Runoff and soil erosion under rainfall simulation of Andisols from the Ecuadorian Páramo: effect of tillage and burning

In northern Ecuador, soils of high altitude grasslands (páramos) are mainly non-allophanic Andisols developed on Holocenic volcanic ash. These soils have a high water retention capacity and are the “water tank” of central Ecuador. To assess the effect of land use (burning and tillage) on soil hydrodynamic properties, rainfall simulation was conducted at two different sites. At Pichincha near Quito, the simulation was conducted on a recent volcanic ash soil comparing natural, tilled and burned plots. At El Angel, the simulation was conducted on a mature non-allophanic Andisol comparing natural, recently tilled and formerly cultivated plots.On natural plots, the infiltration rate was very high and sediment loss very low. Results for infiltration rate and runoff indicated that land use change on páramos increased runoff flow and reduced saturated hydraulic conductivity. Superficial reorganisation of the soil surfaces occurred on tilled plots at both sites. This crusting process was fast and resulted in surfaces with very low conductivity at Pichincha. The same processes seemed to be slower at El Angel. The soil surface of recent Andisols at Pichincha was prone to crusting whereas the mature Andisol, at El Angel, with a lower bulk density, was compacted when the kinetic energy of raindrops was high. Water repellency occurred after burning at Pichincha and following long natural air drying after tillage in the non-allophanic A horizon at El Angel. Water repellency combined with the low bulk density of soil aggregates explain the intensity of sediment losses in the abandoned soils after cultivation (Bare fallow plots). Erosion occurred in these areas through floating hydrophobic and stable aggregates.     

Stabilization of dissolved organic matter by aluminium: a toxic effect or stabilization through precipitation?

Carbon mineralization in acidic forest soils can be retarded by large concentrations of aluminium (Al). However, it is still unclear whether Al reduces C mineralization by direct toxicity to microorganisms or by decreased bioavailability of organic matter (OM) because dissolved organic matter (DOM) is precipitated by Al. We conducted an incubation experiment (6 weeks) with two DOM solutions (40 mg C litre^?1) derived from two acidic forests and possessing large differences in composition. Aluminium was added to the solutions in realistic ranges for acidic soils (1.6–24 mg Al litre^?1) at pHs of 3.8 and 4.5, to achieve differences in Al speciation. We determined different Al species, including the potentially toxic Al³⁺, by Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films (DGT) to evaluate toxic effects on microorganisms. Precipitation of OM increased with larger amounts of added Al and higher pH, and we measured a larger fraction of dissolved ‘free’ Al at pH 3.8 than at pH 4.5. Organic matter degradation decreased significantly with Al addition, and we found more organic matter degraded at pH 3.8 than at pH 4.5 for the respective Al additions. Consequently, the observed reduction in OM degradation (i.e. stabilization) cannot be explained by toxic effects of ‘free’ Al. However, C stabilization correlated significantly with C precipitation. The pH did not influence C stabilization directly, but determined the amount of C being precipitated. Phosphorus was removed along with OM by precipitation, which possibly also affected C stabilization. We conclude that C stabilization upon Al addition did not result from toxic effects, but was caused by reduced bioavailability of OM after its precipitation. The reduction in OM degradation by 65% is of great relevance for the overall C stabilization in acidic forest soils. Increasing pH and decreasing Al concentrations upon recovery from acidic deposition should therefore not result in decreased stabilization of precipitated OM.     

Verifying Reification With Application to a Rainfall–Runoff Computer Simulator

Deterministic computer models or simulators are used regularly to assist researchers in understanding the behavior of complex physical systems when real-world observations are limited. However, simulators are often imperfect representations of physical systems and may introduce layers of uncertainty into model-based inferences that are hard to quantify. To formalize the use of expert judgment in assessing simulator uncertainty, Goldstein and Rougier in J. Stat. Plan. Inference 139:1221–1239 (2009) propose a method, called reification, that decomposes the discrepancy between simulator predictions and reality by an improved, hypothetical computer model known as a “reified simulator”. One criticism of reification is that validation is, at best, challenging; only expert critiques can validate the subjective judgments used to specify a reified simulator. For this paper, we develop a procedure to quantify the advantages of reification for fast, modular simulators. The procedure is explained and implemented within the context of a rainfall-runoff that was developed by Iorgulescu, Beven, and Musy in Hydrol. Process. 19:2557–2573 (2005). We show that reification leads to informed judgments of simulator uncertainty     

Is Cadmium Loss in Surface Runoff Significant for Soil and Surface Water Quality: A Study of Flood-Irrigated Pastures?

Cadmium (Cd), a naturally occurring element, is a potentially biotoxic metal in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Whether it is biotoxic or not will depend upon the concentration in the soil, its bioavailability and its potential transfer through the ecosystem. However, little data are available for losses to waterways, especially via surface runoff. A study was conducted on two long-term trials under pasture to determine how the concentration of Cd in the soil was affected by different irrigation and fertiliser regimes and in turn how this affected the potential for transfer in surface runoff and outwash of flood irrigation. Concentrations of total Cd in the soil varied from 0.06 to 0.58 mg kg^?1 and reflected different rates of P fertiliser applied (from 0 to 376 kg superphosphate ha^?1?year^?1), but was also less (20–25% compared to dryland) in treatments receiving more frequent irrigation when the same rate of P was applied. This indicated that there was potential for transfer. An experiment using simulated rainfall to generate surface runoff indicated that the major form of Cd lost was dissolved (on average 65% <0.45 μm) and could be predicted by water extraction of the soil. Loads of Cd in outwash were significant (0.17 to 0.92 g ha^?1?year^?1) and at least as great as the measured leaching losses in other studies. Loads confirmed the loss of Cd from each trial was largely dissolved, and related to soil water-extractable Cd and the frequency of irrigation. While Cd concentrations in sediment from ditches receiving outwash were enriched, indicating potential transfer to waterways, the effect will likely be small due to dilution and sorption by sediment and thereby localised to areas closer to the farm. However, to minimise any potential impact, management should be directed to minimising the occurrence of outwash (e.g. by better irrigation timing) or Cd transfer by using less Cd-rich P fertiliser or minimising P fertiliser use in areas susceptible to surface runoff.     

Water Treatment Residuals and Biosolids Co‐applications Affect Phosphatases in a Semi‐arid Rangeland Soil

Co‐application of biosolids and water treatment residuals (WTR) land has not been extensively studied but may be beneficial by sorbing excess biosolid‐borne or soil phosphorus (P) onto WTR, reducing the likelihood of off‐site movement. Reduction of excess soil P may affect the role of specific P‐cleaving enzymes. The research objective was to understand the long‐term effects of single co‐applications and the short‐term impacts of repeated co‐applications on soil acid phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, pyrophosphatase, and phytase enzyme activities. Test plots were 7.5 × 15 m with treatments consisting of three different WTR rates with a single biosolids rate (5, 10, and 21 Mg WTR ha^?1; 10 Mg biosolids ha^?1) surface co‐applied once in 1991 or reapplied in 2002. Control plots consisted of those that received no WTR–biosolids co‐applications and plots that received only 10 Mg biosolids ha^?1. Plots were sampled to a 5‐cm depth in 2003 and 2004, and soil phosphatases and phytase enzyme activities were measured. Soil phosphodiesterase activity decreased in WTR‐amended plots, and pyrophosphatase activity decreased with increasing WTR application rates. In contrast, acid phosphatase and phytase activity increased with WTR addition, with WTR application possibly triggering a deficiency response causing microorganisms or plants to secrete these enzymes. Biosolids and WTR co‐applications may affect enzymatic strategies for P mineralization in this study site. Reductions in phosphodiesterase activity suggest less P mineralization from biomass sources, including nucleic acids and phospholipids. Increased acid phosphatase and phytase activities indicate that ester‐P and inositol‐P may be important plant‐available P sources in soils amended with WTR.     

Increasing and Decreasing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Trends in Runoff from Drained Peatland Forests—Is There a Legacy Effect of Drainage or Not?

A recent study on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) exports from drained peatland forests reported increasing concentrations over long time since their initial drainage. Concurrently, some other studies have suggested decreasing trends from drained peatland forests, particularly for P. To evaluate these contradictory findings, we re-analyzed past data and reviewed the literature related to temporal N and P concentration trends in runoff from drained peatland forests. Review of literature indicated that decreasing trends are found particularly in sites where initial P concentrations are high (>?50 μg P l^?1), plausibly because of relatively recent fertilization and drainage operations. Decreasing N trends have been found in sites where ditch cleaning temporarily decreased concentrations. Increasing N trends have occurred in sites, where initial concentrations have been low, close to the levels found in pristine peatlands. Complementing past published data with additional data from sites with no recent forestry operations indicated that N concentrations correlated positively with drainage age (years since initial drainage), percentage of drained peatlands in the catchment (drainage proportion), and southern location of the study site. P concentrations correlated most strongly with drainage age. Our study indicated that four factors, in particular, need to be considered when interpreting nutrient concentration trends in runoff from drained peatlands: 1) management history, 2) drainage age, 3) drainage proportion, and 4) site location. Our results supported earlier conclusions in that the estimates which ignore the legacy effect of drainage remarkably underestimate the true impact of forestry on water courses in intensively drained regions.     

Factors Influencing Runoff P Losses from Farmlandsof the Dianchi Lake Watershed in Yunnan, China

Effects of factors such as slope, surface soil texture, fertilization and crop cover with different rainfall intensitieson phosphorus (P) losses in farmland runoff of the Dianchi Lake Watershed in Yunnan Province of China were studiedthrough a rainfall simulation test using a red soil, one of the most widely distributed soils of the study area. Resultsshowed that the runoff concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and P losses differed with the slope, being highest whenthe slope was 18~. At two different rainfall intensities, the runoff TP and P losses had a similar decreasing trend asthe surface soil texture became coarser, therefore applying the grit would decrease P in runoff from soils of farmland onslopes with heavier textures. With wheat as a crop cover the runoff TP concentrations and P losses were significantlylower than those of the bare soil. This showed that plant cover would greatly decrease P in runoff from the farmland ofthe study area. The TP concentration in runoff from the soil two days after fertilization doubled when compared withthat from the non-fertilized soil, indicating that fertilization could mean a dramatic rise in P runoff if irrigation or heavyrainfall occurred immediately after application and that no fertilization before a rain and no irrigation immediately afterfertilization would reduce runoff P loss from the farmland of the study area.     

Application of Optimum N Through Different Fertilizers Alleviate NH4+-N,NO3–N and Total Nitrogen Losses in the Surface Runoff and Leached Water and Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Rice Crop in Erhai Lake Basin,China

Non-point source pollution from the Agri-sector (especially nitrogen (N)) due to the application of conventional urea with heavy rates not only depleted the water quality of Erhai Lake but also declined the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of different crops grown in the Erhai Lake Basin, Dali, Yunnan, China. It is imperative to mitigate the total nitrogen and its forms (nitrate (NO₃^?)-N and ammonium (NH₄⁺)-N) loading to the surface and subsurface water flow through optimum fertilizer management for crop production in the region. To achieve this goal, a balanced crop nutrition system was practiced with different fertilizer types for rice-broad bean crop rotation system. The crop nutrition system consisted of No Fertilizers (CK), Conventional Fertilizer Practice (CF), Conventional urea as environmental Fertilizer (T₁), Refined Organic Fertilizer applied solely (T₂), Refined Organic Fertilizer applied with conventional urea (T₃), Refined Organic Fertilizer applied in T₂ was increased 4 times (T₄), Refined Organic Fertilizer applied in T₃ was increased 4 times but the same amount of conventional urea (T₅), and Controlled Release Fertilizer (CRF) application (T₆). The same rate of nitrogen (20% lower than CF) was applied in T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₆. All the former mentioned treatments were compared to CF with respect to different variables. In case of crop production, T₆ gave maximum rice grain yield (9.9 t ha^?1) and broad bean yield (5.1 t ha^?1). Treatments T₁ and T₅ were at par for rice grain yield (7.8 t ha^?1) and this quantity was not significantly lower than CF. Treatments T₆, T₅, and T₁ were observed 29%, 47%, and 46%, respectively lower in TN loading to the surface and percolating water than the CF. Conventional urea and refined organic fertilizer combined with conventional urea at reduced nitrogen rates can be a reliable option for crop production in the Erhai Lake Basin with optimum yield under the rice-broad bean crop rotation system. CRF at reduced nitrogen rate can be a better option for higher yield and lower NO₃^–N, NH₄⁺-N and total nitrogen losses to the surface runoff and leached water.     

PO 4 3? Removal by and Permeability of Industrial Byproducts and Minerals: Granulated Blast Furnace Slag, Cement Kiln Dust, Coconut Shell Activated Carbon, Silica Sand, and Zeolite

Excess PO ₄ ^3? from agricultural subsurface drainage and runoff degrades the overall water quality of the receiving surface waters in a cumulatively damaging process known as eutrophication. In the past 25 years, PO ₄ ^3? removal by industrial byproducts and minerals has received considerable attention because these materials are both abundant and inexpensive. In this study, the saturated falling-head hydraulic conductivity and phosphate removal capability of granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), cement kiln dust (CKD), zeolite, silica sand, and coconut shell activated carbon (CS-AC) were assessed. GBFS, zeolite, silica sand, CS-AC, and 5:95% and 10:90% CKD/sand blends all exhibited hydraulic conductivities ??0.001 cm/s. GBFS and the CKD/sand blends exhibited >98% PO ₄ ^3? removal while CS-AC removed 70?C79% of initial PO ₄ ^3? concentrations. In contrast, silica sand and zeolite removed 21?C58% of PO ₄ ^3? . The phosphate removal data for each material was modeled against the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Frumkin sorption isotherms to yield insight into possible removal mechanisms. Overall, GBFS, CKD, zeolite, silica sand, and CS-AC were sufficiently permeable and removed significant amounts of PO ₄ ^3? and should be considered for use in treatment of agricultural effluent.     

Dry Atmospheric Contribution to the Plant–Soil System Around a Cement Factory: Spatial Variations and Sources—a Case Study from Oman

The present study determines the source of dust particles and investigates their impact on the chemical compositions of plants and soils around a cement factory in Oman within a radius of 10 km of this disturbed ecosystem. A total number of nine samples of the species of plants (Rhazya stricta), nine samples of soils, and nine samples of dust were collected and analyzed for major ions and trace elements including rare earth elements (REEs). Principal component analysis applied to the major and trace element concentrations in the dust indicated the input of at least two sources to the dust in the study area: ophiolites and cement. The REE distribution in the plants and soils revealed that the most available elements to plants originated dominantly from ophiolites rather than from cement. The contribution of cement industry is significant only in the zone located at about 0.500 to 2 km around the cement factory, whereas the contribution of ophiolites increases with distance from the cement factory.     

Application of Electrochemical Degradation of Wastewater Composed of Mixtures of Phenol–Formaldehyde

The industrial wastewater from resin production plants contains as major components phenol and formaldehyde, which are traditionally treated by biological methods. As a possible alternative method, electrochemical treatment was tested using solutions containing a mixture of phenol and formaldehyde simulating an industrial effluent. The anode used was a dimensionally stable anode (DSA?) of nominal composition Ti/Ru_0.3Ti_0.7O₂, and the solution composition during the degradation process was analyzed by liquid chromatography and the removal of total organic carbon. From cyclic voltammetry, it is observed that for formaldehyde, a small offset of the beginning of the oxygen evolution reaction occurs, but for phenol, the reaction is inhibited and the current density decreases. From the electrochemical degradations, it was determined that 40?mA?cm^?2 is the most efficient current density and the comparison of different supporting electrolytes (Na₂SO₄, NaNO₃, and NaCl) indicated a higher removal of total organic carbon in NaCl medium.     

The impact of earthworms on the abundance of Collembola: improvement of food resources or of habitat?

I assessed the direct influence of earthworm excretions, and the impact of earthworms through their action on the soil structure (increased macroporosity), on the population dynamics of the collembolan species Heteromurus nitidus. The intestinal content of Collembola arising from cultures on different soil types was observed, and two experimental cultures of H. nitidus were run: (1) a culture performed on an inert substrate supplied either with earthworm casts or with soil as food resource, (2) an experiment using microcosms with cores of two humus forms (moder and calcic mull), in the presence or absence of earthworms. The observation of gut contents revealed that H. nitidus feeds on excrements, the composition of which (ratio organic matter/mineral matter) varies according to the humus form where it lived. Slightly aged (10–15 days) organo-mineral casts of earthworms appeared to be a better food than calcic mull aggregates or organic material from moder. Densities of H. nitidus cultured in cores of calcic mull were higher than in moder, except when cores of moder were inhabited by an anecic earthworm for 2 months. The humus form strongly influenced populations of H. nitidus, firstly because densities of predators were higher in moder than in calcic mull, and probably also because of soil macroporosity. It was concluded that earthworms would affect predation on H. nitidus by creating a network of interconnected macropores in which Collembola can move and find shelter.     

Fractionation of Zinc in Paddy Soils of China

The rice fields in China amount to 25.4 million hectares of which low yield paddy soils areabout 26％(Xu,1981;Xiao,1981).One of the most important causes of low yield is the defi-ciency in nutrients including zinc.Zinc deficiency usually occurs in calcareous paddy soils withpH>6.5(Zhu and Liu,1981).And the availability of zinc in calcareous paddy soils is lowerthan that in neutral and acid paddy soils.     

Size of Microbial Biomass in Soils of China

The microbial biomass C,N and P of soils all over China were determined in this study to study their affecting factors.The results,about 100-417 mg C kg^-1 soil,18-51 mg Nkg^-1 soil and 4.4-27.3mg P kg^-1 soil,showed the biomass C,N and P in linear relationship with the soil total organic C,toal N and soil organic P.The ratios of C:Nand C:P,ranging from 5.6 to 9.6 and from 11.2 to 48.4 respectively,were affected by soil pH.texture,crop rotation,macroclimate etc.The ratio of C:N in soil biomass increases gradually from the north to the south in China.     

Transformation of Fertilizer-N in Rhizosphere Soils of Wheat

INTRODUCTION There is a close relationship between the transformation of fertilizer-N and the statusof nitrogen nutrition in rhizosphere soils.Previously,Harmsen and Jager(1962)made ananalysis of N and C contents in the rhizosphere soils of upland crops and found thatclose to the root zone there was an enrichment of these substances.     

Regulation of accumulation of β-subunit of β-conglycinin in soybean seeds by nitrogen

Extract

The storage protein of soybean [Glycine max (L.)] seed mainly consists of glycinin, composed of acidic (38 and 45 kDa) and basic (22 kDa) subunits (Kitamura et al. 1976), and β-conglycinin composed of α′- (75 kDa), α- (72 kDa), and β-(52 kDa) subunits (Thanh and Shibasaki 1978).     

Influence of pre‐storage drying conditions and duration of storage on the effectiveness of root inoculum of Glomus aggregation

A greenhouse experiment was undertaken to evaluate the influence of pre‐storage drying treatments and duration of storage on the effectiveness of root inoculum of Glomus aggregatum. Conditions under which roots were dried prior to storage had little or no effect on the level of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) effectiveness measured in terms of pinnule phosphorus (P) content of Leucaena leucocephala leaves after the first 14 days of storage. As duration of storage was further prolonged the time required by root inocula for initiating AM effectiveness and attaining peak levels of effectiveness was progressively prolonged relative to that required by the crude inoculum. However, the two sources of inoculum had similar peak AM effectiveness in many instances. Roots dried in the greenhouse or in the oven at 40°C were significantly inferior to that dried at 60°C. Root inocula stimulated growth of the indicator plant to the same extent as the crude inoculum after 14 days of storage. However, the effectiveness of root inocula in stimulating growth declined with further increase in duration of storage. Among root inocula tested, that dried at 60°C prior to storage was relatively more effective than that dried in the greenhouse or in the oven at 40°C. The overall inferiority of root inocula to that of the crude inoculum appears to be related to loss of viability of root inocula with increase in duration of storage.