Studies on phytotoxic effect of aluminium on growth and some morphological parameters of Vigna radiata L. Wilczek

Aluminium toxicity is a major deterrent for plant growth in acid soils below pH 5.0. This study deals with effect of aluminium toxicity on growth of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) seedlings. Seed germination (in %) declined with increased content of Al2(SO4)3, while promotive effect was observed at very low dosage. Different concentrations of aluminum sulphate salt were applied to mungbean seeds. Measurement of aluminium content in mungbean leaves was done through atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Root length (root and hypocotyl length) and shoot length (shoot and epicotyl length) was measured at seven days old seedling stage. Different concentrations of Al2(SO4)3 were found to have significant effect both on shoot and root length. Leaf area, fresh and dry weight was significantly reduced. Increased stomatal frequency and trichome density with an increase in concentrations of Al2(S04)3 was observed through scanning electron microscope.     

A simplified method for sampling and analysis of high volume surface water for organic contaminants using XAD-2

A simple compressed-gas driven system for field processing and extracting water for subsequent analyses of hydrophobic organic compounds is presented. The pumping device is a pneumatically driven pump and filtration system that can easily clarify at 4 L/min. The extraction device uses compressed gas to drive filtered water through two parallel XAD-2 resin columns, at about 200 mL/min. No batteries or inverters are required for water collection or processing. Solvent extractions were performed directly in the XAD-2 glass columns. Final extracts are cleaned-up on Florisil cartridges without fractionation and contaminants analyzed by GC-MS. Method detection limits (MDLs) and recoveries for dissolved organic contaminants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides are reported along with results of surface water analysis for the San Francisco Bay, CA.     

Assessment of land degradation and its impact on crop production in the Dry Zone of Myanmar

Land degradation in terms of soil degradation is a major environmental issue posing threat to sustainable livelihood in the semi-arid region of Central Myanmar. However, the studies on soil degradation status and its impacts in this region are very scanty. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of land degradation on crop production both in terms of area and yield in the Dry Zone of Myanmar. Remote sensing and geographic information system-based modelling was utilized to assess and map soil erosion rates. Household survey was conducted to understand the causes of land degradation and its impacts on crop productivity and livelihoods. It has been found out that the current rate of soil erosion ranged from 0 to 114 t ha^–1 yr^–1, and that the average rate of soil erosion increased from 14.2 to 54.6 t ha^–1 yr^–1 over a period from 2000 to 2012. The major types of land degradation were physical and chemical soil degradation. Farmers identified topographic condition, soil types, improper crop management practices and climatic factors as the main causes of soil erosion. The observed crop yields of monsoon rice, groundnut, sesame and cotton in the highly degraded area were 3–12 times lower compared with the yields of these crops grown in less degraded area. Livelihoods of the farmers in the high-degraded area were affected by crop yield reduction, increased cultivation cost and increased uncultivable land area. The impact of land degradation on crop production was dependent on the severity of degradation. This suggests that advanced conservation measures are immediately required and the supportive policy strategies need to be implemented to educate farmers and to strengthen extension services for sustainable land management in the Dry Zone of Myanmar.     

Acute toxicity of the synthetic pyrethroid pesticide fenvalerate to some air breathing fishes

Lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) of a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide, fenvalerate, for three species of air breathing fish Clarias batrachus, Channa punctatus and Heteropneustes fossilis were determined under water and acetone soluble condition in the laboratory using the static bioassay procedure of the American Public Health Association (APHA,1995). Acetone soluble fenvalerate was found more toxic than the water-soluble fenvalerate irrespective of species and exposure periods. The LC₅₀ value upon 96 days exposure to acetone soluble fenvalerate for C. batrachus, Channa C. punctatus and Heteropneustes H. fossilis were 1.35, 1.0 and 0.65?µg?L^?1, respectively. It is concluded from the present study that fenvalerate is highly toxic even to the hardy air breathing fishes and the pesticide, when dissolved in water, remains photostable and active to render toxicity for long duration.     

Relationship between CH₄ and N₂O flux from soil and their ambient mixing ratio in a riparian rice-based agroecosystem of tropical region

Temporal variations of the ambient mixing ratio of greenhouse gas (CH(4) and N(2)O) in a riparian rice-based agro-ecosystem of tropical region were studied during 2005-2006 in coastal Odisha. The endeavour was made with the hypothesis that the ambient mixing ratio of CH(4) and N(2)O depends on the changes in the flux of CH(4) and N(2)O from the rice fields in the riparian rice ecosystems. A higher ambient mixing ratio of CH(4) was recorded during the tillering to grain filling stages of the rice crop, during both dry and wet seasons. The higher ambient mixing ratio of CH(4) during the wet season may attribute to the higher CH(4) emission from the rice field. The average mixing ratio of CH(4) was recorded as 1.84 ± 0.05 ppmv and 1.85 ± 0.06 ppmv during 2005 and 2006, respectively. The ambient CH(4) mixing ratio was recorded negatively correlated with the average ambient temperature. The N(2)O mixing ratio ranged from 261.57 to 399.44 ppbv with an average of 330.57 ppbv during 2005. However, the average mixing ratio of N(2)O was recorded as 318.83 ± 20.00 ppbv during 2006. The N(2)O mixing ratio was recorded to be negatively correlated with rainfall and average ambient temperature. Significant negative correlation (r = -0.209) of N(2)O with sunshine hours may attribute to the photochemical break down of N(2)O. The temporal variation of N(2)O flux from the rice field does not affect the ambient mixing ratio of N(2)O in the same way as in the case of the ambient mixing ratio of CH(4). However, the higher mixing ratio of N(2)O during the fallow period of the post monsoon period may attribute to the N(2)O flux from soil. Results indicate that intensively cultivated coastal ecosystems can be a major source of ambient greenhouse gas.     

Exchangeable lead from prediction models relates to vetiver lead uptake in different soil types

Prediction models for exchangeable soil lead, published earlier in this journal (Andra et al. 2010a), were developed using a suite of native lead (Pb) paint-contaminated residential soils from two US cities heavily populated with homes constructed prior to Pb ban in paints. In this study, we tested the feasibility and practical applications of these prediction models for developing a phytoremediation design using vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), a Pb-tolerant plant. The models were used to estimate the exchangeable fraction of Pb available for vetiver uptake in four lead-spiked soil types, both acidic and alkaline, with varying physico-chemical properties and that are different from those used to build the prediction models. Results indicate a strong correlation for predictable exchangeable Pb with the observed fraction and as well with total Pb accumulated by vetiver grass grown in these soils. The correlation coefficient for the predicted vs. observed exchangeable Pb with p < 0.001 was 0.999, 0.996, 0.949, and 0.998 in the Immokalee, Millhopper, Pahokee Muck, and Tobosa soil type, respectively. Similarly, the correlation coefficient for the predicted exchangeable Pb vs. accumulated Pb in vetiver grass with p?< 0.001 was 0.948, 0.983, 0.929, and 0.969 for each soil type, respectively. This study suggests that the success of a phytoremediation design could be assessed upfront by predicting the exchangeable Pb fraction in a given soil type based on its properties. This helps in modifying the soil conditions to enhance phytoextraction of Pb from contaminated soils.     

Sequential optimal monitoring network design and iterative spatial estimation of pollutant concentration for identification of unknown groundwater pollution source locations

One of the difficulties in accurate characterization of unknown groundwater pollution sources is the uncertainty regarding the number and the location of such sources. Only when the number of source locations is estimated with some degree of certainty that the characterization of the sources in terms of location, magnitude, and activity duration can be meaningful. A fairly good knowledge of source locations can substantially decrease the degree of nonuniqueness in the set of possible aquifer responses to subjected geochemical stresses. A methodology is developed to use a sequence of dedicated monitoring network design and implementation and to screen and identify the possible source locations. The proposed methodology utilizes a combination of spatial interpolation of concentration measurements and simulated annealing as optimization algorithm for optimal design of the monitoring network. These monitoring networks are to be designed and implemented sequentially. The sequential design is based on iterative pollutant concentration measurement information from the sequentially designed monitoring networks. The optimal monitoring network design utilizes concentration gradient information from the monitoring network at previous iteration to define the objective function. The capability of the feedback information based iterative methodology is shown to be effective in estimating the source locations when no such information is initially available. This unknown pollution source locations identification methodology should be very useful as a screening model for subsequent accurate estimation of the unknown pollution sources in terms of location, magnitude, and activity duration.     

Prediction of the solubility of zinc, copper, nickel, cadmium, and lead in metal-contaminated soils

Risk assessment of metal-contaminated soil depends on how precisely one can predict the solubility of metals in soils. Responses of plants and soil organisms to metal toxicity are explained by the variation in free metal ion activity in soil pore water. This study was undertaken to predict the free ion activity of Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, and Pb in metal-contaminated soil as a function of pH, soil organic carbon, and extractable metal content. For this purpose, 21 surface soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected from agricultural lands of various locations receiving sewage sludge and industrial effluents for a long period. One soil sample was also collected from agricultural land which has been under intensive cropping and receiving irrigation through tube well water. Soil samples were varied widely in respect of physicochemical properties including metal content. Total Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, and Pb in experimental soils were 2,015?±?3,373, 236?±?286, 103?±?192, 29.8?±?6.04, and 141?±?270 mg kg^?1, respectively. Free metal ion activity, viz., pZn²⁺, pCu²⁺, pNi²⁺, pCd²⁺, and pPb²⁺, as estimated by the Baker soil test was 9.37?±?1.89, 13.1?±?1.96, 12.8?±?1.89, 11.9?±?2.00, and 11.6?±?1.52, respectively. Free metal ion activity was predicted by pH-dependent Freundlich equation (solubility model) as a function of pH, organic carbon, and extractable metal. Results indicate that solubility model as a function of pH, Walkley–Black carbon (WBC), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-extractable metals could explain the variation in pZn²⁺, pCu²⁺, pNi²⁺, pCd²⁺, and pPb²⁺ to the extent of 59, 56, 46, 52, and 51 %, respectively. Predictability of the solubility model based on pH, KMnO₄-oxidizable carbon, and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-extractable or CaCl₂-extractable metal was inferior compared to that based on EDTA-extractable metals and WBC.