Indicative properties of fly‐ash affected forest soils in Northeastern Germany

Many forest ecosystems in Germany are strongly influenced by emissions of pollutants like SO₂ and alkaline dusts. To quantify and evaluate the consequences of long‐term fly ash deposition on forest soils, a study was conducted in pine stands (Pinus sylvestris) in the Dübener Heide in Northeastern Germany. This forest area has been influenced mainly by emissions from coal‐fired power plants and the chemical industry of the industrial region Bitterfeld‐Wolfen‐Zschornewitz since the early 1900. The study sites are located along a fly ash deposition gradient of 8, 16, 14, 18, and 25 km away from the main emission source in Bitterfeld (sites 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively). Samples of the organic horizons (Oi, Oe, and Oa) and mineral topsoil (0—10 cm) were taken in fall 1998 and analyzed for their ferromagnetic susceptibility and total ash content. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis (EDX) were performed on selected samples to differentiate between the pedogenic and atmospheric origin of the mineral components in the organic horizons. As a result of the long‐term deposition, ferromagnetic fly ash components are mainly accumulated in the Oe and Oa horizons of the forest soils studied. Ferromagnetic susceptibility was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the Oe horizon of sites 1 and 2 compared to sites 3, 4, and 5. Unusually high total ash contents for organic horizons of > 74 % were determined in the Oa at all sites. SEM revealed 3 distinct features of persistent fly ash deposits from coal‐fired power plants within the organic horizons that can be defined as ”︁stable glasses” with magnetic properties, aluminum‐silicate‐minerals, and slag fragments. SEM and EDX indicated that a great portion of the mineral particles found in the organic horizons of forests soils influenced by fly ash are from atmospheric sources. For detection of atmospheric lignite‐derived deposition into forest soils, the Oe and Oa horizons have to be considered as specific diagnostic horizons because they show indicative properties for such soils.     

Wood ash fertilization alters the forest humus Archaea community

The combined and separate effects of Cd and wood ash on Archaea from coniferous forest humus were studied in a microcosm experiment. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling of the denaturing gradient gel analysis of polymerase chain reaction amplified 0.9 kb 16S ribosomal DNA fragments revealed changes in archaeal communities due to the ash treatments. Cd with or without ash did not further influence the result. Representatives of the ash and control communities were cloned, grouped by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and finally sequenced. All sequences belonged to non-thermophilic Crenarchaea.     

Establishment of trees on mixtures of pulverized fuel ash and Gypsum. Part II: Nutrition and trace elements

Nutrients and trace elements were determined in the foliage of nine tree species grown in mixtures of pulverized fuel ash (PFA) and gypsum. No serious macronutrient deficiencies were observed. Treatments with PFA consistently increased foliar levels of boron, potassium and molybdenum, and the poor performance of some tree species in pure PFA was attributed to boron toxicity. Gypsum hindered the uptake of boron when mixed with PFA, however, and co-disposal of the two wastes could be used to minimize problems associated with boron toxicity.     

狐貉粪对黑水虻生长发育的影响

为了研究狐貉粪对黑水虻幼虫生长、预蛹及蛹的发育、成虫历期、饲料系数的影响,在温度20~25℃、湿度70%~80%的环境下,以狐貉粪为主料,添加不同比例的基础料（麦麸、豆粕与玉米面）进行饲喂。结果表明：30%发酵混合料+70%基础料处理下,老熟幼虫、预蛹、蛹的质量分别为156.0、108.8、60.2 mg,显著高于对照组,预蛹历期、蛹历期分别为7、6 d,相较于对照组显著缩短;30%发酵混合料+70%基础料的黑水虻成活率、化蛹率、羽化率都较高,分别为93%、88%、91%;50%发酵混合料+50%基础料处理组除幼虫体重显著低于30%发酵混合料+70%基础料处理组外,其他指标差异均不显著。综合分析认为,30%~50%发酵混合料对黑水虻生长发育最为适宜。     

A new method for measuring microbial biomass nitrogen in soils: Direct extraction after toluene treatment

Abstract

Phenolic compounds occurring naturally are reducing agents which react with hydrous Fe oxide and Mn oxides (Lehmann et al. 1987). Diphenols such as hydroquinone, resorcinol, and catechol were oxidatively darkened by the presence of hydrous Fe oxide though the degree of darkening was much less pronounced than that by Mn oxides (Shindo and Huang 1984). Okazaki et al. (1976) suggested that polyphenols are one of the materials responsible for the dissolution of Mn in a paddy soil under reducing conditions.     

3种改良剂对油菜生物量及其吸收重金属的影响

通过连续三季盆栽试验研究粉煤灰、膨润土、腐殖酸提高油菜生物量,降低油菜Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn浓度的效果。结果表明,膨润土、腐殖酸、粉煤灰的施入提高油菜生物量的效果第二季好于第一、三季。仅考虑对生物量的影响,改良剂效果为膨润土>腐殖酸>粉煤灰。第二季膨润土降低油菜Cd浓度效果较好;第二季粉煤灰、第二季膨润土及第二、三季腐殖酸降低油菜Pb浓度效果较好,3种改良剂均有降低油菜中Pb浓度的效果;3种改良剂均未显著影响油菜中Cu浓度;第二季膨润土降低油菜Zn浓度效果较好。3种改良剂抑制土壤重金属进入油菜的效果不同,应用时可根据改良剂特点适时施入土壤,充分发挥改良剂吸附、固定重金属的作用。     

Amanita muscaria toxicosis in two dogs

Objective: To report the manifestations, history, and pathophysiologic basis of disease in 2 dogs with Amanita muscaria toxicosis. Case summaries: Two dogs were evaluated for an acute onset of gastroenteritis and seizures. A. muscaria toxicosis was suspected in each dog after confirmation of environmental exposure and visualization of ingested mushrooms in vomitus. The diagnosis was confirmed following identification of toxic Amanita metabolites in the urine and serum of each dog. Administration of supportive and symptomatic therapies resulted in the complete recovery of each animal. Unique information provided: Ingestion of the mushroom, A. muscaria, by dogs can result in acute gastrointestinal distress that precedes a potentially life‐threatening central neurologic syndrome characterized by seizures, tremors, and somnolence. Central nervous system dysfunction results primarily from the actions of ibotenic acid and its decarboxylation product, muscimol, which are analogues of the neurotransmitters glutamate and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. Identification of these toxins in the urine and serum of affected dogs using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) provides a definitive diagnosis.     

草地螟寄生蝇寄生规律及控害作用研究

田间调查和室内饲养观察表明,康保县草地螟的寄生蝇主要有伞裙追寄蝇、双斑截尾寄蝇等5种。草地螟寄生蝇一般只寄生幼虫,未见寄生其他虫态。寄生率随草地螟幼虫密度增大、虫龄增长而迅速升高。多年发生资料分析,寄生蝇寄生率高的年份,下年草地螟的发生为害程度明显减轻。     

Involvement of esterases in diazinon resistance and biphasic effects of piperonyl butoxide on diazinon toxicity to Haematobia irritans irritans (Diptera: Muscidae)

Resistance to insecticides remains a major problem for the successful control of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans irritans (L.), one of the most important pests of cattle in many countries including the United States. The organophosphate (OP) insecticide diazinon has been used to control pyrethroid-resistant populations of the horn fly. There are only a few reported cases of horn fly resistance to diazinon in the United States and Mexico. Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) has been used successfully as a synergist of pyrethroid insecticides to control horn flies. PBO-synergized diazinon products are also available for horn fly control in the United States, although PBO is known to inhibit the bio-activation of certain OP insecticides including diazinon. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PBO on diazinon toxicity to horn flies using a filter paper bioassay technique. These bioassays in both the susceptible and diazinon-resistant horn fly strains revealed a biphasic effect of PBO on diazinon toxicity to horn flies. PBO inhibited diazinon toxicity when the PBO concentration used was high (5%), and no effect was observed when PBO concentration was intermediate (2%). However, at low concentrations (1% and lower), PBO significantly synergized diazinon toxicity. We demonstrated that enhanced esterase activity was associated with survivability of horn flies exposed to diazinon alone. PBO has been shown to inhibit esterase activity in other insect species. However, results of biochemical assays with esterases from this study suggest that PBO did not have significant effect on the overall esterase activity in the horn fly. The observed synergistic effect of PBO at lower concentrations on diazinon toxicity to horn flies could not be explained by reduced esterase activity due to PBO inhibition. It is likely that PBO synergized diazinon toxicity at lower concentrations by facilitating penetration of diazinon through the cuticle and/or inhibiting the oxidative detoxification of diazinon, and reduced diazinon toxicity at high PBO concentration by inhibiting the bio-activation of diazinon.     

Chemical characterization of smoke from the production process of wood-plastic composites

The chemical composition of unpleasant smell, emitted from the production process of wood-plastic composites using Manchurian ash sawdust (Fraxinus mandschurica Rupr.) and polypropylene powder as the raw material, was investigated. Wood sawdust and polypropylene powder were subjected to heat treatment to 290°C during 8 min (the conditions were similar to those employed on an industrial scale). The emitted compounds were collected and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analytical r...