Movement Of Organic Carbon Research Articles

Organic carbon movement through two SWRO facilities from source water to pretreatment to product with relevance to membrane biofouling

The presence of algae, bacteria, various fractions of natural organic matter (NOM), and transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the raw water, after each pretreatment process and in the permeate and concentrate streams, were measured at two SWRO plants to assess biofouling potential. It was found that the most significant process controlling the concentration of algae, bacteria, and the biopolymer and humic substances was the intake type with the subsurface intake discharge showing significant reductions. The mixed media filtration process was marginally useful in removing some TOC and NOM, but had little effect on TEP removal. Some bacterial regrowth may be occurring in the cartridge filters, but the evidence is inconsistent. Significant quantities of the biopolymer and humic substance concentrations were found to be retained in the membranes, but the concentrations were significantly greater in the facility using an open-ocean intake. Bacteria and TEP were found in the permeate stream, which may document bacterial regrowth and TEP production downstream of the membrane process. Measurements of the organic carbon passage through SWRO facilities can be successfully used to evaluate pretreatment process effectiveness and to make SWRO plant operational improvements.

Organic matter from biological soil crusts induces the initial formation of sandy temperate soils

Different development stages of algae-dominated and moss-dominated biological soil crusts (BSCs) were sampled on a natural sand dune (<17years old) and on an experimental sand dune (<8years old) along a catena, including gradients of vegetation cover, location on the slope, as well as composition and thickness of BSC organisms in northeastern Germany. The accumulation of BSC-derived organic carbon (OC) was determined for bulk materials and fractions less than 63μm. The OC composition was characterized by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy and the carbohydrate-C signature. 14C contents were determined to assess the origin and dynamics of OC. From the radiocarbon contents, two OC pools were differentiated: recent BSC-derived and lignite-derived “old” OC. Downward movement of OC into the underlying substrate was found only under moss-dominated BSCs at the old sand dune. BSC-derived OC was mainly composed of carbohydrate-C and, to a lesser extent, alkyl C and N-alkyl C, with considerably higher contributions of alkyl C in the young dune, indicating differences in the composition of extracellular polymeric substances produced by the BSCs with age. This is consistent with higher proportions of water-soluble OC of moss-dominated BSCs at the old dune, which is leached in the underlying substrate and initiates soil formation. Because of the channeling effect of mosses, OC depth translocation along with suspended colloidal substances may contribute to OC accumulation in substrates.

Concentrations, Loads, and Yields of Organic Carbon in Streams of Agricultural Watersheds

Carbon is cycled to and from large reservoirs in the atmosphere, on land, and in the ocean. Movement of organic carbon from the terrestrial reservoir to the ocean plays an important role in the global cycling of carbon. The transition from natural to agricultural vegetation can change the storage and movement of organic carbon in and from a watershed. Samples were collected from 13 streams located in hydrologically and agriculturally diverse watersheds, to better understand the variability in the concentrations and loads of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) in the streams, and the variability in watershed yields. The overall annual median concentrations of DOC and POC were 4.9 (range: 2.1-6.8) and 1.1 (range: 0.4-3.8) mg C L, respectively. The mean DOC watershed yield (± SE) was 25 ± 6.8 kg C ha yr. The yields of DOC from these agricultural watersheds were not substantially different than the DOC yield from naturally vegetated watersheds in equivalent biomes, but were at the low end of the range for most biomes. Total organic carbon (DOC + POC) annually exported from the agricultural watersheds was found to average 0.03% of the organic carbon that is contained in the labile plant matter and top 1 m of soil in the watershed. Since the total organic carbon exported from agricultural watersheds is a relatively small portion of the sequestered carbon within the watershed, there is the great potential to store additional carbon in plants and soils of the watershed, offsetting some anthropogenic CO emissions.

SOIL EROSION AND SIGNIFICANCE FOR CARBON FLUXES IN A MOUNTAINOUS MEDITERRANEAN-CLIMATE WATERSHED

In topographically complex terrains, downslope movement of soil organic carbon (OC) can influence local carbon balance. The primary purpose of the present analysis is to compare the magnitude of OC displacement by erosion with ecosystem metabolism in such a complex terrain. Does erosion matter in this ecosystem carbon balance? We have used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) erosion model to estimate lateral fluxes of OC in a watershed in northwestern Mexico. The watershed (4900 km2) has an average slope of 10 degrees +/- 9 degrees (mean +/- SD); 45% is >10 degrees, and 3% is >30 degrees. Land cover is primarily shrublands (69%) and agricultural lands (22%). Estimated bulk soil erosion averages 1350 Mg x km(-2) x yr(-1). We estimate that there is insignificant erosion on slopes < 2 degrees and that 20% of the area can be considered depositional. Estimated OC erosion rates are 10 Mg x km(-2) x yr(-1) for areas steeper than 2 degrees. Over the entire area, erosion is approximately 50% higher on shrublands than on agricultural lands, but within slope classes, erosion rates are more rapid on agricultural areas. For the whole system, estimated OC erosion is approximately 2% of net primary production (NPP), increasing in high-slope areas to approximately 3% of NPP. Deposition of eroded OC in low-slope areas is approximately 10% of low-slope NPP. Soil OC movement from erosional slopes to alluvial fans alters the mosaic of OC metabolism and storage across the landscape.

Survival and Growth of Seedlings of Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum): Effects of Shade, Mycorrhizas and a Companion Plant

In an exploratory experiment, seedlings of coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum D. Don, Cunoniaceae) were grown for 6 weeks in a glasshouse in pots in the presence or absence of the following: (1) inoculum of Glomus mosseae (Nicol. &amp; Gerd.) Gerd. &amp; Trappe; (2) a companion plant (Trifolium pratense L.); (3) phosphate added to the soil; and (4) shade. Mycorrhizal seedlings of coachwood were lighter than non-mycorrhizal seedlings when grown in full sun. In shade, mycorrhizal seedlings of coachwood tended to be heavier when grown with a companion plant than without. Size of seedlings was not related to phosphate nutrition. It is suggested that mycorrhizal interconnections between plants may be involved in significant movement of organic carbon to and from coachwood seedlings.

Carbon Flux to Surface Mineral Soil After Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization

AbstractThe movement of organic carbon into the mineral soil profile was increased by a factor of 2 to 3 following urea application to the forest floor. Approximately 74% of the organic carbon movement occurred during the first 3 months following treatment. Phosphorus treatment and the interaction of nitrogen and phosphorus did not produce a statistically significant response.

Tidal variations in the movement of organic carbon in New Jersey salt marshes

The movement of organic carbon was assessed by statistical and simulation modeling analyses in two marsh types in New Jersey;each marsh contained three water-drainage systems in which three tidal cycles were sampled in May and June 1973. Hourly water samples were obtained and filtered through a gelman Type A glass filter for separation into dissolved (DOC) and particulate (POC) organic carbon components of the total organic carbon (TOC). Simulation data showed that individual creeks and marshes functioned differently on the sampled tidal cycles in regard to net movement of water and organic carbon components. Organic carbon components exhibited similar tidal variations, with significantly lower concentrations at flood slack than at ebb slack. Mid-ebb concentrations were significantly higher than mid-flood concentrations for TOC and POC. Individual marshes showed significantly different concentrations in the latter segments of the tidal cycle for TOC's and POC's. Results indicate that individual creeks, marshes and tidal cycles are not representative of the total movement of organic carbon in estuaries.