Biodegradation of aged residues of atrazine and alachlor in a mix-load site soil

A selected microbial consortium (SMC) capable of degrading two specific herbicides, alachlor (2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-[methoxymethyl]-acetanilide; AL) and atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-S-triazine; AT) was isolated from a pesticide-contaminated mix-load site soil. Evaluation of bioaugmentation as a feasible bioremediation strategy for this mix-load site soil (Site 5A) was initiated in standard laboratory biometer flasks utilizing the isolated SMC. The biometer flasks were monitored for CO₂ evolution and pesticide degradation. The total amount of CO₂ evolved from the treated biometer flasks was significantly different from the control flasks. The rate of CO₂ evolution was 2.6 times faster in the treated soil (0.0123 mM CO₂ d⁻¹ vs. 0.0048 mM CO₂ d⁻¹). The total net CO₂ produced in the treated biometer flasks was 0.9481 mM, representing mineralization of approximately 10% of the AT and AL initially present. Forty-eight percent of AT and 70% of AL was degraded in the inoculated biometer flasks. The first-order rate constants were 0.0064 d⁻¹ and 0.1331 d⁻¹ for AT and AL, respectively. The calculated half-life of AT was 108 d while a 50% decrease in AL occurred by Day 5. In just 2 d, 20% of the AT was degraded while only 10% of the AL disappeared. The initial fast degradation rate of AT was followed by a much slower, more gradual degradation rate period that lasted about 35 d. Alternatively, the rate of AL degradation increased after the second day resulting in 60% of the AL being transformed by the end of the first week. Alachlor degradation appeared to be dependent upon AT degradation especially during the first several days of the incubation period. Complete disappearance of the herbicides over the study time was not achieved.     

Simulated Summertime Regional Ground-Level Ozone Concentrations over Greece

Ground-level ozone concentrations were estimated for Greece during a summer period of the year 2000 using the regional air quality model UAM-V off-line coupled with the mesoscale meteorological model MM5. An anthropogenic NOx, NMVOCs and CO emission inventory and biogenic NMVOCs emission data were used to support model simulations. The evaluation analysis indicates a quite satisfactory model performance in reproducing ozone levels. The simulated mean ozone concentrations are above the 32-ppb EU phytotoxicity limit over almost all continental and maritime areas of Greece. Over the greater part of the country, the background mean ozone levels range from 40 to 55 ppb. Ozone values higher than the 55-ppb EU human health protection limit reaching 60 ppb dominate part of the southern Aegean Sea that is influenced by the Athens urban plume. In the areas where anthropogenic emission densities are high, the mean ozone levels vary between 20 and 40 ppb. Over the greater part of Greece, the simulated mean daily maximum ozone concentrations range from 50 to 65 ppb. More enhanced maximum ozone concentrations up to 95 ppb mainly dominate over the greater areas of the two largest Greek urban centres (Athens and Thessaloniki) and over the continental and maritime areas south of Athens which are under the influence of the urban plume.     

Valonia oak agroforestry systems in Greece: an overview

Valonia oak agroforestry systems of Greece are Mediterranean systems of high natural and cultural value with distinct economic, environmental, social and historical characteristics. These systems can be silvopastoral or agrosilvopastoral, and have been used since ancient times for grazing, and acorn and wood harvesting. Acorn cup collection for use in tanning, which has been undertaken since at least the fifteenth century, was an important economic activity from the nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century contributing to the local economy and development. This overview describes the historical importance of valonia oak in Greece, and the present extent, structure, ecology, products and services of valonia oak agroforestry. The sustainability of such systems is being promoted through the sale of traditional and new products, eco- and agri-tourism, and engagement with local stakeholders.     

How is agroforestry perceived in Europe? An assessment of positive and negative aspects by stakeholders

Whilst the benefits of agroforestry are widely recognised in tropical latitudes few studies have assessed how agroforestry is perceived in temperate latitudes. This study evaluates how stakeholders and key actors including farmers, landowners, agricultural advisors, researchers and environmentalists perceive the implementation and expansion of agroforestry in Europe. Meetings were held with 30 stakeholder groups covering different agroforestry systems in 2014 in eleven EU countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom). In total 344 valid responses were received to a questionnaire where stakeholders were asked to rank the positive and negative aspects of implementing agroforestry in their region. Improved biodiversity and wildlife habitats, animal health and welfare, and landscape aesthetics were seen as the main positive aspects of agroforestry. By contrast, increased labour, complexity of work, management costs and administrative burden were seen as the most important negative aspects. Overall, improving the environmental value of agriculture was seen as the main benefit of agroforestry, whilst management and socio-economic issues were seen as the greatest barriers. The great variability in the opportunities and barriers of the systems suggests enhanced adoption of agroforestry across Europe will be most likely to occur with specific initiatives for each type of system.     

Farmers’ reasoning behind the uptake of agroforestry practices: evidence from multiple case-studies across Europe

Potential benefits and costs of agroforestry practices have been analysed by experts, but few studies have captured farmers’ perspectives on why agroforestry might be adopted on a European scale. This study provides answers to this question, through an analysis of 183 farmer interviews in 14 case study systems in eight European countries. The study systems included high natural and cultural value agroforestry systems, silvoarable systems, high value tree systems, and silvopasture systems, as well as systems where no agroforestry practices were occurring. A mixed method approach combining quantitative and qualitative approaches was taken throughout the interviews. Narrative thematic data analysis was performed. Data collection proceeded until no new themes emerged. Within a given case study, i.e. the different systems in different European regions, this sampling was performed both for farmers who practice agroforestry and farmers who did not. Results point to a great diversity of agroforestry practices, although many of the farmers are not aware of the term or concept of agroforestry, despite implementing the practice in their own farms. While only a few farmers mentioned eligibility for direct payments in the CAP as the main reason to remove trees from their land, to avoid the reduction of the funded area, the tradition in the family or the region, learning from others, and increasing the diversification of products play the most important role in adopting or not agroforestry systems.     

Selection and evaluation of phyllosphere yeasts as biocontrol agents against grey mould of tomato

Phyllosphere yeasts antagonistic to the infective activity of Botrytis cinerea were isolated from leaves of greenhouse-grown tomatoes and evaluated in a detached leaf assay for their ability to suppress grey mould. Nine of 30 recovered yeast isolates were found to reduce a disease index by >90% when compared to an untreated control. In greenhouse experiments, the yeast isolate Rhodotorula glutinis Y-44 was the most efficient in controlling grey mould of tomato plants. In further experiments in greenhouse-grown tomato plants the effectiveness of R. glutinis Y-44 was compared with two commercial fungicides. It was demonstrated that R. glutinis Y-44 was as effective as fungicides in controlling the pathogen. Moreover, the population of R. glutinis Y-44 was monitored for 8 weeks after application on tomato plants. The isolate successfully colonized the plant surface, although the population decreased by 10-fold 8 weeks after application. Since B. cinerea is also a major post-harvest pathogen for tomato fruits, the ability of R.␣glutinis Y-44, to protect artificially infected wounded tomato fruits was also tested. It was shown that R.␣glutinis Y-44 was able to reduce by 50% the percentage of infected wounds compared to the untreated controls.     

Determination of Acidic Pesticides in the Drinking Water of Greece Using Capillary Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

There is no data currently available on acidic pesticides in the drinking water of Greece, although considerable quantities of them are in use. In this study, the occurrence of the six most important acidic herbicides in the drinking water of Greece was investigated. The target compounds studied include four chlorophenoxy herbicides, namely mecoprop, dichlorprop, MCPA and 2,4-D, and two other acidic herbicides, i.e. bromoxynil and bentazone. Analysis was carried out at a concentration level of 100 ng L^?1 using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with selected ion monitoring (SIM). The method involved a pre-concentration with solid phase extraction and derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide. Thirty-eight samples of drinking water from nine regions in Greece were screened. No herbicides were detected although fortification experiments with parallel water samples resulted in recovery rates better than 70%. The detection limits of the recovered compounds were found to be between 10 and 50 ng L^?1.