On-farm measurement of electrical conductivity for the estimation of ammonium nitrogen concentration in pig slurry

Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) slurry (PS) is commonly applied as fertilizer to agricultural fields. Knowledge of PS nitrogen content is essential for good management, but PS nitrogen content is highly variable, not only between farms but also within a farm. Laboratory analysis of animal slurries is often expensive and impractical for routine farmer use. Therefore, when slurry is spread on land, its fertilizer value is generally unknown, resulting in the risk of pollution. In this work, two rapid and suitable for field use methods for determining PS ammonium N (NH(4)+-N) concentration (Quantofix and conductimetry) are evaluated. The electrical conductivity of a dilution 1 PS:9 distilled water had better results than Quantofix, did not need reagents, and gave a direct value of NH(4)+-N concentrations (range, 1.0-7.6 kg NH(4)+-N m(-3)). The conductimetry method allows the use of alternative waters with EC <1.9 dS m(-1) for dilution. This method is being introduced to farmers in northeast Spain to improve PS management and has been well received due to its low cost and ease of use.     

River Restoration in Spain: Theoretical and Practical Approach in the Context of the European Water Framework Directive

River restoration is becoming a priority in many countries because of increasing the awareness of environmental degradation. In Europe, the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) has significantly reinforced river restoration, encouraging the improvement of ecological status for water bodies. To fulfill the WFD requirements, the Spanish Ministry of the Environment developed in 2006 a National Strategy for River Restoration whose design and implementation are described in this paper. At the same time many restoration projects have been conducted, and sixty of them have been evaluated in terms of stated objectives and pressures and implemented restoration measures. Riparian vegetation enhancement, weir removal and fish passes were the most frequently implemented restoration measures, although the greatest pressures came from hydrologic alteration caused by flow regulation for irrigation purposes. Water deficits in quantity and quality associated with uncontrolled water demands seriously affect Mediterranean rivers and represent the main constraint to achieving good ecological status of Spanish rivers, most of them intensively regulated. Proper environmental allocation of in-stream flows would need deep restrictions in agricultural water use which seem to be of very difficult social acceptance. This situation highlights the need to integrate land-use and rural development policies with water resources and river management, and identifies additional difficulties in achieving the WFD objectives and good ecological status of rivers in Mediterranean countries.     

Nutrient leaching in a Colombian savanna Oxisol amended with biochar

Nutrient leaching in highly weathered tropical soils often poses a challenge for crop production. We investigated the effects of applying 20 t ha biochar (BC) to a Colombian savanna Oxisol on soil hydrology and nutrient leaching in field experiments. Measurements were made over the third and fourth years after a single BC application. Nutrient contents in the soil solution were measured under one maize and one soybean crop each year that were routinely fertilized with mineral fertilizers. Leaching by unsaturated water flux was calculated using soil solution sampled with suction cup lysimeters and water flux estimates generated by the model HYDRUS 1-D. No significant difference ( > 0.05) was observed in surface-saturated hydraulic conductivity or soil water retention curves, resulting in no relevant changes in water percolation after BC additions in the studied soils. However, due to differences in soil solution concentrations, leaching of inorganic N, Ca, Mg, and K measured up to a depth of 0.6 m increased ( < 0.05), whereas P leaching decreased, and leaching of all nutrients (except P) at a depth of 1.2 m was significantly reduced with BC application. Changes in leaching at 2.0 m depth with BC additions were about one order of magnitude lower than at other depths, except for P. Biochar applications increased soil solution concentrations and downward movement of nutrients in the root zone and decreased leaching of Ca, Mg, and Sr at 1.2 m, possibly by a combination of retention and crop nutrient uptake.     

Influence of biochar on nitrogen fractions in a coastal plain soil

Interest in the use of biochar from pyrolysis of biomass to sequester C and improve soil productivity has increased; however, variability in physical and chemical characteristics raises concerns about effects on soil processes. Of particular concern is the effect of biochar on soil N dynamics. The effect of biochar on N dynamics was evaluated in a Norfolk loamy sand with and without NHNO. High-temperature (HT) (≥500°C) and low-temperature (LT) (≤400°C) biochars from peanut hull ( L.), pecan shell ( Wangenh. K. Koch), poultry litter (), and switchgrass ( L.) and a fast pyrolysis hardwood biochar (450-600°C) were evaluated. Changes in inorganic, mineralizable, resistant, and recalcitrant N fractions were determined after a 127-d incubation that included four leaching events. After 127 d, little evidence of increased inorganic N retention was found for any biochar treatments. The mineralizable N fraction did not increase, indicating that biochar addition did not stimulate microbial biomass. Decreases in the resistant N fraction were associated with the high pH and high ash biochars. Unidentified losses of N were observed with HT pecan shell, HT peanut hull, and HT and LT poultry litter biochars that had high pH and ash contents. Volatilization of N as NH in the presence of these biochars was confirmed in a separate short-term laboratory experiment. The observed responses to different biochars illustrate the need to characterize biochar quality and match it to soil type and land use.     

Switchgrass biochar affects two aridisols

The use of biochar has received growing attention because of its ability to improve the physicochemical properties of highly weathered Ultisols and Oxisols, yet very little research has focused on its effects in Aridisols. We investigated the effect of low or high temperature (250 or 500°C) pyrolyzed switchgrass () biochar on two Aridisols. In a pot study, biochar was added at 2% w/w to a Declo loam (Xeric Haplocalcids) or to a Warden very fine sandy loam (Xeric Haplocambids) and incubated at 15% moisture content (by weight) for 127 d; a control (no biochar) was also included. Soils were leached with 1.2 to 1.3 pore volumes of deionized HO on Days 34, 62, 92, and 127, and cumulative leachate Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, NO-N, NO-N, and NH-N concentrations were quantified. On termination of the incubation, soils were destructively sampled for extractable Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Zn, NO-N, and NH-N, total C, inorganic C, organic C, and pH. Compared with 250°C, the 500°C pyrolysis temperature resulted in greater biochar surface area, elevated pH, higher ash content, and minimal total surface charge. For both soils, leachate Ca and Mg decreased with the 250°C switchgrass biochar, likely due to binding by biochar's functional group sites. Both biochars caused an increase in leachate K, whereas the 500°C biochar increased leachate P. Both biochars reduced leachate NO-N concentrations compared with the control; however, the 250°C biochar reduced NO-N concentrations to the greatest extent. Easily degradable C, associated with the 250°C biochar's structural make-up, likely stimulated microbial growth, which caused NO-N immobilization. Soil-extractable K, P, and NO-N followed a pattern similar to the leachate observations. Total soil C content increases were linked to an increase in organic C from the biochars. Cumulative results suggest that the use of switchgrass biochar prepared at 250°C could improve environmental quality in calcareous soil systems by reducing nutrient leaching potential.     

Biodiversity Monitoring at the Tonle Sap Lake of Cambodia: A Comparative Assessment of Local Methods

This paper assesses local biodiversity monitoring methods practiced in the Tonle Sap Lake of Cambodia. For the assessment we used the following criteria: methodological rigor, perceived cost, ease of use (user friendliness), compatibility with existing activities, and effectiveness of intervention. Constraints and opportunities for execution of the methods were also considered. Information was collected by use of: (1) key informant interview, (2) focus group discussion, and (3) researcher's observation. The monitoring methods for fish, birds, reptiles, mammals and vegetation practiced in the research area have their unique characteristics of generating data on biodiversity and biological resources. Most of the methods, however, serve the purpose of monitoring biological resources rather than biodiversity. There is potential that the information gained through local monitoring methods can provide input for long-term management and strategic planning. In order to realize this potential, the local monitoring methods should be better integrated with each other, adjusted to existing norms and regulations, and institutionalized within community-based organization structures.     

专题Ⅱ 绿色生活的未来

策划人语:在前工业化社会中,人与自然共生、共存、共荣。工业文明到来,给予了人类前所未有的征服和改造自然的能力。而工业化的过程,人类与自然愈发疏离,渐行渐远。从18世纪的伦敦到现在的中国,我们在享受工业文明所带来的种种便利的同时,     

机场热点时空分布特征及运行风险评价

为研究大型机场航空器地面滑行冲突风险,提出一种基于机场热点时空分布特征的机场机动区运行风险评价方法。首先,以中南地区某机场为例,将场监雷达数据按每3 h分段,分别识别各时间段的机场热点,分析其时空分布特征;然后,基于热点发生的可能性和后果的严重性,构建考虑航空器冲突架次比、冲突可能性、冲突持续时间、冲突级别的机场热点风险评价模型,依据现有机场热点风险等级评价标准,评价该机场的热点风险等级。结果表明:该机场02号跑道运行风险高于20号跑道;02号跑道起降时,12:00—15:00点的机场热点风险最高;20号跑道起降时,9:00—12:00点机场热点的风险较高,与该机场实际运行情况基本相符。     

废弃轮胎制备中孔炭吸附材料工艺及性能研究

为了解决废弃轮胎造成的资源浪费和环境污染的问题,对以废弃轮胎橡胶为碳的前驱体原料,制备具有高吸附性能中孔炭材料工艺进行了系统的研究。通过XRD、扫描电镜以及比表面积分析,对制备的中孔炭微观结构和性能进行表征,讨论了炭化温度、碱炭比,以及活化温度和活化时间等工艺条件对制备中孔炭的产率、结构和性能的影响。结果表明,通过改变工艺条件制备的中孔炭的孔径分布可以在2~80 nm范围内进行调控。在500℃炭化温度,碱炭比为4∶1,900℃活化1 h的工艺条件下,制备的中孔炭的比表面积为473 m2/g,对甲基橙的最大吸附量达到254 mg/g。     

厌氧发酵系统中回流沼液的产甲烷活性研究

为确定两阶段厌氧发酵系统合理的污泥回流时段,对厌氧发酵系统排出沼液产甲烷活性进行了研究。通过对这些沼液在后储罐放置的不同天数(0~5 d)测定其不同的活性,用间歇实验方法测定最大比产甲烷活性(Um ax.CH4)作为厌氧污泥的产甲烷活性指标。结果表明,排出的沼液产甲烷活性在不同的时间段有所不同,经实验得出沼液放置第2 d时的产甲烷活性最高,从而确定该两阶段厌氧发酵系统排出污泥合理的回流时段应该是沼液进入后储罐的第2 d。进而为在线活性污泥与后储罐最佳活性时段污泥混合的污泥回流工艺提供理论依据。