Novel approach to monitoring of the soil biological quality

In this study, a new approach to interpretation of results of the simple microbial biomass and respiration measurements in the soil microbiology is proposed. The principle is based on eight basal and derived microbial parameters, which are standardized and then plotted into sunray plots. The output is visual presentation of one plot for each soil, which makes possible the relative comparison and evaluation of soils in the monitored set. Problems of soil microbiology, such as the lack of benchmarking and reference values, can be avoided by using the proposed method. We found that eight parameters provide enough information for evaluation of the status of the soil microorganisms and, thus, for evaluation of the soil biological quality. The usage of rare parameters (potential respiration PR, ratio of potential and basal respiration PR/BR, biomass-specific potential respiration PR/C(bio), available organic carbon C(ext), and biomass-specific available organic carbon C(ext)/C(bio)) can be recommended, besides classical and well-known parameters (microbial biomass C(bio), basal respiration BR, metabolic coefficient qCO(2)). The combination of basal parameters and derived coefficients can also extend our knowledge about the condition of the soil microorganisms. In monitoring the case studies presented, we observed that soils evaluated to possess good biological quality displayed generally higher values of organic carbon, total nitrogen, clay, and cation exchange capacity. The soils of good biological quality can display higher levels of contaminants. This is probably related with the higher content of organic carbon and clay in these soils.     

Modifying sorbents in controlled release formulations to prevent herbicides pollution

The herbicides chloridazon and metribuzin, identified as groundwater pollutants, were incorporated in alginate-based granules to obtain controlled release properties. In this research the effect of incorporation of sorbents such as bentonite, anthracite and activated carbon in alginate basic formulation were not only studied on encapsulation efficiency but also on the release rate of herbicides which was studied using water release kinetic tests. In addition, sorption studies of herbicides with bentonite, anthracite and activated carbon were made. The kinetic experiments of chloridazon and metribuzin release in water have shown that the release rate is higher in metribuzin systems than in those prepared with chloridazon, which has lower water solubility. Besides, it can be deduced that the use of sorbents reduces the release rate of the chloridazon and metribuzin in comparison to the technical product and to the alginate formulation without sorbents. The highest decrease in release rate corresponds to the formulations prepared with activated carbon as a sorbent. The water uptake, permeability, and time taken for 50% of the active ingredient to be released into water, T(50), were calculated to compare the formulations. On the basis of a parameter of an empirical equation used to fit the herbicide release data, the release of chloridazon and metribuzin from the various formulations into water is controlled by a diffusion mechanism. Sorption capacity of the sorbents for chloridazon and metribuzin, ranging from 0.53mgkg(-1) for the metribuzin sorption on bentonite to 2.03x10(5)mgkg(-1) for the sorption of chloridazon on the activated carbon, was the most important factor modulating the herbicide release.     

Influence of soluble copper on the electrokinetic properties and transport of copper oxychloride-based fungicide particles

This article describes the influence of dissolved copper on the electrokinetic properties and transport of a copper oxychloride-based fungicide (COF) in porous media. The Zeta potential (ζ) of COF particles increases (viz. becomes less negative) with increasing concentration of Cu(2+) in the bulk solution. ζ decreases for COF when the electrolyte (NaNO(3)) concentration is raised from 1 to 10mM. This can be ascribed to ion correlation of Cu(2+) in the electrical double layer (EDL). COF transport tests in quartz sand columns showed the addition of Cu(2+) to the bulk solution to result in increased retention of the metal. Modelling particle deposition dynamics provided results consistent with kinetic attachment. Based on the effect of soluble Cu on colloid mobility, the transport of particulate and soluble forms of copper is coupled via the chemistry of pore water and colloid interactions. Mutual effects between cations and colloids should thus be considered when determining the environmental fate of particulate and soluble forms of copper in soil and groundwater (especially at copper-contaminated sites).     

Mexican High Rubber Producing Guayule Shrubs: A Potential Source for Commercial Development

Guayule is a shrub native to Mexico growing in semiarid lands, that may be incorporated into the semiarid region production system as a complement for annual crops. The possibility to develop this natural resource as a sustainable industrial source of natural rubber, may improve the socio-economical level of people living at the guayule region and favor the agricultural development near the US-Mexico border. Despite the existence of natural stands in Mexico with guayule plants of different rubber content, a program envisaging selection of plants with high rubber synthesis potential joined to agronomic management practices are required. This could achieve the rubber yield needed to guarantee a constant supply of raw material for an industrial processing plant. This paper reviews R&D work carried out in Mexico for the last 25 years, including genetic aspects and evaluation of guayule response to environmental and agronomic factors. Relevant results showed plants with up to 21% rubber content and the existence of diploid plants, which could facilitate future plant breeding programs.     

Nitrate and phosphate leaching in a Phaeozem soil treated with biosolids,composted biosolids and inorganic fertilizers

The use of organic wastes in agriculture may increase the production of crops by incorporating organic matter and nutrients into the soil, and by improving its physical characteristics; however, this use may cause environmental problems such as the leaching of certain ions. The objective of this study was to establish possible nitrogen and phosphorus leaching under real field conditions in Phaeozem soils. The experimental work was performed in a corn (Zea mays L.) field where three plots were conditioned with inorganic fertilizer, three plots with 4.5 Mg ha^?1 of biosolids on dry basis, and three plots with the same amount of composted biosolids. The quality of biosolids and composted biosolids complied with the Mexican Official Standards. Soil water samples were collected with suction cups during two agricultural cycles and were analysed. Soil samples were also taken and analysed.The N–NO₃ concentrations in soil water fluctuated between 0.9 and 98 mg L^?1 in the composted biosolid treatment, between 0.7 and 64 mg L^?1 in the biosolid treatment, and between 1 and 61 mg L^?1 in the inorganic fertilizer treatment. The maximum concentration of N–NO₂ and N–NH₃ in soil water was 1.02 and 2.65 mg L^?1, respectively. The greatest percentage of nitrogen leached is produced when inorganic fertilizer is used (37.4% and 24.0% N leached in the first and second years, respectively), followed by composted biosolids (17.1% and 13.5% N leached in the first and second years, respectively) and last by biosolids (11% for both years). This difference could be related to the form in which nitrogen is present in the fertilizers, while commercial fertilizer is as inorganic nitrogen, organic wastes are basically presented as organic nitrogen. The maximum ${\text{PO}}_4^{3-}$ concentration in soil water was 1.9 mg L^?1 in the composted biosolid treatment, 1.7 mg L^?1 in the biosolid treatment and 0.9 mg L^?1 in the inorganic fertilizer treatment. The estimated percentage of leached phosphorus was less than 1% for all treatments. The minimum leaching that occurred seemed to be due to a sorption–precipitation process.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in clams Ruditapes decussatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The concentration of sixteen individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was measured in the clam Ruditapes decussatus whole soft tissues from several places of the Ria Formosa lagoon (Portugal). Total PAH (tPAH) concentrations were higher in the summer (August) and winter (January) than in the other months and the distribution pattern of the individual PAHs was generally dominated by the 4 aromatic ring PAHs, followed by the 2 + 3 aromatic rings PAHs. Benzo[a]anthracene and acenaphthene were the most representative PAHs of the two fractions. Principal components analysis (PCA) revealed that, in the Ria Formosa, seasonal variations are more important than spatial variations, due to changes in PAH source. These sources ranged from petrogenic to pyrolytic or a mixture of both. The origin of clam PAHs was also assessed by partial least squares (PLS) analysis using nineteen different PAH signatures, taken from the literature. It was possible to identify boat traffic, especially in the summer, as one of the most relevant PAH sources to the Ria Formosa. The influence of boat traffic was revealed by several signatures including diesel soot, oil and weathered oil and a mixture of different individual PAHs usually found in harbour sediments. Other relevant sources included combustion of organic matter such as forest fires and diverse domestic activities, occurring mainly in the summer. Most of the clams were considered safe for human consumption, except for some point samples, which presented unusually high PAH concentrations, suggesting the need for a regular survey of PAHs in clam tissues.     

Human health risk assessment of environmental and dietary exposure to natural radionuclides in the Catalan stretch of the Ebro River, Spain

This study was aimed at assessing the levels of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po concentrations as well as gross alpha and beta activities in environmental monitors from the Catalan stretch of the Ebro River (Spain), potentially influenced by the presence of sediments with high concentrations of ²³⁸U and its decay chain daughters in the Flix reservoir. The chronic daily intake of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po through ingestion and inhalation of soils was evaluated, and the derived non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were characterized. The low concentration of radioisotopes in soils resulted in a negligible annual effective dose. The levels of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po were determined in various groups of highly consumed food (fish and seafood, vegetables, fruits, and rice), and their dietary intake was calculated. The annual effective dose for the adult people from food intake was estimated in 3.3 × 10^???2 mSv, mostly due to ²¹⁰Po. Overall, the current radioactivity levels in the Catalan stretch of the Ebro River should not mean any additional health risk for the population living nearby. However, an integral assessment of the risks derived from exposure to other pollutants (e.g., metals and organochlorine compounds) jointly with radionuclides could be of great interest.