Monitoring of nitrate leaching in sandy soils: comparison of three methods

Proper N fertilizer and irrigation management can reduce nitrate leaching while maintaining crop yield, which is critical to enhance the sustainability of vegetable production on soils with poor water and nutrient-holding capacities. This study evaluated different methods to measure nitrate leaching in mulched drip-irrigated zucchini, pepper, and tomato production systems. Fertigation rates were 145 and 217 kg N ha(-1) for zucchini; 192 and 288 kg N ha(-1) for pepper; and 208 and 312 kg N ha(-1) for tomato. Irrigation was either applied at a fixed daily rate or based on threshold values of soil moisture sensors placed in production beds. Ceramic suction cup lysimeters, subsurface drainage lysimeters and soil cores were used to access the interactive effects of N rate and irrigation management on N leaching. Irrigation treatments and N rate interaction effects on N leaching were significant for all crops. Applying N rates in excess of standard recommendations increased N leaching by 64, 59, and 32%, respectively, for pepper, tomato, and zucchini crops. Independent of the irrigation treatment or nitrogen rate, N leaching values measured from the ceramic cup lysimeter-based N leaching values were lower than the values from the drainage lysimeter and soil coring methods. However, overall nitrate concentration patterns were similar for all methods when the nitrate concentration and leached volume were relatively low.     

钻井废水酸化中和预处理研究

针对钻井废水悬浮物和CODCr含量高的污染特征,对其酸化中和预处理的可行性进行了实验研究,并对其作用机理进行了探讨,以浓H2SO4 调节pH至1.5,加入石灰乳中和使 pH为9,可使CODCr的去除率达到50%,悬浮物的去除率达到80%.处理可在废水池内进行,给下一步利用装置进行混凝处理创造了条件。     

Herbicide and nutrient transport from an irrigation district into the South Saskatchewan River

Pesticides and nutrients can be transported from treated agricultural land in irrigation runoff and thus can affect the quality of receiving waters. A 3-yr study was carried out to assess possible detrimental effects on the downstream water quality of the South Saskatchewan River due to herbicide and plant nutrient inputs via drainage water from an irrigation district. Automated water samplers and flow monitors were used to intensively sample the drainage water and to monitor daily flows in two major drainage ditches, which drained approximately 40% of the flood-irrigated land within the irrigation district. Over three years, there were no detectable inputs of ethalfluralin into the river and those of trifluralin were less than 0.002% of the amount applied to flood-irrigated fields. Inputs of MCPA, bromoxynil, dicamba and mecoprop were 0.06% or less of the amounts applied, whereas that for clopyralid was 0.31%. The relatively higher input (1.4%) of 2,4-D to the river was probably due its presence in the irrigation water. Corresponding inputs of P (as total P) and N (as nitrate plus ammonia) were 2.2 and 1.9% of applied fertilizer, respectively. Due to dilution of the drainage water in the river, maximum daily herbicide (with the exception of 2,4-D) and nutrient loadings to the river would not have resulted in significant concentration increases in the river water. There was no consistent remedial effect on herbicides entering the river due to passage of the drainage water through a natural wetland. In contrast, a considerable portion of the nutrients entering the river originated from the wetland.     

Agronomic application of olive mill wastewaters with phosphate rock in a semi-arid Mediterranean soil modifies the soil properties and decreases the extractable soil phosphorus

Olive mill wastewater (OMW), a by-product of the olive-mill industry, is produced in large amounts in Mediterranean countries. The presence of indigenous phosphate deposits in some countries like Tunisia provides an incentive for direct application or local chemical treatment at low cost to improve the solubility of low reactive phosphate rocks (PRs). The use of naturally occurring low-molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) that are present in OMW represents a new perspective in PR research and a possible solution for the recycling of the OMW. The present work was aimed at evaluating, under natural situations (field of olive trees), the effects of agronomic application of OMW (amounts applied: 30, 60 m(3) ha(-1)) with PR (amounts applied: 150 kg ha(-1)) on olive trees soil properties. We measured organic C, nitrogen (N), extractable phosphorus (P), exchangeable calcium (Ca), and exchangeable potassium (K), as well as other properties (pH and electrical conductivity). Our data provide evidence that agronomic application of OMW with PR has important effects on soil properties. Increases in organic C, total N, extractable P and exchangeable potassium (K) were found after the first agronomic application of OMW and PR. These increases were only temporary, following the second agronomic application of OMW and PR, significant reductions were detected in the extractable soil P (19.67 mg kg(-1) in the control soil vs. 8.99 mg kg(-1) in the amended soil). Changes in the extractable soil P could alter plant productivity and plant community structure because shifts in nutriment availability can affect the balance between limiting and non-limiting nutrients.     

Seawater neutralization of alkaline bauxite residue and implications for revegetation

Reaction of bauxite residue with seawater results in neutralization of alkalinity through precipitation of Mg-, Ca-, and Al-hydroxide and carbonate minerals. In batch studies, the initial pH neutralization reaction was rapid (<5 min), with further reaction continuing to reduce pH for several weeks. Reaction with seawater produced a residue pH of 8 to 8.5. Laboratory leaching column studies were undertaken to provide information on seawater neutralization of the coarse-textured fraction of the waste, residue sand (RS), under conditions comparable with those that might be applied in the field. An 0.80-m-deep column of RS was neutralized by the application of the equivalent of 2-m depth of seawater. In addition to lowering the pH and Na content of the residue, seawater neutralization resulted in the addition of substantial amounts of the plant nutrients Ca, Mg, and K to the profile. Similar results were also obtained from a field-scale assessment of neutralization. However, the accumulation of precipitate, consisting of hydrotalcite, aragonite, and pyroaurite, in the drainage system may preclude the use of in situ seawater neutralization as a routine rehabilitation practice. Following seawater neutralization, RS remains too saline to support plant growth and would require fresh water leaching before revegetation.     

Removal of organic pollutants and nutrients from olive mill wastewater by a sand filter

The aim of this work was to examine the performance of a sand filter in treating modern olive mill (OMW) effluents after dilution with domestic wastewater on a one-to-one basis. The experimental pilot consisted of a column of opaque PVC, and the sand filter was filled with 50 cm of sand and 10 cm of gravel in the top and the bottom of the filter. The alimentation (4 cm/day) was done sequentially following a 1 day wet/3 days dry cycle. The OMW effluent was very acidic with a pH of 4.12, and had high concentrations of phenolic compounds (7.2 g/L) and total chemical oxygen demand (65 g/L). The percolation of the diluted OMW through the sand filters caused an increase in pH from 4.84 to 8.25 and a 90% removal of total suspended solids. The sand filter treatment also led to important reductions in organic matter (90% of total COD, 83% of dissolved COD and 92% of phenolic compounds) and nutrients (91% of Kjeldahl-nitrogen, 97% of ammonia-nitrogen, 99% of nitrate-nitrogen and 99% of phosphates). The flow rate became very low indicating clogging of the sand pores after 10 weeks. HPLC analysis of the diluted OMW before and after passage through the sand filter showed an important reduction in the toxic monomeric compounds after the treatment.     

Effect of Fenton pretreatment on anaerobic digestion of olive mill wastewater and olive mill solid waste in mesophilic conditions

The olive mill waste (OMW) generated from olive oil extraction process constitutes a major environmental concern owing to its high organic and mineral matters and acidic pH. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a main treatment for reducing the organic matter and toxic substances contained in OMW and generating at the same time, energy in the form of biogas. AD of OMW that contains lignocellulose is limited by the rate of hydrolysis due to their recalcitrant structure. This study is devoted to the effect of Fenton process (FP) pretreatment on olive mill wastewater (OMSW) /olive mill solid waste (OMWW) co-digestion to improve their digestibility and in this way the biogas production. The FP pretreatment was performed in batch mode at 25°C, various H₂O₂/[Fe²⁺] ratios (100–1200), catalyst concentration ([Fe²⁺]) ranging from 0.25 to 2 mM, reaction time varying from 30 to150 min, and different pH (3–11). The best performance was obtained with H₂O₂/[Fe²⁺] = 1000, [Fe²⁺] = 1.5 mM, 120 min, and pH 3. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests conducted in batch wise digester and at mesophilic conditions (37 °C) showed that cumulative biogas and methane production were higher without FP treatment, and correspond to 699 and 416 mL/g VS, respectively. However, pre-treated OMSW results into an increase of 24% of methane yield. After 30 days of AD, the methane yield was 63%, 54%, and 48%, respectively, for OMSW treated without iron precipitation, with iron precipitation and untreated OMSW sample.     

SBR中好氧颗粒污泥的培养

采用竖式SBR作为反应器，利用城市污水处理厂剩余污泥作为接种污泥，通过不间断运行培养出好氧颗粒污泥。实验结果表明，采用非限量曝气模式好氧颗粒污泥降解模拟污水的效果较好，其COD去除率可达98％以上。曝气量对好氧颗粒污泥的形成和稳定具有重要影响，当气速为26．5m／h时，好氧颗粒污泥的性状和处理有机废水效果最佳。同时好氧颗粒污泥对pH值的变化不明显，当pH为5—8范围内，其COD去除率都可达到85％以上。但是未经驯化的好氧颗粒污泥对对硝基苯酚和对氯苯酚两种芳香类有机物较敏感，而对硝基苯酚对其毒性更大。当对硝基苯酚和。对氯苯酚浓度为10mg／L时，其COD去除率仅为42．5％和52％。     

Leaching of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in turfgrass soils during wastewater irrigation

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a carcinogenic by-product of chlorination that is frequently found in municipal wastewater effluent. NDMA is miscible in water and negligibly adsorbed to soil, and therefore may pose a threat to ground water when treated wastewater is used for landscape irrigation. A field study was performed in the summer months under arid Southern California weather conditions to evaluate the leaching potential of NDMA in turfgrass soils during wastewater irrigation. Wastewater was used to irrigate multiple turfgrass plots at 110 to 160% evapotranspiration rate for about 4 mo, and leachate was continuously collected and analyzed for NDMA. The treated wastewater contained relatively high levels of NDMA (114-1820 ng L(-1); mean 930 ng L(-1)). NDMA was detected infrequently in the leachate regardless of the soil type or irrigation schedule. At a method detection limit of 2 ng L(-1), NDMA was only detected in 9 out of 400 leachate samples and when it was detected, the NDMA concentration was less than 5 ng L(-1). NDMA was relatively persistent in the turfgrass soils during laboratory incubation, indicating that mechanisms other than biotransformation, likely volatilization and/or plant uptake, contributed to the rapid dissipation. Under conditions typical of turfgrass irrigation with wastewater effluent it is unlikely that NDMA will contaminate ground water.     

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) responses to fertilization and salinity under irrigation conditions

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) has not been widely introduced in arid and semi-arid regions where irrigation, fertilization, and salinity are important factors in plant growth. The main objective of this study was to determine the response of vetiver to fertilization (fertigation) and salinity and their interactions under irrigated conditions. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in 10-L pots. Combined effects of three nutrients concentrations and three salinity levels of electrical conductivity (EC) 1, 3 and 6 dS/m in the irrigation water on growth and transpiration of vetiver plants and the content of different elements in their foliage were studied. Similar contents of 3.7 g/kg Na, 5.77 g/kg Ca and 2.55 g/kg Mg were found in the foliage of all the plants irrigated with the different fertilizer and salinity levels. Concentrations of 59 mg/L N and 36.1 mg/L K in the irrigation water were sufficient for vetiver plants needs at the different salinity levels tested. The salinity threshold (the maximum EC in the soil solution that does not cause a significant yield reduction) for vetiver was between 3 and 6 dS/m. A concentration of 15.2 mg/L P in the irrigation water was the optimum value for vetiver growth in the three salinity levels, resulting in an average content of 5.95 g/kg P in plant foliage. It is suggested that vetiver is sensitive to excess P (>8.66 g/kg). Increasing EC in the irrigation water to 6 dS/m decreased plant foliage biomass mainly due to an increase in the osmotic potential of the irrigation water and high Cl⁻ concentration in the foliage.     

水和废水中硫化物测定预处理装置的改进

本文对亚甲基分光光度法测定水质硫化物的预处理装置进行了改进。实验结果表明改进的预处理装置效果与GB／T16489--1996等同，装置简单，操作简便、快速,吹气吸收效果好。     

VALUING IRRIGATION WATER: A SIMULATION/MATHEMATICAL PROGRAMMING APPROACH1

ABSTRACT: A two-stage simulation/mathematical programming model was developed to derive irrigation water values that reflect efficient response to reduced water supplies. The failure of many previous water valuation studies to represent the dynamic dimension of irrigation was shown to result in overestimation of derived water values. Water values are also shown to be dramatically influenced by both application system characteristics, as well as the relative costs of irrigation inputs. Finally, the marginal value of irrigation water was shown to vary considerably over the irrigation season, reaching its maximum when atmospheric demand is highest and crops are most susceptible to water stress. Results presented should be of interest to policymakers investigating the viability of alternative water reallocation mechanisms.     

Loss pathways of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in turfgrass soils

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a potent carcinogen that is often present in municipal wastewater effluents. In a previous field study, it was observed that NDMA did not leach through turfgrass soils following 4 mo of intensive irrigation with NDMA-containing wastewater effluent. To better understand the loss pathways for NDMA in landscape irrigation systems, a mass balance approach was employed using in situ lysimeters treated with 14C-NDMA. When the lysimeters were subjected to irrigation and field conditions after NDMA application, very rapid dissipation of NDMA was observed for both types of soil used in the field plots. After only 4 h, total 14C activity in the lysimeters decreased to 19.1 to 26.1% of the applied amount, and less than 1% of the activity was detected below the 20-cm depth. Analysis of plant materials showed that less than 3% of the applied 14C was incorporated into the plants, suggesting only a minor role for plant uptake in removing NDMA from the vegetated soils. The rapid dissipation and limited downward movement of NDMA in the in situ lysimeters was consistent with the negligible leaching observed in the field study, and suggests volatilization as the only significant loss pathway. This conclusion was further corroborated by rapid NDMA volatilization found from water or a thin layer of soil under laboratory conditions. In a laboratory incubation experiment, prolonged wastewater irrigation did not result in enhanced NDMA degradation in the soil. Therefore, although NDMA may be present at relatively high levels in treated wastewater, gaseous diffusion and volatilization in unsaturated soils may effectively impede significant leaching of NDMA, minimizing the potential for ground water contamination from irrigation with treated wastewater.     

EVALUATION OF A LARGE SCALE IRRIGATION SYSTEM – DAIMCHEH,IRAN1

ABSTRACT: A study was conducted to evaluate the existing furrow irrigation system of Karun Agro Industry, a sugar cane plant in Daimcheh, Iran. Although the system is only eight years old, design and operational problems have reduced its efficiency by 50 percent. Lack of skilled irrigation workers, inadequate control of irrigation water, and problems with night irrigation have resulted in substantial revenue losses for the plant. This study evaluates the existing irrigation system, and recommends modifications and improvements to increase its efficiency. Final recommendations include the use of various irrigation methods, improvements to the existing system, and cancellation of night irrigation.     

ACID PRECIPITATION AND WEATHERING BY ORGANIC ACIDS IN LABRAI)OR LAKE BASINS1

ABSTRACT: Thirty-five lakes in southern Labrador sampled in 1981 were resampled in 1989 and water chemistry values were compared between visits. Results showed higher pH, specific conductance, acid neutralization capacity, color, and base cations values in 1989, though sulfate, the ion most likely to reflect acid precipitation impacts, did not vary. The major ion changes measured were probably due to natural hydrological variations and not to changes in acid inputs. Results from the 1989 data showed a slight, but significant, decrease in water sulfate concentration trend from western to eastern Labrador, though most values, even in the western portion of the study area, fell close to the values considered “background” by Brakke et at. (1989). Base cation concentrations exceeded those which could be predicted from weathering by carbonic and bicarbonic acid. Assuming that little weathering is generated by acid precipitation in this region, the excess cations measured are probably a result of bedrock dissolution from organic acids generated by plant decomposition. Calculations showed that organic acid effect could be responsible for 9 to 52 percent of total weathering in the study basins.     

Use of magnesia for boron removal from irrigation water

The risk of B phytotoxicity due to high levels of B in irrigation water can be avoided by removing B from the water, before its use, through adsorption on certain adsorbents, such as magnesia (industrial MgO), if the latter can be proven to be an effective and easy to handle means for B removal. In addition, if such a material is applied as a fertilizer after its use and the adsorbed B is easily released into the soil solution, B phytotoxicity could constitute a potential hazard. The objectives of this work were to: (a) establish the optimum working conditions (equilibration time, solution to adsorbent ratio, and particle size of the adsorbent) for B adsorption, (b) assess the magnitude of B adsorption by magnesia, both in capacity and intensity terms, as well as the influence of temperature, (c) study B desorbability from magnesia, spiked with B at two rates, 5 and 0.5 mg g(-1), and (d) compare the results from b and c to those obtained using reagent grade MgO. The results showed that the time to achieve equilibrium depended on the B concentration of the external solution and ranged from 6 h (for B /= 50 mg L(-1)). The percentage of B adsorbed decreased as the volume of external solution to adsorbent increased and a working ratio of 50:1 was selected. For magnesia, B adsorption was particle size dependent with the smallest fraction (<0.1 mm) sorbing more B than the other three fractions studied (0.1-1.0, 1.1-2.0, 2.1-4.0 mm). Boron adsorption was conducted under strongly alkaline pH (10.3 +/- 0.2 and 10.4 +/- 0.1 for the reagent and magnesia, respectively) and increased with temperature. Both adsorbents exhibited a high B adsorption capacity (Langmuir maximum values were 5.85 +/- 0.39 and 4.45 +/- 1.31 mg B g(-1) for the reagent and magnesia, respectively) comparable to other metal oxides. However, the reagent grade MgO seemed to be superior to magnesia in terms of capacity and strength of B retention. This superiority of the reagent was attributed to its greater surface area (34.7 compared with 5.8 m(2) g(-1) for magnesia) and to its conversion to Mg(OH)(2) during the adsorption process, whereas magnesia remained unaltered, as was evident from X-ray diffractograms. Based on this data, magnesia seems to be an effective means for removing excess B from irrigation water, particularly if a material of fine particle size is used. Boron desorbability after 240 h of desorption time was more pronounced for magnesia reaching up to 55 and 60% of the amount of B added, at the spiked rates of 5 and 0.5 mg g(-1), respectively. Although these figures indicate that approximately half of the amount of B added remained adsorbed, they cannot be easily extrapolated to field conditions, and if B-laden magnesia is applied to soils, the possibility of B phytotoxicity cannot be excluded.     

Recycling Irrigation Reservoir Stratification and Implications for Crop Health and Production

Recycling irrigation reservoirs (RIRs) are an emerging aquatic ecosystem and water resource of global significance. This study investigated the vertical distribution of water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH in eight RIRs at two nurseries each in Virginia and Maryland from 2011 to 2014. Monomictic thermal stratification was observed from April to October in all RIRs, despite their shallow depths (0.75‐3.89 m). The strongest stratification had a top‐bottom temperature difference of 21.53°C. The top‐bottom temperature difference was positively correlated with water column depth, air temperature, and daily light integral (p < 0.05). Wind speed did not impact the thermal stratification, likely due to their relatively small surface areas. Thermal stratification affected the vertical distribution of DO and pH. The top‐bottom differences in DO and pH were greater during stratification periods than nonstratification periods. Water pH in all RIRs was higher at the top than at the bottom with the greatest difference of 4.16 units. Discovery and characterization of thermal stratification in RIRs helps understand water quality dynamics in this novel ecosystem and promote safe and productive water reuse for irrigation. Specifically, water withdrawal depths should be adjusted according to variations in temperature, DO, and pH during the stratification and nonstratification periods to mitigate pathogen risk and improve water treatment efficacy and crop production.     

INCREASING THE AGRICULTURAL USE OF SALINE WATER BY MEANS OF TRICKLE IRRIGATION1

ABSTRACT .A study was conducted in two arid zones to determine the effect of saline water applied to various crops growing in coarse-textured soil, using trickle irrigation. The test crops responded most favorably to this new method of water application in terms of plant development and yield. The method provides us with the possibility of raising the permissible salinity level of irrigation water, and thus to increase the water reserves suitable for agricultural use in the world.     

渗灌——设施园艺先进的节水灌溉技术

渗灌具有降低室内湿度、改善土壤环境、节约灌溉用水、减少肥料用量、省工省时、价格适中等优点,是目前设施园艺先进的节水灌溉技术。详细介绍了渗灌系统的结构,渗灌管的种类以及使用维护方法。     

DROUGHT EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY IN THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN,COLORADO1

ABSTRACT: Twenty‐three stream sites representing a range of forested, agricultural, and urban land uses were sampled in the South Platte River Basin of Colorado from July through September 2002 to characterize water quality during drought conditions. With a few exceptions, dissolved ammonia, Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus, and dissolved orthophosphate concentrations were similar to seasonal historical levels in all land use areas during the drought. At some agricultural sites, decreased dilution of irrigation return flow may have contributed to higher concentrations of some nutrient species, increased primary productivity, and higher dissolved oxygen concentrations. At some urban sites, decreased dilution of base flow and wastewater treatment plant effluent may have contributed to higher dissolved nitrite‐plus‐nitrate concentrations, increased primary productivity, and higher dissolved oxygen concentrations. Total pesticide concentrations in urban and agricultural areas were not consistently higher or lower during the drought. At most forested sites, decreased dilution of ground water‐derived calcium bicarbonate type base flow likely led to elevated pH and specific‐conductance values. Water temperatures at many of the forested sites also were higher, contributing to lower dissolved oxygen concentrations during the drought.