Composition of Aqueous Extracts of Broiler Litter Treated with Aluminum Sulfate,Ferrous Sulfate,Ferric Chloride and Gypsum

More knowledge on the composition of aqueous extracts of broiler litter amended for Water Soluble P (WSP) reduction would help to understand how amendments work. We measured pH, concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Cu, Mn, Zn, Molybdate Reactive P (MRP), and Dissolved Unreactive P (DUP) in water extracts of broiler litter treated with aluminum sulfate (ALS), ferrous sulfate (FES), ferric chloride (FEC), and gypsum (GYP) at 0, 5, 15, and 25% w/w. In order to study the effects of acidification, the same properties were measured in aqueous extracts of broiler litter suspensions that were titrated to end-points 3, 4, or 6 with 0.5N HCl. Concentrations of MRP, DUP, Ca and Mg, were 61%, 53%, 3.8 times, and 2.6 times greater in extracts from suspensions acidified to pH 6 than at the original pH of 8.9. ALS, FES, and FEC reduced pH, and showed similar effects on WSP concentrations, which were greater than with GYP. The magnitude of the reductions in WSP by ALS, FES, and FEC is uncertain because the actual amount of WSP immobilized cannot be determined. This is because of two opposite effects: 1) Through adsorption, soluble aluminum and iron remove phosphates from solution, and 2) Through acidification, iron and aluminum compounds release phosphates to solution.     

Dissipation of chlorpyrifos,oxon, and 3,5,6‐trichloro‐2‐pyridinol in litter and elm forest soil

Abstract

After chlorpyrifos was applied to the basal 1 meter of elm tree trunks for control of elm bark beetles at two different application times and sites, initial chlorpyrifos residues in forest floor litter ranged from 120 to 916 μg/g depending on the application time. Residues dissipated by approximately 99% after 791 d with the DT₅₀ from 3.9 to 59 d and DT₉₀ from 55 to 310 d. The initial residues of chlorpyrifos in elm forest soil varied from 0.8 to 28 μg/g and were 1 to 2 μg/g at 791 d after application. The dissipation half‐lives of chlorpyrifos in fortified soil placed in the field ranged from 116 to 121 d.     

Effects of red‐headed pine sawfly,Neodiprion lecontei,nuclear polyhedrosis virus on rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri,and Daphnia pulex

Abstract

The effects of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of the red‐headed pine sawfly, Neodiprion lecontei, on rainbow trout, Salmo gairdnevi, were investigated. The fish were exposed to this virus by intubation and topical application and no ill‐effects were observed. Similarly, no ill‐effects were detected in Daphnia pulex when the same NPV was added to their culture medium. The materials were lyophilized, NPV‐infected sawfly larvae (normally used for insect control), lyophilized, unin‐fected larvae and purified, polyhedral inclusion bodies. On the basis of these laboratory tests, this virus, when disseminated as a biocontrol agent, should present no hazard to rainbow trout or to the aquatic invertebrate Daphnia pulex, two species frequently used in toxicity tests of chemical pesticides.     

Residues of chlorpyrifos‐methyl in balsam fir foliage,forest litter,soil, stream water,sediment and fish tissue after double aerial applications of Reldan®

Abstract

Chlorpyrifos‐methyl was applied twice at 70 g A.I./ha by means of a fixed‐wing aircraft to a mixed coniferous forest near Allardville, New Brunswick. Residue in balsam fir foliage was highest (1 ppm wet wt) 1 hr after spraying and rapidly declined to about 30% within 1 day, but persisted at a very low level (0.03 ppm wet wt) for 125 days. Current year's foliage contained a higher level of residue than old foliage. Chlorpyrifos‐methyl persisted longer in forest litter than in soil. After 125 days, trace amounts (< 6 ppb wet wt) were still found in litter but were not detected in soil. In stream water the residue dissipated very rapidly; more than 90% disappeared 3 hours after the second application and were not detected after 4 days. Low‐level residue (< 0.1 ppm wet wt) was present in the sediment and persisted for 10 days. Although brook trout and slimy sculpin captured in the stream within 3 days of the second application contained residues (< 0.05 ppm fresh wt) none were detected in any fish captured, 9 and 47 days later.     

Characterization of cellulosic wastes and gasification products from chicken farms

The current article focuses on gasification as a primary disposal solution for cellulosic wastes derived from chicken farms, and the possibility to recover energy from this process. Wood shavings and chicken litter were characterized with a view to establishing their thermal parameters, compositional natures and calorific values. The main products obtained from the gasification of chicken litter, namely, producer gas, bio-oil and char, were also analysed in order to establish their potential as energy sources. The experimental protocol included bomb calorimetry, pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC), thermo-gravimetric analyses (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, elemental analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD), mineral content analyses and gas chromatography. The mass and energy balances of the gasification unit were also estimated. The results obtained confirmed that gasification is a viable method of chicken litter disposal. In addition to this, it is also possible to recover some energy from the process. However, energy content in the gas-phase was relatively low. This might be due to the low energy efficiency (19.6%) of the gasification unit, which could be improved by changing the operation parameters.     

Spatial and temporal variations of urban litter in Mar del Plata, the major coastal city of Argentina

Urban littering is considered an important environmental and public issue globally. This problem is growing considerably within coastal communities of the southern region of South America. The goals of this study were to assess (1) the abundance and composition of urban litter; (2) the spatial and temporal variations of its abundance; and (3) the relationship between the abundance of litter and three anthropogenic variables (i.e. abundance of pedestrians, of parked vehicles, and of trash bins) in Mar del Plata, the most populated coastal city in Argentina. Eighty-eight transects, each covering 1425 m², were sampled along four sites from April 2008 to March 2009. Results showed 20,336 items (ca. 14 items per m²) of which cigarette butts (33%), papers (31%), and plastics (22%) were the most commonly littered items. Higher amounts of litter were found in an industrial area (city’s harbor), while the abundance of litter appeared relatively even throughout the year. Redundancy analysis techniques indicated a high abundance of all three anthropogenic variables associated with the central business district area of the city and an area in close proximity to a major seaside resort, where cigarette butts and papers dominated. This is the first study that has examined spatial and temporal variations of urban litter in a high-density coastal city in Argentina. Our results showed that addressing the problems associated with urban litter must include intensive educational and advertising campaigns directed at pedestrians and owners of parked vehicles, but waste reduction, clean-up operations and law enforcement should be also considered.     

松针燃烧排放物的热重桥/质谱在线监测方法

森林火灾排放物主要包含气体、挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)、和半挥发性有机化合物(SVOCs),这些物质会严重威胁消防队员和居民的健康。森林火灾烟气是一种包含固体颗粒、液体和气体化合物的复杂混合物。在火前锋附近(靠近消防队员)或者离火前锋很远(但靠近居民)的地方,当苯、甲苯、烯烃等有机化合物的浓度超过各健康安全组织规定的极限值,就可能对健康产生影响。本文给出了一种使用室内热重桥一质谱联用对炉内松针燃烧实验进行火前锋排放物在线监测的新方法。该燃烧实验被认为含氧量较低,这是真实森林火灾中通常的情形。使用这种方法测量得到的苯和甲苯的最大浓度分别是1050和2050ppm。CO2的最大浓度超过10．000ppm。     

模拟湿地水分变化对小叶章枯落物分解及氮动态的影响

2005年5月-2006年9月,利用三江平原典型碟形洼地的自然水分梯度作为水分变化研究的替代系统,结合分解袋法,模拟研究了湿地水分变化对典型草甸小叶章(TMC)和沼泽化草甸小叶章(MMC)枯落物分解及氮动态的可能影响.试验沿水分梯度设漂筏苔草群落(PF)、毛果苔草群落(MG)、乌拉苔草群落(WL)、沼泽化草甸小叶章群落(XII)、典型草甸小叶章群落(XI)和岛状林群落(DZL)6个分解小区.研究表明.水分条件对枯落物分解有重要影响,当未来降水格局变化导致小叶章湿地形成积水环境后,TMC和MMC枯落物的失重率分别将增加4.33%-16.76%和24.84%-53.97%.分解速率将增加10.51%-32.73%和77.85%-93.92%,95%分解时间将减少0.72-1.85 a和3.67-4.05 a;TMC和MMC枯落物的氮含量及氮积累指数的变化较为一致.但不同小区间的变化模式差异较大.二者枯落物的氮在DZL、XI、WL、MG和PF小区整体上均表现处出释放累积的交替变化特征.但仍以释放过程为主.在XII小区,氮在整个时期一直表现为释放.C/N分解过程中氮养分的调控作用更为重要;TMC和MMC枯落物的氮现存量分别为12.75 g·m-2和8.29 g·m-2.氮年归还量分别大于1.95 g·(m2·a)-1和2.25g·(m2·a)-1;温度对枯落物相对分解速率具有促进作用,水分条件对其具有抑制作用.当分解环境的养分状况不发生较大变化时,相对分解速率取决于枯落物基质质量,当养分状况发生较大改变时,相对分解速率取决于环境养分供给状况.     

西藏原始林芝云杉林凋落物养分归还规律

论文对西藏南伊沟原始林芝云杉林凋落物养分归还规律进行了观测和研究。结果表明:原始林芝云杉林年凋落物量为3.40 t·hm^-2,凋落物中除Ca元素之外,其它元素含量均低于活体物中含量。5种元素的年归还总量为82.14 kg·hm^-2,其中Ca在凋落物归还总量中占的比例最大,其次是N和K元素。凋落物层厚度达5.0 cm,现存量约为40.65 t·hm^-2,凋落物层的年平均分解率为0.08 t·hm^-2,5种元素的总储量为937.65 kg·hm^-2,其中已分解层储量占57.28%。     

黄土高原子午岭林区主要林分生态化学计量学特征

论文以黄土高原子午岭林区4种林分（侧柏、油松、辽东栎、刺槐）的绿叶、凋落物（凋落叶、枯枝、果实）为研究对象,分析其C、N、P含量及化学计量学特征,并计算养分再吸收率,为黄土高原植被恢复建设及人工林合理种植规划提供理论依据。结果显示：植物叶片凋落前N、P均发生营养转移,油松N养分再吸收率最高（44.73%）,刺槐P养分再吸收率最高（41.10%）;刺槐相比于其他3种林分,绿叶C含量（413.94 g·kg^-1）略低,且其4个组分N含量略高于其他林分的相应组分,绿叶、果实P含量相对较高;4种林分的枯枝C∶N、C∶P值最大,碳蓄积功能较强;叶片N∶P值均小于14,表明生长旺盛期林分主要受N限制。油松、刺槐养分再吸收能力强,是黄土高原森林区适宜植被恢复的造林树种。