Sorption of 2,4-D on Natural and Organic Amended Soils of Different Characteristics

The effect of one organic amendment consisting of an urban waste compost (UWC) was assessed on the sorption properties of the herbicide 2,4-D on four soils of different physicochemical characteristics. The soils chosen were a Typic Haphorthod (ST), a Typic Endoaquept (SR), an Entic Pelloxerert (TO), and a Typic Eutrochrept (AL). Adsorption experiments were performed on the original soils, and on mixtures of these soils with UWC at a rate of 6.25% (w/w). These mixtures were used just after preparation, and after aging for 8 and 25 weeks. 2,4-D adsorption was the highest on ST soil, whereas the lowest adsorption was for SR soil. This behavior is related to the high amount of organic matter (OM) and amorphous iron and aluminum oxides content on soil ST, whereas soil SR had the lowest OM content and specific surface area of the soils of this study. Addition of exogenous OM to soils caused an increase in the 2,4-D adsorption by three of the soils treated with UWC, with the only exception being ST soil, due to an observed decrease in its specific surface area. The adsorbed amounts of the herbicide on aged organic fertilized soils diminished in three of the amended soils, but was still greater than on unamended soils. In contrast, the ST soil showed the largest adsorption for unamended soil.     

An Adaptive‐Management Framework for Optimal Control of Hiking Near Golden Eagle Nests in Denali National Park

Abstract: Unintended effects of recreational activities in protected areas are of growing concern. We used an adaptive‐management framework to develop guidelines for optimally managing hiking activities to maintain desired levels of territory occupancy and reproductive success of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in Denali National Park (Alaska, U.S.A.). The management decision was to restrict human access (hikers) to particular nesting territories to reduce disturbance. The management objective was to minimize restrictions on hikers while maintaining reproductive performance of eagles above some specified level. We based our decision analysis on predictive models of site occupancy of eagles developed using a combination of expert opinion and data collected from 93 eagle territories over 20 years. The best predictive model showed that restricting human access to eagle territories had little effect on occupancy dynamics. However, when considering important sources of uncertainty in the models, including environmental stochasticity, imperfect detection of hares on which eagles prey, and model uncertainty, restricting access of territories to hikers improved eagle reproduction substantially. An adaptive management framework such as ours may help reduce uncertainty of the effects of hiking activities on Golden Eagles.     

Environmental Awareness, Economic Orientation, and Farming Practices: A Comparison of Organic and Conventional Farmers

/ This study examines similarities and differences between organic and conventional farmers. We explore the factors that underlie farmers' conservation attitudes and behaviors, including demographic and farm characteristics, awareness of and concern for environmental problems associated with agriculture, economic orientation toward farming, and self-reported conservation practices. A series of intensive personal interviews was conducted with 25 farmers in Washtenaw County, Michigan, USA, using both qualitative and quantitative survey methods. The findings indicate that both groups of farmers share a concern for the economic risks associated with farming, although the organic farmers reported a significantly greater concern for long-term sustainability and a greater willingness to incur present risk to gain future benefits. Organic farmers expressed a greater awareness of and concern for environmental problems associated with agriculture. Organic farmers also scored significantly higher on a multifaceted measure of conservation practices, although both groups had a fairly high adoption rate. Implications of these findings are discussed, relative to economic risks of farming, implications for new farmers, effectiveness of conservation education and government programs, and impact of farm size and crop diversity.KEY WORDS: Environmental attitudes; Conservation behaviors; Organic farming; Agricultural sustainability     

Responses of plant, insect and spider biodiversity to local and landscape scale management intensity in cereal crops and grasslands

The aim of this study was to determine the relative effects of landscape scale management intensity, agroecosystem type, local management intensity and edges on diversity patterns of functional groups of plants, carabid beetles, spiders and grasshoppers. Nine landscapes were selected differing in percent intensively used agricultural area (IAA), each with a pair of organic and conventional winter wheat fields and a pair of organic and conventional mown meadows. Within fields, plants were surveyed in the edge and in the interior. Carabid beetles and spiders were captured by funnel traps, while grasshoppers were sweep-netted in the meadows. Diversity patterns of study organisms were affected both by local variables (local management, agroecosystem type and within-field position) and by landscape scale management intensity. Species richness of grasses, presumably because of sowing low-diversity mixtures, and hunting spiders decreased with percent cover of IAA. Meadows differed from wheat fields in that they had higher species richness of forbs and grasses, as well as higher densities of hunting spiders. In contrast, more carabid individuals, especially of non-carnivore species, were captured in wheat fields. In field edges with their reduced management intensity and increased immigration, species richness of plants, carabids and spiders was higher than in the interiors regardless of agroecosystem type and management. Organic management enhanced forb richness and cover in both agroecosystem types. Organic management also increased grass cover in wheat fields, but not in meadows, and promoted species richness of non-carnivore carabids and hunting spiders, but not grasshoppers. The results show that agri-environmental management needs to be targeted to the agroecosystem's field size, because higher edge area led to higher species richness. Organic management affected several functional groups positively (forbs, non-carnivore carabids, hunting spiders), while lower landscape scale management intensity only increased species richness of grasses and spiders. The great differences in responses of functional groups to local cereal and grassland as well as landscape management suggest implementing more scale and group specific targets for agri-environmental schemes to improve their efficiency.     

关于我国环境空气质量监测点位设置的思考

设置各种空气质量监测点位时,应以监测网络的监测目的为根本出发点,并同时考虑点位功能和空间代表尺度、点位环境条件以及实际经济技术条件等因素。一个完整的环境空气质量监测网络应涵盖各类功能的监测点位,从而达到监测网络建设的多目标要求,然而空气质量监测点位的建设是一个不断发展和完善的过程。目前我国城市空气质量监测点以空气质量评价点为主,其目的是掌握城市整体空气质量状况和长期变化趋势,为环境管理和污染防治提供决策依据,但这类监测点位的功能相对单一,难以满足公众了解详尽的空气质量状况信息的需求。未来,随着监测投入的增加,我国应进一步完善地方监测网络建设,使之涵盖不同功能的监测点位,从而更好地为公众提供空气质量预警信息和健康指引。     

水源水库污染底泥不同修复方法脱氮效果对比实验研究

总氮超标是大部分水源水库具有的共性水质问题.在外源污染得到有效控制,上游来水氮负荷较低的情况下,底泥內源氮释放对上覆水体水质影响巨大.因此,在泥水界面处对污染底泥进行合理修复以有效抑制底泥氮释放是解决总氮超标问题、控制水源水质的关键.本研究通过模拟实验对比研究了3种不同修复方法,即覆盖填料、投加功能微生物和投加铁粉在界面处的脱氮效果.结果表明,填料覆盖技术具有更明显的脱氮效果,对氨氮的平均抑制率为83%,最高时可达92%,对总氮的平均抑制率达73%,且效果稳定.     

有机氯农药污染土壤的Fenton氧化修复研究

研究了Fenton氧化对某实际有机氯农药污染场地土壤的修复效果。结果显示:Fenton氧化能够快速有效地降解污染土壤中的六氯和DDTs。当Fe2+浓度为80 mmol/L,Fe2+与H2O2的摩尔浓度比为1∶5,水土比10∶1时,反应6 h,土壤中六氯和总DDT的去除率分别为:96.7%和78.2%。每方土的修复成本估算为951元。     

异位稳定化技术处理重金属复合污染土壤的工程应用研究

异位稳定化技术处理重金属污染土壤在国内外已有应用,但鲜有大规模工程应用时的控制关键及操作要求的报道。本研究根据异位稳定化处理技术的特点,采用该技术处理重金属复合污染且修复时间有限的目标污染场地,通过合理控制稳定剂投加量、土壤理化性质、施工工艺及养护条件等各项影响因素,取得了很好的处理效果,可为类似污染场地提供借鉴和经验。     

基于最优分割理论的酸雨监控点位的分类研究

Fisher最优分割法是用离差平方和来表示同类样本之间的差异程度,通过简便的计算步骤和作图,确定最优分类数,使同类样本间的差异最小,各类别样本间的差异最大,并用F检验法检验最优分类数的合理性。文章根据Fisher最优分割法的理论内涵,研究其应用于酸雨环境监测优化布点的可行性。以漳州市沿海区域监测点为研究实例,用Fisher最优分割法确定最优的分类情况和最优的优化布点方案。结果表明,原布设的9个监测点用Fisher最优分割法优化为3个典型点位,可客观地反映漳州市酸雨控制区的整体污染状况和污染趋势,该方法理论内涵直观、计算简便、重复性好,对环境质量监测有重要的意义。     

污染场地修复技术筛选方法及应用

污染场地修复技术的筛选是场地监管中的重要环节,修复技术的适用性直接影响场地修复效果及费用.确定最适修复技术时需综合考虑污染物特征、场地条件、修复费用及时间等多种因素,目前我国在污染场地修复技术筛选时多依赖专家赋值评分,在决策方法的推广上受到限制.本文在国内外相关研究基础上,考虑我国污染场地监管需求,提出土壤修复技术初筛及详细评价方法,并建立了修复技术筛选指标体系.为解决在各指标赋值及评价过程中存在的模糊性问题,利用可拓理论进行修复技术等级划分.以我国某铬渣污染场地为例,开展了土壤修复技术筛选研究,提出了最适的修复技术,研究成果可为我国污染场地监管工作提供科技支撑.