Soil characteristics under cash crop farming in upland areas of Sarawak,Malaysia

This study discusses soil fertility under perennial cash crop farming (para rubber, Hevea brasiliensis; black pepper, Piper nigrum; oil palm, Elaeis guineensis) conducted by local farmers and an oil palm estate in an upland area of Sarawak, Malaysia, in comparison with the surrounding secondary forests. In the farmlands of the local farmers, rubber farming was conducted without fertilizer application, while 2–5 t ha^?1 of NPK compounds were applied annually on pepper farms. Soils under rubber farming were acidic with poor nutrient contents, resembling soils in secondary forests. In pepper farms, soils were less acidic and showed high nutrient contents, especially with respect to available P and exchangeable Ca. This trend became stronger with increasing farming duration. Fertilizers applied around pepper vines appeared to migrate and spread across the fields. Bulk density and hardness of surface soils were higher in pepper farms than in secondary forests, indicating soil compaction due to field works. In the oil palm estate, annual fertilizer application rates were moderate at 0.4–0.8 t ha^?1 of NPK compound fertilizers. However, the soil properties in the oil palm estate were similar to those of the small-scale pepper farms. Close to the bases of the palms where fertilizers usually are applied, the contents of exchangeable Ca and available P were high. Nutrient uptake by the dense root systems of the palms seemed to prevent excessive loss of nutrients through leaching. Loss of soil organic matter and deterioration of soil physical properties were brought about by terrace bench construction, but the soils seemed to recover to some extent over time. In conclusion, technologies such as intercropping and the appropriate allocation of different crops to specific locations as well as the proper selection and dosage of fertilizers should be developed and adopted to improve fertilizer efficiency and prevent water pollution due to fertilizer wash-off from farmlands.     

Investigation of the hemolytic effects of various organophosphoric acid triesters (OPEs) and their structure‐activity relationship

The hemolytic effects of various organophosphonc acid triesters (OPEs) were investigated and they showed strong hemolyic toxicity except triethyl phosphate and tris(chloroethyl)phosphate. 2‐Ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDP) showed the strongest toxicity. By quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) study, one‐parameter regression equation to estimate hemolysis was not obtained. But, two‐parameter regression equations were obtained which were enought to estimate EC₅₀ and EC₂₀. The correlation coefficients with the two‐parameter regression equations were 0.939 for log(l/EC₅₀) and 0.946 for log(l/EC₂₀).     

Ontogenetic shift in foraging habit of ocean sunfish Mola mola from dietary and behavioral studies

The ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is typically considered to feed on gelatinous zooplankton, but reports in the literature describe various benthic organisms being found in their stomachs. This might reflect ontogenetic dietary shift, as little was known about the foraging habit of this species. We examined their foraging habits using dietary analyses in combination with a behavioral study in Iwate, Japan (39°22′N, 141°58′E) from 2009 to 2010. Our stomach content analyses (n = 17, 31–250 cm total length) suggested that small sunfish (<50 cm) feed on benthic crustaceans, but large sunfish (>200 cm) feed on jellyfish. Larger sunfish showed higher values of both carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios. Deployment of accelerometers and animal-borne cameras on small sunfish in July (49–58 cm, n = 5) suggested their possibility of feeding, while they stayed near the seabed. This indicates that small sunfish might feed on benthic preys. Deployment of accelero-magnetometers on large sunfish in July (84–164 cm, n = 4) clarified that the large sunfish in July swam back and forth between the surface and deep water (>100 m). Temporary decelerations, which were considered to be associated with feeding of planktonic prey, were observed in deep water. Whereas deployment of accelero-magnetometers on large sunfish in November (105 cm, n = 3) showed several bursts, they swam within the mixed layer (0–100 m), which might be associated with chasing of rapid prey. These results suggest that ocean sunfish have heterogeneous diets depending on their body size and possibly season.     

Prospects for a self-sustainable sewage treatment system: a case study on full-scale UASB system in India's Yamuna River Basin

The government of India decided to launch a project to implement 16 full-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors (with a total capacity of 598,000 m(3)/d) in the Yamuna River basin under its Yamuna Action Plan (YAP). A polishing pond called the Final Polishing Unit (FPU) was utilized for post-treatment. This paper evaluates the sewage treatment efficiency of the combined system of full-scale UASB reactors and polishing ponds under Indian climatic conditions. Results have shown that the effluent from the sewage treatment plants (STPs) investigated failed to comply with applicable discharge standards in terms of BOD, SS, and fecal coliform removal. Therefore, it is proposed that such proper operation and maintenance as removing excess sludge and scum be conducted in order to increase treatment efficiency. Moreover, trained and experienced workers are also required to operate and maintain the systems, along with a scientific approach.     

Farmers’ attitude toward treated sludge use in the villages of West Bank,Palestine

An application of treated sewage sludge on agricultural land has been widely accepted, as this method is simple and economical for disposal of wastewater residues. When applied properly on an agricultural land, sludge can replenish organic matter and nutrients in soil. Although sewage sludge has been used in agriculture in many parts of the world, its acceptability varies with different cultures and beliefs among farmers. Farmers’ concerns on sludge use are primarily due to its anthropogenic origin, pollutants that it carries, a general perception of sewage being dirty, and its offensive odor. This paper aims to investigate farmers’ perceptions on land application of treated sewage sludge on their farm. This study targeted two farming communities, namely, Anza and Beit Dajan villages, located in Jenin and Nablus districts in the West Bank, Palestine. In this study, a sample of 106 farmers were randomly selected and surveyed through a mixture of structured and open-ended questions. Results indicated that, overall, farmers have positive perceptions on land application of sludge. A majority of the farmers are in favor of the concept of sludge use when a planned wastewater treatment plant is constructed and it becomes operational. Results also indicate that a majority of the farmers are in favor of using sludge for fertilizing fruit trees, rather than growing vegetables and other plants in a greenhouse, and that many of them have knowledge of sludge properties and advantages and disadvantages of sludge use in agriculture. Despite the positive perceptions by the majority of farmers, a small fraction of the farmers are in disfavor of the use of sludge for the following reasons: psychological and social concerns, potential health risks, and their religious beliefs. Results further suggest that the land application of treated sewage sludge can be accepted by more farmers if the consumers are willing to buy agricultural products fertilized by sludge, sludge meets the public health requirements, and sludge is available at low costs. To improve farmers’ perceptions on the land application of sludge, several measures are recommended.     

Land poverty and emerging ruralities in Cambodia: insights from Kampot province

Rural change in Cambodia manifests itself in rapidly declining land availability for the smallholder sector, posing the question of how farmers may be able to deal with limited access to land. In this paper, we discuss with a case study village and household livelihood strategies of smallholders currently operating under land-constrained conditions. Based on an integrated assessment of a smallholder village in Kampot province, we illustrate in quantitative terms how land shortage is creating problems of surplus generation and liquidity issues in monetary and non-monetary flows. At the household level, livelihood diversification based on the involvement of productive resources other than land may play an increasing role, particularly in the future, when levels of land shortage may increase. At the village level, smallholder may respond through institutional innovation, in particular through the establishment of a community banking system and a paddy rice bank to provide money and rice credits to overcome transitory shortages and to cover investment costs for additional productive resources. Thus, in this case, we observe the emergence of new patterns of livelihood in rural areas, based on the integration of non-land-based economic activities and new institutional settings.     

Novel enzymatic activity of cell free extract from thermophilic Geobacillus sp. UZO 3 catalyzes reductive cleavage of diaryl ether bonds of 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

We characterized the ability of the cell free extract from polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins degrading bacterium Geobacillus sp. UZO 3 to reduce even highly chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins such as octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins in incineration fly ash. The degradation of 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,7-DCDD) as a model dioxin catalyzed by the cell free extract from this strain implicates that the ether bonds of 2,7-DCDD molecule undergo reductive cleavage, since 4′,5-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether and 4-chlorophenol were detected as intermediate products of 2,7-DCDD degradation.     

Residues of pharmaceutical products in recycled organic manure produced from sewage sludge and solid waste from livestock and relationship to their fermentation level

In recent years, sludge generated in sewage treatment plants (STPs) and solid waste from livestock being utilized is useful for circulation of nourishment in farmlands as recycled organic manure (ROM). In this study, we determined the residue levels and patterns of 12 pharmaceutical products generated by human activity in the ROMs produced from human waste sludge (HWS), sewage sludge (SS), cattle manure (CM), poultry manure (PM), swine manure (SM) and horse manure (HM).The kind and number of pharmaceutical products detected in ROMs were different. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) were detected at high levels in HWS and SS samples. In addition, the detection frequency and concentration levels of sulfonamides (SAs) in PM and SM were high. Moreover, high concentrations of chlortetracycline (CTC) were found in only SM. These differences reflect specific adherence adsorption of the pharmaceutical products to different livestock and humans. Moreover, it was found that the concentrations of pharmaceutical products and fermentation levels of ROMs had significant positive correlation (r = 0.41, p = 0.024).When the fermentation test of ROM was conducted in a rotary fermentor in a lab scale test, the residue levels of pharmaceutical products decreased effectively except carbamazepine (CBZ). The rates of decrease were in the case of tetracyclines (TCs): 85-92%, FQs: 81-100%, erythromycine: 67%, SAs: 79-95%, trimethoprim: 86% and CBZ: 37% by 30 d. Pharmaceutical products that can be decomposed by fermentation process at the lowest impact of residual antibiotic activities may therefore be considered as environmentally friendly medicines.     

Resource utilization for decorating in three intertidal majid crabs (Brachyura: Majidae)

 For three spider crabs (Tiarinia cornigera, Micippaplatipes and Pugettia quadridens quadridens), patterns of algal utilization for decorating were compared with the dynamics of algae on an intertidal rocky shore reef where the crabs co-occurred. T. cornigera and P. quadridens quadridens were most abundant from autumn to spring when the dominant algae (Boodleacoacta, Sargassum hemiphyllum, S. thunbergii and Corallina pilulifera) occurred in high coverage, while M. platipes was most abundant from spring to autumn. Monthly change of algae used for decorating was not correlated with algae growing in the crab habitat for T. cornigera, but for M. platipes, it was positively correlated for two algal species, and for P. quadridens quadridens, negatively correlated for one algal species. Each species of the spider crabs used some algal species preferentially for decoration. Decorating preference experiments conducted in the laboratory showed that M. platipes and P. quadridens quadridens exhibited similar preference to their algal utilization in the field, whereas for T. cornigera, algal preference in the experiment differed from utilization in the field. Comparisons between materials used for decoration and gut contents revealed that T. cornigera and M. platipes used algal species differently for decorating and feeding, while P. quadridens quadridens used the same algal species for both decorating and feeding. Different tactics for camouflage are discussed in terms of algal utilizations by the three majid species. Received: 25 September 1999 / Accepted: 22 June 2000     

通过私有部门措施解决环境问题的日本举措

引言 1997年12月,<联合国气候变化框架公约>缔约方第三次会议(COP3)在京都举行.在经过11天谈判之后通过的<京都议定书>中,先进工业国同意到2008-2012年使其包括CO2在内的6种类型温室气体的排放量平均削减1990年水平的5.2%.具体地说,CO2削减将对经济和对人民产生直接影响.正是由于这个原因,各缔约方能够第一次对一个有法律约束力的温室气体削减议定书表示同意,是重要的第一步.各先进国家都呼吁采取与各自的温室气体削减目标相一致的举措:日本6%,美国7%,欧盟国家8%,等.