Dry deposition velocity estimates of SO2 from models and measurements over a deciduous forest in winter

Measurements were made of concentrations and vertical flux densities (using the eddy correlation technique) for SO₂ over a deciduous forest during March and April 1990. These were compared with estimates of dry deposition velocities, obtained from resistance analogue models that employ measured meteorological data as input. The models include: (1) the dry deposition module that forms part of a larger Eulerian air quality model, known as ADOM (Acid Deposition and Oxidant Model), (2) a modified version of ADOM and (3) a new parameterization for R _c . The observations yielded V _d values of about 0.5 cm s^?1 for the daytime and 0.1 cm s^?1 at night. ADOM's estimates were much larger, averaging about 3.0 cm s^?1 during the daytime and about 2.0 cm s^?1 at night. When the ADOM canopy resistance was increased by modifying its formulation, the modified dry deposition estimates were slightly larger during the day than at night, averaging about 0.5 cm s^?1. The new parameterization for R _c yielded smaller V _d estimates with no diurnal variation. An attempt is made to relate the observed diurnal cycle of the dry deposition velocity to meteorological parameters.     

Olive oil mill wastewater treatment using a chemical and biological approach

Olive oil mill wastewaters (OMW) are recalcitrant to biodegradation for their toxicity due to high values of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and phenolic compounds. In the present study OMW, collected in southern Italy, were subjected first to a chemical oxidative procedure with FeCl3 and then to a biological treatment. The latter was performed in a pilot plant where mixed commercial selected bacteria, suitable for polyphenols and lipid degradation, were inoculated. The effect of treatments was assessed through COD removal, reduction of total phenols, and decrease of toxicity using primary consumers of the aquatic food chain (the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and the crustacean Daphnia magna). The results showed that the chemical oxidation was efficacious in reducing all parameters analyzed. A further decrease was found by combining chemical and biological treatments.     

Acid deposition and forest nutrient imbalances: A modeling approach

Leaching of nutrients in areas with high acid deposition could be one of the causes to the nutritional imbalance observed in the tree leaf biomass in these areas. A simulation model is developed in order to study the interaction between soil and vegetation in acidified forests. A tree growth model, based on the nutrient productivity concept, is supplemented with soil processes to form an integrated plant-soil model containing the most important soil processes for acidification. The model is able to link decreased Mg availability in the soil and reduced growth caused by Mg deficiency. Simulation results show that the time and pH at which the stand will start to experience Mg deficiency is dependent on quantity and type of acid deposition, growth rate of the stand, initial base saturation and initial fraction of Mg on the cation exchange complex. The total amount of Mg initially present is not decisive for the time at which Mg deficiency will appear. The conceptual idea of nutrient imbalances in forest stands caused by acid deposition induced leaching is supported by this model.     

Eddy correlation measurements of dry deposition fluxes using a tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer gas monitor

An instrument package, based on a tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer and comprehensive micrometeorological instrumentation, has been successfully developed for making dry deposition flux measurements, using eddy correlation techniques. Preliminary results from the field testing and evaluation of the instrument package at a rural location are presented. Low deposition velocities were measured for NO₂ and SO₂ to snow.     

Errors in repeated measurements of soil water content in pots using a ThetaProbe

Abstract. The accuracy of a ThetaProbe (Delta-T Devices Ltd, UK) to obtain repeated measures of soil water content in pot plants was tested. This alternative to balance determinations led to a large underestimation of water content, varying from 12.2 to 21.8% of the total water content, depending on soil type.     

Dry deposition velocity of O3 over a vineyard obtained from models and observations: The 1991 California ozone deposition experiment

Measurements were made of concentrations and flux densities (using the eddy correlation technique) for O₃ over a vineyard for 20 days during July and August 1991. These were compared with modelled dry deposition velocities (V _d), using (a) a module in the air quality model known as ADOM (Acid Deposition and Oxidant Model), which was modified to apply over a specific site, (b) a version of the ADOM module that employs a modified canopy resistance and (c) versions of ADOM which use two new canopy resistance formulations that are referred to as Wesely and Massman, respectively. The Massman parameterization is valid only locally since it was tuned to the site's ozone data. Here it is used as a benchmark for model comparisons. The observed V _dhad an average value of about 0.5 cm s^?1 during the day and about 0.2 cm s^?1 at night. Compared to the modified ADOM, the new parameterizations yielded results that were in better agreement with the observations at night. During the daytime, the original ADOM and the Wesely estimates were much larger than the observations, the Massman values were slightly smaller, and the modified ADOM showed a better agreement. We speculate that the underestimation of the Massman V _dvalues during the day may have been caused by the ADOM aerodynamic resistance rather than the Massman canopy resistance. It is hypothesized that the original ADOM module and its modified version may need a revised aerodynamic or an additional canopy resistance at night in order to bring the estimates closer to the observations.     

Rates of chemical weathering of porous rhyolites: 5-year measurements using the weight-loss method

To examine the rate of chemical weathering, field experiments using microweight-loss techniques were carried out. Two kinds of porous rhyolite forming lava domes in Kozu-shima Island were selected: (1) a younger rock (weathering period is 2.6 ka) and (2) an older rock (20 ka). Both rocks seem to have been very similar in their initial composition and structure. They have, however, different properties in the present depending on the difference in weathering period. Rock tablets of these rhyolites with a diameter of 3.5 cm and a thickness of about 1 cm were enclosed in a nylon mesh bag and placed in a soil–bedrock interface on a hillslope of central Japan for over 5 years. The younger rock has a lower weight loss by about 0.5%, and the older rock has a higher weight loss of 3% to 5%. These results show that older rock has a higher rate of chemical weathering than in younger rock. This supports Oguchi et al.'s (Oguchi, T.C., Hatta, T., Matsukura, Y., 1994. Changes in rock properties of porous rhyolite through 40,000 years in Kozu-shima Island, Japan. Geogr. Rev. Jpn. 67A, 775–793 (in Japanese, with English Abstr.); Oguchi, T.C., Hatta, T., Matsukura, Y., 1999. Weathering rates over 40,000 years based on changes in rock properties of porous rhyolite. Phys. Chem. Earth (A) 24, 861–870.) finding that the rate of change in chemical properties appears to accelerate with weathering time.     

A canopy budget model to assess atmospheric deposition from throughfall measurements

A canopy exchange model is presented which allows atmospheric deposition to be estimated from longterm throughfall and precipitation measurements. For a forest in the Netherlands, the combination of throughfall measurements and this model resulted in deposition estimates which were similar to deposition estimates derived from micrometeorological measurements and inferential modeling, deposition of NOy being the only exception. Unfortunately, several basic assumptions in the canopy exchange model are not properly evaluated, which up to now limits its application. Suggestions are made on how the model can be improved.     

Phosphate sorption curves as a soil testing technique: A simplified approach

Abstract

Single point phosphate sorption curves effectively estimated phosphate fertilizer requirements while requiring less work than multiple point curves. Correlation coefficients of 0.961 and 0.981 were obtained when phosphate rates, estimated using single point curves, were compared with those from multiple point curves. Reducing the ionic strength of the supporting electrolyte solution by using 0.001 M CaCl₂ or water rather than 0.01 M CaCl₂ during equilibration increased dissolved inorganic phosphate 73% and 141% on the average thus improving analytical precision. The relative effects of salt concentration were sufficiently independent of pH and phosphorus concentration to suggest that a simple conversion factor can be used to convert external P requirements from one set of equilibrium conditions (salt concentration) to another.     

Dry Weather Flow Yield as a geological index

A residual flow diagram provides a snapshot of the flow throughout a river system in terms of its natural and artificial components. Under dry weather flow conditions, the natural component, if expressed in terms of yield per unit area is directly related to catchment geology and as such, can be used as an index of catchment behaviour. Examples are given of the successful application of Dry Weather Flow Runoff Yield as a geological index in methods of flow frequency curve estimation and in the simulation of storm runoff from rainfall.     

A new approach to water disinfection: I. N,N-dimethylalkylbenzyl-polystyrene anion exchange resins as contact disinfectants

A quaternary ammonium type anion exchange resin with the N,N-dimethyldodecylbenzyl moiety as the functional group was synthesized and tested as a contact water disinfectant. The long chain alkyl groups are attached to a conventional polystyrene matrix with 2% divinylbenzene as a crosslinker which is insoluble and chemically stable. Suspensions containing up to a total of >10⁹ live cells of the gram positiveBacillus subtilis were disinfected by passage through 1 ml beds of the polymer, Resin 12, at flow rates of 10 to 12 ml min^?1 before any viable cells could be detected in the effluent. The disinfectant action increased with increasing temperature and was attributed to the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of the N,N-dimethyldodecylbenzyl function. The large disinfectant capacity and instant disinfection on contact may be understood as a consequence of the extremely high surface concentration of the quaternary functions on the resin beads and the strong hydrophobic effect driving the organisms toward the solution-resin interface. Resin 12 can be regenerated although the ethanolic HCL used in our experiments should be replaced by a less harsh regenerant for practical applications. The results obtained with Resin 12 are to be seen as the demonstration of a new approach to water disinfection using insoluble contact antimicrobials as an alternative to chlorination and other methods based on soluble, reactive agents.     

Reclamation of saline calcareous soils using vegetative bioremediation as a potential approach

Vegetative bioremediation of saline calcareous soil (EC_1:1 11.01 dS m^?1) was practised through growing fodder beet (Beta Beta vulgaris var. magnum) and millet (Panicum spp.) in soil columns. Beet was grown at a planting density of 4427 plants m^?2, whereas millet was grown at two planting densities: 5202 (M1) and 8928 (M2) plants m^?2. Some plants were irrigated with 233 μ S cm^?1 water throughout the experiment (70 days), while for others non-saline water was replaced with saline water (2.52 dS m^?1) at the middle of the experiment. The control was leaching of uncropped soil. Beet had higher ash content and efficiently extracted higher amount of salts (particularly Na and Cl) along with their aboveground biomass than millet under the two irrigation regimes. Millet grown at high planting density had higher ash content and extracted higher amount of salts (particularly Cl) than those at low planting density. Bioremediation, particularly in the case of millet (M1), considerably enhanced soil hydraulic conductivity as compared with leaching treatment; thus, facilitating the removal of some soluble salts beyond the root zone. Accordingly, soil electrical conductivity was considerably decreased by 54–69% compared with the untreated soil. It is concluded that mainly fodder beet is a potential candidate for efficient bioremediation of saline calcareous soils.

     

Field determination of sorptivity as a function of water content using a tension infiltrometer

Sorptivity for tension wetting in the field was determined and weighted-mean diffusivity calculated. Both tension sorptivity and weighted-mean diffusivity could be described by an exponential function of the form aexp(bθ) where θ is either mean water content or dimensionless water content and a and b are parameters. This relation was valid for an initial water content between 0.016 and 0.047 m³ m^?3 and a final water content between 0.154 and 0.316 m³ m^?3. Tension sorptivity was more strongly correlated with average water content than dimensionless water content. However, in the case of weighted-mean diffusivity, the correlations with both dimensionless water content and average water content were almost the same.     

Compatible measurements of volumetric soil water content using a neutron probe and Diviner 2000 after field calibration

Field calibrations for a neutron probe and a capacitance sensor (Diviner 2000) for measuring the soil water content of a shrinking–swelling clay soil were substantially different from commonly used default values. Using our field calibrations, the two instruments estimated similar changes in the cumulative water content of a soil profile (0–1 m depth) over one growing season.     

Systemic acquired resistance in crop protection: from nature to a chemical approach

Plant natural resistance to potential parasites is regulated by two fundamental mechanisms: the "nonhost" and the "gene-for-gene" resistance, respectively. The latter is relevant when a cultivar resistant (R) gene product recognizes an avirulence gene product in the attacking pathogen and triggers an array of biochemical reactions that halt the pathogen around the site of attempted invasion. To cope with virulent pathogens, plants may benefit by some temporary immunity after a challenge triggering such an array of defense reactions, following a localized necrotizing infection as a possible consequence of a hypersensitive response (HR). This process, mediated by accumulation of endogenous salicylic acid (SA), is called systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and provides resistance, to a certain extent even against unrelated pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, for a relatively long-lasting period. SAR may be more potently activated in plants pretreated with chemical inducers, most of which appear to act as functional analogues of SA. This review summarizes the complex aspects of SAR as a way to prevent crop diseases by activating the plants' own natural defenses. The following outline is taken: (1) introduction through the historical insight of the phenomenon; (2) oxidative burst, which produces high levels of oxygen reactive species in a way similar to the inflammation state in animals and precedes the HR to the pathogen attack; (3) SAR as a coordinate action of several gene products leading to the expression of defenses well beyond the time and space limits of the HR; (4) jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene as other endogenous factors mediating a different pathway of induced resistance; (5) pathogenesis related proteins (PR proteins) de novo synthesized as specific markers of SAR; (6) exogenous inducers of SAR, which include both synthetic chemicals and natural products; (7) the pathway of signal transduction between sensitization by inducers and PR expression, as inferred by mutageneses, a process that is still, to a large extent, not completely elucidated; (8) prospects and costs; (9) final remarks on the state-of-the-art of the topic reflecting the chemical view of the author, based on the more authoritative ones expressed by the authors of the reviewed papers.     

Field measurements of the water content in the top soil using a new capacitance sensor with a flat sensitive volume

Water content directly near the soil surface plays an essential role for degradation of natural organic material and agrochemicals by soil microbes. Furthermore, the water losses by evaporation depend sensitively on the top‐soil water content. Rain, irrigation, evaporation, and the water flow between the soil horizons together with the natural inhomogeneity of soils cause a high spatial gradient and a pronounced time dependence of the water content in the top soil. To understand processes in top soil such as redox gradients, the knowledge on ecological conditions in the top soil, which is subject to rapid changes, is essential. In order to meet the requirements for such field measurements, a capacitance sensor with a depth resolution of 1 cm and an active area of 7.5 cm × 14 cm was constructed and operated by a special electronic circuit. Field measurements using these sensors at 1 cm depth showed the high dynamics when measurements were carried out every 10 min. As simultaneous measurements of the soil temperature at 1 cm depth exhibit large temperature variations during the day, its influence on the measurements must be compensated for. As the data, measured during drying periods, allow the assessment of the temperature coefficient, the water content at a reference temperature can be calculated. The course of the water content reflects precipitation events and quantifies the drying of the soil, providing these parameters for process evaluation. Furthermore, the diurnal variation exhibits the drying during the day and the possible rewetting from deeper horizons during the night.     

Urban wet deposition nitrate: A comparison to non-urban deposition

The concentration of nitrate in both wet and dry deposition has both increased historically and currently, and recently parallels emissions in NO_x. Since NO_x is produced in amounts comparable to SO₂, it is an important contributor to acid deposition, and is produced in higher amounts in urban areas due to concentrated sources. Prior to this study, national acid deposition monitoring networks in the United States have been and remain established in non-urban areas. This research study consisted of a comparison of precipitation sampling and analysis of wet deposition nitrate and pH for each deposition event in each of two urban sites over a 15 mo period. Also, a comparison of urban data and data generated at a nearby non-urban NADP site was made by examination of both monthly and seasonal data. This research suggests that national monitoring programs should consider inclusion of urban and non-urban monitoring sites in order to achieve a more representative regional assessment.     

A new approach to determining water stable aggregation

Abstract

A new method is introduced to measure water stability of soil aggregates. The wrist‐action shaker is a simple, inexpensive tool that provides highly accurate data for the assessment of soil erodibility. Three soils from Hawaii (two Oxisols and one Vertisol) with different mineralogies, management histories, and potassium (K)‐factors were examined in this study. Six indices of water stable aggregation were determined after rapid immersion of air‐dry aggregates, followed by gentle wet‐sieving. Single‐sieve indices of percent water stable aggregates (WSA) < 0.063 mm, > 0.25 mm, and > 1.00 mm, were highly correlated. Additionally, these indices were highly correlated with three multiple sieve indices, namely geometric mean aggregate diameter (GMAD), arithmetic mean aggregate mass diameter (MAMD), and the coarse‐to‐fine index (CFI = % WSA > 1.00 mm / % WSA < 0.063 mm). Analysis of WSA data indicated that the relative soil erodibility ranking, from high to low, would be: Lualualei Vertisol > Molokai Oxisol > Kaneloa Oxisol. Discriminant analysis using GMAD and % WSA > 1.00 mm correctly classified 55 of 56 soil samples into their respective soil series.