Movement of bromacil and hexazinone in soils of Hawaiian pineapple fields

Bromacil and hexazinone have been heavily used to control weeds in the pineapple fields in central Oahu, Hawaii, USA, since 1970s and 1980s, respectively. The last application prior to this study was at a rate of 0.6 kg active ingredient (a.i.) ha(-1) for hexazinone and 1.8 or 3.4 kg (a.i.) ha(-1) for bromacil in the six study fields during June-October 1998. Soils were collected from 0 to 1860 cm below the surface in January-May 1999 to survey the residue profiles of the two herbicides. Stratoprobe sampling showed to be an efficient and convenient method for deep soil cores. Bromacil was detected in all the soil samples above 60 cm (105-1338 ng g(-1) dry weight) and in 74% of the samples above 400 cm (26-473 ng g(-1)). Trace amounts of bromacil (90-113 ng g(-1)) were detected in some of the samples collected from as deep as 1540 cm. Hexazinone was detected in three of the six fields at 0-60 cm only (86-107 ng g(-1) dry weight). The more frequent detection of bromacil at higher concentrations than hexazinone is related to the prolonged higher application rates of bromacil in the fields and its higher persistence and mobility in soil.     

Changes in soil solution Zn and pH and uptake of Zn by arbuscular mycorrhizal red clover in Zn-contaminated soil

Red clover plants inoculated with Glomus mosseae were grown in a sterile pasture soil containing 50 mg Zn kg(-1) in 'Plexiglas' (acrylic) containers with nylon net partitions (30 microm mesh) designed to separate the soil into a central root zone and two outer zones for hyphal growth with no root penetration. Two porous plastic soil moisture samplers were installed in each pot, one in the root compartment and the other in one of the hyphal compartments. The soil in the outer compartments was amended with one of the four application rates of Zn (as ZnSO4) ranging from 0 to 1000 mg kg(-1). Non-mycorrhizal controls were included, and there were five replicates of each treatment in a randomised block in a glasshouse. Uninoculated plants received supplementary P to avoid yield limitation due to low soil P status. Plants grew in the central compartment for nine weeks. Soil moisture samples were collected 4, 24 and 62 days after sowing to monitor changes in the Zn concentration and pH of the soil solution. At harvest, the mean mycorrhizal infection rate of inoculated plants ranged from 29% to 34% of total root length and was little affected by Zn application. Root and shoot yields were not affected by mycorrhizal infection. Plant Zn concentration and uptake were lower in mycorrhizal plants than non-mycorrhizal controls, and this effect was more pronounced with increasing Zn application rate to the soil. Soil solution Zn concentrations were lower and pH values were higher in mycorrhizal treatments than non-mycorrhizal controls and the mycorrhiza effect was more pronounced at higher Zn application rates. The protective effect of mycorrhiza against plant Zn uptake may have been associated with changes in Zn solubility mediated by changes in the soil solution pH, or by immobilisation of Zn in the extraradical mycelium.     

Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizae and heavy metals under sand culture experiment

A sand culture experiment was established to determine interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizae and heavy metals. Mycorrhizal infection rates, spore densities, maize root and shoot weights, and heavy metal contents in maize were as indexes of responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Acaulospora laevis, Glomus caledonium and Glomus manihotis) to heavy metals (Cu and Cd). The mycorrhizal infection rates of G. caledonium were the highest among these three mycorrhizal fungi, but the sporulating ability of G. caledonium was the poorest in the heavy metal treatments. The shoot and root weights of non-mycorrhizal plants were usually greater than those of mycorrhizal plants when the Cu concentrations in solutions are less than 3 mg l(-1) or Cd concentrations less than 1 mg l(-1). When Cd concentrations were 0.5 and 1 mg(-1), the root and shoot weights of plants inoculated with A. laevis were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of other treatments. Copper concentrations in shoots of mycorrhizal plants were higher than those of non-mycorrhizal ones at all Cu concentrations in solution, especially at low Cu concentrations. As to A. laevis, Cu concentrations in roots and shoots of the host were higher than those of non-mycorrhizal plants in these treatments. Thus A. laevis was sensitive to Cu and Cd, especially Cd, and G. caledonium was more tolerant to these two heavy metals. It is suggested that G. caledonium might be a promising mycorrhizal fungus for bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil.     

Alkaline phosphatase activity in marine macrophytes: histochemical localization in some widespread species in southern Spain

Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) was determined in 44 species of marine macrophytes collected throughout 1991 and 1992 along the southern coast of Spain. Activity varied between 0.83 mol paranitrophenol (pNP) released g^-1 dry wt h^-1 in Ulva rigida var. gigantea and 238.8 mol pNP g^-1 dry wt h^-1 in Bangia fuscopurpurea. Using a histochemical method, APA sites were located in five of these species: Corallina elongata Ellis et Soland, Gelidium latifolium (Grev.) Thur. et Born., G. sesquipedale (Clem.) Born. et Thur., Porphyra umbilicalis (L.) Kützing and Zostera noltii Hornem. Enzymatic activity was found in the outer part of the thallus, either on the cell wall or in the cortical cells. In the marine phanerogam Z. noltii activity was also located in the vascular bundle. The results suggest that APA is present in many, if not all, marine macrophytes from southern Spain, and plays a relevant role in the utilization of dissolved organic phosphorus compounds.     

Quantification and index of non-point source pollution in Taihu Lake region with GIS

The contribution of phosphorus and nitrogen from non-point source pollution (NPS) in the Taihu Lake region was investigated through case study and surveying in the town of Xueyan, From experimental results coupled with survey and statistics in the studied area, the distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus input to the water body is achieved from four main sources: agricultural land, village, the town center and the poultry factory. The results showed that about 38% of total phosphorus (TP) and 48% of total nitrogen (TN) discharged is from agricultural land, 33% of TP and 40% TN from village residents, 25% of TP and 10% of TN from the town center and 4% of TP and 2% of TN from the poultry factory. The Agricultural Non-point Pollution Potential Index (APPI) system for identifying and ranking critical areas of NPS was established with a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based technology. Quantification of the key factors in non-point sources pollution was carried out utilizing the following: Sediment Production Index (SPI), Runoff Index (RI), People and Animal Loading Index (PALI) and Chemical Use Index (CUI). These are the core parts of the model, and the weighting factor of each index was evaluated according the results of quantification. The model was successfully applied for evaluating APPI in Xueyan. Results from the model showed that the critical area identified for NPS control in Xueyan. The model has several advantages including: requiring fewer parameters, easy acquirement of these parameters, friendly interface, and convenience of operation. In addition it is especially useful for identifying critical areas of NPS when the basic data are not fully accessible, which is the present situation in China.     

Effects of cadmium on nutrient uptake and translocation by Indian Mustard

Plants that hyperaccumulate metals are ideal subjects for studying the mechanisms of metal and mineral nutrient uptake in the plant kingdom. Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) has been shown to accumulate moderate levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cu. In this experiment, 10 levels of Cd concentration treatments were imposed by adding 10-190 mg Cd kg(-1) to the soils as cadmium nitrate [Cd(NO3)2]. The effect of Cd on phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and the micronutrients iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in B. juncea was studied. Plant growth was affected negatively by Cd, root biomass decreased significantly at 170 mg Cd kg(-1) dry weight soils treatment. Cadmium accumulation both in shoots and roots increased with increasing soil Cd treatments. The highest concentration of Cd was up to 300 mg kg(-1) d.w. in the roots and 160 mg kg(-1) d.w. in the shoots. The nutrients mainly affected by Cd were P, K, Ca, Fe, and Zn in the roots, and P, K, Ca, and Cu in the shoots. K and P concentrations in roots increased significantly when Cd was added at 170 mg kg(-1), and this was almost the same level at which root growth was inhibited. Zn concentrations in roots decreased significantly when added Cd concentration was increased from 50 to 110 mg kg(-1), then remained constant with Cd treatments from 110 to 190 mg kg(-1). However, Zn concentrations in the shoots seemed less affected by Cd. It is possible that Zn uptake was affected by the Cd but not the translocation of Zn within the plant. Ca and Mg accumulation in roots and shoots showed similar trends. This result indicates that Ca and Mg uptake is a non-specific process.     

HPLC-DRC-ICP-MS检测四种尿砷化合物

拟建立检测尿液中As(Ⅲ)、DMA(Ⅴ)、MMA(Ⅴ)和As(Ⅴ)4种砷化合物形态的HPLC-DRC-ICP-MS的方法。采用DRCTM(反应气为O2)与HPLC联用作为检测器,Phenomenex ODS-3作为分离柱,5 mmol/L四丁基羟胺,3 mmol/L丙二酸,5%(体积分数)甲醇为流动相(pH=5.0~6.0),建立了同时分析尿液中As(Ⅲ)、DMA(Ⅴ)、MMA(Ⅴ)和As(Ⅴ)的方法。实验结果显示:该分析方法对上述4种砷化合物的检测限均在0.1μg/L以下,在1~20μg/L范围内线性关系良好,准确度和精密度良好,回收率为89%~106%,样品中的Cl-1对测定没有影响。所建立的HPLC-DRC-ICP-MS分析方法稳定、可靠,适用于快速、批量测定尿砷形态。     

Effects of exogenous organic chelators on phytochelatins production and its relationship with cadmium toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under cadmium stress

Phytochelatins (PCs) have been proposed as a potential biomarker for metal toxicity. In this study, cadmium (Cd) toxicity, PCs production and their relationship in wheat under Cd stress were examined using various exogenous organic chelator-buffered nutrient solutions. Single Cd stress produced strong toxic effects, as indicated by decreases of growth parameters, high level of lipid peroxidation in leaf and overproduction of PCs in root. Exogenous organic chelators with proper dose more or less reduced Cd toxicity by increasing growth parameters and decreasing lipid peroxidation in leaves. Of organic chelators (EDTA, DTPA, citric acid, malic acid and oxalic acid), EDTA was the most effective in decreasing Cd toxicity in plants, followed by DTPA and citric acid. Simultaneously, the concentrations of Cd-induced PCs in roots decreased, and the greatest decrease was caused by application of EDTA and DTPA. Linearly positive relationships were observed between Cd toxicity and root PCs concentrations under the influences of organic chelators, particularly EDTA, DTPA and citric acid. Furthermore, present results provide stronger evidence that PCs synthesis in plant cells was related to free Cd ion concentrations, not total Cd, and demonstrate that the levels of PCs production in plants correlated well with toxic effects caused by the bioavailable Cd levels.     

基于微震活动性参数的矿山灾害风险性评价

微震灾害分级是判别及处理高风险采场的关键。为了预测并防治采空区失稳导致的灾害,结合用沙坝矿引进的IMS微震监测系统,首先统计矿山尺度的微震活动性特征,将主要采场进行分区。然后分析各分区的最大潜在震级及其重现时间、微震扩散率、微震劲度比、能量频次等特征。最后结合采场微震灾害风险性分级标准对各分区风险性进行分级。结果表明,综合考虑微震事件的能量分布特征、空间分布特征、时间分布特征进行灾害风险性分级的结果更为合理。