Reversing food desertification: examining urban farming in Louisville,Chicago and Detroit

The Urban Farming Movement is relatively young in Louisville, Kentucky but it seems to be off to a good start. Being in its earliest stages, assessments of this effort must be made cautiously, even tentatively. Examining a movement that is in progress requires a study of the state's land use and segregation policies, both of which have been dynamic in Kentucky. Further, this study is also relevant as there is a growing convergence of national and regional attitudes towards American obesity, while there are competing notions of food preference and food choice. All of which are influenced by racial politics, and there is a deep concern regarding food security. Considering all of these, it is necessary to examine the Government's efforts to address obesity/food imbalance in a variety of settings, especially where urban farming is expanding, such as Chicago and Detroit. In New York, roof-top gardens dot the landscape and the urban farm movement is largely a “success”. So, city leaders have chosen to address another health issue – trans fat. Rather than joining the food choice/preference debate by banning fast-food restaurants, city leaders have chosen to enact a trans-fat ban. Unpopular at first, other cities and states have followed, and the Federal Government will mandate a trans-fat ban this year. In Louisville, Chicago and Detroit, where the trans-fat bans did not succeed, the urban farm movement may be the primary means of addressing malnutrition, in the form of obesity.     

Key indicator tools for shallow slope failure assessment using soil chemical property signatures and soil colour variables

Slope failure has become a major concern in Malaysia due to the rapid development and urbanisation in the country. It poses severe threats to any highway construction industry, residential areas, natural resources and tourism activities. The extent of damages that resulted from this catastrophe can be lessened if a long-term early warning system to predict landslide prone areas is implemented. Thus, this study aims to characterise the relationship between Oxisols properties and soil colour variables to be manipulated as key indicators to forecast shallow slope failure. The concentration of each soil property in slope soil was evaluated from two different localities that consist of 120 soil samples from stable and unstable slopes located along the North-South Highway (PLUS) and East-West Highway (LPT). Analysis of variance established highly significant difference (P < 0.0001) between the locations, the total organic carbon (TOC), soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil texture, soil chromaticity and all combinations of interactions. The overall CIELAB analysis leads to the conclusion that the CIELAB variables lightness L*, c* (Chroma) and h* (Hue) provide the most information about soil colour and other related soil properties. With regard to the relationship between colour variables and soil properties, the analysis detected that soil texture, organic carbon, iron oxide and aluminium concentration were the key factors that strongly correlate with soil colour variables at the studied area. Indicators that could be used to predict shallow slope failure were high value of L*(62), low values of c* (20) and h* (66), low concentration of iron (53 mg kg^?1) and aluminium oxide (37 mg kg^?1), low soil TOC (0.5%), low CEC (3.6 cmol/kg), slightly acidic soil pH (4.9), high amount of sand fraction (68%) and low amount of clay fraction (20%).     

Predicting phosphorus availability from soil-applied composted and non-composted cattle feedlot manure

Prediction of phosphorus (P) availability from soil-applied composts and manure is important for agronomic and environmental reasons. This study utilized chemical properties of eight composted and two non-composted beef cattle (Bos taurus) manures to predict cumulative phosphorus uptake (CPU) during a 363-d controlled environment chamber bioassay. Ten growth cycles of canola (Brassica napus L.) were raised in pots containing 2 kg of a Dark Brown Chernozemic clay loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, Typic Haploboroll) mixed with 0.04 kg of the amendments. Inorganic P fertilizer (KH2PO4) and an unamended control were included for comparison. All treatments received a nutrient solution containing an adequate supply of all essential nutrients, except P, which was supplied by the amendments. Cumulative P uptake was similar for composted (74 mg kg-1 soil) and non-composted manures (60 mg kg-1 soil) and for the latter and the fertilizer (40 mg kg-1 soil). However, the CPU was significantly higher for organic amendments than the control (24 mg kg-1 soil) and for composted manure than the fertilizer. Apparent phosphorus recovery (APR) from composted manure (24%) was significantly lower than that from non-composted manure (33%), but there was no significant difference in APR between the organic amendments and the fertilizer (27%). Partial least squares (PLS) regression indicated that only two parameters [total water-extractable phosphorus (TPH2O) and total phosphorus (TP) concentration of amendments] were adequate to model amendment-derived cumulative phosphorus uptake (ACPU), explaining 81% of the variation in ACPU. These results suggest that P availability from soil-applied composted and non-composted manures can be adequately predicted from a few simple amendment chemical measurements. Accurate prediction of P availability and plant P recovery may help tailor manure and compost applications to plant needs and minimize the buildup of bioavailable P, which can contribute to eutrophication of sensitive aquatic systems.     

Risk assessment and remediation suggestion of impacted soil by produced water associated with oil production

Produced water is water trapped in underground formations that is brought to the surface along with oil or gas production. Oilfield impacted soil is the most common environmental problem associated with oil production. The produced water associated with oil-production contaminates the soil and causes the outright death of plants, and the subsequent erosion of topsoil. Also, impacted soil serves to contaminate surface waters and shallow aquifers. This paper is intended to provide an approach for full characterization of contaminated soil by produced water, by means of analysis of both the produced water and the impacted soil using several recommended analytical techniques and then identify and assay the main constituents that cause contamination of the soil. Gialo-59 oilfield (29N, 21E), Libya, has been chosen as the case study of this work. The field has a long history of petroleum production since 1959, where about 300,000 bbl of produced water be discharged into open pit. Test samples of contaminated soil were collected from one of the disposal pits. Samples of produced water were collected from different points throughout the oil production process, and the analyses were carried out at the labs of Libyan Petroleum Institute, Tripoli, Libya. The results are compared with the local environmental limiting constituents in order to prepare for a plan of soil remediation. The results showed that the main constituents (pollutants) that impact the soil are salts and hydrocarbon compounds. Accordingly; an action of soil remediation has been proposed to remove the salts and degradation of hydrocarbons.     

Sediment load and bioconcentration of heavy metals by shrimp (Peaneus notalis) from Epe Lagoon, Nigeria

In many developing countries, surface waters, especially rivers and lagoons, have become deposition sites for all sorts of wastes. Three sampling sites located trigonally on Epe lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria were identified, and water, sediment, and commonly farmed shrimp, Peaneus notalis, were sampled and assessed for heavy metal concentrations. Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, Cd, and Mn were determined in the aqua regia digests of the samples by means of Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 200 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Heavy metals occurred above detection limits at all sites. The highest load of these trace elements was found in sediment samples followed by the water samples. The levels observed in the shrimp samples, however, were much lower than WHO levels. In the distribution, zinc was the highest metal found in the samples ranging from 17.94 ± 2.60 mg/L in water to 37.85 ± 9.35 μg/g in sediments. The least was Cd 0.03 ± 0.01 mg/L in water and 0.28 ± 0.04 μg/g in sediments. Lead was the most widely varied metal in shrimp with a 84.38% coefficient of variation. Apart from Cr, the metals appeared to be fairly and evenly distributed in the sediment, with coefficient of variation ranging from 14.29% (Cd) to 24.76% (Mn) The variations were between 14.49% (Zn) and 66.67% (Cr) in the water samples. The paired t test carried out between water and sediment, water and shrimp, and shrimp and sediment was significant at p?=?0.05. Three-factor analysis of variance did not reveal any significant difference in metal burdens among the trigonally located sites under investigation. Shrimp samples showed evidence of bioaccumulation but are still below internationally established levels.     

Determination of selected steroid hormones in some surface water around animal farms in Cape Town using HPLC-DAD

In this study, a method for the simultaneous determination of two steroid hormones, 17β-estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3), and a hormone mimicking polycarbonate, bisphenol-A (BPA), was developed and validated. This was thereafter used for the determination of the levels of the hormones in surface water collected around some livestock farms. The sensitivity of the method allowed the LODs and LOQs of the hormones and mimic hormone in the range 1.14–2.510 and 3.42–7.53 μg/L, respectively. The results revealed wide variability in the concentrations of E2 and E3, while BPA was not detected at any of the sampling stations. The concentration of E3 ranged between <1.14 and 45.5 μg/L (N = 120) in station 2 water. The highest concentration of E2 (15.7 μg/L, N = 80) was observed in water from station 1. The varied concentrations may be connected with the nature and sources of release, inconsistencies in analyte distribution due to dynamics of water flow pattern and the physical/chemical properties of the receiving water bodies.     

Perceived causes, exposures and adjustments to seasonal heat in different residential areas in Ibadan, Nigeria

Local perception can be an important resource for assessing and managing climate-related extremes and identifying adjustment strategies unique to specific settings. The objectives of the study are two-fold. Firstly, it examined the perceived causes, exposures and adjustments to seasonal heat events using different residential density areas of Ibadan, Nigeria, as spatial units of analysis. Secondly, it investigated the relationship between heat exposure, built environment, socio-economic and cultural factors. Results show that intense heat from the sun, climate change and absence of rains, among others, was identified as perceived causes. Number of electricity hours, distance from water supply points and the number of neighborhood trees were listed as the three most important factors affecting heat exposure. In addition, there were considerable variations in the perceived causes (F?=?4.86, p?<?0.05), in exposures (F?=?3.61, p?<?0.05), and in adjustments to seasonal heat (F?=?8.75, p?<?0.05) across different residential density areas in Ibadan, Nigeria. The study demonstrates that local knowledge based on the perceptions, exposures and adjustments to seasonal heat waves has the potential in some cases to provide valid inputs into vulnerability and adaptation assessments.     

Efficacy of nanoparticles as nanofertilizer production: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Owing to the ever-increasing demand for food, the growing global population has forced farmers to increase fertilizer use. The overall use of...     

Phosphorus speciation of sequential extracts of organic amendments using nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopies

The chemical forms of phosphorus in organic amendments are essential variables for proper management of these amendments for agro-environmental purposes. This study was performed to elucidate the forms of phosphorus in various organic amendments using state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques. Anaerobically digested biosolids (BIO), hog (HOG), dairy (DAIRY), beef (BEEF), and poultry (POULTRY) manures were subjected to sequential extraction. The extracts and residues after extraction were analyzed by solution (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and synchrotron-based P 1s X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopies, respectively. Most of the total P analyzed by inductively coupled plasma- optical emission spectroscopy in the sequential extracts of organic amendments was orthophosphate, except POULTRY, which was dominated by organic P. The labile P fraction in all the organic amendments, excluding POULTRY, was mainly orthophosphate from readily soluble calcium and some aluminum phosphates. In the poultry litter, Ca phytate was the main P species controlling P solubility. The recalcitrant fraction of BIO was mainly associated with Al and Fe. Those of HOG, DAIRY, and POULTRY were calcium phytate, which were identified only as organic species in the XANES spectra. The combination of the three techniques-sequential chemical extraction, solution (31)P NMR spectroscopy, and P 1s XANES-provided molecular characterization of P in organic amendments that would not have been possible with just one or a combination of any two of these techniques. Therefore, P speciation of organic amendments should use solid-phase and aqueous speciation techniques as deemed feasible.     

Effects of the antimicrobial agent sulfamethazine on metolachlor persistence and sorption in soil

Recent monitoring investigations have shown that antimicrobial agents used in veterinary medicine can cause non-point source contamination of soils through manure spreading. In the present study, the effect of the antimicrobial agent sulfamethazine (sulfadimidine) on degradation and sorption of the herbicide metolachlor in a sandy loam soil was studied. In soil samples treated with sulfamethazine at two concentrations (15 and 150 microg kg(-1) soil), metolachlor persistence was not different than of that observed in untreated samples. These results were supported by the absence of effects of both sulfamethazine concentration levels on the size of the culturable soil bacteria population. Equilibrating soil samples with metolachlor solutions containing equivalent sulfamethazine concentrations did not lead to any significant effects on metolachlor sorption, suggesting that, under the conditions of the present experiment, sulfamethazine did not affect metolachlor bioavailability in soil. This laboratory investigation showed that concentrations of sulfamethazine in the microg kg(-1) range did not cause significant effects on metolachlor degradation and sorption thus not affecting the main processes ruling its environmental fate in soil.