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PubMed2005

[Soil C, N and P contents and their relationships with soil physical properties in wetlands of Dongting Lake floodplain].

Eight representative soil profiles were installed on three types of wetland (two profiles on Carex spp. -dominated floodplain, four on Phragmites-dominated floodplain, and two on paddy soil) in Dongting Lake floodplain of China in 2004, and their C, N and P contents, microbial biomass C, N and P, <0.001 mm clay particles, and bulk density were measured. The results indicated the spatial distribution of soil C and N and soil microbial biomass C, N, and P were very similar in the profiles (0-100 cm) of three types of wetland, being decreased gradually with depth, except for soil TP which was constant in the profiles. The percentages of soil microbial biomass C, N and P to soil organic C, total nitrogen and total phosphorus decreased gradually with depth. In top layer (0-10 cm), the contents of soil organic C and microbial biomass C and the percentage of soil microbial biomass C to organic C were 19.63-50.20 g x kg(-1), 424.63 - 1 597.36 mg kg(-1), and 3.17% - 4.82%, respectively, the contents of soil total N and microbial biomass N and the percentage of soil microbial biomass N to total N were 1.85-4.45 g x kg(-1), 57.90 - 259.47 mg x kg(-1), and 3.13% - 6.42%, respectively, and the content of soil microbial biomass P and the percentage of soil microbial biomass P to soil total P was 24.16 - 200.99 mg x kg(-1) and 1.09% - 11.20%, respectively. The bulk density of soil top layer (0 -10 cm) was 0.65 - 1.04 g x cm(-3), and the content of < 0.001 mm clay particles was 26.24% - 39.48%. The contents of soil organic C and N and microbial biomass N and P in 0 - 10 cm layer were the highest in Carex spp.-dominated floodplain, followed by paddy soil, and Phragmites-dominated floodplain. Also in 0 - 10 cm layer, the soil microbial biomass C in Carex spp. dominated floodplain and paddy soil was higher than that in Phragmites-dominated floodplain, while the soil bulk density in Phragmites-dominated floodplain was higher than that in paddy soil, and much higher than that in Carex spp. -dominated floodplain. The amount of soil < 0.001 mm clay particles in Carex spp. -dominated floodplain and Phragmites-dominated floodplain was higher than that in paddy soil. In these three types of wetland, soil organic C and N and microbial biomass C, N and P had a significant logarithm correlation (P < 0.01) with <0.001 mm clay particles, and a significant index correlation (P <0.01) with bulk density.

Carbon↗
PubMed2005

[Effects of soil surface mulching on solar greenhouse grafted and own-rooted cucumber growth and soil environment].

The study on the effects of different soil surface mulching models, including wheat straw mulching (WS), plastic film mulching (PF), and wheat straw plus plastic film mulching (WP), on the growth of solar greenhouse grafted and own-rooted cucumber and on soil environment showed that soil surface mulching not only increased the individuals of pistillate flower, improved its differentiation and development, shortened fruit-developing period, increased fruit weight, reduced fruit malformation percentage, but also raised total yield. Among the test mulching models, WP was better than WS and PF, and the effects were superior on grafted than on own-rooted cucumber. Soil surface mulching also had considerable effects on soil environment, but the effects varied with different modules. For example, under field condition, the diurnal change of soil temperature was a single-peak curve, with its peak higher and appeared at 14:30 in 5 cm and 10 cm soil depth, but lower and appeared later in deeper soil layers. In this study, WS lowered the maximum soil temperature and raised the minimum soil temperature, making soil temperature quite stable, while PF raised the maximum soil temperature much higher and enhanced the minimum soil temperature less than WS and WP, making the largest variation range of soil temperature. WP played a role of raising soil temperature and kept it stable. Similar to the diurnal change of soil temperature at 5 cm and 10 cm depth, that of soil respiration rate was also a single-peak curve. The soil respiration rate in all treatmentg was significantly higher than that of CK, and WP had a higher soil respiration rate than PF and WS. There was a significant positive correlation between soil respiration rate and soil temperature at 5 cm and 10 cm depth. By the end of the experiment, soil bulk density at the depth of 0-20 cm was measured, which was significantly lower in WS and WP than in CK and PF. The difference in soil bulk density was gradually inconspicuous with soil layer deepened.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2003

Comparison of toxicity of zinc for soil microbial processes between laboratory-contamined and polluted field soils.

Soil microbial processes are readily disturbed by added zinc (Zn) in laboratory ecotoxicity tests. This study compares Zn toxicity between freshly spiked soils and soils that have been contaminated with Zn in the field. Soils were sampled in three transects (< 80 m) toward galvanized electricity transmission towers (pylons). The soil total Zn concentrations gradually increased in each transect from background values (25-82 mg Zn/kg) to elevated Zn concentrations near the pylon (226-595 mg Zn/kg). Soil samples taken at the furthest distance from the Zn source were spiked with ZnCl2 to a range of total Zn concentrations similar to those in the transect. Nitrification, respiration, and N-mineralization rates were significantly reduced by added Zn in laboratory-spiked soils and were 9 to 95% (mean 32%) of the control values at largest doses depending on soil type and the microbial process. In contrast, these processes were either unaffected by soil Zn (p > 0.05) or increased significantly with soil Zn concentrations in the transect soils. These increases could not be explained by soil pH or % soil organic carbon. Leaching soils after spiking significantly lowered the toxic effects of Zn on nitrification or on substrate-induced respiration. The soil solution Zn concentrations of field soils were always smaller than in spiked soils at equivalent total Zn. Highest soil solution Zn concentrations were always lower than the soil-solution EC50s of spiked soils. It is concluded that there is a large discrepancy in microbial responses to elevated Zn between spiked soils (unleached) and field-contaminated soils and there is a need to explain this discrepancy in terms of Zn availability, adaptation processes, and additional soil factors controlling the microbial processes.

Laboratories↗
PubMed1998

Determination of chemical availability of cadmium and zinc in soils using inert soil moisture samplers.

A rapid method for extracting soil solutions using porous plastic soil-moisture samplers was combined with a cation resin equilibration based speciation technique to look at the chemical availability of metals in soil. Industrially polluted, metal sulphate amended and sewage sludge treated soils were used in our study. Cadmium sulphate amended and industrially contaminated soils all had > 65% of the total soil solution Cd present as free Cd2+. However, increasing total soil Cd concentrations by adding CdSO4 resulted in smaller total soil solution Cd. Consequently, the free Cd2+ concentrations in soil solutions extracted from these soils were smaller than in the same soil contaminated by sewage sludge addition. Amendment with ZnSO4 gave much greater concentrations of free Zn2+ in soil solutions compared with the same soil after long-term Zn contamination via sewage sludge additions. Our results demonstrate the difficulty in comparing total soil solution and free metal ion concentrations for soils from different areas with different physiochemical properties and sources of contamination. However, when comparing the same Woburn soil, Cd was much less available as Cd2+ in soil solution from the CdSO4 amended soils compared with soil contaminated by about 36 years of sewage sludge additions. In contrast, much more Zn was available in soil solution as free Zn2+ in the ZnSO4 amended soils compared with the sewage sludge treated soils.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

[Change of organic carbon pools and the responses to soil warming during laboratory incubations under different temperatures of 3 kinds of paddy soils in Tai Lake Region, China].

Change of soil organic carbon (SOC) storage under global warming scenarios was paid much attention of the soil and global change studies. To address the features of SOC loss of paddy soils in response to global warming, the authors used 3 representative paddy soils from the Tai Lake region, China to incubate at laboratory respectively under 20 degrees C and 25 degrees C and the change dynamics of total organic carbon(TOC), soluble organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were monitored in time intervals. The TOC dynamics could be described with primary reaction equations with the constants varied with soil types and incubation temperature. While soil warming strengthened TOC loss of a Fe-leached Stagnic Anthrosol and a Gleyic Stagnic Anthrosol, no significant difference of TOC was detected in a Fe-accumulic Stagnic Anthosol under different temperature incubations. Q10 quotient, a measurement of soil SOC sensitivity to warming, of the studied soils decreased in the order: 11.1-14.1 for the Gleyic Stagnic Anthrosol < 4.4-4.6 for Fe-leached Stagnic Anthrosol < 0.63-0.73 for the Fe-accumulic Stagnic Anthosol. This indicated that paddy soils could be a group of human managed soils with sensitive response to global warming, whereas the inter-soil group difference in this sensitivity may be greater than that existing between the soils from different eco-zones. The different patterns of DOC and MBC change during the incubation of the 3 studied soils were indicative of different features of soil microbial community of the studied 3 types of paddy soils, which influenced the carbon bio-availability under different temperatures. Thus, change of SOC pools due to soil warming can be accounted for not only by nature of SOC of the soils but changes of microbial activity and even the community associated with soil properties. This study evidences that SOC loss due to soil warming is not a temperature-controlled kinetically decomposition process at least. Further studies should be dedicated on the SOC loss in relation to the interactions between SOC-soil minerals-soil micro-biota.

Carbon↗
PubMed2001

The effect of initial concentration of carbofuran on the development and stability of its enhanced biodegradation in top-soil and sub-soil.

Carbofuran was incubated in top-soil and sub-soil samples from a pesticide-free site at a range of initial concentrations from 0.1 to 10 mg kg-1. Amounts of the incubated soils were removed at intervals over the subsequent 12 months, and the rate of degradation of a second carbofuran dose at 10 mg kg-1 was assessed. An applied concentration as low as 0.1 mg kg-1 to top-soil resulted in more rapid degradation of the fresh addition of carbofuran for at least 12 months. The degree of enhancement was generally more pronounced with the higher initial concentrations. When the same study was conducted in sub-soil samples from the same site, an initial dose of carbofuran at 0.1 mg kg-1 resulted in only small increases in rates of degradation of a second carbofuran dose. However, degradation rates in the sub-soil samples were, in many instances, considerably greater than in the corresponding top-soil samples, irrespective of pre-treatment concentration or pre-incubated period. Initial doses of 0.5 mg kg-1 and higher applied to sub-soil successfully activated the sub-soil microflora. Application of the VARLEACH model to simulate carbofuran movement through the soil profile indicated that approximately 0.01 mg kg-1 of carbofuran may reach a depth of 70 cm 400 days after a standard field application. The results therefore imply that adaptation of the sub-soil microflora (c 1 m depth) by normal field rate applications of carbofuran is unlikely to occur. In experiments to investigate this in soils exposed to carbofuran in the field, there was no apparent relationship between top-soil exposure and degradation rates in the corresponding sub-soils. The results further confirmed that same sub-soil samples have an inherent capacity for rapid biodegradation of carbofuran. The high levels of variability observed between replicates in some of the sub-soil samples were attributed to the uneven distribution of a low population of carbofuran-degrading micro-organisms in sub-surface soil. There was no apparent relationship between soil microbial biomass and degradation rates within or between top-soil and sub-soil samples.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2003

Metal uptake from soils and soil-sediment mixtures by larvae of Tenebrio molitor (L.) (Coleoptera).

Bioassays were performed to evaluate the impact of soil characteristics on Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn uptake by larvae of Tenebrio molitor. Metal accumulation was determined in 13 natural field soils, one metal-spiked field soil, four soil-sediment mixtures, and Cd- or Zn-spiked OECD artificial soil. Statistical analyses were used to investigate covariation of accumulation patterns with various soil metal pools and soil properties. Body concentrations of Cu and Zn in Zn-spiked OECD soils, field soils, and soil-sediment mixtures mostly remained constant. Considerable variation was noted for all Cd and Pb steady-state body concentrations among field soils and soil-sediment mixtures. For the spiked field soil and in the Cd-spiked OECD soil, body concentrations increased almost linearly with time. For the nonessential metals Cd and Pb, larval body concentrations correlated mainly to the total metal pool of the soil. Cd uptake at similar total Cd concentrations was within the same range among spiked OECD soils, field soils, and mixtures. A comparison of the findings with studies on other soil-inhabiting species shows that metal uptake patterns depend on metal type, soil type, and exposed species. It is suggested that soil organisms can be categorized according to gross divergence in ecophysiological characteristics, determined by, for instance, (non)permeability of the outer integument. These characteristics appear as similarities among multivariate functions as derived for the beetle.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Survival of Azospirillum brasilense in the Bulk Soil and Rhizosphere of 23 Soil Types.

The survival of Azospirillum brasilense Cd and Sp-245 in the rhizosphere of wheat and tomato plants and in 23 types of plant-free sterilized soils obtained from a wide range of environments in Israel and Mexico was evaluated. Large numbers of A. brasilense cells were detected in all the rhizospheres tested, regardless of soil type, bacterial strain, the origin of the soil, or the amount of rainfall each soil type received prior to sampling. Survival of A. brasilense in soils without plants differed from that in the rhizosphere and was mainly related to the geographical origin of the soil. In Israeli soils from arid, semiarid, or mountain regions, viability of A. brasilense rapidly declined or populations completely disappeared below detectable levels within 35 days after inoculation. In contrast, populations in the arid soils of Baja California Sur, Mexico, remained stable or even increased during the 45-day period after inoculation. In soils from Central Mexico, viability slowly decreased with time. In all soils, percentages of clay, nitrogen, organic matter, and water-holding capacity were positively correlated with bacterial viability. High percentages of CaCO(inf3) and fine or rough sand had a highly negative effect on viability. The percentage of silt, pH, the percentage of phosphorus or potassium, electrical conductivity, and C/N ratio had no apparent effect on bacterial viability in the soil. Fifteen days after removal of inoculated plants, the remaining bacterial population in the three soil types tested began to decline sharply, reaching undetectable levels 90 days after inoculation. After plant removal, percolating the soils with water almost eliminated the A. brasilense population. Viability of A. brasilense in two artificial soils containing the same major soil components as the natural soils from Israel did was almost identical to that in the natural soils. We conclude that A. brasilense is a rhizosphere colonizer which survives poorly in most soils for prolonged periods of time; that outside the rhizosphere, seven abiotic parameters control the survival of this bacterium in the soil; and that disturbance of the soil (percolation with water or plant removal) directly and rapidly affects the population levels.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of electrodialytic removal of Cu from spiked kaolinite, spiked soil and industrially polluted soil.

Electrokinetic remediation methods for removal of heavy metals from polluted soils have been subjected for quite intense research during the past years since these methods are well suitable for fine-grained soils where other remediation methods fail. Electrodialytic remediation is an electrokinetic remediation method which is based on applying an electric dc field and the use of ion exchange membranes that ensures the main transport of heavy metals to be out of the pollutes soil. An experimental investigation was made with electrodialytic removal of Cu from spiked kaolinite, spiked soil and industrially polluted soil under the same operational conditions (constant current density 0.2 mA/cm(2) and duration 28 days). The results of the present paper show that caution must be taken when generalising results obtained in spiked kaolinite to remediation of industrially polluted soils, as it was shown that the removal rate was higher in kaolinite than in both spiked soil and industrial polluted soil. The duration of spiking was found to be an important factor too, when attempting to relate remediation of spiked soil or kaolinite to remediation of industrially polluted soils. Spiking for 2 days was too short. However, spiking for 30 days resulted in a pattern that was more similar to that of industrially polluted soils with similar compositions both regarding sequential extraction and electrodialytic remediation result, though the remediation still progressed slightly faster in the spiked soil. Generalisation of remediation results to a variety of soil types must on the other hand be done with caution since the remediation results of different industrially polluted soils were very different. In one soil a total of 76% Cu was removed and in another soil no Cu was removed only redistributed within the soil. The factor with the highest influence on removal success was soil pH, which must be low in order to mobilize Cu, and thus the buffering capacity against acidification was the key soil characteristics determining the Cu removal rate.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2003

Enantioselective degradation of metalaxyl in soils: chiral preference changes with soil pH.

Chiral pesticides are often degraded enantio-/stereoselectively in soils. Degradation is typically studied with one or a small number of soils so that it is not possible to extrapolate the findings on chiral preference to other soils. For this study, the fungicide metalaxyl was chosen as a "chiral probe" to investigate its enantioselective degradation in 20 different soils, selected primarily to cover a wide range of soil properties (e.g., acidic/alkaline, aerobic/ anaerobic) rather than to consider soils of agricultural importance. Racemic metalaxyl was incubated in these soils under laboratory conditions, and the degradation of the enantiomers as well as the enantioselective formation/ degradation of the primary major metabolite, metalaxyl acid, was followed over time, using enantioselective GC-MS after ethylation with diazoethane. In aerobic soils with pH > 5, the fungicidally active R-enantiomer was degraded faster than the S-enantiomer (k(R) > k(S)), leading to residues with a composition [S] > [R]. However, in aerobic soils with pH 4-5, both enantiomers were degraded at similar rates (k(R) approximately k(S)), and in aerobic soils with pH < 4 and in most anaerobic soils, the enantioselectivity was reversed (k(R) < k(S)). These considerable soil-to-soil variations were observed with soils from locations close to each other, in one case even within a single soil profile. Liming and acidification of a "nonenantioselective" soil prior to incubation resulted in enantioselective degradation with k(R)> k(S) and k(R) < k(S), respectively. While the enantioselectivity (expressed as ES = (k(R) - k(S))/(k(R) + k(S))) of metalaxyl degradation in aerobic soils apparently correlated with soil pH, no such correlation was found for metalaxyl acid. Reevaluation of published kinetic data for the herbicides dichlorprop and mecoprop indicated similar correlations between soil pH and ES as for metalaxyl.

Alanine↗
PubMed2004

Functional establishment of introduced chlorobenzoate degraders following bioaugmentation with newly activated soil. Enhanced contaminant remediation via activated soil bioaugmentation.

Introduced degraders often do not survive when applied to polluted sites; however, the potential for successful bioaugmentation may be increased if newly activated soil (containing indigenous degrader populations recently exposed to the contaminant) or potentially active soil (containing indigenous degrader populations not previously exposed to the contaminant) is used as the inoculant. To investigate this concept, Madera and Oversite soils were amended with 0 or 500 micrograms of 2-, 3-, or 4-chlorobenzoate per gram soil. The Madera degraded 2-chlorobenzoate while the Oversite degraded 3- and 4-chlorobenzoate. After 22 days of incubation, non-active soils that had not degraded chlorobenzoate were bioaugmented with the appropriate activated soil that had been exposed to and degraded chlorobenzoate. Thus, Oversite soil that had not degraded 2-chlorobenzoate was bioaugmented with Madera soil that had degraded 2-chlorobenzoate. Likewise, Madera soil that had not degraded 3- or 4-chlorobenzoate was bioaugmented with the Oversite soil that had degraded 3- or 4-chlorobenzoate. Additionally, the non-active soils were bioaugmented with the corresponding potentially active soils. The Oversite soil amended with activated Madera soil degraded the 2-chlorobenzoate within 3 days of bioaugmentation. The Madera soil amended with activated Oversite soils degraded the 3- and 4-chlorobenzoate within 20 and 6 days, respectively. Large degrader populations developed in microcosms bioaugmented with activated soil, and shifts in the 3- and 4-CB degrader community structures occurred following bioaugmentation. In contrast, bioaugmentation with potentially active soil did not impact degradation. The results indicate the potential for bioaugmentation with newly activated soil to enhance contaminant degradation.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2005

[Effects of soil temperature and humidity on soil respiration rate under Pinus sylvestriformis forest].

Employing root-wrenching method and LI-6400-09 soil respiration chamber, this paper measured the diurnal changes of soil respiration rate with and without roots in situ on June 17, August 5, and October 10, 2003. The seasonal changes of soil respiration were also measured from May to September, 2004. The results showed that both the total and the root-wrenched soil respiration appeared single diurnal pattern, with the peaks presented during 12:00-14:00. The diurnal fluctuation of soil respiration on August 5 was smaller than that on June 17 and October 10. There were also obvious seasonal changes in total and root-wrenched soil respiration, as well as in root respiration, which were higher from June to August but lower in May and September. The average total soil respiration, root-wrenched soil respiration, and root respiration were 3.12, 1.94 and 1.18 micromol CO2 x m(-2) s(-1), respectively, and the contribution of roots to total soil respiration ranged from 26.5% to 52.6% from May to September, 2004. There were exponential correlations between respiration rate and soil temperature, and linear correlations between respiration rate and soil humidity. The Q10 values were 2.44, 2.55 and 2.27 for total soil respiration, root-wrenched soil respiration, and root respiration, respectively. The effect of soil temperature on root-wrenched soil respiration was lager than that on total soil respiration and root respiration. Soil humidity had a larger effect on total soil respiration than on root respiration and root-wrenched soil respiration.

China↗
PubMed2001

Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Fertilization on Mycorrhizal Fine Roots and the Soil Microbial Community in Beech-Spruce Ecosystems on Siliceous and Calcareous Soil.

To study the responses of forests to global change, model ecosystems consisting of beech and spruce trees were maintained in open top chambers for 4 years under four conditions, namely with normal and elevated CO2 and with low and high nitrogen input, each replicated four times. Each open top chamber (height 3 m, diameter 3 m, soil depth 1.5 m) contained two separate soil compartments containing nutrient-poor siliceous and nutrient-rich calcareous soil. Here, we focus on the fine roots and the soil microbial community in these model ecosystems. At the time of planting, the fine roots were cut back according to forestry practice, and the newly formed roots were colonized by the indigenous soil microflora. After 4 years, the total biomass of fine roots, when averaged over all treatments, was almost the same in each of the two soil types; it was highest in the top 100 mm of soil (60%) and decreased sharply in deeper soil layers. Fungal biomass associated with the fine roots, consisting mainly of ectomycorrhizal fungi, was estimated using the ergosterol content as a marker. It was much higher in fine roots in the siliceous than in the calcareous soil, indicating considerably enhanced ectomycorrhiza formation in the nutrient-poor siliceous soil. Elevated atmospheric CO2 stimulated fine root production by ca. 85% and 43% in the top 100 mm of calcareous and siliceous soils respectively. Increased nitrogen input caused a slightly reduced production of fine root biomass in the calcareous soil but increased it by 33% in the siliceous soil. Marker substances for microorganisms were analyzed in the root-free soil. The amounts of carbon released by fumigation/extraction (a general marker for microbial biomass) and chitin (a marker for fungal biomass) were significantly higher in the top layer of the siliceous than of the calcareous soil, but they did not respond significantly to the treatments with elevated CO2 or the nitrogen fertilizer. The total concentration of the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and the number of the PLFAs did not differ between the two soil types. However, four of the eight most abundant PLFAs differed significantly between the two soil types. Principal component analysis revealed clearly separated clusters for the two soil types. Although analysis did not reveal any significant changes in response to the treatments, the concentration of the PLFA typical for ectomycorrhizal fungi was significantly higher under conditions of elevated CO2 in the nutrient-rich calcareous soil.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

A scale model study of the effects of meteorological, soil, and house parameters on soil gas pressures.

To assess the contribution of various environmental parameters to the entry of Rn into basements, it is advantageous to simplify and control the important variables present in the field situation. A scale model system, simulating a house in soil, has been constructed to investigate the effect of meteorological parameters and house and soil characteristics on soil gas flow around houses. The house walls and soil are of variable permeability. Wind is simulated by applying a static pressure distribution to the soil surface. The effect of temperature differences and appliances is simulated by depressurizing the model house. Soil gas pressures at various locations around the house are measured under different conditions. The results show that the ratio of wall to soil permeability is the determining factor in soil gas flow patterns. For a wind of 8.94 m s-1 (20 mph), the horizontal pressure gradients are about 99 Pa m-1 in the model when the wall is at least as permeable as the soil. This corresponds to 3.3 Pa m-1 in the field. When the soil is two or more orders of magnitude more permeable than the wall, the gradient is about 19.8 Pa m-1 in the model, or 0.66 Pa m-1 in the field. There is a logarithmic dependence of pressure gradient on the ratio of wall to soil permeability in the range -2 less than log (kw/ks) less than 0. Conversely, it takes a large temperature difference of 27 degrees C to cause a 99 Pa m-1 horizontal pressure gradient in model systems with wall permeability greater than soil permeability. The effects of changes in the model system on soil gas flow patterns are investigated for the cases of lowered soil surface permeability, partial surface capping, and presence of a subfloor gravel bed. Partial surface capping, as would occur with driveways and patios, was found to have a minor effect on soil gas pressures. However, lowered surface permeability, caused by precipitation, can significantly change soil gas flow patterns. The only change in soil pressure gradients or pressure differences in the presence of a gravel bed is in the system with the highest wall-to-soil permeability ratio. In this system, under all conditions (house depressurization, wind, and wind with house depressurization), there is an increase in the absolute value of both upwind and downwind pressure differences and pressure gradients with the addition of a gravel bed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2004

Diffusion and emissions of 1,3-dichloro propene in Florida sandy soil in microplots affected by soil moisture, organic matter, and plastic film.

The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of soil moisture, organic matter amendment and plastic cover (a virtually impermeable film, VIF) on diffusion and emissions of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) in microplots of Florida sandy soil (Arredondo fine sand). Upward diffusion of the two isomers in the Arredondo soil without a plastic cover was greatly influenced by soil-water content and (Z)-1,3-D diffused faster than (E)-1,3-D. In less than 5 h after 1,3-D injection to 30 cm depth, (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D in air dry soil had diffused to a 10 cm depth, whereas diffusion for the two isomers was negligible in near-water-saturated soil, even 101 h after injection. The diffusion rate of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D in near-field-capacity soil was between the rates in the two water regimes. Yard waste compost (YWC) amendment greatly reduced diffusion of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D, even in air-dry soil. Although upward diffusion of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D in soil with VIF cover was slightly less than in the corresponding bare soil; the cover promoted retention of vapors of the two isomers in soil pore air in the shallow subsurface. More (Z)-1,3-D vapor was found initially in soil pore air than (E)-1,3-D although the difference declined thereafter. As a result of rapid upward movement in air-dry bare soil, (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D were rapidly volatilized into the atmosphere, but emissions from the near-water-saturated soil were minimal. Virtually impermeable film and YWC amendment retarded emissions. This study indicated that adequate soil water in this sandy soil is needed to prevent rapid emissions, but excess soil water slows diffusion of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D. Thus, management for optimum water in soil is critical for pesticidal efficacy and the environment.

Allyl Compounds↗
PubMed2002

The importance of organic matter distribution and extract soil:solution ratio on the desorption of heavy metals from soils.

The lability (mobility and bioavailability) of metals varies significantly with soil properties for similar total soil metal concentrations. We studied desorption of Cu, Ni and Zn, from 15 diverse, unamended soils. These studies included evaluation of the effects of soil:solution extraction ratio and the roles of soil properties on metal desorption. Dcsorption was examined for each metal by computing distribution coefficients (Kd) for each metal in each soil where Kd = [M]soil/[M]solution, Results from soil:solution ratio studies demonstrated that Kd values for the metals tended to increase with increasing soil:solution ratio. This result also held true for distribution of soil organic matter (SOM). Because the soil:solution ratio has a significant effect on measured metal distributions, we selected a high soil:solution ratio to more closely approach natural soil conditions. Copper showed strong affinity to operationally defined dissolved organic matter (DOM). In this study, DOM was operationally defined based on the total organic carbon (TOC) content in 0.45-microm or 0.22-microm filtrates of the extracts. The Kd of Cu correlated linearly (r2 = 0.91) with the Kd of organic matter (Kd-om) where the Kd-om is equal to SOM as measured by Walkley-Black wet combustion and converted to total carbon (TC) by a factor of 0.59. These values representing solid phase TC were then divided by soluble organic carbon as measured by TOC analysis (DOM). The conversion factor of 0.59 was employed in order to construct Kd-om values based on solid phase carbon and solution phase carbon. SOM plays a significant role in the fate of Cu in soil systems. Soil-solution distribution of Ni and Zn, as well as the activity of free Cu2+, were closely related to SOM, but not to DOM. Kd values for Ni, Zn and free Cu2+ in a particular soil were divided by the SOM content in the same soil. This normalization of the Kd values for Ni, Zn, and free Cu2+ to the SOM content resulted in significant improvements in the linear relationships between non-normalized Kd values and soil pH. The semi-empirical normalized regression equations can be used to predict the solubility of Ni and Zn and the activity of free Cu2+ as a function of pH.

Absorption↗
PubMed2004

Influence of soil moisture on sunflower oil extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from a manufactured gas plant soil.

The influence of soil moisture on efficiency of sunflower oil extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated soil was investigated. The PAH-contaminated soil was collected from a manufactured gas plant (MGP) site in Berlin, Germany. Half of the soil was air-dried, and the other half was kept as field-moist soil. Batch experiments were performed using air-dried and field-moist soils, and sunflower oil was used as extractant at oil/soil ratios of 2:1 and 1:1 (v/m). The experimental data were fitted to a first-order empirical model to describe mass-transfer profiles of the PAHs. Column extraction experiments were also conducted. Field-moist and air-dried soils in the column were extracted using sunflower oil at an oil/soil ratio of 2:1. In the batch experiments, PAHs were more rapidly extracted from air-dried soil than from field-moist soil. Removal rate of total PAH increased 23% at oil/soil ratio of 1:1 and 15.5% at oil/soil ratio of 2:1 after the soil was air dried. The most favorable conditions for batch extraction were air-dried soil, with an oil/soil ratio of 2:1. In the column experiments, the removal rate of total PAH from air-dried soil was 30.7% higher than that from field-moist soil. For field-moist soil, extraction efficiencies of the batch extraction (67.2% and 81.5%) were better than that for column extraction (65.6%). However, this difference between the two methods became less significant for the air-dried soil, with a total removal rate of 96.3% for column extraction and 90.2% and 97% for batch extractions. A mass-balance test was carried out for analytical quality assurance. The results of both batch and column experiments indicated that drying the soil increased efficiency of extraction of PAHs from the MGP soil.

Berlin↗
PubMed2000

Soil mutagens are airborne mutagens: variation of mutagenic activities induced in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 by organic extracts of agricultural and forest soils in dependence on location and season.

As our hypothesis was that soil mutagens are airborne mutagens, possibly modified by soil microorganisms, we checked solvent extracts from agricultural and forest soils collected during late summer in the environment of Mainz, a region highly charged by anthropogenic air pollution, or near Bayreuth, a rural low charged region of Germany, or in a remote region of western Corsica without anthropogenic air pollution for the presence of mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium. Levels of mutagenic activities were quantified by calculation of revertants/g from the initial slope of dose-response curves applying tester strains S. typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 in the absence and presence of an activation system from rat liver (S9). Three soils from Corsica did not induce mutagenicity under any test condition. However, most soils from Germany exhibited mutagenic activities, though preferentially in strain TA 98, but no statistically significant differences could be detected between 27 soils from the Mainz and nine soils from the Bayreuth regions. On the other hand, no correlation could be detected between the levels of mutagenic activities at any test condition and agricultural practice - rye growing, viniculture, fruit growing, meadow, and fallow - texture of soils - % composition of clay, slit, and sand - or the contents of organic matter. The only significant difference of mutagenicity was, however, found with S. typhimurium TA 98-S9 between forest soils of pH approximately 4.0 as compared with agricultural soils of pH approximately 7.0. The presence of antimutagens in soil as demonstrated by the course of dose-response curves of the three soils from Corsica may be another possible confounder. Calculation of mean values of mutagenic activities for all soils from Germany gave the following results: S. typhimurium TA 98: 69.7+/-153.2 (-S9); 63.0+/-176.3 (+S9); S. typhimurium TA 100:-144.7+/-399.4 (-S9); 43.3+/-172.0 (+S9) revertants/g of dry soil. In another series of experiments, soil mutagenicity in 10 rye fields near Mainz was monitored for 1 year. It became evident that low levels of mutagenic activities in late summer increased during autumn, reached a peak in late winter, and subsequently, decreased during spring and summer. These results agree with the hypothesis of an airborne origin of soil mutagens, deposition, and an adjacent transformation to non-mutagenic compounds by soil microorganisms.

Agriculture↗