Environmental and production consequences of using alum-amended poultry litter as a nutrient source for corn

Field trials were established to compare alum-treated poultry litter (ATPL), normal poultry litter (NPL), and triple superphosphate (TSP) as fertilizer sources for corn (Zea mays L.) when applied at rates based on current litter management strategies in Virginia. Trials were established in the Costal Plain and Piedmont physiographic regions near Painter and Orange, VA, respectively. Nitrogen-based applications of ATPL or NPL applied at rates estimated to supply 173 kg of plant-available nitrogen (PAN) ha(-1) resulted in significantly lower grain yields than treatments receiving commercial fertilizer at the same rate in 2000 and 2001 at Painter. These decreases in grain yield at the N-based application rates were attributed to inadequate N availability, resulting from overestimates of PAN as demonstrated by tissue N concentrations. However, at Orange no treatment effects on grain yield were observed. Applications of ATPL did not affect Al concentrations in corn ear-leaves at either location. Exchangeable soil Al concentrations were most elevated in treatments receiving only NH4NO3 as an N source. At N-based application rates, the ATPL resulted in lower Mehlich 1-extractable P (M1-P) and water-extractable soil phosphorus (H2O-P) concentrations compared to the application of NPL. A portion of this reduction could be attributed to lower rates of P applied in the N-based ATPL treatments. Runoff collected from treatments which received ATPL 2 d before conducting rainfall simulations contained 61 to 71% less dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) than treatments receiving NPL. These results show that ATPL may be used as a nutrient source for corn production without significant management alterations. Alum-treated poultry litter can also reduce the environmental impact of litter applications, primarily through minimizing the P status of soils receiving long-term applications of litter and reductions in runoff DRP losses shortly after application.     

DECISION-MAKING IN THE DEVLOPMENT OF URBAN WATERFRONTS FOR PARK/BUSINESS USE1

Abstract: Opportunities for the development of an amalgam of park and leisure-oriented commercial establishments in urban-core waterfont settings exist in many U.S. cities. Public awareness of the need to enhance the environmental quality of these waterfont areas has resulted in a demand for planning and implementation action. However, the lack of understanding of urban political systems has been an inhibiting factor in the development of this park/ business concept. The major factors that influence the decision-making process leading to the development of urban-core waterfronts for park/business use are identified inthis paper. Understanding this decision-making process can aid project implementation and avoid waste of planning effort in time, dollars, and productivity.     

Fate of atrazine and chlorpyrifos during solid state fermentation--examination of processes

Solid state fermentation (SSF) was investigated as a means to dispose of two commonly used pesticides, chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl) phosphorothioate) and atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine). SSF experiments were carried out in bench-scale bioreactors (equipped with CO2 and volatile organic traps) containing a mixture of lignocellulosic materials and a radiolabeled pesticide. Ethyl acetate-extractable, alkali soluble, and alkali insoluble fractions were evaluated for radioactivity following a 60-d incubation period at 40 degrees C. The majority of the [2,6-pyridyl-14C]chlorpyrifos was associated with the ethyl acetate extract (about 74%), 17% was trapped as organic volatiles by polyurethane foam traps and < 0.5% of the chlorpyrifos was mineralized to CO2. Only small amounts of the radioactivity were associated with alkali soluble (0.0003%) and alkali insoluble (0.3%) fractions. In the [14C-U-ring]atrazine bioreactors, very little of the radioactivity volatilized (<0.5%) and less than 0.5% was mineralized to CO2. Approximately 57% of the applied radioactivity was associated with the ethyl acetate extract while 9% and 24% of the radioactivity was associated with the alkali soluble (humic and fulvic acids) and alkali insoluble fractions, respectively. Possible reaction mechanisms by which covalent bonds could be formed between atrazine (or metabolites) and humic substances were investigated. The issue of bound atrazine residue (alkali soluble fraction) was at least partially resolved. Oxidative coupling experiments revealed that formation of covalent bond linkages between amino substituent groups of atrazine residue and humic substances is highly unlikely.     

The fate of 14C-diazinon in compost, compost-amended soil, and uptake by earthworms

A process for disposing of pesticide rinsates using sorption onto organic matter followed by composting is being evaluated. As a part of this evaluation process, we have studied the bioavailability of composted delta-2-14C-diazinon and its degradation products to earthworms (Eisenia foetida Savigny) in 30 and 60 d compost amended soil. After 60 d of composting there was considerable degradation of diazinon (95%) and a corresponding increase in the primary hydrolysis product, 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-hydroxypyrimidine (IMHP) as determined by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Approximately 50% of the radioactivity became incorporated into the non-extractable fractions associated with composted organic matter with no measurable amounts of 14CO2 produced during the 60-day composting period. Following addition of the composted materials to soil, diazinon leading to 50% mortality after 14 d of exposure; continued to slowly degrade and become increasingly sorbed/entrapped within the soil-compost matrix. Soil amended with 30-d composted diazinon was toxic to earthworms whereas, no mortality was observed in those earthworms exposed to the 60-d composted diazinon. However, earthworms exposed to 30-d and 60-d composted diazinon were found to have similar levels of radioactivity in their tissues. The majority of the radioactivity in earthworms exposed 60-d composted diazinon was either unextractably bound within the earthworm tissue or was not acetone soluble. Most of the radioactivity that could be extracted with acetone was not separated by the two HPTLC methods we used. This study demonstrates that composting high concentrations of diazinon can greatly reduce toxicity and the amount of diazinon that is bioavailable to a representative soil macroinvertebrate (E. foetida).     

Urban Revitalisation Partnerships: Perceptions of the university's role in Louisville,Kentucky

The university has a role to play in helping revitalise US cities. University participation contributes to all three aspects of life on campus: teaching, research and service. This evaluation uses a case study qualitative approach in order to assess a $2 million university-community partnership programme in Louisville, Kentucky. A selective sample of business, community, university and government leaders was interviewed to evaluate the impact of the University of Louisville Housing and Neighborhood Development Strategies programme. The programme consisted of special classroom and related projects devoted to applied research by faculty and students including, but not limited to, housing development and the recycling of environmental infrastructure (i.e. housing lots, storm and sanitary sewers and water pipes, etc.). The partnership has won environmental awards from the Sierra Club and the US Environmental Protection Agency, and was a semi-finalist in the Innovations in American Government Awards from Harvard University. It also included use of professional staff to deliver a broad spectrum of human resource services to the community with a feedback loop to research themes. There are positive and negative aspects to these partnerships. On balance, both town and gown have the potential to gain immeasurably from the collaborative efforts of university- community partnerships.     

Assessing soil lead contamination in Dallas Texas

During the summer of 1982, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted a comprehensive multimedia environmental monitoring program in the vicinity of two secondary lead smelters and at one reference site in Dallas, Texas. This monitoring program included a major soils investigation with the collection and analysis of over 2700 soil samples. In addition, approximately 1000 blood and 840 house dust samples were collected and analyzed for their lead content.Utilizing geostatistics and the data obtained from a portion of the soil samples, isopleths of constant soil lead concentrations within each of the three monitoring sites were identified. Presented are the soil monitoring strategy and the geostatistical techniques selected for identifying the distributions of soil lead patterns at each of the three monitoring sites. In addition, the soil sampling and analytical methods used, the sample handling and preparation procedures, and the geostatistical results obtained are identified.     

Potential feeding deterrents found in hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae

The nonnative hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand, Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Adelgidae) has been a significant mortality agent of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis Carriere) throughout a large portion of its geographic range. During a study investigating adelgid vigor in relation to host health, it was noted that adelgid extracts ranged from a yellow to a deep red color. Analysis by GC–MS identified the presence of the anthraquinone, chrysophanol and its anthrone precursor, chrysarobin in the extract. These compounds are predator deterrents in several other insects, including chrysomelid beetles. It is hypothesized that these compounds serve a similar purpose in the hemlock woolly adelgid.     

Modeling of NO x Emissions from Oil Refinery Furnaces

The current paper investigates the possibility of establishing an empirically based model for predicting the emission rate of nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) from oil refinery furnaces, in order to continually track emissions with respect to environmental licence limits. Model input data were collected by direct stack monitoring using an electrochemical cell NO _x analyser, as well as a range of telemetry sensors to obtain refinery process parameters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), in conjunction with Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was then used to build a series of models able to predict NO _x emissions from the furnaces. The models produced were proven to be robust, with a relatively high accuracy, and are able to predict NO _x levels over the range of operating conditions which were sampled. It was found that due to structural/operational variations a separate model is usually required for each furnace. The models can be integrated with the refinery operating system to predict NO _x emission rates on a continuous basis. Two models representing structurally different furnaces are considered in this paper. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Risk-adequate motor underwriting of automated vehicles: a qualitative evaluation using German focus groups

The advent of automated vehicles is already taking place and will significantly disrupt the motor insurance industry. The shift from the human driver to the system as the driver cannot be reflected in the current insurance risk assessment. This call for an amendment of the insurance underwriting was discussed with German experts from both the primary insurance and reinsurance sector with their professional background on motor insurance. Based on the findings, we propose an alternative method to underwrite automated vehicles of level 4 & 5 using an enhanced telematics approach which considers new risk categories such as systems used and the transformed role of the driver as the general user of the automated vehicle.