Optimum ridge-to-furrow ratio in ridge-furrow mulching systems for improving water conservation in maize (Zea may L.) production

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Water-saving cultivation techniques have been attracting increased attention worldwide. Ridge-furrow mulching system (RFMS), as a prospective...     

Composting of waste algae: A review

Although composting has been successfully used at pilot scale to manage waste algae removed from eutrophied water environments and the compost product applied as a fertiliser, clear guidelines are not available for full scale algae composting. The review reports on the application of composting to stabilize waste algae, which to date has mainly been macro-algae, and identifies the peculiarities of algae as a composting feedstock, these being: relatively low carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio, which can result in nitrogen loss as NH₃ and even N₂O; high moisture content and low porosity, which together make aeration challenging; potentially high salinity, which can have adverse consequence for composting; and potentially have high metals and toxin content, which can affect application of the product as a fertiliser. To overcome the challenges that these peculiarities impose co-compost materials can be employed.     

Performance of IUCN proxies for generation length

One of the criteria used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to assess threat status is the rate of decline in abundance over 3 generations or 10 years, whichever is longer. The traditional method for calculating generation length (T) uses age‐specific survival and fecundity, but these data are rarely available. Consequently, proxies that require less information are often used, which introduces potential biases. The IUCN recommends 2 proxies based on adult mortality rate, = α + 1/d, and reproductive life span, = α + z^*RL, where α is age at first reproduction, d is adult mortality rate, RL is reproductive life span, and z is a coefficient derived from data for comparable species. We used published life tables for 78 animal and plant populations to evaluate precision and bias of these proxies by comparing and with true generation length. Mean error rates in estimating T were 31% for and 20% for , but error rates for were 16% when we subtracted 1 year ( ), as suggested by theory; also provided largely unbiased estimates regardless of the true generation length. Performance of depends on compilation of detailed data for comparable species, but our results suggest taxonomy is not a reliable indicator of comparability. All 3 proxies depend heavily on a reliable estimate of age at first reproduction, as we illustrated with 2 test species. The relatively large mean errors for all proxies emphasized the importance of collecting the detailed life‐history information necessary to calculate true generation length. Unfortunately, publication of such data is less common than it was decades ago. We identified generic patterns of age‐specific change in vital rates that can be used to predict expected patterns of bias from applying .     

Occurrence and dominance of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and dissolved cylindrospermopsin in urban reservoirs used for drinking water supply,South China

The tropical cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is of particular concern for its invasive characteristics and production of the toxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN). The present study represents the first attempt to determine the distribution of C. raciborskii and CYN in tropical China. The presence of C. raciborskii and CYN, as well as the composition of phytoplankton, was determined from a total of 86 samples from 25 urban reservoirs for drinking water supply in Dongguan City of South China. The presence of C. raciborskii was observed in 21 of the 25 reservoirs and confirmed that this species has been widely distributed in the investigated reservoirs. C. raciborskii accounted for between 0.1 and 90.3 % of the total phytoplankton biomass and contributed to the majority of the phytoplankton in some reservoirs such as Tangkengbian and Xiagongyan. Its biomass was negatively correlated with NO₃ ^?-N concentration and Secchi depth. Dissolved CYN was detected in more than one-half of the reservoirs with concentrations up to 8.25 μg L^?1, and it positively correlated with C. raciborskii biomass. Dissolved microcystins (MCs) were detected in 12 of the 25 reservoirs with a maximum concentration 1.99 μg L^?1. Our data strongly suggest that C. raciborskii and CYN could be important health hazards in urban reservoirs of South China and that more data are needed for further assessment.     

Biodegradation characteristics of organic matters in swine carcasses under different initial operating conditions of simulated anaerobic lysimeter

This study was aimed to investigate the biodegradation characteristics of organic matters in swine carcasses. The lysimeters were simulated with different initial operating conditions: 30 % volumetric moisture content and no sludge addition for lysimeter A (control), 30 % volumetric moisture content and anaerobic sludge addition for lysimeter B, and 40 % volumetric moisture content and anaerobic sludge addition for lysimeter C. The degradation efficiency (18.4 %) of lysimeter B was higher than that (15.2 %) of lysimeter A due to anaerobic sludge addition. Lysimeter B showed higher CH₄ yield (15.6 L/kg VS) and CH₄ production rate (0.41 L/kg VS days) compared to lysimeter A by 31 % and 14 %, respectively. In addition, the degradation efficiency improved from 18.4 % (lysimeter B) to 26.3 % (lysimeter C) by increasing volumetric moisture content. The CH₄ yield (22.9 L/kg VS) and CH₄ production rate (0.68 L/kg VS days) of lysimeter C were higher than those of lysimeter B, respectively. Total organic carbon (TOC) removed in lysimeter C was converted to leachate (20.3 %) and gas (6.0 %), whose values were higher than those of lysimeter A and B. These results demonstrated that the proper control of initial operating conditions could accelerate the anaerobic degradation of organic matters in swine carcasses.     

Effect of multiple washing operations on the removal of potentially toxic metals from an alkaline farmland soil and the strategy for agricultural reuse

Few studies have carried out soil washing experiments using pot experiments to simulate in situ soil washing operations, particularly for alkaline soils. This study explored the effects of multiple washing operations using pot experiments on the removal efficiencies of potentially toxic metals (PTM) from alkaline farmland soil and the reuse strategy of washed soil for safe agricultural production. The results showed that the removal efficiencies of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn after seven washings with a mixed chelator (EDTA, GLDA, and citric acid) were 41.1%, 47.1%, 14.7%, and 26.5%, respectively, which was close to the results of the EDTA treatment. For the alkaline soil studied, the second washing with the mixed chelators most effectively removed PTM owing to the activation of them after the first washing operation. The mixed chelator more effectively increased the proportion of stable fraction of PTM and maintained soil nutrients (e.g., nitrogen content) than EDTA, indicating little disturbance of alkaline soil quality after washing with the mixed chelator. After the amendment of the washed soil, there was no visible difference in the biomass weight of crops from the soils washed with different agents, indicating that the inhibitory effect of both washing agents on plant growth was effectively alleviated. The Cd and Pb contents in Z. mays were below the threshold of Hygienical Standard for Feeds of China (GB 13078–2017) (1 and 30 mg·kg^?1). Moreover, after three cropping operations, the available concentrations of PTM in the soil washed with the mixed chelator were lower than those in the soil washed with EDTA, indicating the value and potential of agricultural reuse of alkaline farmland soil washed with the mixed chelator.

Graphical abstract

     

介质阻挡放电协同Ag/Al_2O_3对NO_x脱除的影响

为有效去除发电厂烟气中产生的NOx,利用介质阻挡放电(DBD)产生低温等离子体并结合催化剂Ag/Al2O3进行烟气脱硝实验,研究了在加入乙烯的条件下,平均负载量、催化温度和装置的布置方式对NOx脱除的影响。结果表明,随着负载的增多,NO脱除率呈现先增大后减小的趋势,5种负载量中最佳为1.76%;随着催化温度的升高,NO脱除率同样呈现先增大后减小的趋势,最佳的催化温度为150℃左右;3种不同布置方式对NO和NOx脱除有明显差别,单独催化剂在NO和NOx的脱除率都比较低;单独介质阻挡放电NO脱除率很高,但是NOx很却很低;而两者结合在NO和NOx都达到了很好的效果。     

Effect of composite amendments on physicochemical properties of copper tailings repaired by herbaceous plants

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Phytoremediation is considered to be the most environmentally friendly green restoration technology for dealing with mine waste. Adding amendments can...     

内窥镜检查在电站锅炉内部检验中的应用

工业内窥镜是电站锅炉内部检验中不可或缺的设备,主要用来对集箱、减温器、受热面管等内部人眼无法观察到的地方进行检验,从而确定承压部件内部是否存在严重影响锅炉安全运行的缺陷.本文通过对锅炉内窥实例进行分析和总结,阐述内窥镜检查在锅炉内检中的重要性并给相关工作人员提供借鉴与参考.     

南海湖非冰封期浮游植物群落生态特征及其与环境因子关系

分别于2017、2018年的非冰封期(5—10月)对南海湖的浮游植物群落和环境因子进行了调查。共发现浮游植物7门80属157种(含变种),其中绿藻门种数最多,其次是硅藻门和蓝藻门,时间上7月最多、10月最少,空间上呈东高西低、南高北低的趋势。浮游植物密度为23.35×10~6～126.00×10~6个/L,平均值为66.78×10~6个/L。主要优势种有微小平裂藻(Merismopedia tenuissima)、水华束丝藻(Aphanizomenon flosaquae)和螺旋弓形藻(Schroederia spiralis)。南海湖水质总体处于中污染状态。冗余分析表明,TN、TP、pH和温度是影响浮游植物分布的主要环境因子,绿藻门与TN关系密切,蓝藻门与TP、温度关系密切,硅藻门与pH关系密切。