High Amounts Of Organic Matter Research Articles

Effect of total solids and agitation time on biogas yield, using rice husk

ABSTRACTThe rice husk contains a high amount of organic matter, which is broken down by microbial activity using anaerobic digestion, yielding biogas. The various percentages of total solids (Ts) concentration of rice straw effect of agitation time, pH, temperature and effectiveness of microorganisms in the decomposition process were studied in order to determine the conditions for an optimum biogas yield. A floating dome anaerobic digester wasutilised, which contains different percentages of the Ts, and the biogas yield is monitored directly by a digital gas flow meter. It is observed that the amount of biogas yield generated for 10% Ts, 20% Ts and 30% Ts was 1.13, 1.25 and 1.03 m3, respectively. The result shows that 20% Ts concentration and 15 min agitation time and pH of 7.2 had the maximum biogas yield.

The influence of thermal treatment on bioweathering and arsenic sorption capacity of a natural iron (oxyhydr)oxide-based adsorbent

Adsorption plays a significant role in remediation of waters contaminated with arsenic, but the efficiency of the process varies depending on the sorbent properties. Bog iron ores (BIOs), characterized by high sorption capacity and widespread availability, seem to be an optimal sorbent of arsenic. However, the use of BIOs for arsenic removal from waters may be limited by the high amount of organic matter, which may stimulate microbial activity, and thus decomposition of the sorbent. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of organic matter removal by thermal transformation (roasting) on the bioavailability of BIOs and their arsenic sorption capacity. For this purpose, the influence of bacterial growth and activity on untreated and treated BIOs, unloaded and loaded with arsenic, was studied. Moreover, the chemical and physical properties (including FTIR and desorption of arsenic) of BIOs were investigated as well. The results show that the removal of organic matter increases the stability of BIOs, and thus reduces the bioavailability of the immobilized arsenic.

Silicificaciones selectivas en <em>Thalassinoides</em> y otras estructuras biogénicas asociadas a calizas de plataforma marina y <em>hardground</em> (Albiense inferior, Sonabia, Cantabria)

El presente trabajo estudia los diferentes tipos de sílex que aparecen en la Formación Calizas de Oriñón (Aptiense superior-Albiense inferior), en un zona concreta de la costa oriental de Cantabria (Liendo-Castro Urdiales), debido a su gran abundancia y espectacularidad. Las rocas que los incluyen son principalmente biocalcarenitas (wackestones/packstones de pellets, fragmentos de equinodermos, ostreidos, foraminíferos y espículas calcáreas o silíceas calcificadas), siendo el ambiente de depósito marino de plataforma abierta, y existiendo un hardground regional, donde las silicificaciones son diferentes. La fuente de la sílice proviene de la calcitización o disolución de las espículas de esponjas silíceas. 
 Se determina que la gran mayoría de sílex (mosaicos de cuarzo micro-microcriptalino y calcedonita principalmente), se forman por la silicificación selectiva de estructuras biogénicas, siendo las galerías de Thalassinoidespreferentemente silicificadas, debido a que en su relleno existe mayor proporción de materia orgánica y mayor porosidad y permeabilidad. En las calizas que soportan el hardground además de las silicificaciones selectivas sobre fósiles (rostros de belemnites, ostreidos y equínidos), la sílice se acumula de forma importante en huellas de alimentación y rellenos de perforaciones, dando lugar a su vez a costras sobre bioturbaciones y perforaciones que a pesar de su importancia no han podido ser clasificadas. 
 La silicificación de todas las estructuras biogénicas, originó inicialmente fases opalinas y tuvo lugar durante la diagénesis temprana cuando la oxidación de la materia orgánica estaba todavía activa, conservándose en los Thalassinoides silicificados formas (filamentos y cocoides) que podrían ser consideradas microbianas. La transformación ópalo-cuarzo fue temprana, preservándose dichas formas. 
 En las galerías silicificadas de Thalassinoides los procesos diagenéticos son diferentes a los de los sedimentos carbonáticos marinos que las incluyen, y al resto de estructuras biogénicas silicificadas, existiendo en estas galerías neoformación de dolomita y calcita, en un microambiente cerrado donde las condiciones cambian de oxidantes a reductoras.

Insights into the benthic communities response to the inflow of Black Sea mesotrophic waters in the North Aegean Sea

The effects of the Dardanelles inflow of buoyant, modified Black Sea waters (BSW) of low salinity and temperature, on the meio- and macrobenthic communities of the north Aegean ecosystem was investigated during two cruises in October 2013 and March 2014. Sediment samples were collected from two stations subjected to the BSW effect, one shallow and one deep north of the Dardanelles Straits, and from two stations of similar bathymetry, which were considered to be outside the influence of BSW and were located to the south of the Dardanelles Straits. Results suggest that there is an effect of the BSW on benthos, as both meiofaunal and macrofaunal standing stocks were lower at the most distant, and therefore least affected from the inflow, station, and higher at the station of similar bathymetry which was affected the most by the BSW inflow. Univariate and multivariate non-parametric analyses (nMDS, PERMANOVA) provided further support, indicating differences between the two areas (North vs. South) in the case of the deep stations, while differences between depth categories were evident in the area outside the BSW influence zone. Distance-based linear modeling (DISTLM) indicated that meiofauna correlated with proxies of food availability and sediment characteristics. Macrofauna, on the other hand, showed a rather high significant correlation with depth only. Nematode species composition was statistically significant different between depth categories only, yet the nMDS ordination clearly separated the deep southern station from the rest, with non-selective deposit feeders dominating the stations under the influence of the BSW, and epistratum feeders being important at the stations outside the influence of the BSW. It is concluded that both the meiofaunal and macrofaunal communities at the northern stations benefit from a constant input of high amounts of organic matter to the seafloor, while those at the southern area may be occasionally affected by the thermohaline BSW front, which may reach as far as the southern stations, resulting in higher but rather unpredictable organic enrichment.

The effects of vegetation cover on soil nematode communities in various biotopes disturbed by industrial emissions

Better understanding of interactions among belowground and aboveground components in biotopes may improve our knowledge about soil ecosystem, and is necessary in environment assessment using indigenous soil organisms. In this study, we proposed that in disturbed biotopes, vegetation play important role in the buffering of contamination impact on soil communities and decrease the ecological pressure on soil biota. To assess the effects of these interactions we compared nematode communities, known for their bioindication abilities, from four types of disturbed and undisturbed biotopes (coniferous forest, permanent grassland, agricultural field, clearings), where the main stress agent was represented by long-term acidic industrial emissions containing heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, and Pb). To understand the ecological interactions taking place in studied biotopes, we studied abiotic factors (soil properties) and biotic factors (vegetation, nematode communities). Except significant increase in metals total and mobile concentrations in disturbed biotopes soil, we found acidification of soil horizon, mainly in the clearings (pH=3.68), due to SO2 precipitation. These factors has caused in clearings degradation of native phytocoenoses and decrease in decomposition rate characterized by high amount of organic matter (Cox=4.29%). Nematodes reacts to these conditions by shifts in trophic structure (bacteriovores to fungal feeders), increase in c-p 2 genera (Aphelenchoides, Acrobeloides, and Cephalobus), absence of sensitive groups (c-p 3–5, omnivores, predators), and decrease in ecological indices (SI, MI, MI2–5, H′). Similar contamination was found in forest biotope, but the nematodes composition indicates more suitable conditions; more complex community structure (presence of sensitive trophic and higher c-p groups), higher abundance and indices values, comparable with less stressed field and grassland biotopes. As showed our results, the vegetation undoubtedly plays an important role not only as a resource of services indispensable for the ecosystem, but also as a significant buffer of negative impacts acting within.

Evaluation of Primary Production in the Lower Amazon River Based on a Dissolved Oxygen Stable Isotopic Mass Balance

The Amazon River outgasses nearly an equivalent amount of CO2 as the rainforest sequesters on an annual basis due to microbial decomposition of terrigenous and aquatic organic matter. Most research performed in the Amazon has been focused on unraveling the mechanisms driving CO2 production since the recognition of a persistent state of CO2 supersaturation. However, although the river system is clearly net heterotrophic, the interplay between primary production and respiration is an essential aspect to understanding the overall metabolism of the ecosystem and potential transfer of energy up trophic levels. For example, an efficient ecosystem is capable of both decomposing high amounts of organic matter at lower trophic levels, driving CO2 emissions, and accumulating energy/biomass in higher trophic levels, stimulating fisheries production. Early studies found minimal evidence for primary production in the Amazon River mainstem and it has since been assumed that photosynthesis is strongly limited by low light penetration attributed to the high sediment load. Here, we test this assumption by measuring the stable isotopic composition of O2 (δ18O-O2) and O2 saturation levels in the lower Amazon River from Obidos to the river mouth and its major tributaries, the Xingu and Tapajos rivers, during high and low water periods. An oxygen mass balance model was developed to estimate the input of photosynthetic oxygen in the discrete reach from Obidos to Almeirim, midway to the river mouth. Based on the oxygen mass balance we estimate that primary production occurred at a rate of 0.39 ± 0.24 g O m3 d-1 at high water and 1.02 ± 0.55 g O m3 d-1 at low water. This translates to 41 ± 24% of the rate of O2 drawdown via respiration during high water and 67 ± 33% during low water. These primary production rates are 2-7 times higher than past estimates for the Amazon River mainstem. It is possible that at high water much of this productivity signal is the result of legacy advection from floodplains, whereas limited floodplain connectivity during low water implies that most of this signal is the result of in situ primary production in the Amazon River mainstem.

Origin and distribution of the organic matter in the distal lobe of the Congo deep-sea fan – A Rock-Eval survey

The Congo River, the second largest river in the world, is a major source of organic matter for the deep Atlantic Ocean because of the connection of its estuary to the deep offshore area by a submarine canyon which feeds a vast deep-sea fan. The lobe zone of this deep-sea fan is the final receptacle of the sedimentary inputs presently channelled by the canyon and covers an area of ~2500km². The quantity and the source of organic matter preserved in recent turbiditic sediments from the distal lobe of the Congo deep-sea fan were assessed using Rock-Eval pyrolysis analyses. Six sites, located at approximately 5000m water-depth, were investigated. The mud-rich sediments of the distal lobe contain high amounts of organic matter (~3.5 to 4% Corg), the origin of which is a mixture of terrestrial higher-plant debris, soil organic matter and deeply oxidized phytoplanktonic material. Although the respective contribution of terrestrial and marine sources of organic matter cannot be precisely quantified using Rock-Eval analyses, the terrestrial fraction is dominant according to similar hydrogen and oxygen indices of both suspended and bedload sediments from the Congo River and that deposited in the lobe complex. The Rock-Eval signature supports the 70% to 80% of the terrestrial fraction previously estimated using C/N and δ13Corg data. In the background sediment, the organic matter distribution is homogeneous at different scales, from a single turbiditic event to the entire lobe, and changes in accumulation rates only have a limited effect on the quantity and quality of the preserved organic matter. Peculiar areas with chemosynthetic bivalves and/or bacterial mats, explored using ROV Victor 6000, show a Rock-Eval signature similar to background sediment. This high organic carbon content associated to high sedimentation rates (> 2 to 20 mm.yr−1) in the Congo distal lobe complex implies a high burial rate for organic carbon. Consequently, the Congo deep-sea fan represents an enormous sink of terrestrial organic matter when compared to other turbiditic systems over the world.

Assessment of water quality parameters of Bhalswa Lake in New Delhi

Bhalswa Lake in New Delhi is one of the important lakes which are being severely degraded because of the effluent/sewage coming from nearby dairy and residential area. In this study, some physiochemical characteristics of Bhalswa Lake were investigated. Physical parameters such as electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, total suspended solid (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS) and chemical parameters such as pH, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), sodium, potassium and calcium were examined. Results of the study indicated that lake water is highly contaminated and not suitable for recreational activities as it contains high amount of organic matter, high algal growth, slightly high pH, BOD is high as compare to given standards by CPCB for outdoor bathing. The study discusses the water quality of Bhalswa Lake and comprises the water quality with given standards.

Microbial Community Composition of Two Environmentally Conserved Estuaries in the Midorikawa River and Shirakawa River

To provide a general overview of the microbial communities in environmentally conserved estuaries, the top 5 cm of sediment was sampled from the sandy estuary of the Shirakawa River and from the muddy estuary of the Midorikawa River. Higher amounts of organic matter were detected in the Midorikawa estuary sample than in the Shirakawa estuary sample. Measurement of redox potential revealed that the Shirakawa estuary was aerobic and the Midorikawa estuary was much less aerobic. Clone analysis was performed by targeting partial 16S rRNA gene sequences and using extracted DNA from the samples as a template. Various bacteria were detected, among which Gammaproteobacteria was dominant at both estuaries. Unclassified clones were detected in the Gammaproteobacteria group, mainly among samples from the Midorikawa estuary. Other detected bacterial groups were Alphaproteobacteria , Deltaproteobacteria , Chloroflexi , Actinobacteria , and Bacteroidetes . All the Deltaproteobacteria clones were anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria. Those aerobic and anaerobic bacteria coexisted in the top 5 cm of the estuary sediments indicating the surface layer have active sulfur and carbon cycle. Abundance of aerobic Gammaproteobacteria may be an indicator for conserved estuaries. Keywords: conserved environment, clone analysis, estuary, microbial community, 16S rRNA gene.

Incorporation of microplastics from litter into burrows of Lumbricus terrestris

Pollution caused by plastic debris is an urgent environmental problem. Here, we assessed the effects of microplastics in the soil surface litter on the formation and characterization of burrows built by the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris in soil and quantified the amount of microplastics that was transported and deposited in L. terrestris burrows.Worms were exposed to soil surface litter treatments containing microplastics (Low Density Polyethylene) for 2 weeks at concentrations of 0%, 7%, 28%, 45% and 60%. The latter representing environmentally realistic concentrations found in hot spot soil locations. There were significantly more burrows found when soil was exposed to the surface treatment composed of 7% microplastics than in all other treatments. The highest amount of organic matter in the walls of the burrows was observed after using the treatments containing 28 and 45% microplastics. The highest microplastic bioturbation efficiency ratio (total microplastics (mg) in burrow walls/initial total surface litter microplastics (mg)) was found using the concentration of 7% microplastics, where L. terrestris introduced 73.5% of the surface microplastics into the burrow walls. The highest burrow wall microplastic content per unit weight of soil (11.8 ± 4.8 g kg-1) was found using a concentration of 60% microplastics. L. terrestris was responsible for size-selective downward transport when exposed to concentrations of 7, 28 and 45% microplastics in the surface litter, as the fraction ≤50 μm microplastics in burrow walls increased by 65% compared to this fraction in the original surface litter plastic. We conclude that the high biogenic incorporation rate of the small-fraction microplastics from surface litter into burrow walls causes a risk of leaching through preferential flow into groundwater bodies. Furthermore, this leaching may have implications for the subsequent availability of microplastics to terrestrial organisms or for the transport of plastic-associated organic contaminants in soil.

Incorporation of an anaerobic digestion step in a multistage treatment system for sanitary landfill leachate

A combined process of anaerobic digestion (AD), lime precipitation (P), microfiltration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) was developed for the treatment of landfill leachate (LFL). The raw LFL contained high amount of organic matter with an elevated humic acids concentration. During the anaerobic digestion step, the organic loading rate was increased progressively up to 3.3gCODL−1d−1. The upflow anaerobic fixed bed reactor showed a great performance in terms of COD removal efficiency and biogas production. During precipitation experiments, lime dose was optimized to obtain the maximum reduction of conductivity to prevent the fouling of RO membranes. This process was compared to a second one in which the AD step was eliminated. Both treatment plans achieved similar removal efficiencies. However, AD step significantly improved the process by reducing the needed lime dose by 50%. It has also increased MF and RO fluxes by 35% and 40% at a steady state, respectively. The dominant fouling mechanism was cake layer formation during both MF tests. This process seems to be a promising approach for the treatment of LFL and its industrial application should be further investigated.

TiO2 assisted photo-oxidation of wastewater prior to voltammetric determination of trace metals: Eco-friendly alternative to traditional digestion methods

Voltammetry is a sensitive method for metal determination and one alternative to ICP MS, but its limitation is the influence of the organic matrix on the measurements. To avoid those interferences, wet digestion with H2O2 accelerated with UV irradiation is applied and evaporation of excess of reagents is required. In this study, photolytic oxidation in quartz tubes with anatase was carried out, using as object of study wastewater samples with high amount of organic matter. Cadmium and lead determination was carried out in order to test metal recoveries. Lead recoveries reached c.a 85% for UV digestion with hydrogen peroxide, 98% for digestion with anatase immobilized with polyvinylidene fluoride (N-metylo-2-pirolidon) and c.a 103% for digestion with immobilized anatase (anatase in gum). The results obtained showed the usefulness of TiO2 layer as an oxidation medium. An easy, cheap and eco-friendly digestion method of surfactants without any reagent has been developed, with equal sensitivity but and the same detection limit of traditional digestion methods.

Seasonal variation of nutrient loads in treated wastewater effluents and receiving water bodies in Sedibeng and Soshanguve, South Africa.

The discharge of inadequately treated wastewater effluent presents a major threat to the aquatic environment and public health worldwide. As a water-scarce country, South Africa is facing an alarming situation since most of its wastewater discharges are not meeting the permissible limit. The aim of this study was to assess the physicochemical quality of treated wastewater effluents and their impact on receiving water bodies. During the study period, pH, temperature, free chlorine residue (Cl(-)), dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate (NO3 (-1)), orthophosphate (PO4 (-3)) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were measured in order to ascertain whether the selected wastewater systems in Sedibeng and Soshanguve complied with the South African and World Health Organization standards during wet and dry seasons. These parameters were analysed for samples collected from raw wastewater influent, treated wastewater effluent and receiving water bodies. The study was carried out between August 2011 and May 2012, and samples were collected on a weekly basis during both seasons. The physicochemical quality of effluents did not comply with the regulatory limits set by South Africa in terms of pH in Meyerton, Rietgat and Sandspruit (pH 7.6 to 8.1); free chlorine in Sandspruit (0.27 ± 0.05 mg/L); nitrate in Leeuwkuil and Rietgat (2.1 and 3.8 mg/L, respectively) during the wet season; orthophosphate in Meyerton during the wet season and in Sandspruit during the dry season (1.3 mg PO4 (-3) as P/L and 1.1 mg PO4 (-3) as P/L, respectively); and chemical oxygen demand in Rietgat during the dry season and in Sandspruit during the wet season (75.5 and 35 mg/L, respectively). Furthermore, the quality of the receiving water bodies did not comply with the South African standards recommended for pH, chemical oxygen demand and orthophosphate and DO (5 mg/L) in Rietgat during the wet season. The geometric mean of the water quality index values ranged between 32.4 and 36.9 for the effluent samples and between 38.1 and 65.7 for the receiving water bodies. These findings revealed that the receiving water bodies were classified as having "poor" quality status, except Leeuwkuil receiving water body (Vaal River) and Sandspruit upstream (Sandspruit stream). The dry season showed a relatively lower water quality index. This situation might be attributed to the higher amount of organic matter and lower microbial activities in the receiving water bodies. This study suggests that wastewater effluents and receiving water systems should be monitored regularly to ensure best practices with regard to nutrient treatment and discharge of wastewater.

Effects of Biochars and Other Organic Soil Amendments on Plant Nutrient Availability in an Ustoxic Quartzipsamment

A sandy soil, Nampong soil (classified as Ustoxic Quartzipsamment), was incubated under controlled condition i) to compare the mineralization of major plant nutrients derived from different types of biochars and other organic soil amendments; ii) to examine their effects on soil properties and plant nutrient availability; and iii) to evaluate the plant nutrient losses in leachate from the rooting zone of soil incorporated with the different amendments. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with 3 replications. Five treatments of soil amendments used were cassava stem base biochar (CSB), rice husk biochar (RHB), chicken manure (CM), compost (CP), and no amendment application (control). The RHB treatment released the highest amounts of mineralized NO−3-N, available P and K (2.30–17.26, 5.50–42.90 and 43.00–187.63 mg kg−1, respectively) while the CM treatment releasing the highest NH−3-N in the range of 1.86–53.67 mg kg−1. The CSB and RHB treatments showed better continuity of mineralization of nutrients than the treatments of CM and CP, particularly in the case of the CSB treatment. In the soil column incubation experiment, the amounts of NH+4-N and NO−3-N in all treatments barely changed on Day 1 to Day 30 of incubation and then the amounts increased markedly on Day 60. On Day 60, the RHB treatment contained a very high amount of NO−3T-N (> 250 mg kg−1). This suggests that N would become more available 30 d after the incorporation. The CM treatment gave the highest amounts of organic matter and available P in the ranges of 4.64–8.94 g kg−1 and 14.41–36.33 mg kg−1, respectively, during the 60-d column incubation. The CSB treatment tended to have higher available K throughout the measuring period. The NO−3-N was leached from the soil column quite quickly on Day 1 of incubation while the loss of NH+4-N decreased slightly from Day 1 until the end of the measurement. The amounts of P and K losses varied with the type of soil amendments, and the pattern of the loss was irregular.

Soil attributes under different crop management systems in an Amazon Oxisols

Soil biological properties have a high potential for use in assessing the impacts of crop systems. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of cropping systems on the biological attributes of an oxisol in the Amazonian state of Para. The treatments consisted of approximately 20-year-old secondary vegetation, recovered pasture, no-tillage systems (NT) maintained for 4 and 8 years after planting with corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.), and conventional tillage (CT) systems every 2 years after planting with rice (Oryza sativa L.) and soybean. The microbial biomass to nitrogen ratio was higher in the NT system (0.68 mg kg–1), and the NT system had greater microbial NT8. Thus, the contributions of organic matter from straw improved the soil quality in these areas. The total organic carbon (TOC) content was greater in the secondary forest and CT areas (46.7 and 48.0 mg kg–1, respectively), potentially due to the higher amounts of organic matter and organic matter mineralization in these areas. However, the largest TOC stocks were observed in the pasture, which corresponded with greater carbon storage (63.5 Mg ha–1). By contrast, the no-till systems were not efficient for storing C, with concentrations of 5.0 and 5.3 Mg ha–1 in NT-4 and NT-8, respectively. These results may reflect the short period that these systems were adopted and the vast microbial activity that was observed in these areas, with microbial quotients of 8.03 and 10.41% in NT-4 and NT-8, respectively.

A Comparative Study of Fouling and Bottom Ash from Woody Biomass Combustion in a Fixed-Bed Small-Scale Boiler and Evaluation of the Analytical Techniques Used

In this work, fouling and bottom ash were collected from a low-power boiler after wood pellet combustion and studied using several analytical techniques to characterize and compare samples from different areas and determine the suitability of the analysis techniques employed. TGA results indicated that the fouling contained a high amount of organic matter (70%). The XRF and SEM-EDS measurements revealed that Ca and K are the main inorganic elements and exhibit clear tendency in the content of Cl that is negligible in the bottom ash and increased as it penetrated into the innermost layers of the fouling. Calcite, magnesia and silica appeared as the major crystalline phases in all the samples. However, the bottom ash was primarily comprised of calcium silicates. The KCl behaved identically to the Cl, preferably appeared in the adhered fouling samples. This salt, which has a low melting point, condenses upon contact with the low temperature tube and played a crucial role in the early stages of fouling formation. XRD was the most useful technique applied, which provided a semi-quantitative determination of the crystalline phases. FTIR was proven to be inadequate for this type of sample. The XRF and SEM-EDS, techniques yield similar results despite being entirely different.

Growth and 137Cs uptake of four Brassica species influenced by inoculation with a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Bacillus pumilus in three contaminated farmlands in Fukushima prefecture, Japan

The effectiveness of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Bacillus pumilus regarding growth promotion and radiocesium (137Cs) uptake was evaluated in four Brassica species grown on different 137Cs contaminated farmlands at Fukushima prefecture in Japan from June to August 2012. B. pumilus inoculation did not enhance growth in any of the plants, although it resulted in a significant increase of 137Cs concentration and higher 137Cs transfer from the soil to plants. The Brassica species exhibited different 137Cs uptake abilities in the order Komatsuna>turnip>mustard>radish. TF values of 137Cs ranged from 0.018 to 0.069 for all vegetables. Komatsuna possessed the largest root surface area and root volume, and showed a higher 137Cs concentration in plant tissue and higher 137Cs TF values (0.060) than the other vegetables. Higher 137Cs transfer to plants was prominent in soil with a high amount of organic matter and an Al-vermiculite clay mineral type.

Evaluation of natural materials as exogenous carbon sources for biological treatment of low carbon-to-nitrogen wastewater.

In the bacterial processes involved in the mitigation of nitrogen pollution, an adequately high carbon-to-nitrogen (C : N) ratio is key to sustain denitrification. We evaluated three natural materials (woodchips, barley grains, and peanut shells) as carbon sources for low C : N wastewater. The amount of organic matter released from these materials to aqueous media was evaluated, as well as their pollution swapping potential by measuring the release of total Kjeldahl nitrogen, N-NH4 +, NO2 −, and NO3 −, and total phosphorous. Barley grains yielded the highest amount of organic matter, which also showed to be the most easily biodegradable. Woodchips and peanut shells released carbon rather steadily and so they would not require frequent replenishment from biological reactors. These materials produced eluates with lower concentrations of nutrients than the leachates from barley grains. However, as woodchips yielded lower amounts of suspended solids, they constitute an adequate exogenous source for the biological treatment of carbon-deficient effluents.

Nature of soil organo-mineral assemblage examined by sequential density fractionation with and without sonication: Is allophanic soil different?

Organic matter (OM) bound to soil mineral particles (higher-density particles) tends to be more stabilized, enriched in 13C and 15N, and has a lower C:N ratio. Yet how these variations in OM chemistry are linked to the nature of organo-mineral assemblage remains poorly understood, especially in allophanic soils where high amounts of OM are stabilized by interactions with reactive inorganic phases such as short-range-order (SRO) minerals. We thus assessed the extent to which the degree of aggregation and its disruption during fractionation control the distribution and chemistry of the soil organo-mineral particles across six density fractions using a volcanic soil (allophanic Andisol) based on selective dissolution, microscopy (SEM), solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy and δ13C and δ15N analyses. Intermediate-density fractions (2.0–2.5gcm−3) accounted for 63–86% of organic C and N, 73–93% of pyrophosphate-extractable iron and aluminum (Fep, Alp), and 78–95% of oxalate-extractable metals (Feo, Alo) in the bulk soil sample. While air-drying pretreatment had little effect, sonication during fractionation led to (i) fragmentation of both plant detritus and some of the aggregates of 30–100mm sizes, (ii) release of occluded low-density fraction (<1.6gcm−3) which largely originated from the aggregates of 1.6–2.0gcm−3 density range, and (iii) redistribution of organo-mineral particles (15–16% of total OM and 7–19% of the extractable metals) within the intermediate density fractions. Positive correlation of Alp with C:N ratio and negative correlation of Alp with δ15N among the fractions suggest preferential binding of Alp phase (e.g., organo-Al complexes) to decaying plant detritus. Positive correlation of Alo and Feo with δ15N, together with theoretical density calculations of idealistic organo-mineral association modes, suggests that 15N enrichment may be coupled with OM binding to SRO minerals and with the formation of physically-stable aggregates of micron/submicron sizes in accord with our conceptual model (Asano and Wagai, 2014). The general pattern of 13C and 15N enrichment and C:N decline with increasing particle density remained largely unchanged despite the sonication effects detected, indicating that sonication-resistant organo-mineral assemblages largely control the observed patterns. The similarity in the density-dependent changes of OM chemistry between the studied Andisol and the soils with crystalline clay and metal oxide mineralogies in previous studies strongly suggests a common biogeochemical control which deserves further investigation.

Application of poultry processing industry waste: A strategy for vegetation growth in degraded soil

The disposal of poultry processing industry waste into the environment without proper care, can cause contamination. Agricultural monitored application is an alternative for disposal, considering its high amount of organic matter and its potential as a soil fertilizer. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of poultry processing industry waste to improve the conditions of a degraded soil from a desertification hotspot, contributing to leguminous tree seedlings growth. The study was carried out under greenhouse conditions in a randomized blocks design and a 4×2 factorial scheme with five replicates. The treatments featured four amounts of poultry processing industry waste (D1=control 0kgha−1; D2=1020.41kgha−1; D3=2040.82kgha−1; D4=4081.63kgha−1) and two leguminous tree species (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit). The poultry processing industry waste was composed of poultry blood, grease, excrements and substances from the digestive system. Plant height, biomass production, plant nutrient accumulation and soil organic carbon were measured forty days after waste application. Leguminous tree seedlings growth was increased by waste amounts, especially M. caesalpiniaefolia Benth, with height increment of 29.5cm for the waste amount of 1625kgha−1, and L. leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, with maximum height increment of 20cm for the waste amount of 3814.3kgha−1. M. caesalpiniaefolia Benth had greater initial growth, as well as greater biomass and nutrient accumulation compared with L. leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. However, belowground biomass was similar between the evaluated species, resulting in higher root/shoot ratio for L. leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. Soil organic carbon did not show significant response to waste amounts, but it did to leguminous tree seedlings growth, especially L. leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. Poultry processing industry waste contributes to leguminous tree seedlings growth, indicating that it can be part of a long-term strategy to increase soil organic carbon in degraded soil from a desertification hotspot.