Ellenberg Indicator Values (EIVs) in Different Plant Communities in Subalpine Grasslands of the Giresun Mountains (Turkey)

Russian Journal of Ecology - In this paper, Ellenberg’s indicator values were estimated in order to soil nitrogen (N), pH (R) and soil moisture (M) in different subalpine grassland...     

Subsurface nutrient modelling using finite element model under Boro rice cropping system

Boro rice, an emerging low-risk crop variety of rice, cultivated using residual or stored water after Kharif season. To enhance the quality and production of rice, potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) are the common constituents of agricultural fertilizers. However, excess application of fertilizers causes leaching of nutrients and contaminates the groundwater system. Therefore, assessment and optimization of fertilizer dose are needed for better management of fertilizers. Towards this, the present study determines the path, persistence, and mobility of K and P under the Boro rice cropping system. The experimental site consisted of four plots having Boro rice with four different fertilizer doses of nitrogen (N), P, K viz. 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of the recommended dose. Disturbed soil samples were analysed for K and P from pre-sown land to tillering stage at 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–30, 30–45, and 45–60 cm depths. Simultaneously, K and available P were also simulated in the subsurface soil layers through the HYDRUS-1D model. The statistical comparisons were made with RMSER, E, and PBIAS between the modelled values and laboratory-measured values. Although, the results showed that all the treatments considered had agreeable simulations for both K and P, the K simulations were found to be better as compared to P simulations except for 25% where P simulations outperformed K. The simulated concentration at all doses was found most appropriate when measured for the subsurface layers (up to 45 cm), while showed an underestimation in the bottom layers (45–60 cm) of soil.

     

Multivariate assessment of outflow water quality in highly urbanized creek system: implication of natural and anthropogenic processes

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Nutrient source and transport study in tropical creeks adjacent to megacities are sparse on a regional and global scale. High-frequency chemical data...     

Catalytic degradation of toxic organic dye using an aluminum-doped Cu0.4Zn0.6-xAlxFe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6) spinel ferrite in a photo-Fenton system

Catalytic activity of spinel ferrite in breaking down toxic dye materials are promising due to their uniqueness. In this study, aluminum-doped copper zinc ferrite, Cu_0.4Zn_0.6-xAl_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6), a catalyst for toxic dye degradation is synthesized through chemical co-precipitation route. The formation of the spinel ferrite catalyst is initially confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectra, which shows the frequency of metal-oxygen bond vibration at 539 and 427 cm⁻¹ attributed to the tetrahedral and octahedral sites respectively. Higher intensity sharp peak of X-ray diffraction for (311) plane is the evidence for the phase purity and the formation of spinel ferrite. The crystallite size is found to decrease with the increase of Al³⁺ ion. The surface structure of the obtained particles is investigated using a scanning electron microscope. Analyses of the material's magnetic characteristics using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) revealed that it is, in fact, a soft magnet, as evidenced by the loop of its hysteresis, which is narrow. The catalytic degradation of methylene blue dye under the mechanism of the photo-Fenton process is studied with the obtained spinel ferrites and the result is found to be as high as 96.5%. The process follows pseudo-second order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm.     

A combined radical and non-radical oxidation processes for efficient degradation of Acid Orange 7 in the homogeneous Cu(II)/PMS system: important role of chloride

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Trace copper ion (Cu(II)) in water and wastewater can trigger peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to oxidize organic compounds, but it only works under...     

Analysis of the Shifts of Phenological Events in Birds as Indicators of Climatogenic Changes

Russian Journal of Ecology - A new method for assessing the response of biota to climatic changes in the ecosystem has been tested. In the Central Forest Natural Biosphere Reserve, the average...     

京津冀地区一次污染过程的星载地基激光雷达联合观测分析

针对2018年3月9—15日京津冀地区的一次空气重污染过程,进行了基于地基颗粒物激光雷达组网的星载-地基联合观测分析。颗粒物激光雷达观测到污染前期为局地污染累积过程,中期有明显的污染物区域传输过程,北京受太行山沿线城市污染输送影响较大。风廓线激光雷达观测结果表明:此次污染过程近地面主要为偏南风且风力较弱,冷空气到来时风向转为较强东北风,导致污染消散。微波辐射计观测到保定在污染过程中出现持续6 d的逆温层,同时在污染过程中近地面相对湿度较高,逆温层被打破后污染开始消散。在污染过程的各个阶段中,污染团的空间分布与变化特征均被很好地反映出来,可见地天联合观测对污染物的累积与输送研究有较大的意义,能对京津冀及周边地区的大气污染联防联控提供有力支持。     

Injection-Molded Bioblends from Lignin and Biodegradable Polymers: Processing and Performance Evaluation

This paper investigates the effects of the incorporation of lignin and small quantities of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) as an impact modifying agent on blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). The addition of lignin resulted in a slight improvement of flexural strength and modulus of the ternary blending system. Incorporation of ENR into the blend resulted in an increase in notched Izod impact strength from 40 to 135% depending on the concentration of ENR. The addition of lignin into the blend resulted in an improvement of thermal stability of the ternary blend system. Morphological analysis showed a good dispersion of PHBV phases and lignin within the PCL matrix. Rheological characterization revealed that the presence of lignin resulted in increased storage modulus of the bioblend.     

Waste to energy: power generation potential of putrescible wastes by anaerobic digestion process at Hyderabad,Pakistan

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Power generation from municipal solid waste plays significant role to mitigate the environmental pollution. The power generation potential of...