Acidic Irrigation Water Research Articles

Nano-TiO2 enhances the adsorption of Cd(II) on biological soil crusts under mildly acidic conditions

Biological soil crusts (BSCs), which are ubiquitous in paddy fields, are known to remove pollutants from paddy fields systems. The Nano-TiO2 enhanced the removal of Cd(II) by BSC under acidic irrigation water was found, and its mechanism was investigated. After the addition of nano-TiO2, the Cd(II) removal efficiency of BSCS increased by 26.70% than that of pure BSCs, and the Nano-TiO2 induced faster removal velocity as well. Zeta potential and potentiometric titration results revealed that BSCs generated more negative charges and sites concentration after addition of Nano-TiO2 at acidic environment. The carboxyl and amino/hydroxyl groups were the main functional groups on BSC and the BSC + TiO2. The higher concentration of amino/hydroxyl groups in BSC + TiO2 (0.33 ± 0.08 mmol/g) was present than that of pristine BSCs (0.62 ± 0.02 mmol/g), and they were with similar concentration of phosphate groups and carboxyl groups. This result was attributed to the Nano-TiO2 stimulated the BSCs to produce more extracellular polysaccharides and proteins. Our findings would provide novel strategy for the removal of cadmium from acidic irrigation water.

Influence of Soil and Irrigation Water pH on the Availability of Phosphorus in Struvite Derived from Urine through a Greenhouse Pot Experiment.

One greenhouse pot experiment was used to investigate the availability of phosphorus in struvite derived from urine affected by soil pH (cinnamon soil, pH 7.3; paddy soil, pH 5.3) and irrigation water (pH 6.0 and 7.5) with bird rapeseed (Brassica campestris L.). The biomass of applied struvite in paddy soil was significantly greater than that of applied calcium superphosphate. However, statistically significant differences were not observed in cinnamon soil. Soil-applied struvite had a higher Olsen P compared to soil-applied calcium superphosphate irrespective of soil type. The biomass of applied struvite and irrigation with pH 6.0 water was greater compared to that with irrigation with pH 7.3 water irrespective of soil type, accompanied with significantly higher leaf chlorophyll concentration. Therefore, struvite has the potential to be an effective P fertilizer, and acidic irrigation water has greater influence on the availability of phosphorus in struvite than does acidic soil.

Status of aluminium in environmental compartments contaminated by acidic mine water

Investigations were conducted to characterize aluminium in the affected stream and soils downstream of a mine site discharging acidic mine water. The water-borne Al exhibited a highly non-conservative behaviour at water pH below 3.8 in the 0–3.9 km reach and a much more conservative behaviour in the reaches with higher water pHs downstream of the 3.9 km station. The concentration of water-borne Al was higher at the medium flow event than at the flood event in the 0–9 km reach while the opposite was observed for the 16–56 km reach. Transport of Al associated with suspended materials was only observed during the flood event. The amount of Al carried by per unit weight of suspended particles was smaller in the 0–16 km reach than in the 25–56 km reach. The sediment-borne Al increased downstream with maximum Al accumulation occurred in the 25–29 km reach. The residual Al dominated Al fractions in the streambed sediments. The NH 4Cl-extractable Al in the affected soils decreased with increasing distance from the acidic irrigation water source. In contrast, both the water-extractable and total Al in the soils showed no clear distribution pattern. The NH 4Cl-extractable Al was closely correlated with soil acidity while neither total Al nor water-extractable Al was correlated with soil acidity. The vertical distribution of NH 4Cl-extractable Al was regulated by pH with certain influence from soil clay abundance.

The role of mining and agricultural activity in creating coexisting but divergent soils, San Luis Valley, Colorado, USA

Application of irrigation water, especially through flood or furrow methods can have profound impacts on soil morphological, chemical, and physical properties. Using a variety of field and laboratory techniques, we examined the impact of both acidic and alkaline irrigation water on a host of soil properties in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado. Impacts on calcium carbonate, clay content, and gypsum to a depth of 1 m are presented for 4 sites; a control, two sites exposed to acidic irrigation water, and one site exposed to alkaline irrigation water. Along with the increased water in this arid ecosystem, water quality and sediment content have likely contributed to the pedologic changes observed in this system. One of the most prominent changes is the removal of carbonate within the upper meter of soil at the site with the greatest exposure to acidic irrigation water. Changes in soil structure and color, differences in clay mineralogy and rock fragment weathering, and the presence of jarosite provide further evidence of accelerated weathering along this management gradient. The sum of these changes has resulted in a shift in the soil classification and has potential implications on buffering capacity and soil productivity.

Impact of acid effluent from Kawah Ijen crater lake on irrigated agricultural soils: Soil chemical processes and plant uptake

Volcanogenic contamination of irrigation water, caused by effluent from the hyperacid Ijen crater lake, has severely affected the properties of agricultural soils in East Java, Indonesia. From a comparison of acidified topsoil with subsoil and with top- and subsoil in a reference area, we identified processes responsible for changes in soil and soil solution chemistry induced by acid irrigation water, with emphasis on the nutrients Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn, and on Al, which may become phytotoxic under acid conditions in soils. Compositional data for bulk soil composition and selective extractions with 1 M KCl and 0.2 M acid ammonium oxalate are used in a mass balance approach to specify element fluxes, including uptake by rice plants. The results show that input via irrigation water has produced an increase in the total aluminum content in the affected topsoil, which is of the same order of magnitude as the increase in labile Al. High bioavailability of Al, as reflected by concentrations in KCl extracts, is consistent with elevated concentrations observed in rice plants. In contrast, and despite the high input via irrigation water, Ca and Mg concentrations have decreased in all measured soil fractions through dissolution of amorphous phases and minerals, and through competition of Al for adsorption sites on the exchange complex and plant roots. Strong leaching is also evident for Fe and especially Mn. In terms of the overall mass balance of the topsoil, plant uptake of Al, Ca, Fe, Mg and Mn is negligible. If the use of acid irrigation would be stopped and the soil pH were to increase to values above 4.5, the observed phytotoxicity of Al will be halted. However, crops may then become fully dependent on the input from irrigation water or fertilizer for essential elements, due to the previous removal from the topsoil through leaching.

Well water contaminated by acidic mine water from the Dabaoshan Mine, South China: Chemistry and toxicity

An investigation into well water quality was carried out in a rural area subject to irrigation with acidic mine water from the Guangdong Dabaoshan Mine, southern China. The results of water pH measurements from 112 wells in two different seasons suggest that the well water has been contaminated to varying degrees in the investigated Shangba floodplain (approximately 11 km south of the Guangdong Dabaoshan Mine). There is a trend that well water pH increased southwards, suggesting that the impacts of acidic irrigation water on groundwater decreased with increasing distance to the entry point of acidic irrigation water. Water quality monitoring results of the selected wells show that Cu and Cd in the water exceeded the limits set in the Chinese National Standards for Drinking Water (GB 5749-85) for the wells close to the irrigation water source. If the World Health Organization (WHO) standard was considered, Cd in some wells was almost 10 times as high as the WHO guideline value (0.003 mg l −1). Water collected from the location closest to the acidic irrigation water source was acutely toxic to the test organism ( Daphnia carinata) even after 51 time dilution. It is likely that the extremely high mortality rate of the local population reported for the study area is at least partly related to the high levels of heavy metals, particularly Cd in the drinking well water.

The effect of naturally acidified irrigation water on agricultural volcanic soils. The case of Asembagus, Java, Indonesia

Acid water from the Banyuputih river (pH ∼ 3.5) is used for the irrigation of agricultural land in the Asembagus coastal area (East Java, Indonesia), with harmful consequences for rice yields. The river water has an unusual composition which is caused by seepage from the acidic Kawah Ijen crater lake into the river. This unique irrigation setting allows the study of soil acidification in situ. This paper assesses the effects of volcanogenically contaminated irrigation water on the chemical properties of the agricultural soils. The changes in soil properties were evaluated by comparing samples taken from the topsoil and sub-soil (1–3 m depth) from areas irrigated with acid water and areas irrigated with neutral water. The field survey thus resulted in four soil categories. Bulk soil composition, organic matter content, moisture content and particle size distribution were determined. Reactive phases were quantified with the selective extractions 1 M KCl, 0.1 M Na-pyrophosphate and 0.2 M acid ammonium oxalate (AAO). By comparing the four soil categories it is shown that the use of the naturally polluted irrigation water has had a large influence on the chemical composition of the topsoil. The composition of the soil solution has changed over the entire investigated soil profile. Furthermore the acid irrigation water has strongly modified the composition of the reactive phases, extracted as KCl, pyrophosphate, and AAO extractable elements, and also the bulk soil composition has been significantly modified. Overall this has resulted in the net dissolution of some elements and the net precipitation of others. The changes in the reactive phases and bulk soil composition are only apparent in the topsoil (0–20 cm) but not in the deeper soil.

Long Term Effects of Acid Irrigation at the Höglwald on Seepage Water Chemistry and Nutrient Cycling

In order to test the hypothesis of aluminium toxicity induced by acid deposition, an experimental acid irrigation was carried out in a mature Norway spruce stand in Southern Germany (Hoglwald). The experiment comprised three plots: no irrigation, irrigation (170 mm a−1), and acid irrigation with diluted sulphuric acid (pH of 2.6–2.8). During the seven years of acid irrigation (1984–1990) water containing 0.43 molc m−2 a−1 of protons and sulphate was added with a mean pH of 3.2 (throughfall + acid irrigation water) compared to 4.9 (throughfall) on both control plots. Most of the additional proton input was consumed in the organic layer and the upper mineral soil. Acid irrigation resulted in a long lasting elevation of sulphate concentrations in the seepage water. Together with sulphate both aluminium and appreciable amounts of base cations were leached from the main rooting zone. The ratio between base cations (Ca + Mg + K) and aluminium was 0.79 during acid irrigation and 0.92 on the control. Neither tree growth and nutrition nor the pool of exchangeable cations were affected significantly. We conclude that at this site protection mechanisms against aluminium toxicity exist and that additional base cation runoff can still be compensated without further reduction of the supply of exchangeable base cations in the upper mineral soil.

Agricultural soils irrigated with acidic mine water: acidity, heavy metals, and crop contamination

Agricultural soils irrigated with acidic mine water from the Guangdong Dabaoshan Mine, China, were investigated. The pH of the soils could be as low as 3.9. However, most of the mineral acids introduced into the soils by irrigation were transformed to insoluble forms through acid buffering processes and thus temporarily stored in the soils. Different heavy metals exhibited different fraction distribution patterns, with Zn and Cu being mainly associated with organic matter and Pb being primarily bound to oxides (statistically significant at P = 0.05). Although the mean of exchangeable Cd was greatest among the Cd fractions, there was no statistically significant difference between the exchangeable Cd and the oxide-bound Cd (the 2nd greatest fraction) or between the exchangeable Cd and the carbonate-bound Cd (the 3rd greatest fraction). It was also found that there were generally good relationships between the concentrations of various Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd fractions and pH, suggesting that a major proportion of each heavy metal in the soils was mainly derived from the acidic irrigation water. The results also show that the crops grown in these soils were highly contaminated by heavy metals, particularly Cd. The concentration of Cd in the edible portions of most crops was far in excess of the limits set in China National Standards for Vegetables and Fruits and this can be attributable to the extremely high transfer rate of Cd from the soils to the crops under the cropping system adopted in the study area.

Natural Pollution Caused by the Extremely Acid Crater Lake Kawah Ijen, East Java, Indonesia (7 pp)

Lakes developing in volcano craters can become highly acidic through the influx of volcanic gases, yielding one of the chemically most extreme natural environments on earth. The Kawah Ijen crater lake in East Java (Indonesia) has a pH < 0.3. It is the source of the extremely acidic and metal-polluted river Banyupahit (45 km). The lake has a significant impact on the river ecosystem as well as on a densely populated area downstream, where agricultural fields are irrigated with water with a pH between 2.5 and 3.5. The chemistry of the river water seemed to have changed over the past decade and the negative effect in the irrigation area increased. A multidisciplinary approach was used to investigate the altered situation and to get insight in the water chemistry and the hydrological processes influencing these alterations. Moreover, a first investigation of the effects of the low pH on ecosystem health and human health was performed. Water samples were taken at different sites along the river and in the irrigation area. Sampling for macroinvertebrates was performed at the same sites. Samples of soil and crop were taken in the irrigation area. All samples were analysed for metals (using ICP-AES) and other elements, and concentrations were compared to local and international standards. The river carries a very high load of SO4, NH4, PO4, Cl, F, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Al and other potentially toxic elements. Precipitation and discharge data over the period of 1980-2000 clearly show that the precipitation on the Ijen plateau influences water chemistry of the downstream river. Metal concentrations in the river water exceed the concentrations mentioned in Indonesian and international quality guidelines, even in the downstream river and the irrigation area. Some metal concentrations are extremely high, especially iron (up to 1,600 mg/l) and aluminium (up to 3,000 mg/l). The food-webs in the acidic parts of the river are highly underdeveloped. No invertebrates were present in the extremely acidic water and, at pH 2.3, only chironomids were found. This also holds true for the river water with pH 3.3 in the downstream area. Agricultural soils in the irrigation area have a pH of 3.9 compared to a pH of 7.0 for soils irrigated with neutral water. Decreased yields of cultivated crops are probably caused by the use of Al containing acidic irrigation water. Increased levels of metals (especially Cd, Co, Ni and Mn) are found in different foodstuffs, but still remain within acceptable ranges. Considering local residents' diets, Cd levels may lead to an increased risk for the human health. Fluoride exposure is of highest concern, with levels in drinking water exceeding guideline values and a lot of local residents suffering from dental fluorosis. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: In short, our data indicate that the Ijen crater lake presents a serious threat to the environment as well as human health and agricultural production.

The Effect of Acidic Irrigation Water on Soils of the Alamosa River Basin, Colorado

Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences EducationVolume 28, Issue 1 p. 79-83 First Place Student Essay The Effect of Acidic Irrigation Water on Soils of the Alamosa River Basin, Colorado Erik T. Holtz, Corresponding Author Erik T. Holtz jfenwick@ceres.agsci.colostate.edu Dep. of Soil and Crop Science, C111 Plant Science Building Center Street, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, 80523(jfenwick@ceres.agsci.colostate.edu)Search for more papers by this author Erik T. Holtz, Corresponding Author Erik T. Holtz jfenwick@ceres.agsci.colostate.edu Dep. of Soil and Crop Science, C111 Plant Science Building Center Street, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, 80523(jfenwick@ceres.agsci.colostate.edu)Search for more papers by this author First published: 1999 https://doi.org/10.2134/jnrlse.1999.0079AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume28, Issue11999Pages 79-83 RelatedInformation

土壌からイネへの微量元素等の移行に及ぼす酸性潅がい水のｐＨの影響

土壌からイネへの微量元素等の移行に及ぼす灌漑水のpHの影響を調査するために, イネを14の水耕器にてpHの異なる6種類の酸性灌漑水 (pH: 6.5, 6.0, 4.5, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5) およびイオン交換水 (pH: 7.5) を用いて灌漑した。酸性灌漑水は1Nの硫酸と硝酸の同量混合液をイオン交換水で希釈して調製した。収穫されたモミを, 白米, ヌカおよびモミガラの三つの部位に分離し, おのおの粉末試料とした。これらの試料は中性子放射化分析を行い, 25元素の含量を求めた。その結果, 白米中のCu, Zn, Fe, Cr, Mg, Rb, Mo, Ni, Csの含量は酸性灌漑水のpHの低下とともに増加し, 対象的にBr, Seは含量が減少した。Na, Al, Sc, Mn, Cl, Ca, V, Coは, 酸性灌漑水のpHによる白米中含量の変化がほとんど認あられなかった。モミやヌカ中の元素含量への酸性灌漑水のpHの影響は, 白米のように明確には現れなかった。一方, 各元素の土壌中濃度に対するモミへの濃縮係数を算出したところ, Cl, Mo, Zn, Se, Cu等の元素は白米に顕著に濃縮されていることがわかった。また, Mg, Cr等の元素はヌカへの濃縮が顕著であった。

Chloritization of Paddy Soils Caused by Acidic Irrigation-water

Chloritization of Paddy Soils Caused by Acidic Irrigation-water

Unfavorable Effects of Acidic Irrigation Water on the Soil of Paddy Field Caused by Aluminum Ions in the Water

Unfavorable Effects of Acidic Irrigation Water on the Soil of Paddy Field Caused by Aluminum Ions in the Water