Effects of Simulated Sulphuric Acid Deposition On Calluna Vulgaris/Peat Microcosms and Associated Soil Solutions

Calluna vulgaris/peat microcosms have been used in an outdoor simulated acid rain experiment to test a series of hypotheses about sulphuric acid deposition effects upon the growth of Calluna on peat soil, namely: (1) Initially, enhanced acid input will enhance base cation and ammonium concentrations in soil solution. This may enhance uptake of these species, increasing foliar concentrations of base cations and nitrogen, and possibly foliar chlorophyll a and b concentrations. (2) If changes are induced in nutritional status, they may influence plant growth. (3) in the longer term, enhanced ammonium and base cation solubility occurring as a consequence of cation exchange reactions will lead, especially in winter months, to enhanced leaching losses. Hence any positive effects upon plant nutrition will not be sustainable. (4) the peat will acidify significantly over two years, in the shorter term primarily as a consequence of an enhanced mobile anion effect. (5) Acidification may reduce the rate of mineralisation of organic phosphorus and, in a phosphorus-deficient peat soil, this may lead to reduced foliar phosphate concentration and possibly induce phosphorus deficiency.

Most of these hypotheses were supported to some extent by the experimental results. the peat soil solution pH fell immediately in response to the acid treatments, and longer-term acidification continued progressively over the two years of the experiment. in the first year, the treatments significantly influenced the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen status of the leaves from Calluna new shoots, whereas in the second year calcium, potassium and phosphorus were influenced. However, in both years foliar phosphate concentration was enhanced, rather than reduced, in response to increased acid load. Foliar carbon and nitrogen concentrations fell with increasing acidity of     

Effects of Simulated Sulphuric Acid Deposition On Calluna Vulgaris/Peat Microcosms and Associated Soil Solutions

Calluna vulgaris/peat microcosms have been used in an outdoor simulated acid rain experiment to test a series of hypotheses about sulphuric acid deposition effects upon the growth of Calluna on peat soil, namely: (1) Initially, enhanced acid input will enhance base cation and ammonium concentrations in soil solution. This may enhance uptake of these species, increasing foliar concentrations of base cations and nitrogen, and possibly foliar chlorophyll a and b concentrations. (2) If changes are induced in nutritional status, they may influence plant growth. (3) in the longer term, enhanced ammonium and base cation solubility occurring as a consequence of cation exchange reactions will lead, especially in winter months, to enhanced leaching losses. Hence any positive effects upon plant nutrition will not be sustainable. (4) the peat will acidify significantly over two years, in the shorter term primarily as a consequence of an enhanced mobile anion effect. (5) Acidification may reduce the rate of mineralisation of organic phosphorus and, in a phosphorus-deficient peat soil, this may lead to reduced foliar phosphate concentration and possibly induce phosphorus deficiency.

Most of these hypotheses were supported to some extent by the experimental results. the peat soil solution pH fell immediately in response to the acid treatments, and longer-term acidification continued progressively over the two years of the experiment. in the first year, the treatments significantly influenced the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen status of the leaves from Calluna new shoots, whereas in the second year calcium, potassium and phosphorus were influenced. However, in both years foliar phosphate concentration was enhanced, rather than reduced, in response to increased acid load. Foliar carbon and nitrogen concentrations fell with increasing acidity of     

三江平原泥炭沼泽土剖面P、K养分分布特征及影响因素分析

在三江平原湿地植物生长季节 ,选择具有代表性的毛果苔草 -狭叶甜茅 (Carexlasiocarpa Glyceriaspiculosa)湿地发育的泥炭沼泽土为研究对象 ,逐月分层采集土样 ,测定P、K含量 ,同时进行相关环境因子的测量。借助SPSS软件和灰色关联分析技术 ,探讨泥炭沼泽土P、K养分含量特征及影响因子的影响程度。结果表明 :泥炭沼泽土P、K含量在剖面垂直方向具有明显的分层现象 ,P、K含量与土层的二次相关性均较好 ,相关系数除潜育层外均在 0 .94以上。泥炭沼泽土各土层速效P和速效K含量在植物生长季节内均呈明显的动态变化 ,一元三次非线性回归模拟均得到理想的模拟效果。同一环境因子对同一土层全P、全K、速效P或速效K的影响程度各异 ;同一环境因子对不同土层P、K的影响系数也不同 ;因此 ,不同环境因子对同一土层某一对象的影响系数更不相同。     

Ombrotrophic peat as a medium for historical monitoring of heavy metal pollution

Knowledge of historical trends in heavy metal deposition can aid the study and impact prediction of contemporary pollution. For this purpose, analysis of ombrotrophic peat cores has proved a valuable complement to other sedimentary analyses. However, doubts still remain concerning the mobility of heavy metals in peat. The debate cannot be resolved until the behaviour of these elements in peat is better understood. Peat cores were collected from hollows and hummocks on Ringinglow Bog in the southern Pennines. The cores were sliced into contiguous 1-cm slices. Samples were analysed for total concentrations of major elements (Al, Ca, K, Mg, Na) and trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Multivariate statistical analysis was conducted on the data. Preliminary results indicate relatively high concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn reflecting the influence of industrial activities in Sheffield and Manchester. As aluminium, cadmium, copper, lead and zinc exhibit similar profiles they may be suitable surrogates for monitoring historical pollution. However, other elements (e.g. Fe, K, Mn, Na) are clearly influenced by bog hydrology or plant translocation and would be inappropriate monitors.     

Role of peat organic matter on isotopic composition of most abundant benthic organisms in intertidal habitats of SW Iceland

The transfer of peat organic matter (OM) from tidal pools of upper littoral to downstream rocky shores and its potential incorporation into marine biota were investigated using the stable isotope approach. Samplings were carried out in September 2004 in two SW Icelandic sites (Osar and Hvassahraun), where we selected (1) areas with shores where grass gently declined towards rocks and, on reaching the sea line, formed small tidal peat pools and (2) areas where grass and rocky shores were not contiguous, rather the grass lower limits were several hundreds of meters back from the shore. In both grass and no grass areas, in the intertidal zone, all benthic organisms and all potential OM sources were sampled. Dominant macroalgae were Ascophyllum nodosum ([Linnaeus] Le Jolis) and Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus. In grass sites, organisms partially reflected the isotopic composition of peat OM, while in no grass sites, peat represented only a negligible amount of available OM, or its signal was totally absent from the environment. Intertidal organisms could rely on peat both directly by suspension feeding, grazing or scavenging and indirectly by predation (crabs) on low level consumers (barnacles).     

Arsenic removal using natural biomaterial-based sorbents

Arsenic contamination of water is a major problem worldwide. A possible solution can be approached through developing new sorbents based on cost-effective and environmentally friendly natural biomaterials. We have developed new sorbents based on biomaterial impregnation with iron oxyhydroxide. In this study, raw peat material, iron-modified peat, iron-modified biomass (shingles, straw, sands, cane and moss) as well as iron humate were used for the removal of arsenate from contaminated water. The highest sorption capacity was observed in iron-modified peat, and kinetic studies indicated that the amount of arsenic sorbed on this material exceeds 90 % in 5 h. Arsenate sorption on iron-modified peat is characterised by the pseudo-second-order mechanism. The results of arsenic sorption in the presence of competing substances indicated that sulphate, nitrate, chloride and tartrate anions have practically no influence on As(V) sorption onto Fe-modified peat, whereas the presence of phosphate ions and humic acid significantly lowers the arsenic removal efficiency.     

Interaction between peat, humic acid and aqueous metal ions

Analysis of peat samples from four regions of the British Isles indicates that the concentrations of Al, Pb and common transition metals tend, as expected, to be higher in regions subject to industrial pollution, but that the concentrations of the nontransition metals Na, K, Mg, Ca and Zn tend to be higher in regions remote from industrial pollution. Humic acids were extracted from the most polluted and least polluted of the peat samples and some characteristics of these acids were compared with those of two commercial acids. Values for stability constants of complexes formed between humic acids extracted from peat and Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ or Pb²⁺ have been obtained by an ionexchange equilibrium method. Of the three metal ions examined, Pb²⁺ was found to form the most stable humic acid complexes, followed by Cu²⁺: this order agrees with the findings of Irving and Williams and of Bunzl. Implications to the binding of actinide and other heavy metal ions in aqueous humic acid are discussed.     

Correlation analysis as a tool to investigate the bioaccessibility of nickel, vanadium and zinc in Northern Ireland soils

Correlation analyses were conducted on nickel (Ni), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn) oral bioaccessible fractions (BAFs) and selected geochemistry parameters to identify specific controls exerted over trace element bioaccessibility. BAFs were determined by previous research using the unified BARGE method. Total trace element concentrations and soil geochemical parameters were analysed as part of the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland Tellus Project. Correlation analysis included Ni, V and Zn BAFs against their total concentrations, pH, estimated soil organic carbon (SOC) and a further eight element oxides. BAF data were divided into three separate generic bedrock classifications of basalt, lithic arenite and mudstone prior to analysis, resulting in an increase in average correlation coefficients between BAFs and geochemical parameters. Sulphur trioxide and SOC, spatially correlated with upland peat soils, exhibited significant positive correlations with all BAFs in gastric and gastro-intestinal digestion phases, with such effects being strongest in the lithic arenite bedrock group. Significant negative relationships with bioaccessible Ni, V and Zn and their associated total concentrations were observed for the basalt group. Major element oxides were associated with reduced oral trace element bioaccessibility, with Al₂O₃ resulting in the highest number of significant negative correlations followed by Fe₂O₃. spatial mapping showed that metal oxides were present at reduced levels in peat soils. The findings illustrate how specific geology and soil geochemistry exert controls over trace element bioaccessibility, with soil chemical factors having a stronger influence on BAF results than relative geogenic abundance. In general, higher Ni, V and Zn bioaccessibility is expected in peat soil types.     

Natural bitumens versus oil pollution in the Vlasina lake peat

Free and associated bitumens were isolated by sequential extraction from Vlasina lake peat (SE Serbia) and were investigated in order to differentiate between oil pollution and natural bitumens. Four peat samples were collected at different depths, on a peat island. Gas chromatographic (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed the presence of three markedly different bitumen fractions. Here we show that the free bitumens are representing the native peat bitumens. The two associated bitumens are mainly the products of bacterial rework of organic substance, which were then trapped by two differing mechanisms. The bitumens characteristics and association features exclude a contribution of oil pollution.Selected article from the Regional Symposium on Chemistry and Environment Krusevac, Serbia, June 2003, organised by Dr. Branimir Jovancicevic.     

Reduction of Cr(VI) by peat and coal humic substances

The reduction of Cr(VI) by humic substances from leonardite and peat was investigated by capillary zone electrophoresis at various pHs. Both humic materials reduced Cr(VI) at pH 5.4, but not at basic pH. The capacity of leonardite humic substances to reduce Cr(VI) was lower than that of peat humic substances. Fe(III) accelerated the reduction of Cr(VI) by peat humic substances, but not by leonardite humic substances. Cr(VI) reduction mechanisms are proposed. The coal humic substances seem more suitable for remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated sites.     

The impact of enhanced ammonium sulphate inputs exceeding critical load on calluna vulgaris /peat soil microcosms

Ammonium sulphate at six concentrations in simulated precipitation has been applied weekly over two years to Calluna vulgaris growing in peat soil. The nitrogen deposition treatments were chosen to embrace and exceed critical load. The growth and composition of the Calluna and the changes over time in the chemistry of the peat soil and its soil solution were monitored. In spite of significant increases in foliar nitrogen concentration in new shoots, especially in the first year, growth did not increase significantly in response to nitrogen treatment. Several factors could be contributing to the lack of significant growth response. (1) Increasing ammonium input significantly acidified the soil solution, which could adversely effect growth directly. (2) Foliar calcium concentration was reduced significantly in both years by the ammonium sulphate treatments, and more calcium was undoubtedly lost from the rooting zone at higher nitrogen inputs. (3) Foliar phosphate declined significantly between the first and second year, so lack of growth response might also reflect a phosphorus limitation. There was a distinctly visible darkening of the leaves in response to increasing ammonium applications, especially for the first year's growth, and the chlorophyll a and b concentrations in leaves from new growth at the three highest nitrogen treatments were significantly (at P <0.05) higher than those for the control. The pigment concentrations fell markedly by the end of the second season, and treatment effects were much less consistent. It is suggested that pigment analysis therefore probably has little diagnostic value for assessing damage from pollutant nitrogen effects.     

污染土壤添加有机物质对黑麦草吸收铜的影响

研究了泥炭和堆肥对铜污染土壤盆栽黑麦草吸收铜状况的影响。结果表明 ,黑麦草地上、地下部含铜量皆随土壤污染水平提高而增加 ,地下部的增幅远大于地上部 ;添加有机物质明显降低了黑麦草地上、地下部的含铜量 ,平均降幅近 3 0 %。泥炭降低黑麦草地上、地下部含铜量的作用随土壤污染水平的提高而逐渐变小 ,而堆肥的作用至重度污染水平仍较明显 ;在近 4 0 0mg/kg铜污染水平上 ,有机物质表现出最佳降低植株铜吸收量的效果。有机物质的控制作用与土壤pH有关 ,并在 3茬黑麦草的试验期间内得以维持     

可溶性有机质对芘在泥炭和高岭土上吸附和解吸的影响

为掌握可溶性有机质(DOM)对憎水性有机污染物吸附和解吸行为的影响,本研究选取四环多环芳烃——芘作为目标污染物,通过批平衡实验研究了不同分子量组分DOM对芘在泥炭和高岭土上吸附和解吸的影响.结果表明,吸附和解吸数据均可以用Freundlich模型很好地拟合(R²>0.93).DOM的添加抑制了泥炭对芘的吸附,并且分子量越大的DOM产生的抑制效应越明显,主要是由于DOM与芘分子的竞争、增溶作用及泥炭表面微孔的堵塞引起的.与之相反,DOM促进了芘在高岭土上的吸附,DOM分子量越大,促进效应越强,这是由于DOM与芘分子之间通过累积吸附或共吸附增加高岭土对芘的吸附.DOM促进了芘在泥炭和高岭土上的解吸,并且促进效应随分子量的增加而增强.此外,芘在泥炭和高岭土上的解吸均存在迟滞现象,均在低浓度时表现出更明显的效应.DOM_bulk和DOM_(>14000 Da)增加了芘在泥炭上的解吸迟滞现象,但降低了其在高岭土上的解吸迟滞现象.     

改良剂对红蛋植物修复污染土壤重金属铅和镉效果的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了在重度重金属混合污染土壤上,施用不同配比的石灰和泥炭（T1,泥炭0 g·kg^-1土,石灰2 g·kg^-1土;T2,泥炭30 g·kg^-1土,石灰0 g·kg^-1土;T3,泥炭50 g·kg^-1土,石灰0g·kg^-1土;T4,泥炭30 g·kg^-1土,石灰2g·kg^-1土;T5,泥炭50 g·kg^-1土,石灰2g·kg^-1土）对红蛋（Echinodorus osiris）生长及其去除污染土壤铅、镉量的影响,探讨了化学修复和植物提取修复技术相结合修复重金属污染土壤的可能性。研究结果表明,施用石灰显著提高了土壤pH,施用泥炭不显著;施用石灰和泥炭后土壤中交换态铅、镉含量较CK显著降低,红蛋地上部和地下部铅、镉含量较CK有不同程度降低,T4、T5处理降低不显著;T3、T4、T5处理显著地提高了红蛋的铅单株迁移量和年迁移量,年迁移量分别为CK的2.1倍、2.6倍和2.8倍;T1、T2、T3、T4、T5处理显著地提高了红蛋的镉单株迁移量和年迁移量,年迁移量分别为CK的1.8倍、2.9倍、2.9倍、2.8倍和2.9倍,其主要原因在于施用土壤改良剂改善了红蛋的生长,显著增加了地上部生物量。结合经济效益方面因素考虑,以施用泥炭30g·kg^-1土和石灰2g·kg^-1土的处理更适合推广运用。     

Beach erosion and geochemical factors: Influence on spawning success of horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) in Delaware Bay

Horseshoe crab spawning activity is spatially patchy within the Delaware Estuary. This study investigated the importance of geochemical and erosional factors to the selection of breeding beaches. Two sandy beaches in Cape May county, New Jersey, USA, were studied; one beach had been subjected to considerable erosion, exposing underlying peat; the second beach, less than 1 km away, had only traces of peat. Reduced sediments with high levels of hydrogen sulfide were correlated with the presence of peat, and significantly fewer crabs utilized sediments in the proximity of peat beds for reproduction. The lower spawning activity on the beach in the vicinity of exposed peat, suggests that crabs may detect, at a distance, the nature of sediments and the quality of beach for spawning activity. Active salt marsh and peat-bank sediments dominate the upper bay shore; these sediments are unsuitable, or at best marginal, for horseshoe crab reproduction. Extensive bulkheading of eroding sandy beach along several New Jersey shore communities has further restricted the availability of suitable spawning habitat, making the remaining stretches of optimal sandy beach critical to the reproductive success of this species.     

Variation of salts and available nutrients in salt-affected soil during leaching process under the influence of organic ameliorators

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the potential influence of three organic ameliorators (peat, biochar and leonardite) on salts and nutrients in salt-affected soils during intermittent leaching. Results showed that nearly 90% of salt was removed from columns in the leaching process and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of the soil after leaching was reduced by 67.3% (control, CK), 62.9% (peat), 70.1% (biochar) and 55.0% (leonardite). Total N loss declined by 26.2% (peat), 11.7% (biochar) and 55.5% (leonardite) compared with CK in the process of leaching. The maintaining N (NH₄⁺ and NO₃^?) of soil after leaching was 8.25, 7.31, 11.31 and 14.48?mg/kg for CK, peat, biochar and leonardite treatments. Final P loss was 0.47, 0.31, 0.54, 0.27?mg/column in leaching for CK, peat, biochar and leonardite treatments. Soluble P of soil after leaching was measured as 6.95 (CK), 5.62 (peat), 8.52 (biochar) and 3.33 (leonardite) mg/kg. Leaching could remove the salt effectively but with nutrient loss in the process. The findings of this study suggest that organic ameliorators (biochar, peat or leonardite) play an important role in retaining nutrients during leaching as well as supplying nutrients after leaching to offer practical assistance for the amendment of salt-affected soil in the Yellow River Delta.     

Chemically modified peat as an economical means of water treatment†

The data presented in this study indicate the feasibility of utilizing modified forms of peat as a cation exchanger, anion exchanger, and oil coalescer. The‐modification processes require relatively inexpensive chemicals in small amounts and only simple procedures are involved. This factor in conjunction with the availability of peat makes these modified systems well suited for large scale applications.     

Determination of chemical characterizations of activated carbons from various raw materials

The objectives of this research were to identify the surface chemical features of activated carbons made of peat, bituminous coal and coconut shell, as well as examine the specific relationship of these properties by using statistical analyses. The results showed that the peat carbons contained much more amounts of Ca, S, P and Mg; however, the bituminous carbons possessed higher contents of Si, Al and Fe. In addition, the content ratios of Al to Si exhibited the Al enrichment phenomenon occurred after the heat treatment. A nonlinear correlation between the pH value and the difference in the amounts of basic and acidic groups was developed. Unfortunately, there were no specific mass ratios found among the acidic functional groups. The results of correspondence analysis (CA) gave a promising confirmation about the EDXRF analysis; moreover, the results of factor analysis (FA) fairly agreed with the findings suggested by CA. Both could explain the specific chemical features of activated carbons made from different materials, especially the CA could differentiate each other in detail.     

Tolerance of calluna vulgaris and peatland plant communities to sulphuric acid deposition

Critical loads offer a unique way of evaluating impacts of acid deposition by quantifying environmental sensitivity. The critical loads of acidity for UK peat soils have been based upon an arbitrary reduction in pH of 0.2 units. This chemical shift needs to be better related to adverse effects on sensitive biological receptors. It is known that effective precipitation pH equates closely to soil solution pH, and the latter is directly linkable to biotic effects of pH change. On continuation of a long-term experiment assessing impacts of simulated acid rain on peat microcosms in a realistic outdoor environment, Calluna vulgaris continued to flourish at acid deposition loads well above the existing critical load. Calluna plants were harvested and analysed, and acid deposition treatments to the microcosms continued to allow natural vegetation to regenerate. A diverse mixture of moorland plants and bryophytes established at acidity treatments well above the existing critical load, and only a very high acid load resulted in no natural regeneration. A critical effective rain pH value of 3.6 is suggested as a basis for setting critical loads. At this pH, Calluna grows well, and a healthy diverse vegetation community re-establishes when harvested. It is suggested that the peat critical load should be set at the acid load that, at any specific site, would result in a mean effective precipitation pH of 3.6.     

土壤改良剂对荧蒽、苯并[k]荧蒽提取和植物吸收的影响

在温室条件下,利用盆栽实验研究了三种土壤改良剂(骨炭、活性炭、泥炭)对荧蒽和苯并[k]荧蒽的提取和黑麦草吸收的影响.结果表明,添加骨炭、活性炭和泥炭后,土壤中可提取态荧蒽和苯并[k]荧蒽的量比对照处理分别降低了43.1%-63.8%和35.2%-57.6%,在高剂量骨炭、活性炭和泥炭处理的土壤中,可提取态荧蒽和苯并[k]荧蒽的量降低幅度均比相应低剂量处理的降低幅度大,并且各处理的效果与对照相比均达到了显著差异(p＜0.05);骨炭、活性炭和泥炭减少了荧蒽和苯并[k]荧蒽在黑麦草地下部分和地上部分的累积量,并且荧蒽和苯并[k]荧蒽在黑麦草地下部分和地上部分的累积量随着骨炭、活性炭和泥炭添加量的增加呈下降趋势.