MODELING DEVELOPED COASTAL WATERSHEDS WITH THE AGRICULTURAL NON-POINT SOURCE MODEL1

ABSTRACT: Many coastal states are facing increasing urban growth along their coast lines. The growth has caused urban non-point source nitrogen runoff to be a major contributor to coastal and estuarine enrichment. Water resource managers are responsible for evaluating the impacts from point and non-point sources in developed watersheds and developing strategies to manage future growth. Non-point source models provide an effective approach to these management challenges. The Agricultural Non-Point Source Model (AGNPS) permits the incorporation of important spatial information (soils, landuse, topography, hydrology) in simulating surface hydrology and nitrogen non-point source runoff. The AGNPS model was adapted for developed coastal watersheds by deriving urban coefficients that reflect urban landuse classes and the amount of impervious surface area. Popperdam Creek watershed was used for model parameter development and model calibration. Four additional watersheds were simulated to validate the model. The model predictions of the peak flow and total nitrogen concentrations were close to the field measurements for the five sub-basins simulated. Measured peak flow varied by 30 fold among the sub-basins. The average simulated peak flow was within 14 percent of the average measured peak flow. Measured total nitrogen loads varied over an order of magnitude among the sub-basins yet error between the measured and simulated loads for a given sub-basin averaged 5 percent. The AGNPS model provided better estimates of nitrogen loads than widely used regression methods. The spatial distribution of important watershed characteristics influenced the impacts of urban landuse and projecting future residential expansion on runoff, sediment and nitrogen yields. The AGNPS model provides a useful tool to incorporate these characteristics, evaluate their importance, and evaluate fieldscale to watershed-scale urban impacts.     

典型土壤和沉积物中多金属形态分布特征

土壤和沉积物作为地表矿物岩石风化过程的重要产物,对金属元素的地球化学循环起着至关重要的作用。由于土壤和沉积物记录了矿物溶解、吸附、沉淀及生物吸收等综合地质过程的叠加作用,如何准确判定某个单一过程对金属地球化学的影响和贡献仍是当前研究难题。土壤和沉积物中金属的形态分布特征研究可帮助判定元素在地表风化过程中经历的特定过程。本文选择我国广泛分布的五种典型土壤类型(砖红壤、黄棕壤、棕壤、红壤、水稻土)、一种水系沉积物和一个玄武岩自然风化剖面土壤样品,运用改进的BCR形态提取法开展典型金属形态分布特征研究,明确了具有潜在生理毒性的Cr和Pb、代表性过渡金属Ni、Cu、Zn、V、Co以及相关研究较少的碱金属Cs、碱土金属Sr和难溶元素Zr在不同土壤、沉积物中的分布特征,刻画了这些金属在典型砖红壤风化剖面上的连续变化规律,初步判定了不同地质环境金属形态分布不同的控制因素。V、Zr和Sr受自身性质控制,在不同的地质样品中都表现出相似的形态分布,均以残渣态为主,而其他金属则表现出不同的形态分布趋势,其中,Ni、Zn、Cs、Pb和Cu的形态分布受它们的理化特性和外部环境共同影响,Co形态则可能受到锰矿物、TOC含量的影响。研究结果为进一步认识流域金属地球化学行为及其环境效应提供了基础数据。     

上海市崇明岛农田土壤中多环芳烃分布和生态风险评价

为研究崇明岛农田土壤中PAHs浓度分布和生态风险,于2008年采集崇明岛农田表层土壤33个.使用加速溶剂萃取仪（ASE300）进行萃取,经净化后,使用气相色谱-质谱联用仪（GC-MS）测定.结果表明,在采集的土壤样品中,PAHs的含量范围为24.92～1 014.61 ng·g-1（干重）,均值为192.83 ng·g-1（干重）.16种美国EPA优控的多环芳烃,只有茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘（IcdP）和二苯并（a,h）蒽（DahA）未全部检出.PAHs主要以2～4环为主,其中2环和3环多环芳烃所占比例为42.6%;4环多环芳烃的比例为42.2%;5～6环多环芳烃的比例为15.7%.使用浓度比值法判定,主要来源为石油源以及煤和木材的燃烧;崇明岛生活燃烧和汽车等尾气排放可能是农田土壤中PAHs的重要来源之一.生态效应区间法评价显示,崇明岛农田土壤中PAHs生态风险较小.     

Salt-induced land and water degradation in the Aral Sea basin: A challenge to sustainable agriculture in Central Asia

Expansion of irrigated agriculture in the Aral Sea Basin in the second half of the twentieth century led to the conversion of vast tracks of virgin land into productive agricultural systems resulting in significant increases in employment opportunities and income generation. The positive effects of the development of irrigated agriculture were replete with serious environmental implications. Excessive use of irrigation water coupled with inadequate drainage systems has caused large‐scale land degradation and water quality deterioration in downstream parts of the basin, which is fed by two main rivers, the Amu‐Darya and Syr‐Darya. Recent estimates suggest that more than 50% of irrigated soils are salt‐affected and/or waterlogged in Central Asia. Considering the availability of natural and human resources in the Aral Sea Basin as well as the recent research addressing soil and water management, there is cause for cautious optimism. Research‐based interventions that have shown significant promise in addressing this impasse include: (1) rehabilitation of abandoned salt‐affected lands through halophytic plant species; (2) introduction of 35‐day‐old early maturing rice varieties to withstand ambient soil and irrigation water salinity; (3) productivity enhancement of high‐magnesium soils and water resources through calcium‐based soil amendments; (4) use of certain tree species as biological pumps to lower elevated groundwater levels in waterlogged areas; (5) optimal use of fertilizers, particularly those supplying nitrogen, to mitigate the adverse effects of soil and irrigation water salinity; (6) mulching of furrows under saline conditions to reduce evaporation and salinity buildup in the root zone; and (7) establishment of multipurpose tree and shrub species for biomass and renewable energy production. Because of water withdrawals for agriculture from two main transboundary rivers in the Aral Sea Basin, there would be a need for policy level interventions conducive for enhancing interstate cooperation to transform salt‐affected soil and saline water resources from an environmental and productivity constraint into an economic asset.     

Choosing Indicators of Natural Resource Condition: A Case Study in Arches National Park, Utah, USA

/ Heavy visitor use in many areas of the world have necessitated development of ways to assess visitation impacts. Arches National Park recently completed a Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) plan. Integral to this plan was developing a method to identify biological indicators that would both measure visitor impacts and response to management actions. The process used in Arches for indicator selection is outlined here as a model applicableto many areas facing similar challenges. The steps were: (1) Vegetation types most used by visitors were identified. Impacted and unimpacted areas in these types were sampled, comparing vegetation and soil factors. (2) Variables found to differ significantly between compared sites were used as potential indicators. (3) Site-specific criteria for indicators were developed, and potential indicators evaluated using these criteria. (4) Chosen indicators were further researched for ecological relevancy. (5) Final indicators were chosen, field tested, and monitoring sites designated. In Arches, indicators were chosen for monitoring annually (soil crust index, soil compaction, number of used social trails and soil aggregate stability) and every five years (vegetation cover and frequency; ground cover; soil chemistry; and plant tissue chemistry).KEY WORDS: Biological indicators; Recreation impacts; Recreation management; Desert soils; Trampling     

A method for assessing generalised nitrogen leaching estimates for agricultural land

The purpose of this study was to develop a method for assessing generalised N leaching estimates from large areas of agricultural land. The system developed was based on calculating a number of N leaching estimates for different typical cropping situations. The estimates were normalised with respect to varying weather conditions and crop production. The different cropping situations were described by setting up a matrix consisting of crucial factors influencing leaching such as soils, crops and climate. Nitrogen leaching was then estimated for a number of combinations of these factors. Calculations were made for three different regions where all the major crops were cultivated on soils with seven different textures and four different organic-N classes and two fertilisation regimes. The three regions are representative of climates and agricultural practices in some of the major agricultural areas in Sweden. The model used was the SOILN model. Leaching of nitrogen from the root zone showed large variations. The range was from 1 to 50 kg ha⁻¹ for different soils and crops when only fertiliser N was applied. Leaching varied both due to different climates and differences in cultivation practices between the regions. Leaching decreased in a south-north gradient. Leaching increased as a result of greater mineralisation when the organic matter content in the soils was increased, leaching was less from soils with a high clay content and was very small for the heavy clay soil. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Impact of urbanisation on soil characteristics

Six forest locations were chosen from urban (U) and semi-urban (SU) zones of Sofia, Bulgaria. Soil profiles characterised for their generic physico-chemical properties: particle size distribution, pH, C-content (%) and N-content (%). From the ratio silt/clay and C/N, significant differences were observed for the Ah horizon in the urban and semi-urban locations. Clay formation appeared to be reduced in this horizon in the urban soils and the C-content is higher in semi-urban soils in comparison with the urban soils. On the base of the results obtained, a reduction of the buffering capability is noted for the topsoil of the urban sites compared to the semi-urban sites.     

Interaction of silver nanoparticles with mediterranean agricultural soils: Lab-controlled adsorption and desorption studies

The production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has increased tremendously during recent years due to their antibacterial and physicochemical properties. As a consequence, these particles are released inevitably into the environment, with soil being the main sink of disposal. Soil interactions have an effect on AgNP mobility, transport and bioavailability. To understand AgNP adsorption processes, lab-controlled kinetic studies were performed. Batch tests performed with five different Mediterranean agricultural soils showed that cation exchange capacity and electrical conductivity are the main parameters controlling the adsorption processes. The adsorption kinetics of different sized (40, 75, 100 and 200?nm) and coated (citrate, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethyleneglycol (PEG)) AgNPs indicated that these nanoparticle properties have also an effect on the adsorption processes. To assess the mobility and bioavailability of AgNPs and to determine if their form is maintained during adsorption/desorption processes, loaded soils were submitted to leaching tests three weeks after batch adsorption studies. The DIN 38414-S4 extraction method indicated that AgNPs were strongly retained on soils, and single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry confirmed that silver particles maintained their nanoform, except for 100?nm PEG-AgNPs and 40?nm citrate-coated AgNPs. The DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) leaching test was more effective in extracting silver, but there was no presence of AgNPs in almost all of these leachates.     

不同地区针叶林土壤中活性铝的形态比较

本文研究我国南北某些地区针叶林土壤中活性铝的形态分布,探讨了以羊毛铬菁R为显色剂测定活性铝的流动注射分析方法,并用四种化学浸提液作土壤中活性铝的溶出及形态分离。结果表明:土壤本身的酸度对铝的溶出和形态分布有明显影响。     

不同土壤处理对东南景天吸取土壤中锌和镉效率的影响

通过盆栽试验，观察分析东南景天植物在未处理及若干用土壤添加剂处理的土壤介质上生长和累积锌、镉的状况。结果显示：除单独使用沸石粉外，所有土壤处理均有利于土壤改良和东南景天的生长。与对照处理相比，赤泥和城市污泥对东南景天累积锌起促进作用，而施用熟石灰却无助或甚至不利于东南景天累积锌。不过，尽管赤泥和城市污泥对东南景天累积镉的效果比熟石灰好，无论施用赤泥、城市污泥或熟石灰，东南景天植物干物质所含的镉均比对照处理高得多。总的来说，赤泥和城市污泥均为改良土壤、促使东南景天生长和超累积锌、镉的良好添加剂；而熟石灰或沸石粉单独使用则对东南景天超累积锌、镉的作用较小。在试验中，将15g污泥、15g沸石和6g赤泥与1000g土壤混和的T7处理对促使东南景天生长和超累积锌、镉最为有效。研究结果表明，在利用东南景天修复酸性锌、镉污染土壤时，通过加入合适的改良剂，调控土壤pH值和营养供给，可大大提高植物修复重金属污染的效果。