Pollution Of Agricultural Land Research Articles

Root nutrition of plants: relevance, needs, problem solving

The article theoretically analyzes the nutrient needs of plants and the balanced supply of macro- and microelements for their proper growth and development. The basis of the research methodology is the systematic approach of assessing the periodicity of foliar feeding of plants with complex preparations of various compositions. It has been established that with foliar fertilization there is a part of nutrients after they enter the plant leaf. Smaller molecules or molecules with less positive charge are more easily transported in the vascular system, from where they move to other parts of the plant, including ammonium, potassium, and urea. On the other hand, larger molecules and ions with a large positive charge tend to stay fairly close to their point of entry because they stick to the negatively charged cell walls. They hold immobile nutrients quite tightly, including calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper. The importance of the combination of biotechnological and ecological aspects in the development and application of complex compounds for foliar fertilization is indicated. The use of compounds based on EDTA is potentially dangerous for agricultural products and the environment. In the long term, this leads to increased pollution of agricultural land, soil degradation, reduced yield, and deterioration of product quality. When applying complex foliar fertilizers, elements with a strong positive charge, such as calcium, do not move very actively in the plant. Accordingly, negatively charged elements, such as phosphorus, slowly enter the leaves of plants. Both elements are relatively stationary after entry. Additional studies have shown that different plant species differ significantly in their ability to absorb nutrients through their leaves. Differences in cuticle thickness, number of pores, and resistance, as well as genetic and environmental factors, all affect a species’ ability to assimilate nutrients applied to leaves.

Developed biofilm-based biofertilizer as a bioremediation agent for agroecosystem and environment contaminated with Cr (VI)

Biofilm are microbial community that attaches to one substrate and another through EPS. Functional microbes in biofilm can be used as a biofertilizer which increase plant growth by providing nutrients and plant resistance to pathogens due to agricultural environmental degradation. Beside being a biofertilizer, biofilm can be developed as a bioremediation agent. Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) is a heavy metal that is widely used in the leather tanning, pharmaceutical and metallurgical industries, so it is easily found in irrigation and causes agricultural land pollution. Chrome can be toxic to microorganisms, plants, animals and humans, because it is carcinogenic, causes ecosystem damage and has a negative impact on human health. Various techniques are used to remediate Cr (VI), one method that can be used is bioremediation by exploiting the potential of bacteri or fungi incorporated in the biofilm. In this study, the biofilm consisted of bacterial and fungi (BFBF) that were found on the western slopes of Mount Lawu. The Cr (VI) reduction test was carried out at concentrations of 5 and 50 mg L−1. The results showed that the biofilm was able to reduce Cr (VI) up to 1.19 mg L−1within 6 hours.

Analysis and pollution evaluation of heavy metal content in soil of the Yellow River Wetland Reserve in Henan.

This study aims to assess the contamination levels of six heavy metals, namely arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb), in the soil of the Henan Yellow River Wetland Reserve. It seeks to reveal the spatial distribution and trends of heavy metal pollution, providing a scientific basis for the rational utilization and effective protection of soil. Additionally, it aims to propose targeted management and remediation recommendations to mitigate or prevent soil pollution. A total of 706 soil samples were collected in this area in combination with the land use type map. As and Hg were determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry, and Cr, Cu, Pb and Cd were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Taking the soil pollution risk screening value of agricultural land (GB15618-2018) as a reference value, the sample data were statistically analyzed, and the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index method combined with ArcGIS technology was used to evaluate the soil environmental quality. The comprehensive pollution index of the soil in the Yellow River Wetland Reserve was 0.42, ranging from 0.17 to 2.38, which was safe and not polluted (I grade). Out of 706 sampling locations, 674 remained uncontaminated, while 26 exhibited cleanliness. Although they were in the warning line, they did not exceed the standard, accounting for 3.68% of the total number of sampling points. Five sample points were slightly polluted, accounting for 0.71% of the total sample points, and one sample point was moderately polluted, accounting for 0.14% of the total sample points. It can be seen that there are few agricultural land pollution points in the Yellow River Wetland Reserve, and the soil environment quality is generally good. The soil in the Yellow River Wetland Reserve in Henan has a very small amount of mild and moderate pollution, and there is no severe pollution. The cleanliness is currently high.

Identifikasi Karakteristik Mineral Magnetik Berdasarkan Analisis XRF di Lahan Pertanian Sekitar Sungai Biyonga Kabupaten Gorontalo

An analysis of soil chemical elements using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) has been conducted on paddy fields in Dutulanaa Village, Gorontalo Regency, and corn farms in Polohungo Village, Gorontalo Regency. Soil samples were taken at three locations, namely corn location 1 (location I), corn location 2 (location II), and paddy fields (location III). At each location, samples were taken at 2 points to obtain 6 pieces. The distance between sampling points is 10 m. Based on the results of XRF measurements, the elements that dominate in paddy fields and corn include silica (Si), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), titanium (Ti), potassium (K), and manganese (Mn), where Si is a diamagnetic element, Fe is a ferromagnetic element, and Al, Ca, Ti, and K are paramagnetic elements. The most significant percentage is silica (Si), 60.27% in corn soil 2 points J2T2. The next highest element is iron (Fe), 29.47% in corn soil, 1 point J1T2. The next element is aluminum (Al), 9.10% in corn soil at 1 point J1T1, calcium (Ca) in corn soil at 2 points J2T2 is 10.03 %, titanium (Ti) was 2.31% in paddy fields at ST5 point and potassium (K) was 2.31% in a paddy field at ST5 point, and the lowest value was manganese (Mn) of 0.59% in corn soil 2 points J2T1. Even some heavy metal elements, such as lead (Pb), were found—zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn). The highest heavy metal elements were found in agricultural corn land at 2 J2T2 points, namely lead (Pb) at 158 ppm, zinc (Zn) at 4,555 ppm, and manganese (Mn) at 17,100 ppm, where these results have exceeded the threshold of soil quality standards, resulting in environmental pollution of agricultural land.

Environmental risk thresholds and prediction models of Cd in Chinese agricultural soils

Soil environmental risk threshold of cadmium (Cd) is an important index in formulating soil protection policy. Environmental risk threshold refers to the maximal allowable critical concentration of hazardous substances in the environment. Although there is less study on how to determine soil Cd environmental risk threshold, it is a crucial indicator in formulating soil conservation policies and a key factor in assessing soil environmental quality. The main research content of the study is deducing the environmental risk threshold, aiming to provide scientific basis for the study of environmental quality standards of agricultural land and provide technical support for the protection of Cd pollution of agricultural land. The hazard concentration of 5 % species (HC5, which protects 95 % of species) was determined here using different toxicological data of Cd from 23 test endpoints, interspecific extrapolation using the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method, and a prediction model was created on the basis of several soil parameters. According to the findings, Cd effective concentration (EC10) (Cd concentration which blocks 10 % of an endpoint's bioactivity) varied from 0.109 to 221 mg·kg−1, and the hormetic response induced by Cd reached 118 % displaying in the dose-response curve of Lolium perenne L.. Toxicology data was rectified by the aging factor considering biogeochemical processes of the newly added pollutants prior to SSD curves fitting. After that, the prediction model was created with the equation of LogHC5 = 0.147 pH + 0.067 OC -1.616. The field test properly validated the prediction model, demonstrating its ability to forecast Cd toxicity levels for various soil conditions. This study offers a scientifically sound methodology for determining the environmental risk limitation for Cd and identifies critical paths for the preservation of environmental species.

Estimation and Spatial Analysis of Agriculture Plastic Waste Case Study: Karangdowo Subdistrict, Klaten Regency, Central Java Indonesia

Plastic waste is well known as generated from domestic activities; however, agricultural activities, including fertilizing, spraying pesticides, and soil covering, have the potential to generate plastic waste. Many studies indicated that agricultural plastic waste (APW) can cause pollution of agricultural land, impacting soil health, biodiversity, and productivity. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the loading rate of APW and its potential for recycling. The data was collected from farmers in Karangdowo district, Klaten City, Central Java province, Indonesia, based on clustering and random samples. Data on land area, crop type, planting frequency, pesticide and fertilizer application was determined to estimate APW loading rate. Mapping of the estimation of the loading rate of APW and plastic-type in each village was processed using QGIS software. The results show four types of plastic with a total estimation per year: plastic sacks (949.6 kg/year), plastic bottles (182.9 kg/year), plastic bags (697.0 kg/year), and mulch (12913.6 kg/year). There were three types of plastics: High Density polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP). Although the horticulture area was less than 10% of total agricultural area in each village, it generated the highest LDPE from the use of mulch. Ringinputih village has the highest estimation of recycle potential HDPE, LDPE, and PP compared with the other villages due to having the most significant horticultural area and variation of crops.

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles suppress copper toxicity in Mentha arvensis L. by adjusting ROS homeostasis and antioxidant defense system and improving essential oil production

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for plants; however, the excessive accumulation of Cu due to various anthropogenic activities generates progressive pollution of agricultural land and that causes a major constraint for crop production. Excess Cu (80 mg kg−1) in the soil diminished growth and biomass, photosynthetic efficiency and essential oil (EO) content in Mentha arvensis L., while amplifying the antioxidant enzyme's function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Therefore, there is a pressing need to explore effective approaches to overcome Cu toxicity in M. arvensis plants. Thus, the present study unveils the potential of foliar supplementation of two distinct forms of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) i.e., Aerosil 200F and Aerosil 300 to confer Cu stress tolerance attributes to M. arvensis. The experiment demonstrated that applied forms of SiO2 NPs (120 mg L−1), enhanced plants' growth and augmented the photosynthetic efficiency along with the activities of CA (carbonic anhydrase) and NR (nitrate reductase), however, the effects were more accentuated by Aerosil 200F application. Supplementation of SiO2 NPs also exhibited a beneficial effect on the antioxidant machinery of Cu-disturbed plants by raising the level of proline and total phenol as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR), thereby lowering ROS and electrolytic leakage (EL). Interestingly, SiO2 NPs supplementation upscaled EO production in Cu-stressed plants with more pronounced effects received in the case of Aerosil 200F over Aerosil 300. We concluded that the nano form (Aerosil 200F) of SiO2 proved to be the best in improving the Cu-stress tolerance in plants.

Seed pretreatment with melatonin confers cadmium tolerance to chickpea seedlings through cellular redox homeostasis and antioxidant gene expression improvement.

Several phytoremediation strategies have been undertaken to alleviate cadmium (Cd)-mediated injury to crop yield resulting from agricultural land pollution. In the present study, the potentially beneficial effect of melatonin (Me) was appraised. Therefore, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds were imbibed for 12 H in distilled water or Me (10µM) solution. Then, the seeds germinated in the presence or the absence of 200µM CdCl2 for 6days. Seedlings obtained from Me-pretreated seeds exhibited enhanced growth traits, reflected by fresh biomass and length increase. This beneficial effect was associated with a decreased Cd accumulation in seedling tissues (by 46 and 89% in roots and shoots, respectively). Besides, Me efficiently protected the cell membrane integrity of Cd-subjected seedlings. This protective effect was manifested by the decreased lipoxygenase activity and the subsequently reduced accumulation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. Melatonin counteracted the Cd-mediated stimulation of the pro-oxidant NADPH-oxidase (90 and 45% decrease compared to non-pretreated Cd-stressed roots and shoots, respectively) and NADH-oxidase activities (almost 40% decrease compared to non-pretreated roots and shoots), preventing, thus, hydrogen peroxide overaccumulation (50 and 35% lesser than non-pretreated roots and shoots, respectively). Furthermore, Me enhanced the cellular content of pyridine nicotinamide reduced forms [NAD(P)H] and their redox state. This effect was associated with the Me-mediated stimulation of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and malate dehydrogenase activities, concomitantly with the inhibition of NAD(P)H-consuming activities. These effects were accompanied by the up-regulation of G6PDH gene expression (45% increase in roots) and the down-regulation of the respiratory burst oxidase homolog protein F (RBOHF) gene expression (53% decrease in roots and shoots). Likewise, Me induced an increased activity and gene transcription of the Asada-Halliwell cycle, namely ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase, concomitantly with a reduction of the glutathione peroxidase activity. This modulating effect led to the restoration of the redox homeostasis of the ascorbate and the glutathione pools. Overall, current results attest that seed pretreatment with Me is effective in Cd stress relief and can be a beneficial crop-protective approach.

In vitro and in vivo copper-treated Myrtus communis L.: terpene profiles and evidence for potential cultivation on metal-contaminated soils.

The intensive application of agro-chemicals, and in particular of copper (Cu)-based compounds, causes increasing pollution of agricultural land, with serious risks for human health. Aromatic plants used for purposes other than food, can be considered for the exploitation and/or remediation of metal-polluted substrates, since contamination of the essential oils by these metals was not significant. Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a Mediterranean evergreen shrub whose essential oil has many commercial applications. In this work, the effect of an excess of Cu in respect to control conditions was assessed on M. communis growth and foliar terpene composition. Metal accumulation in roots and shoots was also evaluated for the possible use of this species in phytoremediation. The amount of Cu applied in our experiments minimally affected the terpene profiles of in vitro grown plants, whereas no variations were detected in in vivo plants. The presence of the metal in the soil did not significantly impair plant growth, thus allowing its cultivation on polluted substrates. On the other hand, the amount of Cu in the plant was not enough to result in a significant reduction of Cu levels in the soil. Therefore, myrtle plants proved to be good candidates for the re-vegetation of Cu-contaminated lands.

Digestate of Fecal Sludge Enhances the Tetracycline Removal in Soil Microbial Fuel Cells

The soil pollution of agricultural lands is increasingly being caused by the widely used antibiotic tetracycline (TC) in the animal husbandry industry. Soil microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) provide a promising strategy for the bioremediation of contaminated soil. However, our current understanding of the bioremediation of TC-contaminated soil by SMFC is still limited. Here, we investigated the influence of fecal sludge (FS) digestate on TC biodegradation efficiency and extracellular electron transfer in SMFCs. The addition of FS digestate was beneficial to electricity generation by SMFC, and thus enhanced the removal efficiency of TC in the SMFC. After 25 days, the SMFC with fecal sludge digestate showed a TC removal efficiency of 64.5%, compared to values of 25.2% and 21.4% observed for a SMFC and an open-circuit SMFC operating without the addition of fecal sludge digestate, respectively. Moreover, the addition of FS digestate was favorable for electricity generation by SMFCs, and the average current density and the maximum power density of the SMFC with fecal sludge digestate were 0.054 A/m3 and 8.85 W/m3, respectively. The enrichment of Desulfuromonas and Pseudomonas in the electrode biofilms might account for their high TC removal efficiency and electricity generation. The SMFC with fecal sludge digestate provides a promising approach for the simultaneous disposal of fecal sludge digestate and the bioremediation of antibiotics-contaminated-soil.

Фиторемедиация как метод рекультивации земель, загрязненных хлорорганическими соединениями

Land contamination by organochlorine pollutants is widespread on the territory of the Russian Federation. In many cases, such pollution is of a historical nature, resulting from past human activities. This is the pollution of agricultural land with organochlorine pesticides, as well as the pollution of industrial lands and settlements with polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins as well as organochlorine solvents. For reclamation of those lands, appropriate methods and technologies are required. This article is devoted to a review of phytoremediation methods for lands contaminated with organochlorine pollutants.
 The article describes the main mechanisms of phytoremediation and gives examples of using these methods for the reclamation of those lands.

Heavy Metal Concentration Characteristics and Health Risks of Farmland Soils in Typical Pyrite Mining Area of the Central Zhejiang Province, China

In order to ascertain the impact of pyrite mining on the surrounding farmland soil environment and human health, 42 surface soil samples (from 0-20 cm) were collected around the pyrite mining area in Longyou county. In this study, the concentrations of eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and the pH in the topsoil were analyzed, and the concentration characteristics of heavy metals, source analysis, and human health risks assessment were studied using statistical analysis (SA), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), positive matrix factorization (PMF), and the health risk model. The average of ω(Cd), ω(Cu), ω(Pb), and ω(Zn) concentrations exceeded the background values of soils in Zhejiang province and China. According to the agricultural land pollution risk screening values (GB 15618-2018), Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were up to 82%, 49%, 42%, and 31%, respectively. The Igeo shows that the major pollutant element in the soils was Cd, followed by Cu, Pb, and Zn. The PMF analysis indicates that nature sources (As, Cr, and Ni), comprehensive pollution sources caused by high geological background and mining of ore-forming geological bodies (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn), and anthropogenic sources (Hg) were the three major sources of heavy metals in the study area, with contributions of 32%, 46%, and 22%, respectively. The results of the health risk assessment indicate that the major non-carcinogenic factor triggering risks was the ingestion of Pb; Cr exposure had carcinogenic risk for adults, and Cr and As exposure had carcinogenic risk for children.

MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF ASSESSMENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS ON POLLUTION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND

This work studies the impact of electromagnetic fields on the degradation of agricultural land. During the analysis of available sources of information, it was found that in the scientific publications by domestic authors, there is no mention of such a factor of land degradation as the action of electromagnetic fields (EMF) of man-made origin. Numerous scientific works by foreign experts present the results of experimental studies that confirm the negative impact of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of power lines (PL) on agricultural land. The application of mathematical methods of modelling the dynamics of the distribution of the number of microorganisms or other soil components in the irradiation zone of power lines can be the basis for biomonitoring in the system of construction technologies to protect agricultural land from electromagnetic pollution. The paper presents statistical models designed to assess the impact of electromagnetic fields on pollution of agricultural land and conduct appropriate biomonitoring. The dependence of the number of fungi in the soil on the distance to the 110 kV power line at different seasons and the dynamics of the intensity of adaptation processes in the soil at different distances from the power line (PL) was constructed. The methods of regression, variance and cluster analysis were used in the development of models, and the corresponding elasticity functions were constructed. It is shown that the application of modern data processing methods allows obtaining additional information even from the already published results of work performed by various researchers.

Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Stoichiometry in Cascade Ponds in an Agricultural Small Watershed and Their Influencing Factors

Ecological stoichiometry of nitrogen and phosphorus is an important indicator to characterize the nitrogen and phosphorus trophic status in aquatic ecosystems. The study of the spatio-temporal patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry is beneficial to the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution management in pond ecosystems. In this study, 18 groups (36 in total) of typical cascade ponds were selected as long-term observations to investigate the spatial distribution patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus component ratios (ratio of total nitrogen to phosphorus: TN:TP, ratio of dissolved nitrogen to phosphorus: TDN:TDP, ratio of particulate nitrogen to phosphorus: PN:PP) in water bodies in the tropical agricultural watershed of Jinjing. The results showed that the average values of TN:TP and TDN:TDP in the upstream ponds were 26.4 and 53.4, respectively, and were more than those in the downstream (22.95 and 48.1, respectively). In contrast, the PN:PP (13.78) in the upstream was significantly lower than that of the downstream (30.39). Furthermore, the factors of rainfall, agricultural land use and fish farming influenced the spatio-temporal variability of the N:P ratios. The ratios of TN:TP and TDN:TDP were higher in the wet season and lower in the dry season. Agricultural land use and fish farming reduced the ratios of the above three nitrogen and phosphorus components in cascade ponds in the study area. Our results show that strengthening agricultural land pollution control and aquaculture management could help to improve water quality of pond ecosystems in the study area.

Organic pollution control of agricultural land based on straw biochar

ABSTRACT Organic pollution of agricultural land will cause environmental problems and agricultural economic effects. To explore the reliable effect of remediation of organic pollution in agricultural land, wheat straw biochar was prepared in this paper. Moreover, this paper uses experimental research and comparison methods to study the difference in the adsorption performance of biochar at different pyrolysis temperatures on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the effect of pyrolysis biochar on the availability of phenanthrene and pyrene microorganisms in the soil at the same temperature. Additionally, statistical methods are utilised in this research to do analytics and data processing on test data, and test findings are visually displayed using a combination of graphs and tables. Finally, to understand the experimental research findings, this system employs analytical approaches. The results of the experiment show that wheat straw biochar can effectively reduce soil organic pollution, which can expand the research on the restoration of other crop straw biochar on agricultural land.

Comparative effects of ascobin and glutathione on copper homeostasis and oxidative stress metabolism in mitigation of copper toxicity in rice.

Copper (Cu) pollution of agricultural land is a major threat to crop production. Exogenous chemical treatment is an easily accessible and rapid approach to remediate metal toxicity, including Cu toxicity in plants. We compared the effects of ascobin (ASC; ascorbic acid:citric acid at 2:1) and glutathione (GSH) in mitigation of Cu toxicity in rice. Plants subjected to Cu stress displayed growth inhibition and biomass reduction, which were connected to reduced levels of chlorophylls, RWC, total phenolic compounds, carotenoids and Mg2+ . Increased accumulation of ROS and malondialdehyde indicated oxidative stress in Cu-stressed plants. However, application of ASC or GSH minimized the inhibitory effects of Cu stress on rice plants by restricting Cu2+ uptake and improving mineral balance, chlorophyll content and RWC. Both ASC and GSH pretreatments reduced levels of ROS and malondialdehyde and improved activities of antioxidant enzymes, suggesting their roles in alleviating oxidative damage. A comparison on the effects of ASC and GSH under Cu stress revealed that ASC was more effective in restricting Cu2+ accumulation (69.5% by ASC and 57.1% by GSH), Ca2+ and Mg2+ homeostasis, protection of photosynthetic pigments and activation of antioxidant defence mechanisms [catalase (110.4%), ascorbate peroxidase (76.5%) and guaiacol peroxidase (39.0%) by ASC, and catalase (58.9%) and ascorbate peroxidase (59.9%) by GSH] in rice than GSH, eventually resulting in better protection of ASC-pretreated plants against Cu stress. In conclusion, although ASC and GSH differed in induction of stress protective mechanisms, both were effective in improving rice performance in response to Cu phytotoxicity.

A Review on Heavy Metal Pollution of Agricultural Land Soil in the Yangtze River Delta and Relevant Pollution Control Strategy

The Yangtze River Delta is an important industrial and agricultural production base in China. It is significant to pay attention to the heavy metal pollution of agricultural land in the Yangtze River Delta for promoting the healthy development of social economy and for ensuring the safety of ecological environment in China. In this paper, the accumulation and pollution status of typical heavy metals in the agricultural land soil in different regions of the Yangtze River Delta were comprehensively analyzed and the main reasons for the pollution were systematically discussed, according to the heavy metal content data reported in relevant literatures published over the past 20 years. The analysis revealed that due to industrial “three wastes” emissions, transportation, and the extensive use of fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural films, Cd accumulation and pollution in the agricultural land soil of the entire Yangtze River Delta is the most serious, followed by Cu, Hg and Pb pollution; specifically, Taizhou (in Zhejiang Province) has a compound pollution problem of Cd, Hg, and Cu while Tongling (in Anhui Province) has a compound pollution problem of Cd, Pb, and Cu. To meet the urgent need for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in the Yangtze River Delta and considering the main causes of pollution, some suggestions were proposed, including source control, rapid and dynamic monitoring, hierarchical management of agricultural land, research and development of new technologies for soil remediation, and legislation on prevention and control of agricultural land soil pollution. It is hoped that this research can provide a reference for improving the soil ecological environment in the Yangtze River Delta and promoting the sustainable development of a high-quality and efficient agriculture.

Spatiotemporal simulation, early warning, and policy recommendations of the soil heavy metal environmental capacity of the agricultural land in a typical industrial city in China: Case of Zhongshan City

Soil environmental capacity and risk warning are the core contents of soil security research. In this study, geostatistical analysis, a material balance linear model, and an environmental load capacity method were selected to simulate the environmental capacities of eight heavy metals (Hg, As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cd) in the agricultural land of north Zhongshan City. Then, based on the capacity data in 2015 as the baseline year, risk early warning assessment was carried out, and the management strategy of soil heavy metal pollution under the goal of “soil security” was proposed accordingly. The results showed that between 2015 and 2035, there was a 1.73-fold increase in the average annual capacity of heavy metals in the soil samples collected in the study area. Generally, the heavy metal environmental capacities showed an upward trend, except for Hg, and the low capacity areas were primarily distributed in the northern plain. The comprehensive risk level was medium, based on the soil heavy metal environmental capacities. Further, the average environmental capacity indexes of Hg, As, Cr, and Pb were all >1, corresponding to no risk. However, those of Ni and Zn were 0.8 and 0.7, which corresponded to mild risk, while those of Cu and Cd were all <0, corresponding to extreme risk. Additionally, it is necessary for the government to consider the main pollution sources when formulating targeted measures aimed at controlling agricultural land heavy metal pollution in industrial cities. The results of this study provide theoretical contributions on early warning of risks related to heavy metal environmental capacity of the agricultural land in industrial cities, and serve as practical reference for speeding up the formulation of agricultural land pollution management policies.

The method of agricultural lands conditions determined on basis of electromagnetic separation results for cereal crops and herbal flour

In article the appearance reasons of metal different forms elements in assembled crop of cereals or herbal flour are considered. It’s noted that these elements are almost not extracted from agricultural products by screening, sorting by weight, etc. The different methods (magnetic, nuclear-magnetic, X-ray, etc.) for presence determined of metal particles in this product with elative concentrations determined. A method is proposed which on basis of electromagnetic separation of these products allows us to establish of agricultural land pollution state of different foreign elements.

Ecological risk associated with agricultural production in soils contaminated by the activities of the metal ore mining and processing industry - example from southern Poland

This paper assesses the degree of soil pollution of agricultural land exposed to the emission of pollution related to the mining and processing industry. Based on the analysis of the content of primary elements (Mg, K, P, Ca, S and Fe) and trace elements (Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Ti and Mn) in soils from the area of Bukowno, Sosnowiec, Nowa Huta and Cło (southern Poland, EU) pollution coefficients i.e. the geo-accumulation index Igeo and the enrichment factor EF were calculated. The usability of the soils analysed in terms of agriculture was also determined in accordance with the guidelines of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy. The research findings indicate that the permissible levels of Pb and Zn have been exceeded (Bukowno, Sosnowiec and Nowa Huta) in locations where the exploitation and processing of Zn-Pb ores and steel production take place. The amount and type of pollution found in the soils is closely related to the type of industry and concentrates (ores) that are processed in a given plant. Heavy Zn pollution (Igeo ≥ 3) and medium Pb pollution (Igeo > 2) preclude some of these areas from agricultural production, especially from leafy vegetable cultivation.