Teil II: Lösungsansätze für den landwirtschaftlichen Betrieb bei der Implementierung eines Umweltmanagementsystems

The registration of the present situation regarding environmental investigation is the basis for efficiently proceeding in the course of the implementation of environmental management systems (EMS). The basic analysis is found on the individual elements: reaction audit, management audit and compliance audit. Via an optimal performance of an environmental investigation while implementing an EMS, the basis for a maximum utilization has been created for the user as well for agriculture. Utilization for the company is provided by documentation of the organizational structure showing a transparency of procedures with regard to efficiency. Furthermore, an EMS is useful in the course of external tasks, e.g. public approach, business partners, position to authorities, deregulation or minimization of liability.     

Analyzing the spatial structure of a Sri Lankan tree species with multiple scales of clustering

Clustering at multiple critical scales may be common for plants since many different factors and processes may cause clustering. This is especially true for tropical rain forests for which theories explaining species coexistence and community structure rest heavily on spatial patterns. We used point pattern analysis to analyze the spatial structure of Shorea congestiflora, a dominant species in a 25-ha forest dynamics plot in a rain forest at Sinharaja World Heritage Site (Sri Lanka), which apparently shows clustering at several scales. We developed cluster processes incorporating two critical scales of clustering for exploring the spatial structure of S. congestiflora and interpret it in relation to factors such as competition, dispersal limitation, recruitment limitation, and Janzen-Connell effects. All size classes showed consistent large-scale clustering with a cluster radius of approximately 25 m. Inside the larger clusters, small-scale clusters with a radius of 8 m were evident for recruits and saplings, weak for intermediates, and disappeared for adults. The pattern of all trees could be divided into two independent patterns: a random pattern (nearest neighbor distance > 8 m) comprising approximately 12% of the trees and a nested double-cluster pattern. This finding suggests two independent recruitment and/or seed dispersal mechanisms. Saplings were several times as abundant as recruits and may accumulate several recruit generations. Recruits were only weakly associated with adults and occupied about half of the large-scale clusters, but saplings almost all. This is consistent with recruitment limitation. For approximately 70% (95%) of all juveniles the nearest adult was less than 26 m away (53 m), suggesting a dispersal limitation that may also be related to the critical large-scale clustering. Our example illustrates the manner in which the use of a specific and complex null hypothesis of spatial structure in point pattern analysis can help us better understand the biology of a species and generate specific hypotheses to be further investigated in the field.     

Real-time wastewater monitoring as tool to detect clandestine waste discharges into the sewage system

The entry of illegally discharged waste into the sewage system can cause serious damage to sewage pipes and harm the public domain. Besides industrial and communal sources, discharges from clandestine laboratories are of special forensic interest. Aim of this study is to investigate the possibility to detect clandestine discharges of possibly hazardous waste directly at the point of discharge. Tests were performed at a facility where real wastewater was pumped in a controlled way through an open sewage pipe above ground. Chloride, ammonia, pH and conductivity electrodes were investigated for their ability to detect discharges of different types of waste. Waste samples were diluted up to 50 times in a static wastewater environment and pH, conductivity and chloride electrodes were able to distinguish all waste dilutions from blank wastewater. These three electrodes were then used for dynamic tests by placing them inside flowing sewage water and discharging different types of liquid waste ten meters upstream of them. Parameters of the waste discharges like volume, time interval and speed of discharge were varied and the responses of the electrodes were collected. The dynamic tests showed that these three electrodes were able to pick up different waste discharges in a real wastewater environment. It was found that a high sampling rate of the sensors would be required to connect a certain discharge to a specific household connection. These findings highlight the possibility to locate illegal discharges, coming from a variety of sources, using the waste discharge itself.     

Comparative evaluation of four suspended particulate matter (SPM) sampling devices and their use for monitoring SPM quality

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Representative sampling of suspended particulate matter is fundamental for assessing river sediment quality, including the distribution and...     

Contact Tank Design Impact on Process Performance

In this study three-dimensional numerical models were refined to predict reactive processes in disinfection contact tanks (CTs). The methodology departs from the traditional performance assessment of contact tanks via hydraulic efficiency indicators, as it simulates directly transport and decay of the disinfectant, inactivation of pathogens and accumulation of by-products. The method is applied to study the effects of inlet and compartment design on contact tank performance, with special emphasis on turbulent mixing and minimisation of internal recirculation and short-circuiting. In contrast to the conventional approach of maximising the length-to-width ratio, the proposed design changes are aimed at addressing and mitigating adverse hydrodynamic structures, which have historically led to poor hydraulic efficiency in many existing contact tanks. The results suggest that water treatment facilities can benefit from in-depth analyses of the flow and kinetic processes through computational fluid dynamics, resulting in up to 38 % more efficient pathogen inactivation and 14 % less disinfection by-product formation.     

Characterization of non-extractable ¹⁴C- and ¹³C-sulfadiazine residues in soil including simultaneous amendment of pig manure

Recently, we reported on soil fate of SDZ residues amended with pig manure treated with 1?C-labeled sulfadiazine 1?C-SDZ). The first objective of the present study was to determine whether this strategy can be substituted by application of 1?C-SDZ to soil. The second objective was to characterize non-extractable SDZ residues by fractionation, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and solid state 13C-NMR. The fate of 1?C-SDZ was examined for 28 d, using two soils with and without amendment of pig manure. Mineralization of 1?C-SDZ was low; extractable residues decreased to 7-30%. Compared to the previous study, results were similar. 1?C-SDZ derived bound radioactivity was found in HCl-washings, fulvic, humic acids and humin. According to SEC, one bound 1?C portion (70%) co-eluted with fulvic acids (above 910 g mol?1); the other consisted of adsorbed/entrapped 1?C-SDZ. The 13C-SDZ study was performed for 30 d; humic acids were examined by 13C-NMR. A signal (100-150 ppm) was referred to 13C-SDZ. SEC and 13C-NMR demonstrated rapid integration of SDZ into humics.     

Effects of chronic elevated ozone exposure on gas exchange responses of adult beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) as related to the within-canopy light gradient

The effects of elevated O₃ on photosynthetic properties in adult beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) were investigated in relation to leaf mass per area as a measure of the gradually changing, within-canopy light availability. Leaves under elevated O₃ showed decreased stomatal conductance at unchanged carboxylation capacity of Rubisco, which was consistent with enhanced δ¹³C of leaf organic matter, regardless of the light environment during growth. In parallel, increased energy demand for O₃ detoxification and repair was suggested under elevated O₃ owing to enhanced dark respiration. Only in shade-grown leaves, light-limited photosynthesis was reduced under elevated O₃, this effect being accompanied by lowered F_v/F_m. These results suggest that chronic O₃ exposure primarily caused stomatal closure to adult beech trees in the field regardless of the within-canopy light gradient. However, light limitation apparently raised the O₃ sensitivity of photosynthesis and accelerated senescence in shade leaves.     

Ambient ultraviolet radiation induces protective responses in soybean but does not attenuate indirect defense

We investigated the effects of ambient ultraviolet (UV) radiation on (i) the performance and chemistry of soybean plants, (ii) the performance of Spodoptera frugiperda and (iii) the foraging behavior of the herbivore's natural enemy Cotesia marginiventris which exploits herbivore-induced plant volatiles (VOC) for host location. The accumulation of protective phenolics was faster in plants receiving ambient UV than in controls exposed to sun light lacking UV. Accordingly, isorhamnetin- and quercetin-based flavonoids were increased in UV exposed plants. No UV effects were found on the performance and feeding behavior of S. frugiperda. Herbivore-damaged plants emitted the same VOC when grown under ambient or attenuated UV for 5, 10 or 30 days. Consequently, C. marginiventris was attracted but did not discriminate between exposed and unexposed soybeans. In summary, ambient UV radiation affected soybean morphology and physiology but did not destabilize interactions between trophic levels.     

Modelling heavy metal fluxes from traffic into the environment

A new method is presented which allows emissions of traffic into the environment to be described as a function of road distance. The method distinguishes different types of emissions (runoff, spray and drift), which are determined by measurements and mass balances of a specified road section. The measurement of two-dimensional pollutant concentrations in the road shoulder is an important part of the method. In a case study performed at Burgdorf, Switzerland, the method was applied to the determination of the spatial distribution of heavy metal emissions. The results show that between 36 and 65% of the heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn are present in runoff and spray and between 35 and 64% are dispersed diffusely in the environment (defined as drift). The runoff infiltrates into the vegetated road shoulder up to a distance of approx. 1 m from the road. The distribution of spray shows a maximum at 1 m and decreases steadily up to a distance of 5 m. This information can serve as a basis for the quantitative evaluation of road-runoff treatment scenarios. Although the results of the Burgdorf study are case-specific, several general guidelines for the reduction of traffic-related emissions can be derived from it.