The pesticide module of the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM): testing and sensitivity analysis of selected algorithms for pesticide fate and surface runoff

The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) is a one-dimensional, numerical model for simulating water movement and chemical transport under a variety of management and weather scenarios at the field scale. The pesticide module of RZWQM includes detailed algorithms that describe the complex interactions between pesticides and the environment. We have simulated a range of situations with RZWQM, including foliar interception and washoff of a multiply applied insecticide (chlorpyrifos) to growing corn, and herbicides (alachlor, atrazine, flumetsulam) with pH-dependent soil sorption, to examine whether the model appears to generate reasonable results. The model was also tested using chlorpyrifos and flumetsulam for the sensitivity of its predictions of chemical fate and water and pesticide runoff to various input parameters. The model appears to generate reasonable representations of the fate and partitioning of surface- and foliar-applied chemicals, and the sorption of weakly acidic or basic pesticides, processes that are becoming increasingly important for describing adequately the environmental behavior of newer pesticides. However, the kinetic sorption algorithms for charged pesticides appear to be faulty. Of the 29 parameters and variables analyzed, chlorpyrifos half-life, the Freundlich adsorption exponent, the fraction of kinetic sorption sites, air temperature, soil bulk density, soil-water content at 33 kPa suction head and rainfall were most sensitive for predictions of chlorpyrifos residues in soil. The latter three inputs and the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil and surface crusts were most sensitive for predictions of surface water runoff and water-phase loss of chlorpyrifos. In addition, predictions of flumetsulam (a weak acid) runoff and dynamics in soil were sensitive to the Freundlich equilibrium adsorption constant, soil pH and its dissociation coefficient.     

Characterisation of new strains of atrazine-degrading Nocardioides sp. isolated from Japanese riverbed sediment using naturally derived river ecosystem

A Gram-positive bacterial strain able to degrade the herbicide atrazine was isolated using a simple model ecosystem constituted with Japanese riverbed sediment and its associated water (microcosm). Treatment of the water phase of the microcosm with 1 mg litre-1 [ring-14C]atrazine resulted in the rapid degradation of atrazine after a 10 day lag phase period. The [ring-14C]cyanuric acid formed was transiently accumulated as an intermediary metabolite in the water phase and was subsequently mineralised through triazine ring cleavage. Possible atrazine-degrading microbes suspended in the water phase of the microcosm were isolated by the plating method while rapid degradation of atrazine was in progress. Among the 48 strains that were isolated, 47 exhibited atrazine-degrading activity. From these 47 isolates, 12 strains that were randomly selected were found to identically convert atrazine to cyanuric acid via hydroxyatrazine. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the genes corresponding to atrazine degradation revealed that these strains at least carried the genes trzN (atrazine chlorohydrolase from Nocardioides C190) and atzC (N-isopropylammelide isopropyl amidohydrolase from Pseudomonas ADP). Physiological characteristics and 16S rDNA partial sequences of six strains that were further selected strongly suggested that all these isolates originated from the same Nocardioides sp. strain. Additionally, only one isolate could mineralise the triazine ring of cyanuric acid. Based on microscopic observations, this strain appears to be a two-membered microbial consortium consisting of Nocardioides sp. and a Gram-negative bacterium. In conclusion, atrazine biodegradation in the microcosm appeared to occur predominantly by Nocardioides sp. to yield cyanuric acid, which could be mineralised by the other relatively ubiquitous microbes.     

纳米Fe3O4/微生物联合体系对2,4-D和阿特拉津降解的研究

采用纳米Fe3O4/微生物联合体系降解溶液中2,4-D和阿特拉津,考察了不同2,4-D和阿特拉津初始浓度、微生物接种量、纳米Fe3O4投加量、溶液ｐＨ值等对降解效果的影响。结果表明,纳米Fe3O4/微生物联合体系对2,4-D和阿特拉津的降解率显著高于纳米Fe3O4和微生物单一体系;2,4-D和阿特拉津初始浓度在0～10 mg·L^-1、微生物接种量在0～12 mg·L^-1、纳米Fe3O4的投加量在0～200 mg·L^-1范围内,2,4-D和阿特拉津的降解率随其初始浓度、微生物接种量和纳米Fe3O4 投加量的增大而增加。溶液pH3．0左右、2,4-D和阿特拉津初始浓度10 mg·L^-1、微生物接种量12 mg·L^-1、纳米Fe3O4投加量200 mg·L^-1,是反应的最佳条件,此实验条件下反应7 d,2,4-D和阿特拉津的残留率分别降低至35．7％和54．0％。     

阿特拉津降解菌ADH-2的分离、鉴定及其特性研究

从长期施用阿特拉津的玉米地中采集土样,通过富集培养的方法分离出一株能以阿特拉津为唯一碳、氮源生长的细菌ADH-2,结合生理生化特陛及16SrRNA基因的相似性分析将其初步鉴定为节杆菌属（Arthrobacter sp．）。该菌在10h内对100mg·L-1阿特拉津的降解率为99．9％。外加氮源能促进菌株的生长,但对阿特拉津的降解有轻微的抑制作用。外加蔗糖和葡萄糖能显著促进菌株的生长,但对阿特拉津的降解表现出显著的抑制。而淀粉既能促进菌株的生长又能促进阿特拉津的降解。对其降解基因的初步研究显示,该菌含有trzN、atzB和atzC3个阿特拉津降解相关基因。通过与本实验室另外两株阿特拉津降解菌比较,菌株ADH-2具有更好的应用潜力。     

粘土矿物固定化微生物对土壤中阿特拉津的降解研究

以粘土矿物为载体,采用吸附挂膜法对已筛选的阿特拉津降解菌株进行固定化,并应用固定化微生物降解土壤中的阿特拉津。结果表明,该菌株在粘土矿物上生长良好,根据菌种生理生化特性、环境扫描电镜图片以及16S rDNA基因的相似性分析初步鉴定该菌株为Ochrobactrum sp.。接种降解菌能明显加快阿特拉津在土壤中的降解速率,粘土矿物固定化微生物的降解效果要明显优于游离菌,粘土矿物粒径越小,固定化微生物的降解效果越好,纳米粘土矿物固定化微生物的降解效果要好于原粘土矿物。用一级动力学方程描述阿特拉津在土壤中的降解过程,不同土壤中阿特拉津的降解速率不同。阿特拉津在红壤、砂姜黑土、黄褐土中的降解半衰期（t1/2）分别为36.9、49.1、55.0 d,投加纳米蒙脱石固定化降解菌后的半衰期则分别为16.3、25.3、21.7 d。     

节杆菌AD26的分离鉴定及其与假单胞菌ADP对阿特拉津的联合降解

用富集培养法,从农药厂的工业废水中分离到高效降解除草剂阿特拉津的AD26菌株,通过16S rRNA基因序列分析,该菌株被鉴定为节杆菌(A rthrobacter sp.).降解基因的PCR分析表明,AD26含有阿特拉津降解基因trzN和atzBC,它能以阿特拉津为唯一氮源、蔗糖或柠檬酸钠为碳源生长,将阿特拉津降解成氰尿酸,降解速度快但降解不完全.假单胞菌(Pseudomonas sp.)ADP是Waekea实验室分离的阿特拉津降解菌株,含有阿特拉津降解基因atzABCDEF,能以阿特拉津为唯一氮源、柠檬酸钠为碳源(不能以蔗糖为碳源)生长.将阿特拉津降解成NH3,和CO2,降解完全但降解速度慢.在阿特拉津浓度为200 mg·L-1的无机盐培养基中进行的AD26和ADP混合培养表明,它们对阿特拉津的降解发生了互补和增强作用,两个菌株能在以阿特拉津为唯一氮源、蔗糖为碳源的培养基中生长,而且生长和降解速率都好于单个菌株,培养72 h后阿特拉津去除率达到99.9%,其中76.7%的阿特拉津被降解成NH3和CO2.这表明由节杆菌AD26和假单胞菌ADP组成的混合菌株在阿特拉津废水处理和污染土壤的生物修复中有很好的应用潜力.     

氰津·莠30%悬浮剂的气相色谱分析

本文采用气相色谱法，使用CP7906X；英毛细管柱和FID检测器，对混剂中的氰草津和莠去津进行分离与定量。邻苯二甲酸二正丁酯为内标物。分析结果表明氰草津和莠去津的线性相关系数分别为0．99995、0．99999；标准偏差分别为0．23、0．16：变异系数分别为1．49％、1．06％；回收率分别在98．94～100．11％和98．38～101．51％之间。     

Effects of different parameters on the removal of atrazine in a water environment by Aspergillus oryzae biosorption

Atrazine is the most extensively used herbicide in the agricultural and forestry sectors. Nevertheless, along with the increasing usage amount of Atrazine, its harm exposed gradually, the main problem is its residues in the environment. Microbial adsorption may effectively reduce the pollution caused by atrazine residue in the environment. In this study, a strain of fungi with the function of adsorbing atrazine was selected using microbial screening technology. According to its phenotypic characteristics and 18S rDNA gene sequencing, this strain was of the species genus Aspergillus and was named ECUST-TXZC2018. By studying the dynamic adsorption effect of this strain on atrazine, we found that this strain adsorbed atrazine after 36 hr at pH=5–7, and 20–30°C with more than 70% adsorption. These results demonstrated that ECUST-TXZC2018 had potential application ability to control atrazine residue pollution through the biosorption function.     

Soil ciliate bioassay for the pore water habitat a missing link between microflora and earthworm testing in soil toxicity assessment

Background, Scope and Goal. The chemical, pesticide and biocide legislation of the European Union assembles a variety of bioassays. Among the ecotoxicological tests involved, the testing strategy for the aquatic compartment builds up on three tests reflecting the main trophic levels (algae,Daphnia, fish). For the soil compartment at least one trophic level for a basic food chain is missing, namely between microflora and earthworms. Protozoa are an ideal missing link as they were shown to be the most prominent faunal contributors to nutrient cycling in soil ecosystems and as they represent the lacking first level consumers as well as the highly diverse microfauna. As protozoa inhabit the soil pore water, they can serve as direct indicators for the solved and thus bioavailable portion of xenobiotics. In order to widen the spectrum of available toxicity tests for a meaningful effect assessment for the soil compartment, a test with the soil ciliateColpoda inflata (Ciliophora, Protozoa), introduced by Pratt et al. (1997), was improved.