Determination of critical soil water content and matric potential for wind erosion

Purpose  

Soil strength and thus stability concerning wind erosion are controlled by the soil water content. The concept of soil critical water content (Θ_crit.) for deflation was extended to include matric potential (Ψ_crit.) as well. The focus of this paper is to quantify the Θ_crit. and Ψ_crit. as the upper boundary for wind erosion or as the lower boundary for soil strength, to model the Ψ_crit. at the immediate soil surface (0–0.2 cm) and to evaluate the effect of soil moisture upon erosion as a function of time and sampling height.     

Bauxite residue fines as an amendment to residue sands to enhance plant growth potential—a glasshouse study

Purpose  

This glasshouse study was conducted to determine if amending bauxite residue sand with residue fines would improve its suitability as a growth medium. Alcoa’s West Australian operations mechanically separate residue into two size fractions: residue fines (which are dominated by particles <150 μm) and residue sands (>150 μm). Residue sand represents the primary material used as a growth medium for rehabilitation, and prior to amendments, it exhibits many characteristics unfavourable for plant growth.     

Inhibition of ammonium oxidation by a liquid formulation of 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) compared with a dicyandiamide (DCD) solution in six new Zealand grazed grassland soils

Purpose  

The oxidation of ammonium (NH₄⁺) to nitrate (NO₃⁻) in the soil is an important biogeochemical process, which has major environmental implications as it can contribute to NO₃⁻ leaching and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Nitrification inhibitors have been used to slow down this process to reduce NO₃⁻ leaching and N₂O emissions from agricultural land. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a liquid formulation of 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) compared with a dicyandiamide (DCD) solution in inhibiting the growth of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonium oxidizing archaea (AOA) and slowing down the rate of NH₄⁺ oxidation in soil.     

Responses of microbial community in rhizosphere soils when ryegrass was subjected to stress from PCBs

Purpose  

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the composition and structure of microbial communities in rhizosphere soils in response to the presence of Aroclor 1242 with low (8 mg kg⁻¹ soil) and high (16 mg kg⁻¹ soil) concentrations in the hope to provide more information on potential dissipation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at contaminated sites.     

Anaerobic degradation of phenanthrene by a newly isolated humus-reducing bacterium, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> strain PAH-1

Purpose  

The anaerobic degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has great significance to PAHs’ natural attenuation in contaminated sites. Previous studies mainly focused on anaerobic PAH degradation by mixed cultures with nitrate, sulfate, or Fe(III) oxides as electron acceptors, and the roles of pure cultures in the process was rarely reported. The aim of this paper is to isolate a pure culture that is capable of degrading phenanthrene anaerobically with anthraquinone-2,6-disulphonate (AQDS) as the sole electron acceptor and evaluate its environmental functions.     

Oxidation behavior and kinetics of sulfide by synthesized manganese oxide minerals

Purpose  

Sulfur is distributed widely in soils and sediments. Sulfide oxidation causes acid mine wastewater, toxicity, and corrosion. Manganese oxide minerals usually affect the migration, transformation, and fate of sulfur. To understand the oxidation behaviors of S²⁻ and influence factors, reaction process and kinetics were investigated by using different manganese oxides.     

A critical assessment of soil amendments (slaked lime/acidic fertilizer) for the phytomanagement of moderately contaminated shooting range soils

Purpose  

The effects of the addition of an acidic fertilizer solution and/or slaked lime (5.5 g Ca(OH)₂ kg⁻¹) on a slightly acidic shooting range soil (pH 6.1, % organic carbon 5.4) with moderate metal (e.g., 620 mg kg⁻¹ Pb) and metalloid (17 mg kg⁻¹ Sb) concentrations on metal and Sb solubility and plant accumulation were investigated.     

Heavy metals in urban soils of Bristol (UK). Initial screening for contaminated land

Purpose  

UK local authorities are required by environmental regulations to keep a public register of contaminated land. In many towns and cities, there is growing concern of allotment holders about the quality of their allotment soils. Limited information on soil chemistry is available for the southwest of England. This work was carried out to assess whether any allotment and park soil in Bristol could be defined as “contaminated”.     

A lysimeter study of nitrate leaching and optimum nitrogen application rates for intensively irrigated vegetable production systems in Central China

Background, aim, and scope  

Nitrate leaching from intensive vegetable production is an important contributor of nitrate contamination of water resources. The aim of this study was to quantify NO₃ ⁻ leaching losses under intensive vegetable production as affected by different rates of N fertilizer and to determine the optimum N application rates both for vegetable production and for meeting the drinking water standard.     

Atmospheric deposition of Cd accumulated in the montane soil,Gongga Mt., China

Purpose  

Gongga Mountain, the highest mountain in Sichuan Province and the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, is usually regarded as the “clean” area and free from heavy metal contamination because it is far away from intensive human activities. The purpose of this study is to discover the enrichment characteristics of cadmium (Cd) in soil of Gongga Mt. and probe into its provenance.     

Sequential solidification/stabilization and thermal process under vacuum for the treatment of mercury in sediments

Purpose  

Millions of cubic meters of sediments are dredged every year in the world. About 10–20% on weight basis of this material is contaminated by organic and/or inorganic pollutants. This work presents the laboratory tests performed to study a system for the remediation and reuse of mercury-contaminated sediments. The treatment is based on a cement-based granulation step (solidification/stabilization (S/S)), followed by a thermal process under vacuum during which volatile and semi-volatile compounds are removed. The experiments focused on: (1) cement hydration reactions; (2) pollutant removal efficiencies; and (3) leaching behavior, in relation to temperature and duration of the thermal process. Mercury speciation was also investigated.     

Distributions of soil phosphorus in China’s densely populated village landscapes

Purpose  

Village landscapes, which integrate small-scale agriculture with housing, forestry and a host of other land use practices, cover more than 2 × 10⁶ km² across China. Village lands tend to be managed at very fine spatial scales (≤30 m), with managers altering soil fertility and even terrain by terracing, irrigation, fertilizing, and other land use practices. Under these conditions, accumulation of excess phosphorous in soils has become important contributor to eutrophication of surface waters across China’s densely populated village landscapes. The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between fine-scale patterns of agricultural management and soil total phosphorus (STP) within China’s village landscapes.     

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) varieties reveal substantial and contrasting organic phosphorus use efficiencies (PoUE) under symbiotic conditions

Background

The excessive use of inorganic P (Pi) in soils is alarming as it is causing numerous environmental problems and may lead to the depletion of rock phosphate reserves earlier than expected. Hence, to limit the over-dependence on Pi, there is the need to investigate organic phosphorus (Po), which is the dominant P form of soil P pool, as an alternate P source for plant growth.

Aim

The present study seeks to investigate organic P use efficiency of eight varieties of faba bean grown symbiotically.

Methods

The plants were grown in pots (6 kg soil) under greenhouse condition with three P source, namely, phytic acid (organic P, Po), KH₂PO₄ (inorganic P, Pi), and no-P. The P was applied at the rate of 1.79 g kg⁻¹ soil.

Results

The plants grown with Po and Pi produced similar amounts of root, shoot, and total dry matters. Despite producing statistically similar dry matters, P uptake by Pi-fertilized plants was twofold higher than by Po-fertilized plants. Meanwhile, Pi differed significantly from Po in terms of nodulation characteristics such as nodule dry biomass and individual nodule dry biomass. However, Po varied significantly from Pi in P utilization and acquisition efficiencies. Principal component analysis of Pi and Po revealed no significant variation and close association, confirming the nonsignificant differences between the two P treatments. Among the varieties tested, Tiffany tended to accumulate more dry matter, coupled with highest organic P utilization efficiency (0.48 g mg⁻¹) as well as the highest organic P beneficiary factor (80%).

Conclusion

These results provide a solid basis for further comparisons at physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels between Tiffany (Po-efficient) and Fuego (Po-inefficient) varieties, offering deep insights into and making it easier to understand the mechanisms that allow soil Po to be utilized under symbiotic conditions.     

Adsorption kinetics of 17α-ethinyl estradiol and bisphenol A on carbon nanomaterials. II. Concentration-dependence

Purpose  

Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) have attracted a great deal of research interest for their potential environmental applications because of their unique properties. Adsorption of organic chemicals on CNMs was reported to be important in controlling their environmental risks. However, the kinetics of the adsorption is hardly investigated in literature. The objective of this work was, therefore, to quantitatively describe the sorption kinetics of 17 α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and bisphenol A (BPA) on CNMs as compared to activated carbon (AC).     

Assessing phosphorus efficiency and tolerance in maize genotypes with contrasting root systems at the early growth stage using the semi-hydroponic phenotyping system

Background

Development of an evaluation tool to determine genotypic variation in phosphorus (P) utilization efficiency is essential to ensure crop productivity and farmers’ income under low P environments.

Aims

This study aimed to develop an evaluation tool to determine genotypic variation in low-P tolerance and P use efficiency under low P environments.

Methods

Root response and P efficiency traits in 20 maize genotypes with contrasting root systems were assessed 32 days after transplanting into the semi-hydroponic root phenotyping system under low P (10 µM) or optimal P (200 µM) supply.

Results

Compared to optimal P, low P supply increased root-to-shoot biomass ratio by 48.7% (shoot dry weight decreased by 20.0% and root dry weight increased by 20.6%). Low P supply increased total root length by 17.8% but decreased primary root depth, with no significant change in lateral root number across all genotypes. Low P stress enhanced P utilization efficiency. Based on genotypic variation and correlations among the 17 measured plant traits in response to low P stress, nine traits were converted to low-P tolerance coefficients (LPTC), compressed by principal component analysis. The three principal component scores were extracted for hierarchical cluster analysis and classified the 20 genotypes into three groups with different P efficiency, including two P-efficient genotypes and nine P-inefficient genotypes.

Conclusions

The study demonstrated genotypic variation in response to low P stress. The P-efficient genotypes with higher LPTC values better adapted to low P environments by adjusting root architecture and re-distributing P and biomass in plant organs. The systematic cluster analysis using selected traits and their LPTC values can be used as an evaluation tool in assessing P efficiency among the genotypes.     

Effective mitigation of nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions in intensive vegetable production systems using a nitrification inhibitor,dicyandiamide

Purpose  

Vegetable production is one of the most intensive agricultural systems with high rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer use and irrigation, conditions conducive for nitrate (NO₃⁻) leaching, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD), in decreasing NO₃⁻ leaching and N₂O emissions in vegetable production systems.     

Trace element-rich litter in soils: influence on biochemical properties related to the carbon cycle

Purpose  

The aim of this work was to study the effect of ‘trace element-rich litter’ on the properties of two reforested polluted soils of different pH values (acidic and neutral) in terms of (1) availability of trace elements and (2) chemical and biochemical properties of the soil at different pH. We hypothesized that this litter would affect several parameters related to the organic matter cycle in soils, depending on initial soil pH.     

Regulation of amino acid biodegradation in soil as affected by depth

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and in particular free amino acids represent a key pool in the terrestrial soil C and N cycle. The factors controlling the rate of turnover of this pool in soil, however, remain poorly understood. We investigated the factors regulating the rate of amino acid turnover at different depths (up to 1.2 m) in five low-input, acid soil profiles. Within the root zone (0–60 cm), amino acids constituted 8% of the DON and represented only a small fraction of plant available N. In all the soil profiles, the rate of amino acid mineralisation decreased progressively with depth. The average half-life of the exogenously added amino acids in the soil was 5.8 h in topsoils (0–10 cm), falling to 20 h at a depth of 50 cm and to 33 h at 100 cm. Generally, the rate of amino acid mineralisation correlated positively with total soil C and N, soil microbial activity (basal soil respiration rate) and soil content. The relatively rapid rates of microbial amino acid assimilation in subsoils below the root zone (>60 cm) indicate that long-term transport of amino acids (e.g. from soil to freshwaters) will be low. Based upon the C-to-N ratio of the amino acid substrate and the microbial C assimilation efficiency, we estimate that approximately 40–60% of the amino acid-N will be excreted as . In conclusion, the rapid rate of free amino acid turnover and their low concentration in soil solution indicate that the formation of inorganic N ( and ) in soil is limited primarily by the rate of free amino acid appearance in soil and not by the rate of amino acid mineralisation.     

Sorption and genotoxicity of sediment-associated pentachlorophenol and pyrene influenced by crop residue ash

Purpose  

The bioavailability and potential toxicity of sediment-associated organic compounds are affected by sorption processes. The particulate matter (ash) from field burning of crop residues is one of the primary sources for environmental black carbon, which is regarded as supersorbent for organic contaminants and may reduce their ecotoxicity. This study aimed to investigate the influence of ash on sediment-associated organic pollutants’ potential toxicity.     

Performance and Kinetic Study on Bioremediation of Diazo Dye (Reactive Black 5) in Wastewater Using Spent GAC–Biofilm Sequencing Batch Reactor

Combinations of sequential anaerobic and aerobic process enhance the treatment of textile wastewater. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment of diazo dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5)-containing wastewater using granular activated carbon (GAC)–biofilm sequencing batch reactor (SBR) as an integration of aerobic and anaerobic process in a single reactor. The GAC–biofilm SBR system demonstrated higher removal of COD, RB5 and aromatic amines. It was observed that the RB5 removal efficiency improved as the concentration of co-substrate in the influent increased. The alternative aeration introduced into the bioreactor enhanced mineralization of aromatic amines. Degradation of RB5 and co-substrate followed second-order kinetic and the constant (k ₂) values for COD and RB5 decreased from 0.002 to 0.001 and 0.004 to 0.001 l/mg h, respectively, as the RB5 concentration increased from 100 to 200 mg/l in the GAC–biofilm SBR system.