Feasibility of phytoextraction to remediate cadmium and zinc contaminated soils

A Cd and Zn contaminated soil was mixed and equilibrated with an uncontaminated, but otherwise similar soil to establish a gradient in soil contamination levels. Growth of Thlaspi caerulescens (Ganges ecotype) significantly decreased the metal concentrations in soil solution. Plant uptake of Cd and Zn exceeded the decrease of the soluble metal concentrations by several orders of magnitude. Hence, desorption of metals must have occurred to maintain the soil solution concentrations. A coupled regression model was developed to describe the transfer of metals from soil to solution and plant shoots. This model was applied to estimate the phytoextraction duration required to decrease the soil Cd concentration from 10 to 0.5 mg kg⁻¹. A biomass production of 1 and 5 t dm ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ yields a duration of 42 and 11 yr, respectively. Successful phytoextraction operations based on T. caerulescens require an increased biomass production.     

Models for the field-based toxicity of copper and zinc salts to wheat in 11 Australian soils and comparison to laboratory-based models

Laboratory-based relationships that model the phytotoxicity of metals using soil properties have been developed. This paper presents the first field-based phytotoxicity relationships. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown at 11 Australian field sites at which soil was spiked with copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) salts. Toxicity was measured as inhibition of plant growth at 8 weeks and grain yield at harvest. The added Cu and Zn EC10 values for both endpoints ranged from approximately 3 to 4760 mg/kg. There were no relationships between field-based 8-week biomass and grain yield toxicity values for either metal. Cu toxicity was best modelled using pH and organic carbon content while Zn toxicity was best modelled using pH and the cation exchange capacity. The best relationships estimated toxicity within a factor of two of measured values. Laboratory-based phytotoxicity relationships could not accurately predict field-based phytotoxicity responses.     

Evaluation of various tests for the diagnosis of soil contamination by 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP)

Soil response to contamination with 2,4,5-triclorophenol was studied to test the validity of the concept of Generic Reference Levels (GRL), the main criterion used to define soil contamination. Soil samples were artificially contaminated with doses between 0 and 5000 mg kg⁻¹ of 2,4,5-triclorophenol, and analysed by various tests. Where possible, the response of soils to the contaminant was modelled by a sigmoidal dose-response curve in order to estimate the ED₅₀ values. The tests provided different responses, but only microbial biomass-C and dehydrogenase and urease activities demonstrated soil deterioration in response to contamination. The results suggest that the diagnosis of soil contamination has been greatly simplified in the legislation by the provision of a single figure for each compound, and that the GRL concept could perhaps be substituted by measurement of ED₅₀ values, which better reflect the alteration of a soil due to the presence of a xenobiotic substance.     

Impact of a smelter closedown on metal contents of wheat cultivated in the neighbourhood

BACKGROUND: The contamination of soils by heavy metals engenders important environmental and sanitary problems in Northern France where a smelter has been located for more than one hundred of years. It has been one of the most important Pb production sites in Europe until its closedown in March 2003. Ore smelting process generated considerable atmospheric emissions of dust. Despite an active environmental strategy, these emissions were still significant in 2002 with up to 17 tonnes of Pb, 32 tonnes of Zn and 1 tonne of Cd. Over the years, the generated deposits have led to an important contamination of the surrounding soils. Previous studies have shown pollutant transfers to plants, which can induce a risk for human and animal health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the consequences of the smelter closedown on the Cd and Pb contents of wheat (grain and straw) cultivated in the area. METHODS: Paired topsoil and vegetable samples were taken at harvest time at various distances to the smelter. The sample sites were chosen in order to represent a large range of soil metal contamination. Sampling was realised on several wheat harvests between 1997 and 2003. 25 samples were collected before the smelter closedown and 15 after. All ears of about 1 m long of two rows were manually picked and threshed in the lab. Similarly, straw was harvested at the same time. Total metal contents in soil and wheat samples were quantified. RESULTS: A negative correlation between metal concentrations in soil and the distance to the smelter was shown. The wheat grain and straw showed significant Cd and Pb contents. The straw had higher metal contents than the grain. During the smelter activity, the grain contents were up to 0.8 mg kg(-1) DM of Cd and 8 mg kg(-1) DM of Pb. For the straw, maximum contents were 5 mg kg(-1) DM of Cd and 114 mg kg(-1) DM of Pb. After the smelter closedown, we observed a very large decrease of Pb in the grain (82%) and in the straw (91%). A smaller decrease was observed for Cd in grain. Despite this improvement, 80% of the studied samples remained non-acceptable for human consumption, according to the European legislation values, due to a high Cd content. DISCUSSION: Results highlighted a difference in metal accumulation in the plant organs as well as a difference in metal uptake. The approach pointed out the importance of atmospheric fallout in the wheat contamination pathways for Pb. The smelter closedown has lead to a decrease of the Pb content in wheat. It is interesting to relate this finding with the lead blood levels in children living close to the smelter. CONCLUSIONS: Those results have confirmed the importance of dust fallout in the plant contamination pathways. Before the closedown, Pb measured in the plant was principally originating from the smelter dust emissions. It raised the question of the sanitary risks for humans and animals living in the surrounding a of the smelter. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: In the literature, very few articles take the dust deposit as contamination pathways for crops into consideration. However, in highly contaminated sites, this pathway can be very important. Thus, it would be worthy studying the uptake of metal contaminants by plants through the foliar system.     

The potential to increase soil carbon stocks through reduced tillage or organic material additions in England and Wales: A case study

Results from the UK were reviewed to quantify the impact on climate change mitigation of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks as a result of (1) a change from conventional to less intensive tillage and (2) addition of organic materials including farm manures, digested biosolids, cereal straw, green manure and paper crumble. The average annual increase in SOC deriving from reduced tillage was 310 kg C ± 180 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Even this accumulation of C is unlikely to be achieved in the UK and northwest Europe because farmers practice rotational tillage. N₂O emissions may increase under reduced tillage, counteracting increases in SOC. Addition of biosolids increased SOC (in kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ t⁻¹ dry solids added) by on average 60 ± 20 (farm manures), 180 ± 24 (digested biosolids), 50 ± 15 (cereal straw), 60 ± 10 (green compost) and an estimated 60 (paper crumble). SOC accumulation declines in long-term experiments (>50 yr) with farm manure applications as a new equilibrium is approached. Biosolids are typically already applied to soil, so increases in SOC cannot be regarded as mitigation. Large increases in SOC were deduced for paper crumble (>6 t C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) but outweighed by N₂O emissions deriving from additional fertiliser. Compost offers genuine potential for mitigation because application replaces disposal to landfill; it also decreases N₂O emission.     

Protective shade, tree diversity and soil properties in coffee agroforestry systems in the Atlantic Rainforest biome

Sustainable production and biodiversity conservation can be mutually supportive in providing multiple ecosystem services to farmers and society. This study aimed to determine the contribution of agroforestry systems, as tested by family farmers in the Brazilian Rainforest region since 1993, to tree biodiversity and evaluated farmers’ criteria for tree species selection. In addition, long-term effects on microclimatic temperature conditions for coffee production and chemical and biological soil characteristics at the field scale were compared to full-sun coffee systems. A floristic inventory of 8 agroforests and 4 reference forest sites identified 231 tree species in total. Seventy-eight percent of the tree species found in agroforests were native. The variation in species composition among agroforests contributed to a greater γ-diversity than α-diversity. Monthly average maximum temperatures were approximately 6 °C higher in full-sun coffee than in agroforests and forests. Total soil organic C, N mineralization and soil microbial activity were higher in forests than in coffee systems, whereas the chemical and biological soil quality in agroforests did not differ significantly from full-sun coffee after 13 years. Given its contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and its capacity to adapt coffee production to future climate change, coffee agroforestry offers a promising strategy for the area.     

水土保持生态补偿定量计算探究 ——以潘家口库区东北沟流域为例

水土保持生态补偿对于我国的水土流失治理意义重大,水土保持补偿标准的确定是建立生态补偿机制的核心问题。基于潘家口水库上游东北沟流域1990年和2009年土地利用数据和气候、 土壤、 植被、 DEM及农户调查等数据,应用通用土壤侵蚀方程模型(RUSLE)计算该流域采取预防水土流失措施后的土壤侵蚀减少量,在此基础上采用环境经济学的方法核算水土保持生态功能的提供方和受益方两个主体的成本和收益,并构建了水土保持生态补偿标准计算模型,实现了水土保持生态补偿标准定量计算。结果显示:流域生态系统的年土壤保持量为6.49×10⁴ t·a^-1;水土保持服务提供方损失为24.48×10⁴元,所得收益来自减少土地损失和肥力损失的价值共计44.21×10⁴元;水土保持服务受益方主要指下游潘家口水库所得收益来自减少泥沙淤积和减少富营养化共计84.88×10⁴元;流域所得的补偿介于24.48×10⁴元(222.55元/人)到46.90×10⁴元(426.36元/人)之间。     

改性明矾浆吸附剂的制备及其除镉性能研究

以明矾生产中产生的废弃物明矾浆为原材料,采用热酸改性、热碱改性、焙烧改性和巯基化改性4种方法进行活化处理,得到新型除镉(Cd)吸附剂.同时,考察了Cd2+初始浓度、pH值和吸附剂投加量对改性明矾浆吸附去除Cd2+的影响,并采用扫描电镜(SEM)、比表面积(BET)、用红外光谱(IR)等仪器对吸附剂进行表征.结果表明,热碱改性明矾浆具有较好的吸附Cd2+的性能,其饱和吸附量为5.41mg·g-1,而原明矾浆的饱和吸附量仅为0.40mg·g-1;热酸改性、焙烧改性和巯基化改性3种明矾浆对Cd2+的吸附性能与原明矾浆相比没有显著差异.改性明矾浆对Cd2+的吸附规律符合Langmuir等温方程式,其吸附机制主要为表面吸附.溶液pH值会显著影响改性明矾浆对Cd2+的吸附量和吸附率.综合而言,在pH≥7时,热碱改性明矾浆具有较好的去除Cd2+能力.     

不同灌溉方法下保护地土壤盐分分布特征的研究

通过渗灌、滴灌、沟灌3种灌溉方法对保护地土壤pH、全盐含量及水溶性离子组成的影响,探讨了3种灌溉方法在保护地土壤酸化、盐化过程中的演化规律.结果表明:渗灌、滴灌、沟灌:3种处理方法中滴灌处理比渗灌处理和沟灌处理效果更好,表层水溶性盐分和硝酸盐积累较轻,酸化较轻,有利于土壤环境的可持续性发展和有效地保护土壤资源.     

电场强化博落回修复铀镉复合污染土壤机理

采用盆栽试验,研究了在0.3V/cm的外加直流电场作用下,博落回的生物量、富集铀（U）的性能和抗氧化酶活性,以及其根际土壤中有机酸含量、U和镉（Cd）的结合形态、植物根部U的价态、微生物群落结构的变化等.结果表明,施加直流电场后,博落回总生物量升高了15.33%~29.88%,其中电场+铀污染（DC+U）和电场+镉污染（DC+Cd）处理组的博落回对U和Cd的富集系数提高了90.84%和93.33%;土壤中草酸、酒石酸、琥珀酸、苹果酸和乳酸含量分别增加了18.36%~45.31%、58.62%~503.22%、15.71%~118.99%、12.34%~123.27%和25.97%~36.05%;过氧化物酶（POD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-PX）的活性分别提高了13.63%~34.82%和9.70%~28.64%;根际土壤中植物可利用态U、Cd所占比例显著增大;博落回根部的大部分U由稳定的U（IV）变成了更容易从地下部分向地上部分转移的U（VI）;酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）等细菌菌门和子囊菌门（Ascomycota）等真菌菌门比例升高,这些微生物通过提高酶活性增强了博落回对U、Cd的耐受性和富集作用.