Rice mill waste as organic manure on a degraded Alfisol

In much of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the lack of organic soil amendments constitutes one of the principal causes for declining soil fertility in intensifying farming systems. The challenge, therefore, remains to increase the availability of organic inputs and to develop recommendations for their combination with inorganic fertilizers. An on-farm experiment was conducted in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria to evaluate the fertilizer effect of rice (Oryza sativa L.) mill waste (RMW) on a degraded Alfisol. The decomposition and nutrient (N and P) release patterns of RMW were studied using the litterbag technique, and the effect on maize yield and soil properties was determined. The RMW was applied at rates of 0, 5, 10, and 15 Mg DM ha⁻¹ and was applied either unburnt or burnt (farmers’ practice). In both years, compound fertilizer was broadcast during land preparation on all plots at rates of 40 kg N ha⁻¹, 17 kg P ha⁻¹, and 33 kg K ha⁻¹.Results obtained in the litterbag study showed that, at maize harvest, more than 90% of the P had been released from the decomposing RMW. However, around 60% of the organic C and 45% of the N still remained. Compared to the control treatment (0 Mg ha⁻¹ RMW), which yielded 0.55 Mg ha⁻¹, maize (Zea mays L.) grain yields were increased by 95% when 10 Mg ha⁻¹ of unburnt RMW was applied, and by 147% with 15 Mg ha⁻¹ (mean of 2 years). In contrast, burnt RMW did not result in significant yield increases. The cumulative application of 30 Mg ha⁻¹ of unburnt RMW significantly increased the soil organic carbon in the surface soil from 0.7% (0 Mg ha⁻¹ RMW) to 1.3%.The results of this investigation indicate that RMW constitutes a valuable organic input in the Guinea savanna if applied unburnt at rates of 10–15 Mg ha⁻¹ in combination with inorganic fertilizer. The repeated application of unburnt RMW may contribute to the rehabilitation of degraded soils through the buildup of soil organic matter.     

Mitigation of chlorpyrifos runoff using constructed wetlands

Constructed wetlands have been proposed as a potential best management practice (BMP) to mitigate effects of pesticide-associated agricultural runoff. Wetland mesocosms (14 m x 59-73 m) were amended with chlorpyrifos to simulate a storm runoff event at concentrations of 73, 147 and 733 microg/l. Water, sediment and plant samples collected weekly for 12 weeks indicated that chlorpyrifos rapidly sorbed to sediment and plant material, with approximately 47-65% of measured chlorpyrifos mass retained within the first 30-36 m of wetland mesocosms. Of the measured mass, approximately 55% and 25% were retained by sediments and plants, respectively. A field-scale evaluation of a constructed wetland's mitigation capability was performed in the Lourens River watershed of Cape Town, South Africa. Results indicate that the wetland was able to retain and considerably decrease the concentration (and hence toxicity) of chlorpyrifos and suspended sediment entering the receiving waterbody (Lourens River). This research provides fundamental answers concerning constructed wetland capabilities that are necessary for constructing field-scale systems within agricultural watersheds.     

LIMPACT: Ein Expertensystem zur Absch?tzung der Pflanzenschutzmittel-Belastung kleiner Flie?gew?sser mittels der Makroinvertebraten-Fauna

Zusammenfassung  Die Entwicklung, der Aufbau und die Evaluierung eines biologischen Indikatorsystems für die Pflanzenschutzmittel-Belastung in kleinen Flie?gew?ssern wird vorgestellt. In Flie?gew?ssern mit landwirtschaftlichem Einzugsgebiet stuft das Expertensystem LIMPACT die Belastung in vier Klassen ‘unbelastet/nicht nachgewiesen’, ‘gering’, ‘mittel’ und ‘hoch’ belastet ein. Eingangsdaten sind dabei die Abundanzdaten der benthischen Makroinvertebraten-Fauna zu vier Terminen im Jahresverlauf (M?rz/April; Mai/Juni; Juli/August; September/Oktober) und neun physikalisch-chemische bzw. morphologische Flie?gew?sserparameter. Die Wissenbasis wurde mit dem Shellbaukasten D3 aufgebaut und enth?lt 921 Regeln zum etablieren oder de-etablieren einer Bewertungsklasse. Es wurden 39 Arten und Taxa analysiert und dabei 13 positive und 24 negative Indikatorspezies definiert. Positive Indikatorarten zeigen eine hohe Belastung durch hohe Abundanzen an, w?hrend negative Indikatorarten durch eine hohe Abundanz eine Belastung ausschlie?en und unbelastete B?che anzeigen. Die Datenbasis enthielt 157 j?hrliche Untersuchungen und wurde auch zur Evaluierung eingesetzt. Die korrekte Klassifikationsrate liegt bei 66,7–85,5% der F?lle. Die meisten verbleibenden F?llen werden nicht falsch eingestuft, sondern infolge der konservativen Bewertung bei geringer Datengrundlage nicht klassifiziert. Online First: 31.05.2002     

Design parameters for coastal dikes

This paper presents results of the assessment of the design parameters leading to the definition of the crest level of a coastal dike along the German North Sea. Procedures to estimate the design water level have been proposed, distinguishing between comparative and single value procedures. The transformation of the wave characteristics from deep water towards the shallow foreshore was achieved through the application of a spectral wave model. To improve the wave parameter estimations, the existing model was nested to a grid with a higher resolution closer to the coast. The estimation of the wave run-up followed the Dutch procedure with some adjustments to the local wave characteristics and dike geometry. The computed maximum crest level of 8.4 m is below the crest height of the existing dike, which is 8.8 m. However a proposal for a more economical design should be carefully evaluated, paying attention to the uncertainties encountered in this research. The general recommendation is to enhance the reliability of the hindcasted wave parameters through calibration and validation of the wave model and to include in the design process an investigation of the effect of the medium term morphological developments.     

Effect of cropping systems on the mobility and uptake of Cd and Zn

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different land use systems such as continuous grass and agricultural crops rotation on the bioavailability of heavy metals in soils contaminated by former excessive sewage sludge application. The results show that Cd and Zn concentrations increased to 2 and 3.5 folds within 3 cuts of grass, respectively. Even 10 years after the end of excessive sewage sludge application the concentration of Cd in winter and summer wheat is 3.4 and 2.5 folds higher than the control, respectively. Zn concentration increased by two folds for both crops. In conclusion, the uptake depends on plant species and the degree of soil contamination. The availability of heavy metals was not changed with time.