The Impact of Cl ?? Cd Interrelationship on Planning Wastewater Reuse in Cabbage

Two greenhouse pot experiments were conducted in Agrinion, Greece, using a randomized block design in four replications, respectively, as follows: The first one included five levels of treated municipal wastewater (TMWW), being used as an irrigation water source. The second one, five levels of applied Cl at a constant soil applied Cd level of 10.36?mg/kg soil, the plants being irrigated with fresh well water. The purpose of these experiments was to study the impact of the Cl ?? Cd interrelationship on planning TMWW reuse, for the irrigation of Brassica oleracea var. Capitata (cabbage) cv F1 Gloria, ehich was used as test plant, in both of these experiments. It was found that the TMWW Cl content, originating mainly from the procedure of wastewater chlorination, was synergistically interrelated with the toxic heavy metal Cd, increasing its soil availability and cabbage plant leaf uptake (edible plant part). As this increase is directly associated with the consumer??s health, it was suggested that the TMWW be subjected to dechlorination process or the disinfection be made by ozonation or UV, which do not include Cl.     

Basic Principles of Treated Wastewater Reuse Planning in Ecologically Sensitive Areas

The present paper aims at planning the treated municipal wastewater reuse in fragile ecosystems of Messolonghion lagoon and Acheloos estuary, which are protected as a Natura wetland under the Ramsar Treaty. The need for environmental protection of the wetlands became necessary due to the continuing anthropogenic intervention, as well as to the climate changes that have been occurring in recent years. Relevant studies have shown that the lagoon of Messolonghion and Acheloos estuary are ecosystems that have been burdened by anthropogenic activities (pesticides, fertilizers, overexploitation of underground aquifers, intrusion and land use change), as well as by climatic changes (temperature, precipitation, sea level), which altogether have adversely affected the hydrodynamic and ecological balance of the entire ecosystem. The Messolonghion lagoon and Acheloos estuary are also the recipients of the wastewater processing plant effluents, operating locally, which have over-enriched the waters with macronutrients N, P and K, favouring eutrophication. The municipal wastewater reuse for crop irrigation grown in the protected area appears to be an environmentally acceptable solution for alleviating the natural water shortage, since it could save significant amounts of irrigation water as well as it could reduce the adverse effects of the treated effluents discharge into the aquatic ecosystem. This study describes the planning of the treated wastewater reuse in this ecologically sensitive area, on the basis of the geomorphologic and geotechnical characteristics, climatic factors, and crop irrigation water requirements grown in the area.     

Local management and landscape drivers of pollination and biological control services in a Kenyan agro-ecosystem

Arthropods that have a direct impact on crop production (i.e. pests, natural enemies and pollinators) can be influenced by both local farm management and the context within which the fields occur in the wider landscape. However, the contributions and spatial scales at which these drivers operate and interact are not fully understood, particularly in the developing world. The impact of both local management and landscape context on insect pollinators and natural enemy communities and on their capacity to deliver related ecosystem services to an economically important tropical crop, pigeonpea was investigated. The study was conducted in nine paired farms across a gradient of increasing distance to semi-native vegetation in Kibwezi, Kenya. Results show that proximity of fields to semi-native habitats negatively affected pollinator and chewing insect abundance. Within fields, pesticide use was a key negative predictor of pollinator, pest and foliar active predator abundance. On the contrary, fertilizer application significantly enhanced pollinator and both chewing and sucking insect pest abundance. At a 1 km spatial scale of fields, there were significant negative effects of the number of semi-native habitat patches within fields dominated by mass flowering pigeonpea on pollinators abundance. For service provision, a significant decline in fruit set when insects were excluded from flowers was recorded. This study reveals the interconnections of pollinators, predators and pests with pigeonpea crop. For sustainable yields and to conserve high densities of both pollinators and predators of pests within pigeonpea landscapes, it is crucial to target the adoption of less disruptive farm management practices such as reducing pesticide and fertilizer inputs.     

猪日粮中谨防硒中毒

硒（Ｓｅ ）是动物的一种必需微量元素，一般是通过制成微量元素预混料添加至猪饲料中。硒是谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶的组成成分之一，可以保护细胞膜或亚细胞膜免受脂肪过氧化物的损害。也有研究表明，硒通过甲状激素来调控动物的新陈代谢。 一般来说，根据饲料原料生长的土壤类型来补充硒是必要的。例如，在美国，大部分玉米和大豆出产于土壤中硒含量很低的中西部，因此，绝大部分使用这种玉米和豆粕的猪日粮硒很缺乏，必须予以补充。 硒过量的危险 硒是所有微量元素中最特殊的，稍微超过正常代谢所需的量，就会产生中毒，因此，硒必须限量以免…     

断奶猪爱吃柔软颗粒料

你喂给你的断奶猪吃的颗粒料是不是很硬或者是碎的?颗粒比较硬的优点是，从饲料厂经过长途运输直到达到饲槽中为止一直都能够保持其物理形态上的完整。然而，我们有充分的理由相信、很硬的颗粒料不是幼猪所喜欢的。     

The effect of the inspired oxygen fraction on arterial blood oxygenation in spontaneously breathing,isoflurane anaesthetized horses: a retrospective study

ObjectivesTo investigate the influence of two inspired oxygen fractions (FIO₂) on the arterial oxygenation in horses anaesthetized with isoflurane.Study DesignRetrospective, case-control clinical study.AnimalsTwo hundred equine patients undergoing non-abdominal surgery (ASA class 1–2), using a standardized anaesthetic protocol and selected from anaesthetic records of a period of three years, based on pre-defined inclusion criteria.MethodsIn group O (n = 100), medical oxygen acted as carrier gas, while in group M (n = 100), a medical mixture of oxygen and air (FIO₂ 0.60) was used. Demographic data, FIO₂, arterial oxygen tension (PaO₂) and routinely monitored physiologic data were recorded. The alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference [P(A-a)O₂] and PaO₂/FIO₂ ratio were calculated. The area under the curve, standardized to the anaesthetic duration, was calculated and statistically compared between groups using t-tests or Mann–Whitney tests as appropriate. Categorical data were compared using Chi-square tests.ResultsNo significant differences in age, body weight, sex, breed, surgical procedure, position, anaesthetic duration or arterial carbon dioxide tension were found. Mean FIO₂ was 0.78 in group O and 0.60 in group M. Compared to group O, significantly lower values for PaO₂ and for P(A-a)O₂ were found in group M. In contrast, the PaO₂/FIO₂ ratio and the percentage of horses with a PaO₂ <100 mmHg (13.33 kPa) were comparable in both groups.ConclusionsAlthough a reduction of the inspired oxygen fraction resulted in a lower PaO₂, the P(A-a)O₂ was also lower and the number of horses with PaO₂ values <100 mmHg was comparable.Clinical relevanceIn healthy isoflurane anaesthetized horses, the use of a mixture of oxygen and air as carrier gas seems acceptable, but further, prospective studies are needed to confirm whether it results in a lower degree of ventilation/perfusion mismatching.     

Sewage sludge treated with bentonite,vermiculite or biochar can improve soil properties and enhance growth of grasses

Sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar was evaluated as a soil amendment in comparison to limed and untreated sludge. Seven treatments were established to two soils, an acid and an alkaline, in three replications, i.e. 2% addition of sludge treated with bentonite, vermiculite, biochar and lime and application of 2% untreated sludge, inorganic fertilization and no sludge or inorganic fertilizers (control). Then, the soil treatments were used in a pot experiment with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) as a test plant. Sludge treated with the clay minerals or biochar improved pH of the acid soil and significantly increased organic matter and available nutrients of both soils compared to control. Although no salinity or sodicity hazard was evidenced, the initial salinity of acid and alkaline soil increased by four-eight and two-three times, respectively, upon addition of all sludge treatments, especially that of untreated sludge. Moreover, soil available zinc (Zn) increased by four-eight times. Soil application of sludge treated with the clay minerals or biochar increased the total aboveground biomass yield of ryegrass in the acid and alkaline soil by 133%–171% and 72%–88%, respectively, compared to control and enhanced nutrient uptake by plants. Furthermore the microbial metabolic quotient indicated lack of low pH and heavy metal stress with addition of sludge to the acid soil. After three harvests of ryegrass, the residual effect of sludge on pH of acid soil and salinity, available phosphorus (P), Zn and boron (B) of both soils still persisted. Thus sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar could be applied to soils at a rate of 2% (≈80 Mg ha⁻¹) to serve as soil amendment and fertilizer for grasses and pasture species; however, caution is needed regarding possible P build-up, Zn phytotoxicity and salinization risks.     

Irrigating Onions and Potatoes with Chromium and Nickel: Its Effects on Catalase and Peroxidase Activities and the Cross-Contamination of Plants

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) has long been documented to cause an injury to plants, but a plants’ protectant, widely applicable in agronomical practice, does not exist. We evaluated the potential antiozonate efficacy of the antitranspirant di-1-p-menthene (Vapor Gard) compared with ethylenediurea (EDU) on Bel-W3 tobacco plants. Plants were treated either with water, or by EDU (10, 100, and 500 mg dm^?3), or by vapor (1, 5, 10, and 50 ml dm^?3) and were exposed either to O₃-enriched (90 ppb) or O₃-free air, for 12 days and 8 h day^?1. EDU when applied at 10 mg dm^?3 did not protect the plants against O₃, but when applied at 100 and 500 mg dm^?3 offered a significant protection to the plants. Vapor, when applied at 1 ml dm^?3 did not protect the plants against O₃, neither by terms of foliar visible injury nor by terms of aboveground biomass. In addition, when applied at 10 and 50 ml dm^?3 caused phytotoxicity to all the plants, which it was expressed as necrotic spots on the leaves’ surface, misshaping of the leaves, or short plants' height_. It is obvious that vapor does not protect Bel-W3 tobacco plants against O₃. The antiozonate role of di-1-p-menthene is species-specific and probably occurs only under short-term exposures.     

Water scarcity and inputs of nutrients from irrigation in olive groves of Crete Island,Greece

Water availability is an important factor for irrigated agriculture in the Mediterranean countries, because it affects significantly crop production. Surface soil samples were collected in Merambelo area located in Eastern Crete and analyzed. High values for exchangeable potassium and magnesium values were recorded and can be attributed to intensive fertilization and soil heredity factors. Groundwater quality based on two sampling campaigns performed during two irrigation periods. Three different scenarios were taken into account regarding the height of water application by means of irrigation. The contribution and the effects of nutrients and micronutrients from irrigation water to the soil was calculated, on the basis of the mean determined concentrations and the volume of applied irrigation. Significant variation was recorded in most soil properties, and these differences may be attributed to different mobility of nutrients, erosion factors, fertilization practices, and hydraulic soil properties.