Importance of organic and inorganic sulfur to mineralization processes in a forest soil

Sulfur mineralization rates, changes in organic and inorganic S constituents and arylsulfatase activity were determined in four soil horizons (O2, B21h, B22hir and B23) which represent the major portion of a forest Spodosol (Becket). Biweekly, for 20 weeks, soil subsamples were leached with deionized water and analyzed for S constituents. Rates of water-soluble sulfate release were 123, 39, 34 and 18 nmol S g^?1 dry mass week^?1 for O2, B22hir, B23 and B21h horizons, respectively. Only in the organic O2 horizon did non-sulfate inorganic S (Zn-HCl-S) increase (15 nmol S g^?1) while phosphate extractable S decreased in all the mineral horizons (13, 19 and 28 nmol S g^?1 week^?1, B21h, B22hir and B23, respectively) due to desorption. Ester sulfate was mineralized in the B22hir and B23 horizons (?66 and ?22 nmol S g^?1 week^?1) and increased in the O2 (174 nmol S g^?1 week^?1). Arylsulfatase activity varied among horizons and decreased with time. Carbon-bonded S decreased in all horizons, especially those with high respiration rates (i.e. O2 and B21h), but changes were not significant. Only the B22hir horizon exhibited a significant loss of total S (128 nmol S g^?1 week^?1). The interrelationships among inorganic and organic S dynamics were outlined.     

Effects of organic sulfur compounds on methods of determining inorganic forms of nitrogen

Methionine, ethionine, cystine, cysteine and thiourea interfere with determination of nitrate by the phenoldisulfonic acid method; and cystine, cysteine and thiourea interfere with nitrate analysis by the MgO-Devarda alloy reduction method. Methionine, ethionine and thiourea do not interfere with determination of ammonium by the MgO distillation method; and cystine and cysteine do not significantly affect ammonium analysis by this method if the amount of N as cystine or cysteine does not greatly exceed the amount of N as ammonium. Methionine. ethionine, cystine, and thiourea do not interfere with determination of nitrite by the Griess-Ilosvay method, but this method is affected by the presence of substantial amounts of cysteine. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Content of some organic and inorganic pollutants in soils of southern part of Sakhalin Island

The article is dedicated to analyzing the content and distribution of oil hydrocarbons, benz(a)pyrene, and heavy metals in the soils of the southern part of Sakhalin Island. The investigations were conducted in 2003–2010. A dynamical increase in the content of ecotoxicants in soils has been shown. The similar character of the accumulation of oil hydrocarbons, benz(a)pyrene, and heavy metals in the soils has been determined and indicates the possibility of the aerial transmission of pollutants from existing nearby sources.     

Recovery Pattern from Acidification of Headwater Lakes in Finland

Acid sensitive headwater lakes (n=163) throughout Finland have been monitored during autumn overturn between 1987–1998. Statistically significant decline in sulphate concentration is detected in 60 to 80 percent of the lakes, depending on the region. Median slope estimates are from ?1.1 µeq L^?1 in North Finland to ?3.3 µeq L^?1 in South Finland. The base cation (BC) concentrations are still declining especially in southern Finland (slope ?2.5 µeq L^?1), where every second lake exhibits a significant downward trend. The BC slope is steeper for lakes with less peatlands, more exposed bedrock, longer retention time and southerly location, but these factors are inter correlated. Gran alkalinity slope medians for the three regions range from 1.4 to 1.8 µeq L^?1 yr^?1. No significant negative alkalinity trends were detected. The similarity in the slopes of SO₄, BC and alkalinity in this data compared to seasonal sampling data from Nordic Countries can be regarded as indirect evidence that autumnal sampling is representative for long term monitoring for these ions. There are no indications of increased organic carbon in lakes, as found in some recent trend analyses of similar regional data sets. Although the processes behind the positive development in these lakes have to be revealed with site- specific intensive studies, this data suggests, that the initial recovery from lake acidification in Finland is a regional phenomenon.     

Geochemical analysis of Lake Bant sediments to ascertain inorganic and organic indicators for warfare residues

Purpose  

The immediate time period after the Second World War (1945–1946) was characterised by an urgent need to dispose large amounts of ammunition residues. Although the environmental relevance of explosives released to soils is intensively investigated, to date, their fate and effects in marine ecosystems are not well known. Surface sediments from Lake Bant, Germany, for which deposition of an enhanced amount of ammunition after World War II has been reported, were analysed to identify organic and inorganic indicators for warfare residues. Additionally, samples of ammunition residues collected from the Wadden Sea, Germany, were analysed in order to obtain information on the long-term behaviour of explosives in undamaged ammunition left in the aquatic environment and to obtain first insights into the spectrum of organic substances which are possibly released to the aquatic environment by such ammunition residues.     

Organic and inorganic sulfur constituents of the Sediments in three New York lakes: Effect of site,sediment depth and season

Water and sediment parameters, with emphasis on S constituents, were compared among lakes (Oneida, South, Deer), seasons, sites and sediment depths. The three lakes differed in size, morphometry, productivity and acid neutralizing capacity and none of the lakes had anoxia in the water column. Redox potentials (Eh) were higher for oligotrophic South and mesotrophic Deer than cutrophic Oneida within the sediment. In the water column, the only S constituent measured was sulfate which was higher in nutrient rich Onieda (110 to 490 μmol I^?1) than South (30 to 70 μmol I^?1) or Deer (10 to 60 μmol ^?1) Total S in sediment was higher for South than for either Deer or Oneida. For Deer and South sediment, total S was greatest in the 5 to 15 cm layer, and this was likely due to historical changes in anthropogenic inputs through atmospheric deposition. The high S concentration in South sediment can be accounted for by particulate deposition of S through the water column. Organic S constituents constituted major forms of S in the sediments of the three lakes. Non-HI reducible S, of which carbon-bonded S was a dominant constituent, comprised a major portion of total S in Oneida, South and Deer. Ester sulfate was the next largest S constituent in South and Deer. As a percent of total S, sulfide (HCL digestion) and sulfate was higher in Oneida than South or Deer. There was an inverse relationship between sediment Eh and sulfide. Pyritic S was measured on bulk samples and constituted 37, 12, and 6% of total S in Oneida, South and Deer. Both inorganic and organic S forms showed seasonal variation and the transformation and translocation of these forms play an important role in the S dynamics of lakes.     

Hydrogeochemistry of a stream draining sulfide-bearing postglacial sediments in Finland

The influence of hydrological conditions and overburden type on the stream-water quality in a catchment effected by fine-grained sulfide-bearing sediments was studied. Water samples for measurement of pH and electric conductivity were collected at 16 sites along the main course of the stream during autumn and spring high water flow and during low and intermediate water flow. On one occasion (spring high-water flow) samples for analysis of total organic carbon were collected at these sites. Seventeen water samples for analyses of chemical elements (ICP-MS and ICP-AES) were taken within the catchment basin during autumn high water flow. The pH and conductivity of snow, and the geochemistry of the sulfide sediments were also studied. The occurrence of fine-grained sediments within the catchment was estimated from topographic and geologic maps and by visit to areas were the overburden type could not be determined from the maps. The hydrological conditions had a strong influence on the water quality. During high water flow in spring and autumn the concentrations of ionic components (conductivity) and hydrogen ions in the stream water were high, while the concentrations were much lower during low and intermediate water flow and when the ground was frozen. Extensive leaching of the sulfide-bearing sediments, which had higher contents of S and metals than the fine fraction of till in the study area, resulted in elevated contents of Li, Ni, Zn, Co, B, Al, Mg, U, Sr, Ca, K and Na in the stream water during autumn high water flow. The contents of Cr, Ba, Pb, Si and Fe in stream water were not much influenced by the type of overburden, while V was depleted in drainage waters from the sulfide sediments. Humic substances flocculated in the water in the middle section of the stream, which may have been caused by di- and trivalent metal cations leached in large quantities from the oxidizing sulfide sediments.     

Total cadmium concentrations in the water and littoral sediments of Central Ontario Lakes

Lakes within 20 km of Sudbury, Ontario, have significantly higher Cd concentrations in surface waters (geometric mean 122 ng L^?1; n = 7) than lakes elsewhere in central Ontario (10.8 ng L^?1; n = 57). Cadmium concentrations in water from lakes beyond the Sudbury halo were negatively correlated (r = 0.797; p < 0.001) with pH. A weak correlation between fluoride and Cd concentrations leads to speculation that some Cd may be mobilized from watersheds with Al. Cadmium concentrations in littoral sediments are not elevated near Sudbury. The geometric mean Cd concentration of littoral sediments in central Ontario lakes is 0.08 mg Cd kg^?1 dry mass (n = 75). Cadmium concentrations in littoral sediments are strongly correlated with sediment loss on ignition (r = 0.860; p < 0.001). After correction for differences in organic content, littoral sediments are less enriched with Cd than profundal sediments, as reported in the literature. The difference between littoral and profundal sediments, and the sensitivity of Cd concentrations in water to pH, may be due to the importance of Cd binding by Fe/Mn hydrous oxides in the profundal zone, while organic matter binds Cd in the littoral zone. The lack of sensitivity of Cd concentrations in littoral sediments to acidification may be due to the incorporation of much of the Cd in those sediments into organic particulates.     

The history of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and perylene as recorded in dated lake sediments

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were analyzed in sediment cores from five small forest lakes in Finland. The catchments of the lakes were undisturbed (2 lakes) or only very slightly disturbed by human activity (3 lakes). None of the lakes had runoff delivery of PAH from their shores. Lead-210 dating of four lakes enabled the calculation of individual PAH fluxes over the past 100 to 150 yr. The sedimentary distribution of abiotic PAH in these lakes appears to be indicative of the development of combustion-generated energy production in Finland and adjacent countries. This development is reflected in an overall increase in sedimentary PAH since about 1850. After World War II the rate of accumulation of PAH continues to increase. The large variation between the PAH fluxes of different lakes indicates different trapping efficiencies and/or different preservation of the PAH compounds due to limnological differences between the lakes.     

Long-Term Base Cation Balances of Forest Mineral Soils in Finland

Long-term base cation balances (Ca, Mg and K) for forest mineral soils in Finland were calculated with mass balance methods. The aim of the study was to identify the areas in which weathering and base cation deposition do not support leaching and uptake of base cations by vegetation. The effect of stem harvesting and whole-tree harvesting on the base cation balances was studied and preliminary calculations were made about the amounts of ash needed for compensation of the potential base cation depletion. The effect of sulphur emission reduction till 2010 was also considered. The study demonstrated that there would be depletion of base cations in forest mineral soils in southern, central and northeastern Finland (40–50% of the grids) in the long term if whole-tree harvesting would be practised. Theoretical calculations showed that ash application would be most useful in those areas to compensate the base cation depletion. If stem harvesting is practised, only small areas (20%) in southwestern and southeastern Finland and northeastern Lapland would show depletion of base cations in the long term.     

长期定位施肥紫色土无机硫形态变化

【目的】以紫色土肥力与肥料效益监测基地的土壤为研究对象研究了长期(22年)不同施肥(不施肥对照、施用氮磷钾、单施有机肥、氮磷钾与有机肥配施、永久休闲)处理对表层土壤(0-20 cm)硫含量的影响,为合理进行硫素供应和肥料施用提供理论依据。【方法】利用连续提取法提取耕层土壤的水溶性硫、吸附性硫、HCl溶性硫和总硫,并用BaS04比浊法进行测定。【结果】化肥与有机肥长期配施能显著增加土壤的总硫含量,与原始土壤相比增加65.42 mg/kg但有效硫比例低于单施化肥处理;与原始土壤相比5个处理的水溶性硫含量都有所下降幅度为0.87~1.38 mg/kg;而单施有机肥或化肥与有机肥配施能显著增加土壤的吸附性硫含量分别比原始土壤增加93.3%和177.4%;长期施用氮磷钾化肥能显著增加土壤HCl溶性硫含量,比原始土壤增加了161.7%。【结论】单施化肥或有机肥化肥配合施用都能显著增加土壤硫的供给,而有机肥与化肥配施更有利于土壤硫的累积。此外,长期施肥试验表明大气硫沉降的减少对土壤硫供给的影响需值得进一步关注。     

Sulfur constituents of sediments and their relationship to lake acidification

Sulfate is a major component of acid precipitation in the Northeastern United States. Transformations and fluxes of S may be important indices of the effect of acidification on limnetic systems. Sulfur constiuents and respiration rates were compared in sediments among Oneida, Deer and South Lakes in New York which exhibit a range of buffering capacity and pH from high to low, respectively. Total S in Deer and South was higher near their major inlets. Sulfide was highest in Oneida sediment, which had a lower redox potential (Eh). Ester sulfate was a major portion of the S in the three lakes. Oxygen consumption was highest in Oneida and lowest in South sediments. The low ester sulfate and an elevated C/N ratio of South sediment may indicate that acidification inhibits decomposition     

Different factors related to mercury concentration in sediments and zooplankton of 73 Canadian Lakes

Surficial sediments were sampled with a light-weight gravity corer at 175 sites in 73 Ontario and Québec lakes and Zooplankton was collected with a 225 μm mesh size net in 24 lakes. Hg concentrations in surficial sediments (0–2 cm) ranged from 3 to 267 ng g^?1 dry weight with a mean of 80 ng g^?1 dry weight for all sites. A regression model including organic content of sediments and the ratio of the catchment area/lake surface explained 60% of the variation in sediments Hg concentrations. Hg in Zooplankton ranged from about 25 to 377 ng g^?1 dw with a mean of 108 ng g^?1 dw and was weakly correlated with catchment area, primary productivity and TOC. Our data indicate that an important fraction of Hg originates from the catchments, but do not show a clear west-east regional gradient for Hg concentrations in surficial sediments or in zooplankton.     

Effect of organic,inorganic, and combined organic and inorganic P fertilization on plant P uptake and soil P pools

Phosphorus (P) is a limited resource, and its efficient use is a main task in sustainable agriculture. In a 6‐year field experiment on a loamy‐sand soil poor in P, the effects of organic, inorganic, and combined organic‐inorganic fertilization on crop yield, P uptake into grain, and soil properties (organic matter [OM] content, pH, water‐extractable P [P_w], double lactate–extractable P [P_dl], oxalate‐extractable P [P_ox], P‐sorption capacity [PSC], and degree of P saturation [DPS]) were investigated for the maritime climate in northeast Germany. Nine treatments were compared: a control treatment without fertilizer application, two organic fertilizers (cattle manure [CM] and biowaste compost [BC]; applied at a rate of 30 t ha^–1 in autumn 1998 and 2001), application of triple‐superphosphate (TSP; applied once a year either in autumn or in spring to evaluate the effects of application date), and combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizations. Several winter and spring crops (oilseed rape, barley, wheat) were cultivated according to good agricultural practice. The 6 year–average yield and P uptake were significantly higher for fertilized plots than for nonfertilized plots. Although the combination of organic × inorganic fertilizers resulted in higher soil P contents, significant yield increases were only found when organic fertilization was combined with TSP in spring. Small effects of P supply on yield in some years indicate that plant‐available soil P (despite of low P_dl values) was sufficient for crop growth. Phosphorus supply affected soil P_dl and P_w more than the parameters measured in the oxalate extract (P_ox, PSC, DPS). In general, periodically applied cattle manure and biowaste compost had the same effect on yield, P uptake, and soil P status as annually applied soluble mineral P.     

Critical loads of sulfur and nitrogen for lakes II: Regional extent and variability in Finland

The concept of critical loads has been developed to assist in the design of environmentally sound abatement strategies for the emissions of acidifying compounds. In this paper the critical loads of S and N for lakes in Finland are computed and mapped, based on methods presented in an accompanying paper. The employed steady-state mass balance model allows the simultaneous evaluation of the reductions required of S and N deposition exceeding these critical loads. Special emphasis has been put on the presentation of the spatial variability and the uncertainty of the critical loads and their exceedances. The derived critical loads of S and N for lakes in Finland show a substantial spatial variability. The highest exceedance of critical loads is presently estimated in the south-east of the country, where up to 80% of the lakes show an exceedance of the critical loads of S. The evaluation of two emission scenarios shows that only “maximum feasible reductions” would be sufficient for protecting most Finnish lakes from the impacts of acidic deposition. The results of this study form a basis for setting national targets for emission reductions in Finland.     

有机复混磷肥对石灰性土壤无机磷形态组成及其变化的影响

实验室培养条件下,研究了有机复混磷肥对石灰性土壤无机磷组成变化的影响。结果表明: 1）单独施用有机物料对提高土壤速效磷含量的影响不大,但施用磷肥,无论是磷酸一铵化肥还是有机复混磷肥,均显著提高了土壤速效磷含量;施用有机复混磷肥提高土壤速效磷的幅度（67.5mg/kg～80.4mg/kg）高于施用磷酸一铵化肥处理（62.3mg/kg）;有机复混磷肥中有机物料的含量高低对土壤速效磷含量的影响不大。2）单独施用有机物料具有提高土壤Ca2-P含量的作用,且明显提高了Ca8-P含量,但对Al-P、Fe-P、O-P、Ca10-P含量影响不大;施用无机磷肥和有机复混磷肥,显著提高了土壤Ca2-P、Ca8-P、Al-P含量,而对Fe-P、O-P、Ca10-P含量的影响很小;与磷酸一铵化学磷肥处理相比,施用有机复混磷肥对Ca2-P含量影响较小,但明显提高了Ca8-P含量,Fe-P含量也表现增加的趋势,而Al-P含量明显降低,O-P和Ca10-P含量的变化则没有明显规律;有机复混磷肥中有机物料的比例高低对土壤无机磷组成变化的影响没有表现出明显的规律性。3）施用磷肥引起速效态Ca2-P和缓效态Ca8-P的变化最大,其它形态无机磷的变化相对较小。与磷酸一铵化肥处理相比,有机复混磷肥处理Ca8-P的变异提高幅度增加,而Al-P的变异提高幅度减小,其它指标库容的变异幅度与之相近。4）施磷处理土壤速效磷含量与土壤Ca2-P、Ca8-P含量呈线性正相关,相关系数分别达到0.9888、0.9867,而Al-P、 Fe-P、O-P、Ca10-P与土壤速效磷相关性不显著,磷肥施入土壤后,土壤无机磷库中Ca2-P、Ca8-P的变化对土壤速效磷含量的贡献最大。     

Interactions of organic and inorganic chromium species with Ca-polygalacturonate

This study investigated the interactions of CrIII and CrVI present as free metal ions or as organic CrIII (Cr-L) with a Ca-polygalacturonate (Ca-PG) network. Ca-PG networks were treated with solutions of chromium (CrIII and CrVI) at different concentrations at three different pH values. The Cr-L complex were obtained by water extraction of hydrolysed leather. The CrVI had almost no interaction with the Ca-PG networks, whereas CrIII as a free metallic ion was strongly retained by the network. The calculated Langmuir adsorption isotherms showed a twofold increase in maximum CrIII adsorption but a decrease in the affinity of the metal with the Ca-PG networks. This would indicate that the different chromium species, i.e. CrIII and its hydrolytic species, interact in a different way with the polygalacturonate chains. In addition, thermal analysis showed that CrIII sorption modified the structure of the network. These modifications were reduced, and thermal stability increased if Ca-PG adsorbed Cr-L or L. Furthermore, the treatment of Ca-PG with hydrolysed leather water extract-reduced CrIII sorption by 94%. The hydrolysed leather fraction immobilized onto the Ca-PG networks probably consisted of peptides and could therefore represent an important source of organic N.     

Microbial responses to organic and inorganic amendments in eroded soil

The objectives of this study were to determine the changes in microbial biomass carbon, litter decomposition, microbial abundance and the soil's physical and chemical properties after poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer application in soil‐eroded areas. Four plots measuring 10 m × 10 m, located on approximately the same slope, were established in the study area. Plot 1 (P1) was an eroded plot without any treatment; Plot 2 (P2) was treated with poultry manure (N:P:K ratio of 1:0.8:0·39); Plot 3 (P3) was treated with inorganic mineral fertilizer (NPK 10:10:10); and Plot 4 (P4) was an undisturbed area (no erosion occurred). The one‐time amendments used in this study significantly increased the soil's water‐holding capacity, pH, and the total carbon and nitrogen content, but soil moisture content was not influenced by any amendment. The biomass carbon was increased 3·2‐ and 2·9‐times by the poultry manure and the NPK fertilizer amendments respectively, but the values did not reach the same level as the undisturbed area. The Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, cellulase‐producers and amylase‐producers responded positively to the additives, which was shown by an abrupt increase in their abundance. Microbial biomass carbon and abundance were shown to be closely correlated with the soil's carbon and nitrogen content. None of the amendments, on the other hand, affected the rate of litter decomposition. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Immobilization of soil copper using organic and inorganic amendments

This experiment aimed to immobilize Cu in polluted agricultural soils via the application of agrochemicals to reduce its bioavailability to plants. A greenhouse pot experiment was established using a Cu contaminated vineyard topsoil collected from a farm in Greece. The soil was mixed with inorganic [i.e., zeolite (Z), Al‐oxide (AX), Mn‐oxide (MX), and phosphate rock (PR)] as well as organic amendments [i.e., activated charcoal (AC), commercial peat soil material (CP), and compost from olive oil processing wastes (COW)] with an application rate of 2.5% and cultivated by corn (Zea maize). After plant harvesting, Cu was measured separately in the aboveground biomass and roots, respectively, whereas the soil samples were analyzed for DTPA‐extractable and geochemical fractions of Cu (soluble + exchangeable fraction, sorbed and carbonate fraction, Fe‐/Mn‐oxides fraction, and organic fraction). The immobilizing agents, except MX, reduced the soluble plus exchangeable Cu in the treated soil. The lowest concentrations of the soluble plus exchangeable Cu occurred in the soil amended with AC followed by CP, AX, COW, PR, and Z, respectively. The amendments decreased the uptake of Cu by corn. Concentrations of Cu were between 11 and 38% lower in the above ground biomass and 19 and 48% lower in the roots than the control. The organic amendments were more effective than the inorganic additives. The AC was the most effective organic additive and AX was the most effective inorganic amendment.     

Analysis of organic acids and inorganic anions in different types of beer using capillary zone electrophoresis.

Two methods for the investigation of different types of beer by capillary zone electrophoresis are presented. The first separation system described in this work allows the quantitative analysis of beers with respect to their contents of low molecular mass anionic components using indirect ultraviolet detection as well as conductivity detection, providing relative standard deviation between 0.5 and 6.6% for the peak areas and excellent limits of detection (LOD) ranging from 0.02 mg L(-)(1) for chloride to 0.41 mg L(-)(1) for phosphate. The second method offers the possibility of fast determination of amino acids in beer samples without the necessity of any sample pretreatment. LODs obtained for the investigated solutes were found to be strongly dependent on their spectroscopical properties and in the range of 0.5-50 mg L(-)(1). Despite this restriction, this analytical method can be regarded as a suitable tool for the screening of beers with respect to their amino acid patterns.