Experiments on Curative Low and Ultra-low Volume Spraying Against Dacus oleae Gmel.

Applications of 1, 2, 4, 6 and 12 lit. of spray per tree, each volume containing 6 g. of dimethoate a.i., did not show significant differences between the treatments, but olive fly pupae and third instar larvae were found to be more resistant than first and second instar larvae. Also, no differences became apparent between treatments with Dimecron 50, Carbicron 50 and Nuvacron 50 at rates of 7, 10 and 14 c.c. per tree respectively; these experiments will be continued.     

Some Limiting Factors in Superintensive Production of Juvenile Pacific White Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,in No‐water‐exchange,Biofloc‐dominated Systems

Superintensive shrimp culture in zero‐exchange, biofloc‐dominated production systems is more biosecure and sustainable than traditional shrimp farming practices. However, successful application of this technology depends upon optimizing dietary formulations, controlling Vibrio outbreaks, and managing accumulative changes in water quality and composition. A 49‐d study investigated the effect of two commercial feeds of differing protein content and an indoor limited‐exchange, biofloc‐dominated culture environment on Litopenaeus vannamei performance and tissue composition, water quality and ionic composition, and Vibrio dynamics. Juveniles (5.3 g) were stocked at 457/m³ into four 40 m³ shallow raceways containing biofloc‐dominated water and fed one of two commercial feeds with differing protein content, 35 or 40%. Shrimp performance, Vibrio populations, and changes in shrimp and culture water composition were monitored. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in shrimp performance (survival, weight, growth, specific growth rate, total biomass, yield, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio) or proximate composition between feed types. The 40% protein feed resulted in higher culture water nitrate and phosphate concentrations, alkalinity consumption and bicarbonate use, and higher phytoplankton density. The presence of Vibrio, specifically Vibrio parahaemolyticus, reduced shrimp survival. This survival decrease corresponded with increased culture water Vibrio concentrations. Culture water K⁺ and Mg²⁺ increased significantly (P < 0.05), and Sr²⁺, Br^?, and Cl^? decreased significantly (P < 0.05) over time. While Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ did increase in shrimp tissue, no heavy metals accumulated to problematic levels in culture water or shrimp tissue. These results demonstrate the importance of monitoring Vibrio populations and ionic composition in limited‐exchange shrimp culture systems.     

Zero-Valent Iron Removal Rates of Aqueous Cr(VI) Measured Under Flow Conditions

The rates of Cr(VI) removal from the aqueous phase by zero-valent iron, Fe(0), was measured under flow conditions. The intent of this work was to generate removal rate coefficients that would be applicable to the Reactive Well Technology, a groundwater remediation technology that replaces the sand in a filter pack of a conventional well with a reactive material, such as Fe(0). Dissolved Cr(VI) concentration, dissolved O₂ concentration, and Eh data indicated that Cr(VI) removal from the aqueous phase was mass-transfer limited. All pseudo-first-order regression fits to the data were significant (P≤0.05), however, they did not capture many of the salient aspects of the data, including that the removal rate often decreased as contact time increased. As such, application of these rate coefficients to predict long-term Cr(VI) removal were compromised. The rate coefficients measured under flow conditions were comparable to those measured previously under batch conditions with significantly greater solution:solid ratios. Between the range of 20 and 100 wt-% Fe(0) in the column, there was little measurable change in the reaction kinetics. Thus, it may be possible to include sand into the reactive filter packs in the event it is necessary to increase filter pack porosity or to decrease the accumulation of secondary reaction products that may lead to filter pack plugging. Background water chemistry (0.2 M NaHCO₃, distilled water, and a carbonate-dominated groundwater) had only marginal, if any, effects on reaction rate coefficients. The reaction rates measured in this study indicated that an Fe(0) filter pack could be used to lower Cr(VI) concentrations by several orders of magnitude in a once-through mode of operation of the Reactive Well Technology.     

Weathering and mobility sequence of minor elements on a basaltic pedomorphic surface,Galilee, Israel

A number of minor elements was determined in 21 samples of several soil profiles of a young pedomorphic surface on basalt, Upper Galilee, Israel, ranging from red basaltic Lithosols to lithic Red Mediterranean soils and montmorillonitic Grumusols (Xerorthents, Lithic Xerochrepts, and Chromoxererts).Strontium and to a lesser extent barium are lost during the weathering of the feldspars; Sr continues to be leached out on the slope. Titanium concentrates in the non-clay residue and follows iron during its redistribution on the slope. Manganese is more mobile than iron. Cobalt is partially correlated with manganese, but like Ni, Cr, Cu and V, these elements do not show any definite trend and appear to be rather immobile under the moderate weathering conditions of the Mediterranean environment where montmorillonite is the major clay mineral.