稻田土壤种子库研究进展

土壤种子库是指存在于土壤表面和土壤中全部存活种子的总和。稻田土壤种子库是地上杂草产生的根本来源。我国是一个水稻种植大国,目前关于稻田土壤种子库的研究还不够全面和深入。研究稻田土壤种子库对于防治稻田草害具有重要指导意义,同时也是种子库研究领域的一个重要补充。取样方法和取样时间是研究土壤种子库的关键所在。而萌发法是最常见的判定方法。关于稻田土壤种子库大小的结论相差很大,从103~105 m-2不等。稻田土壤种子库中的杂草主要有19科55种,一般的稻田可检出10科或20种左右。种子的垂直分布格局主要受耕作强度的影响。70%~80%甚至更多的杂草种子分布在0~10 cm。稻田土壤种子库由于萌发、捕食、衰老和种子散布等原因具有季节动态。轮作制度、耕作方式、不同施肥处理以及除草方式等对稻田土壤种子库有重要影响。连续多年的田间管理会使种子库的大小、分布和物种组成产生年际变化。目前,需要加强长期定位研究,扩大研究区域和研究内容,重点研究杂草种子的休眠萌发机制和种子命运研究,为杂草治理提供更准确的信息。     

Inventory of child bicycle education programs reveals need for age,development, and skill-level considerations

Abstract

Objective: There are a plethora of child bicycle safety education programs worldwide. However, the content and durations vary widely from program to program and no gold standard has been established. The main objective of this project was to create an inventory of youth bicycle safety education programs and their content, approaches, and age and developmental considerations.

Methods: Methods used to gather program information included web and online database searches, extraction from personal lists, and a widely distributed online survey. A total of 89 programs met inclusion criteria and were reviewed (78 from the United States and 11 from other countries).

Results: Over half (56.2%) of the included programs were not explicitly age specific, meaning that the content was not appropriately designated by age and developmental cut points. Many programs had target age groups, but these were often very wide age ranges (e.g., all elementary school–age children) resulting in content too advanced for the youngest children. Only 12.4% of included programs had published program evaluations and their scientific rigor varied widely. Main results from this inventory revealed a weak evidence base for program effectiveness due to lack of program evaluations. Results also highlighted a need for age, development, and skill-level considerations in youth bicycle education programs.

Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive list of program components and approaches that can be used as a foundation upon which child bicycle education standards can be evaluated and built, with the long-term goal of increased childhood safety.     

Determination of clindamycin and its metabolite clindamycin sulfoxide in diverse sewage samples

In a research project on risk management of harmful substances in water cycles, clindamycin and 12 further antibiotics were determined in different sewage samples. In contrast to other antibiotics, an increase of the clindamycin concentration in the final effluent in comparison to the influent of the sewage treatment plant (STP) was observed. A back transformation from the main metabolite clindamycin sulfoxide to clindamycin during the denitrification process has been discussed. Therefore, the concentration of this metabolite was measured additionally. Clindamycin sulfoxide was stable in the STP and the assumption of back transformation of the metabolite to clindamycin was confuted. To explain the increasing clindamycin concentration in the STP, the ratio of clindamycin sulfoxide to clindamycin was observed. The ratio increased in dry spells with concentrated samples and with long dwell time in the sewer system. A short hydraulic retention in waste water system and diluted samples in periods of extreme rainfall lead to a lower ratio of clindamycin sulfoxide to clindamycin concentration. A plausible explanation of this behavior could be that clindamycin was adsorbed strongly to a component of the sewage during this long residence time and in the STP, clindamycin was released. In the common sample preparation in the lab, clindamycin was not released. Measurements of clindamycin and clindamycin sulfoxide in the influent and effluent of STP is advised for sewage monitoring.     

Bench-scale visualization of DNAPL remediation processes in analog heterogeneous aquifers: surfactant floods and in situ oxidation using permanganate

We have conducted well-controlled DNAPL remediation experiments within a 2-D, glass-walled, sand-filled chamber using surfactants (Aerosol MA and Tween 80) to increase solubility and an oxidant (permanganate) to chemically degrade the DNAPL. Initial conditions for each remediation experiment were created by injecting DNAPL as a point source at the top of the chamber and allowing the DNAPL to migrate downward through a water-filled, heterogeneous, sand-pack designed to be evocative of a fluvial depositional environment. This migration process resulted in the DNAPL residing as a series of descending pools. Lateral advection across the chamber was used to introduce the remedial fluids. Photographs and digital image analysis illustrate interactions between the introduced fluids and the DNAPL. In the surfactant experiments, we found that DNAPL configured in a series of pools was easily mobilized. Extreme reductions in DNAPL/water interfacial tension occurred when using the Aerosol MA surfactant, resulting in mobilization into low permeability regions and thus confounding the remediation process. More modest reductions in interfacial tension occurred when using the Tween 80 surfactant resulting in modest mobilization. In this experiment, capillary forces remained sufficient to exclude DNAPL migration into low permeability regions allowing the excellent solubilizing properties of the surfactant to recover almost 90% of the DNAPL within 8.6 pore volumes. Injection of a potassium permanganate solution resulted in precipitation of MnO2, a reaction product, creating a low-permeability rind surrounding the DNAPL pools. Formation of this rind hindered contact between the permanganate and the DNAPL, limiting the effectiveness of the remediation. From these experiments, we see the value of performing visualization experiments to evaluate the performance of proposed techniques for DNAPL remediation.     

LOW-INPUT AGRICULTURE AS A GROUND WATER PROTECTION STRATEGY1

ABSTRACT: Protection of ground water quality is of considerable importance to local, state, and federal governments. This study uses a 15-year mathematical programming model to evaluate the effectiveness of low-input agriculture, under alternative policy scenarios, as a strategy to protect ground water quality in Richmond County, Virginia. The analysis considers eight policy alternatives: cost-sharing for green manures, two restrictions on atrazine applications levels, chemical taxation, a restriction on potential chemical and nitrogen levels in ground water only and in surface and ground water, and two types of land retirement programs. The CREAMS and GLEAMS models were used to estimate nitrate and chemical leaching from the crop root zone. The economic model evaluates production practices, policy constraints, and water quality given a long-term profit maximizing objective. The results indicate that low-input agriculture alone may not be an effective ground water protection strategy. The policy impacts include partial adoption of low-input practices, land retirement, and the substitution of chemicals. Only mandatory land retirement policies reduced all chemical and nutrient loadings of ground water; however, they did not promote the use of low-input agricultural practices.