus Loss in Runoff

Rainfall simulation was used to study the vegetative filter strip (VFS) conditions under which losses of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) leaching occur. Boxes containing silt loam soil were planted with ryegrass and cut at two different intervals prior to simulated rainfall 14 days apart. Grass clippings were either removed or retained. During the second simulated rainfall, runoff TDP and DRP were greater for treatments cut the day before irrigation with clippings retained as compared to treatments cut the same day as irrigation with clippings retained. Removing clippings yielded the lowest mean TDP and DRP concentrations. Increasing the senesced vegetative surface area for contact with water, and the amount of time for leaching to occur, resulted in the greatest DRP loss. The VFS management implications should consider clipping removal or no or reduced mowing during the growing season followed by end-of-season removal to reduce DRP leaching losses.     

Linking Land-use, Water Body Type and Water Quality in Southern New Zealand

Land-use and vegetation cover have been linked to the nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus) of surface waters in several countries. However, the links generally relate to streams and rivers, or to specific types of standing water, for example shallow lakes in a geologically defined region. We measured physical variables and nutrient chemistry of 45 water bodies representative of the wide range of lentic wetland environments (swamps, riverine wetlands, estuaries, reservoirs, shallow lakes, deep lakes) in Otago, New Zealand, and related these to catchment variables and land-use in order to assess the potential influence of catchment modification on water quality of these diverse wetlands. Catchment boundaries and land cover were derived from maps using ArcView GIS software. Our predictions that concentrations of nutrients and other components of water quality would correlate positively with the nature and intensity of catchment modification were confirmed in multivariate analyses. Physical and chemical measures were positively related to the extent of modification in the catchment (percentage of the catchment in pasture, planted forest, scrub and urban areas), and negatively related to lack of catchment modification (more of the catchment in bare ground, tussock grassland and indigenous forest). The strong negative correlations between nutrient concentrations, suspended sediment, water colour and the percentage of tussock cover in the catchment imply that increased conversion of the␣native tussock grassland to pastoral farming in␣Otago will increase nutrient concentrations and␣reduce water quality of the diverse lentic ecosystems.     

乳山湾东流区营养状况时,空变化及其评价

有机污染在时间上的变化为，7月前呈有机污染不断加剧的过程，到7月整个东流区均达到严重污染水平；7月后是污染程度逐渐减轻的过程，到9月整个东流区水质恢复到较好水平。有机污染程度在空间上的变化是从湾外向湾内逐渐加剧趋势。6、7和8月整个东流区均达到富营养化水平，但富营养化的程度有所不同，7月富营养化程度最严重，8月较7月减轻，到9月湾内基本恢复正常。与1994年8月比较，1995年8月东流区有机污染和富营养化程度有所加剧。     

“Summer syndrome” in Litopenaeus stylirostris grow out ponds in New Caledonia: Zootechnical and environmental factors

The “Summer Syndrome”, a septicemic vibriosis caused by Vibrio nigripulchritudo, is responsible for one of the two main seasonal mortalities which affect shrimp aquaculture in New Caledonia. It was identified for the first time in December 1997 in an intensive shrimp farm (called farm DF) and has been enzootic ever since. The “Summer syndrome” affects shrimp during warm-season growout. Although the geographic area concerned is limited, it is a potential threat for the industry in that the disease could spread. Analysis of grow out data from 1991 to 2002 in this farm was carried out in order to characterize the disease and the environmental conditions in relation to mortality. Results of farm DF were compared to data from farms not affected by the disease (called farms HC). The “Summer syndrome” occurs during the warm season which is characterized by an increase in water temperature and sunny duration. This disease is characterized by simultaneously highest densities and weakest drying duration between crops in the farms studied. Between 1991 and 2002, the increase of feed input and nitrogen rate in feed has led to a significant increase of the growth rate over the years in farm DF. At the same time, water management has not changed and has induced an increase in environmental waste production. In consequence, an early eutrophication of water is observed, which is concomitant with the beginning of the mortality outbreaks. This could play a role by inducing directly or indirectly a stress for shrimp and/or a growth and/or virulence factors of the pathogen.     

富营养化水体的评价方法研究

分别对特征评价法、参数法、生物指标参数法、营养状况指数法及数学评价法等富营养化水体的评价方法进行了详细阐述,介绍了各种评价方法和分级标准,以及它们相应的适用条件,以便对不同的水生态系统进行较为合理的评价,为湖泊的管理和生态环境保护提供依据。     

内蒙古乌梁素海生态恢复工程试验与资源利用

在典型草型富营养化湖泊——内蒙古乌梁素海设立试验研究基地，进行了较大规模的生态恢复工程试验，实施了两项草型富营养化湖泊生态恢复技术措施：沉水植物收割工程与芦苇园田化生态管理工程。以机械化方式收割沉水植物，能够削减湖泊内源性营养物负荷的积累和释放，减少二次污染，抑制生物填平作用，改善水体环境；采用机械化技术控制芦苇蔓延、打开芦苇区通风道和通水道，可以重建湖泊绿色自然景观，提高全湖水流循环速度。研究表明，有计划、合理地运用生态恢复工程不仅可以减轻草型湖泊所面临的巨大生态压力、延缓沼泽化演化进程，而且可以在实施生态工程的同时开发利用水生植物资源，使湖泊环境与湿地综合利用得到持续发展。     

三峡水库二期蓄水后次级河流回水河段富营养化调查

在三峡水库二期蓄水后,135 m水位线下的支流尽管多数仍保持狭长的河流态势,但回水段的流速明显降低,成为名副其实的人工湖泊,适合藻类生长。库区支流的总磷、总氮浓度普遍偏高,能为藻类生长提供充足的营养盐,2005年4月的监测资料表明TP平均浓度为0.148 mg/L,TN为1.90 mg/L,远远高于湖库水体出现富营养化的TP和TN临界浓度0.020、.2 mg/L。如果气候条件合适,支流回水河段就具备了发生富营养化所需的流速、营养盐、水温等基本条件,有可能出现“水华”现象。调查结果表明,在2005年4月,库区13条支流有5条的回水河段水体营养程度达到富营养,应该引起足够重视。