Wood Bark Research Articles

Composition, Mosquito Larvicidal, Biting Deterrent and Antifungal Activity of Essential Oils of Different Plant Parts of Cupressus arizonica var. glabra (‘Carolina Sapphire’)

Essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of female cones (FC), male cones (MC), needle-twigs (NT) and wood-bark (WB) of 'Carolina Sapphire' [Cupressus arizonica var glabra (Sudw.) Little] were analyzed simultaneously by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main constituents of the investigated essential oils were as follows: FC: alpha-pinene 68.5% and myrcene 11.9%; MC: alpha-pinene 22.5%, epi-zonarene 9.9%, zonarene 6.9%, limonene 6.8% and cadina-3,5-diene 6.1%; NT: alpha-pinene 20.7%, epi-zonarene 10.4%, zonarene 7.6%, limonene 5.9% umbellulone 5.8% and cadina-3,5-diene 5.8%; WB: alpha-pinene 40.7%, limonene 3.2% and umbellulone 2.9%. Essential oils were evaluated for antifungal activity against the strawberry anthracnose causing fungal plant pathogens Colletotrichum acutatum, C. fragariae and C. gloeosporioides. Only WB essential oil showed moderate activity when compared with the commercial antifungal standards. Carolina Sapphire essential oils exhibited biting deterrent activity at 10 microg/cm2 with Biting Deterrence Index (BDI) values of 0.64, 0.59, 0.65 and 0.72, for FC, MC, NT and WB, respectively, and were significantly lower (P < or = 0.05) than the synthetic insect repellent, DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), at 25 nmol/cm2 against Aedes aegypti. The biting deterrence of NT and WB oils at 100 microg/cm2 with BDI values of 1.04 and 1.01, respectively, were similar, whereas the activity of MC (BDI = 0.88) and FC (BDI = 0.62) essential oils was lower than DEET at 25 nmol/cm2. Essential oil from FC with LD50 of 33.7 ppm was most toxic against 1-day-old Ae. aegypti larvae at 24-h post treatment. Female cone essential oil was significantly more toxic than MC (LD50 = 53.6 ppm), NT (LD50 = 55.5 ppm) and WB (LD50 = 44.6 ppm) essential oils.

High accuracy rapid prediction and feasibility of on-site nondestructive estimation of Para rubber quality by spectroscopic methods

The aim of this study was to investigate convenient spectroscopic evaluation method of Para rubber quality. Ultra violet–near infrared (UV–NIR 370–1085 nm) spectra of latex were measured in transmittance mode. Calibrations for total solid content (TSC) and dry rubber content (DRC) were developed using spectral data set with aid of partial least square regression analysis using 57 samples. UV–NIR spectra of latex provided good regression models between measured and predicted values of TSC and DRC with determination coefficient for cross-validation of 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. The ranks were 2 and 1, respectively. This study suggests high accuracy in-line quality control of latex using UV–NIR spectroscopy. The long wavelength NIR spectra of bark were scanned to check the feasibility of on-site evaluation of latex quality by measuring the NIR spectra of standing tree. From the observation of near infrared spectra, it was shown that there was more latex signal in outer part of wood bark than in inner part of wood bark. This result suggests that the focal point should be on the outer part of bark to get the signal of latex when we measure the spectra of standing tree.

Influence of farm compost on soil quality and crop yields

Intensification of agriculture can have negative consequences such as increased erosion, reduced biodiversity and a reduction in soil organic matter content resulting in a decline in the quality of agricultural soils. The application of compost can contribute to agricultural sustainability. Most of the research on compost done so far has focused on the use of municipal solid waste compost. Farm compost (FC) is another type of compost that is made of ingredients which are available on the farm like wood chips and bark, manure, straw, crop residues, mowed grass and soil. The use of FC is popular in organic farming and there is a growing interest to use it in non-organic farming. However, there is a lack of information on the agronomic value and environmental impact of FC. Therefore, a long-term field experiment was started to assess the influence of repeated FC applications on crop yields and soil quality. Repeated applications of FC increased soil organic carbon content, hot-water extractable carbon, earthworm numbers, microbial biomass-C and reduced soil bulk density. Furthermore the effect of FC on crop yields became significant after the fourth year of compost application underscoring the ability of compost amendments to support crop yields over time.

Nitrate removal from water by quaternized pine bark using choline based ionic liquid analogue

AbstractBACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to quaternize pine bark (PB) wood residues using green chemistry and to use the quaternized PB to remove nitrate (NO3−) from water. The quaternization process was achieved by reacting the wood residues with an ionic liquid analogue comprised of a choline chloride derivative and urea. Batch adsorption tests were used to delineate the NO3− uptake by the modified pine bark (MPB). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and Zeta potential measurements were used to characterize the changes at the surface of the PB due to quaternization and NO3− uptake.RESULTS: The MPB has a maximum NO3− uptake capacity of 2.91 mmol g−1. The NO3− uptake kinetics indicated that diffusion through the boundary layer of the MPB was the rate limiting step. The Langmuir adsorption model provided a better fit for the uptake data than the Freundlich model, indicating monolayer adsorption. The uptake process was found dependent on concentration, pH and ionic strength, and was also spontaneous and exothermic. The desorption–regeneration experimental results indicated a 95% efficiency after five consecutive regeneration cycles.CONCLUSIONS: The quaternization technique was found very effective for developing effective and green anion exchange resins to remove NO3− from water. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth wood bark and leaves

Background: Several studies are going on worldwide directed towards finding natural antioxidants from plant origin which possess strong antioxidant activity. Objective: The aim of the present study was to study in vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. Method: Methanol and 70% acetone extracts of wood bark and leaves of Pithecellobium dulce were evaluated for their total phenolic &amp; flavonoid content, antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. Results: Total antioxidant activity (IC50 values) in DPPH assay by methanol extract of bark (MB), acetone extract of bark (AB), methanol extract of leaf (ML) and acetone extract of leaf (AL) shown 150.23 ± 2.8, 16.83 ± 0.38, 250.32 ± 4.8 and 18.30 ± 0.43 μg/ml respectively. The IC50 values for scavenging of free radicals like for hydroxyl, superoxide, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen and hypochlorous acid by MB, AB, ML and AL were studied. The extract was found to be a good iron chelator. The reducing power was increased with increasing amounts of extract. The MB, AB, ML &amp; AL extracts (5 mg/ml) yielded 0.129 ± 0.11, 0.190 ± 0.14, 0.084 ± 0.24 and 0.115 ± 0.25 μg/ml gallic acid-equivalent phenolic content and 0.43 ± 0.01, 0.23 ± 0.01, 0.90 ± 0.01 and 0.25 ± 0.01 μg/ml quercetin-equivalent flavonoid content respectively. Conclusion: Thus, our findings provide evidence that the methanolic and 70% acetone extracts of P. dulce wood bark and leaves are potential source of natural antioxidants and some extent validated its medicinal potential.

Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Monitoring During Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Due to Smoke Inhalation and Burns

We evaluated the accuracy of continuous noninvasive transcutaneous carbon dioxide (tPCO2) monitoring utilizing the SenTec Digital Monitoring System in a model of ARDS due to smoke inhalation and burns.Subjectsanesthetized female Yorkshire pigs (47.4 ± 0.9 kg) received wood bark smoke inhalation injury and 40% total body surface area full thickness flame burn. A SenTec sensor heated to 43.5°C was used. Correlation of tPCO2 with arterial PaCO2 measured intermittently with i‐STAT blood gas analyzer.Resultsall animals developed ARDS at 23±2.08 hrs. Mean survival time was 51±14.9 hrs. A total of 88 paired measurements of PaCO2 and tPCO2 were performed. The mean overall bias between PaCO2 and tPCO2 under stable conditions (Bland‐Altman analysis (BAa)) was 0.75±5.34 mm Hg with overall correlation (R2 = 0.79, P&lt;0.0001). Eighty‐nine percent of measurements were within the acceptable clinical range of agreement of ± 7.5mm Hg. This relationship deteriorated under hemodynamic instability with overall bias increasing to 17.3±18.5 mm Hg (BAa) and poor correlation (R2= 0.02, P=0.53) and only 33% of measurements were within the acceptable clinical range of agreement.ConclusionsTranscutaneous CO2 monitoring is a reliable surrogate for PaCO2 in the setting of severe lung injury and hemodynamic stability. Additional information must be considered during hemodynamic instability for accurate estimation of PaCO2.

Molecular and physiological approaches to understand the ecology of methanol degradation during the biofiltration of air streams

A 13.4L biofilter treating an off-gas stream supplemented with methanol under two different situations was studied in terms of MeOH removal efficiency, microbial ecology and odor removal. During Period 1 (P1) the reactor was packed with wood bark chips with no pH control, treating an off-gas resulting from the aerobic chamber of a membrane biological reactor treating sewage and located outdoor, whereas during Period 2 (P2) a compressed air stream fed with MeOH was treated using PVC rings and maintaining pH at neutral values. Both systems operated at 96g MeOHm−3h−1 achieving removal efficiencies of around 90% during P1 and 99.9% during P2. The relative activity of biomass developed in both systems was assessed using respirometric analysis with samples obtained from both biofilms. Higher biomass activity was obtained during P2 (0.25–0.35kg MeOHkg−1VSSd−1) whereas 1.1kg MeOHkg−1VSSd−1 was obtained in the case of P1. The application of molecular and microscopic techniques showed that the eukaryotes were predominant during P1, being the yeast Candida boidinii the most abundant microorganism. A specific Fluorescence in situ hybridization probe was designed for C. boidinii and tested successfully. As a result of the neutral pH, a clear predominance of prokaryotes was detected during P2. Interestingly, some anaerobic bacteria were detected such as Desulfovibrio, Desulfobacteraceae species and also some archaea such as Methanosarcina.

Wood energy fuel cycle optimization in beech and spruce forests

A novel synergistic approach to reducing emissions from residential wood combustion (RWC) is presented. Wood energy fuel cycle optimization (FCO) aims to provide cleaner burning fuels through optimization of forestry and renewable energy management practices. In this work, beech and spruce forests of average and high quality were modelled and analysed to determine the volume of fuel wood and its associated bark fraction produced during typical forestry cycles. Two separate fuel wood bark production regimes were observed for beech trees, while only one production regime was observed for spruce. The single tree and stand models were combined with existing thinning parameters to replicate existing management practices. Utilizing estimates of initial seedling numbers and existing thinning patterns a dynamic model was formed that responded to changes in thinning practices. By varying the thinning parameters, this model enabled optimization of the forestry practices for the reduction of bark impurities in the fuel wood supply chain. Beech forestry cycles responded well to fuel cycle optimization with volume reductions of bark from fuel wood of between ∼10% and ∼20% for average and high quality forest stands. Spruce, on the other hand, was fairly insensitive to FCO with bark reductions of 0–5%. The responsiveness of beech to FCO further supports its status as the preferred RWC fuel in Switzerland. FCO could easily be extended beyond Switzerland and applied across continental Europe and North America.

Disease symptoms and their frequency of occurrence in sycamores (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) in the Rymanów Forest Unit stands

Field studies were conducted in the years 2003 - 2005 in the Rymanów Forest Unit in 13 stands aged between 40 to 100 years, which had 10% - 60% of the sycamore in their species composition. They grew on a mountain forest site (12 stands) and mountain riparian forest (1 stand). In each of them 100 trees were examined, growing next to each other in the central part of the stands. The disease symptoms, on trunks and in the crown area of each tree, and their intensity were determined according to the predefined symptomatic - developmental code. More than 80 fragments of wood and bark were collected from trunks of living and dead trees with local cankers and bark peeling off exposing wood. From the samples, 798 isolations were made on 2% malt - agar medium. The examined sycamores in the Rymanów Forest Unit showed a large variation in the disease symptoms and their occurrence frequency. Among 1300 analyzed trees, only 13.7% did not show external, macroscopic disease symptoms. There was a relatively large share of dead trees (15.0%), which in individual stands ranged 4.0 - 32.0%. The most frequent symptoms in crowns were as follows: top dying (6.3% trees), entire branch dying (16.2%) or only their tops (9.6%), crown thinning (19.4%), leaf atrophy (10.8%) and leaf discoloration (11.6%). On sycamores trunks, the following symptoms were found: plate-like and strip-like necrosis of bark that was breaking, falling off and exposing wood (8.6% trees), local bark cankers (14.7%), among which healed ones dominated (10.3%), bark cracks (14.3%) and tree cancer symptoms (3.8%). Bark necrosis and wood exposure formed 1.5 times more frequently on the northern and western side than on the southern and eastern side, bark cracks appeared most frequently on the southern trunk side. On the cross sections of sycamore trunks, the following symptoms were found predominantly: T-shaped discolorations which appeared in the place of local healed cankers, dead wood regions in the places of local unhealed cankers and widespread bark cankers, sometimes taking the form of a sector reaching the part near the pith, and greyish - green or greenish - brown wood discolorations in the form of numerous stains, especially in the trunk periphery part. On the trunks of 184 (14.2%) sycamores, perithecia of &lt;i&gt;Nectria coccinea&lt;/i&gt; were present. They formed in the area of cankers on bark and exposed wood alike. Fruiting bodies of &lt;i&gt;Nectria cinnabarina&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Eutypa acharii&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Melanomma pulvis-pyrius&lt;/i&gt;, conidiomata of &lt;i&gt;Cytospora ambiens&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Aposphaeria&lt;/i&gt; cf. &lt;i&gt;pulviscula&lt;/i&gt; and conidiomata of &lt;i&gt;Stegonsporium pyriforme&lt;/i&gt; occurred sporadically. From wood, the following were isolated predominantly: &lt;i&gt;Basidiomycetes&lt;/i&gt; sp. 1, &lt;i&gt;Chalara&lt;/i&gt; sp. 1, &lt;i&gt;Cadophora fastigiata&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Nectria cinnabarina&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Cytospora ambiens&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;Chalara&lt;/i&gt; sp.1, with its morphological features, best matched the anamorph of &lt;i&gt;Ceratocystis coerulescens sensu lato&lt;/i&gt;.

Application of a life cycle assessment to walnut tree ( Juglans regia L.) high quality wood production: a case study in southern Italy

Although Italy is one of the most important exporters of furniture in Europe, it is also a great importer of foreign timber. We decided to focus our study on Walnut tree ( Juglans regia L.) as it can be considered one of the most important species for high quality timber production in Italy. Our goal is to examine the production of high quality timber deriving from a dedicated walnut tree plantation with the intent of evaluating the environmental impact from the LCA prospective (ISO 14040). The functional unit adopted here was 1 m 3 of dry solid under bark wood ( u = 12%). Tillage and N-based fertilisers had the heaviest environmental impact, respectively through diesel consumption and a high NH 3 volatilization rate. The emissions produced by urea may be reduced by switching to other N-fertilisers with a lower NH 3 volatilization rate, or by choosing biofuels that can also represent an alternative to traditional diesel. Plant protection systems against animals such as metallic fences represent an unexpected hot spot because of the steel production and galvanizing processes related to them. Biodegradable protection systems might be adopted instead of metallic fences, even though this choice depends on the size of the animals. When considering the lack of data in industrial tree plantations literature with regard to the production of high quality wood, the present LCA study can be considered a useful tool in providing a deeper understanding of the key environmental impact issues related to high quality timber production.

Stump decomposition rates after clear-felling with and without prescribed burning in southern and northern boreal forests in Finland

The high importance of stumps for biodiversity, carbon and nutrient cycling requires narrowing the uncertainties in their decomposition rate assessment. We estimated the stump decomposition rates of the main European boreal tree species along a chronosequence of 0-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 30-, 40- and 50-year-old clear-felled sites with and without prescribed burning in southern and northern Finland. Estimation was done based on the bulk density and mass loss of above- and below ground wood and bark. The factors explaining the variation in mass loss during decomposition in decreasing order of importance were: stump part > tree species > vegetation zone > stump size > prescribed burning. In northern sites, stump turn-over time ( t 95) was 153, 104 and 100 years for Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce ( Picea abies) and birch ( Betula sp.), respectively. The decomposition rates of above- and below ground wood did not differ from each other. In southern sites, where only the above-ground parts of stumps were studied, the turn-over time was 61, 56 and 43 years for pine, spruce and birch, respectively. In southern sites, the wood and bark of all tree species decomposed faster compared to those in northern sites, except for charred pine wood. Burning slowed down the decomposition of un-fragmented parts of pine and spruce bark in all sites and pine wood in southern sites (mean bark cover 32%). It also facilitated the decomposition of birch wood in northern sites (mean bark cover 78%) and increased bark fragmentation. Decomposition of birch bark in northern sites and birch wood in southern sites was slower for larger diameter stumps. Pine and spruce bark as well as birch bark in southern sites showed the opposite tendency since the size effect was dominated by the effects of fragmentation and burning. The bark of pine and spruce decomposed faster than the wood, whereas birch bark decomposed more slowly than birch wood. Bark fragmentation accelerated mass loss in all cases except for birch stumps in northern sites. Decomposition factors are interrelated and their relative importance should be taken into account when up-scaling the species-specific decomposition rate constants. Refinements to decomposition rate estimates could aid in management scenarios to maximize carbon and nutrient storage and ensure the availability of stumps for maintaining biodiversity in intensively managed forests.

Wood Bark Smoke Induces Lung and Pleural Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 and Stabilizes Its mRNA in Porcine Lung Cells

Although aberrant fibrinolysis and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) are implicated in acute lung injury, the role of this serpin in the pathogenesis of wood bark smoke (WBS)-induced acute lung injury (SIALI) and its regulation in resident lung cells after exposure to smoke are unclear. A total of 22 mechanically ventilated pigs were included in this study. Immunohistochemical analyses were used to assess fibrin and PAI-1 in the lungs of pigs with SIALI in situ. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 was measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids by Western blotting. Induction of PAI-1 was determined at the protein and mRNA levels by Western and polymerase chain reaction analyses in primary porcine alveolar type II cells, fibroblasts, and pleural mesothelial cells. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 mRNA stability was determined by transcription chase studies. Gel shift analyses were used to characterize the mechanism regulating PAI-1 mRNA stability. Smoke-induced ALI induced PAI-1, with prominent extravascular fibrin deposition in large and small airways as well as alveolar and subpleural compartments. In pleural mesothelial cells, lung fibroblasts, and alveolar type II cells, PAI-1 mRNA was stabilized by WBS extract and contributed to induction of PAI-1. The mechanism involves dissociation of a novel 6-phospho-d-gluconate-NADP oxidoreductase-like PAI-1 mRNA binding protein from PAI-1 mRNA. Exposure to WBS induces prominent airway and mesothelial expression of PAI-1, associated with florid distribution of fibrin in SIALI in vivo Wood bark smoke components induce PAI-1 in vitro in part by stabilization of PAI-1 mRNA, a newly recognized pathway that may promote extravascular fibrin deposition and lung dysfunction in SIALI.

Biomassa e nutrientes removidos no primeiro desbaste de um povoamento de Pinus taeda L. em Cambará do Sul, RS

Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar a biomassa e a remoção de nutrientes durante o primeiro desbaste de um povoamento de Pinus taeda, com nove anos de idade, em Cambará do Sul-RS. Realizou-se um inventário dendrométrico dos indivíduos que seriam retirados do povoamento no primeiro desbaste. Os indivíduos foram distribuídos em quatro classes diamétricas. Foram abatidos três indivíduos de cada classe e separados acículas, galhos vivos, galhos mortos, casca da madeira comercial, madeira comercial, casca da madeira do ponteiro e madeira do ponteiro. Esses componentes foram amostrados e analisados quanto aos teores de macro e micronutrientes. A biomassa resultante do primeiro desbaste foi de 35,7 Mg ha-1, com a seguinte magnitude de distribuição: madeira comercial &gt; galhos vivos &gt; casca contida na madeira comercial &gt; acículas &gt; madeira do ponteiro &gt; galhos mortos &gt; casca do ponteiro. As acículas apresentaram os maiores teores de macronutrientes e, juntamente com a casca do ponteiro, apresentaram também os maiores de micronutrientes. A colheita da casca e de madeira comercial resultou na seguinte remoção de macronutrientes, em kg ha-1: 46,2 de N; 25,1 de Ca; 15,2 de K; 10,0 de S; 6,7 de Mg e 5,4 de P; e de micronutrientes, em g ha-1: 2.641 de Mn; 1026 de Fe; 240 de Zn; 234 de B e 66 de Cu.

Willow volatiles influence growth, development, and secondary metabolism in Aspergillus parasiticus

Aflatoxin is a mycotoxin and the most potent naturally occurring carcinogen in many animals. Aflatoxin contamination of food and feed crops causes a significant global burden on human and animal health. However, available methods to eliminate aflatoxin from food and feed are not fully effective. Our goal is to discover novel, efficient, and practical methods to control aflatoxin contamination in crops during storage. In the present study, we tested the effect of volatiles produced by willow (Salix acutifolia and Salix babylonica) and maple (Acer saccharinum) bark on fungal growth, development, and aflatoxin production by the fungus Aspergillus parasiticus, one economically important aflatoxin producer. S. acutifolia bark volatiles nearly eliminated aflatoxin accumulation (>90% reduction) by A. parasiticus grown on a minimal agar medium. The decrease in aflatoxin accumulation correlated with a twofold reduction in ver-1 (encodes a middle aflatoxin pathway enzyme) transcript level. Expression data also indicate that one histone H4 acetyltransferase, MYST3, may play a role in epigenetic control of aflatoxin gene transcription in response to volatile exposure. Volatiles derived from wood bark samples also increased fungal growth up to 20% and/or enhanced conidiospore development. Solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of bark samples identified sets of shared and unique volatile compounds that may mediate the observed regulatory effects on growth, development, and aflatoxin synthesis. This work provides an experimental basis for the use of willow industry by-products to control aflatoxin contamination in food and feed crops.

Allometry, biomass, and chemical content of Novel African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata) Forests in Puerto Rico

The African tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata, the most common tree in Puerto Rico, forms novel forest types with mixtures of native and other introduced tree species. Novel forests increase in area in response to human activity and there is no information about their biomass accumulation and nutrient cycling. We established allometric relationships and chemically analyzed plant parts of African tulip trees to determine the concentration and standing stock of chemical elements (C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Al, Fe, Na), and ash. Trees ranged in diameter at breast height from 8 to 85 cm and in height from 8.8 to 28 m. The concentrations of N, P, K, and Ca in leaves of the African tulip tree were similar to those of the native pioneer Cecropia schreberiana and higher than those of mature forest tree species in Puerto Rico. The over bark wood volume of African tulip trees in nine forest stands where it was dominant ranged from 163 to 849 m3/ha. Aboveground biomass ranged from 60 to 296 Mg/ha, and N and P stocks ranged from 190 to 988 and 32 to 137 kg/ha, respectively. Novel forests on abandoned agricultural lands can store more biomass and elements than native and plantation forest stands of similar age.

Production of phenol compounds by alkaline treatment of poplar wood bark

Production of phenol compounds by alkaline treatment of poplar wood bark

Effects of Wood Bark and Fertilizer Amendment on Trace Element Mobility in Mine Soils, Broken Hill, Australia: Implications for Mined Land Reclamation

Soil amendments can immobilize metals in soils, reducing the risks of metal exposure and associated impacts to flora, fauna and human health. In this study, soil amendments were compared, based on "closed system" water extracts, for reducing metal mobility in metal-contaminated soil from the Broken Hill mining center, Australia. Phosphatefertilizer (bovine bone meal, superphosphate, triple superphosphate, potassium orthophosphate) and pine bark (Pinus radiata) were applied to two soils (BH1, BH2) contaminated with mining waste. Both soils had near neutral to alkaline pH values, were sulfide- or sulfate-rich, and contained metal and metalloid at concentrations that pose high environmental risks (e.g., Pb = 1.25 wt% and 0.55 wt%, Zn = 0.71 wt% and 0.47 wt% for BH1 and BH2, respectively). The addition of fertilizers and/or pine bark to both soil types increased water extractable metals and metalloids concentrations (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sb, Zn) compared with nonamended soils. One or more of the elements As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn increased significantly in extracts of a range of different soil+pine bark and soil+fertilizer+piner+pine bark tests in response to increased pine bark doses. By contrast, Fe and Sb concentrations in extracts did not change significantly with pine bark addition. Solution pH was decreased by phosphate fertilizers (except for bovine bone meal) and pine bark, and pine bark enhanced dissolved organic carbon. At least in the short-term, the application of phosphate fertilizers and pine bark proved to be an ineffective method for controlling metal and metalloid mobility in soils that contain admixtures of polymetallic, polymineralic mine wastes.

Microbial respiration as an indication of metal toxicity in contaminated organic materials and soil

The effect of heavy metals on microbial respiration in organic materials used as soil amendments was evaluated to assess the stability of the materials. Solutions of Pb (II), Cu (II) and Zn (II) at rates of 5, 10 and 50 mg metal g −1 were added to green waste compost, peat, coir and wood bark. Metal toxicity led to a significant decrease in carbon dioxide evolved by the contaminated materials, up to 80% less at the highest rate of addition compared to the untreated material. There was a significant negative correlation between the organic carbon content of an amendment and the inhibition of CO 2 evolution by all three heavy metals. There was also a significant negative correlation between an amendment's cation exchange capacity and the inhibition of CO 2 evolution caused by Cu and Zn. The ability of the organic materials to enhance respiration in a soil from the vicinity of a Pb/Zn mine was also evaluated, by applying them to the soil at rates of 1, 10 and 20%. CO 2 evolution from the contaminated soil was enhanced significantly by the addition of all of the amendments, with coir causing up to 90% enhancement at high levels of addition.

Models for estimating macronutrients in Mimosa scabrella Bentham

The aim of this work was to adjust and test different statistical models for estimating macronutrient content in the above-ground biomass of bracatinga (Mimosa scabrella Bentham). The data were collected from 25 bracatinga trees, all native to the north of the metropolitan region of Curitiba, Paraná state, Brazil. To determine the biomass and macronutrient content, the trees were separated into the compartments leaves, branches &lt; 4 cm, branches &gt; 4 cm, wood and stem barks. Different statistical models were adjusted to estimate N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents in the tree compartments, using dendrometric variables as the model independent variables. Based on the results, the equations developed for estimating macronutrient contents were, in general, satisfactory. The most accurate estimates were obtained for the stem biomass compartments and the sum of the biomass compartments. In some cases, the equations had a better performance when crown and stem dimensions, age and dominant height were included as independent variables.

Study of knotweed (Reynoutria) as possible phytomass resource for energy and industrial utilization

This paper deals with the Reynoutria &amp;times; bohemica and Reynoutria japonica under conditions of the Czech Republic. It evaluates the impact of soil, weather conditions and various terms of harvest (autumn, spring) on the yield, dry matter content, phytomass loss, ash content, and basic elements content change in plants. Heavy metals content was determined in soil where plants were grown and consequently in plants themselves. The average yield of dry matter at the fully closed stands of Reynoutria japonica were 9.06 t/ha in autumn, Reynoutria &amp;times; bohemica from 13.23 to 21.41 t/ha, according to the site. The yield losses within the winter period were found on average 42% for Reynoutria japonica and 34% for Reynoutria &amp;times; bohemica. The moisture decrease of Reynoutria japonica was found from 68% in the autumn to 24% in the spring, and of Reynoutria &amp;times; bohemica from 67% to 23%, respectively. Decreased content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the knotweed phytomass was found during the latter (spring) harvest periods in comparison with the earlier harvest periods. Decreased elements content in phytomass during the latter harvest period (spring) increases the phytomass quality as a fuel from both aspects &amp;ndash; technical and emissions generation. The ash content in plants varied according to the site, on average from 3.12% in Ruzyně to 4.6% in Chomutov. None of the heavy metals monitored in knotweed plants reached the maximum admissible values determined for the food or feed purposes in the Czech Republic. From the results of combustion experiments, it is evident that Reynoutria &amp;times; bohemica is a good fuel. Energy sorrel shows the extreme CO concentration in flue gases in comparison with other monitored fuels. According to the ČSN EN 12809 (2001) standard it does not meet even the third class of requirements. On the contrary, knotweed and wood bark fulfill the requirements for the first class. The surprising fact is that both of these fuels show the lower level of CO emissions, than the wooden briquettes. Concentrations of nitrogen oxids are comparable with biofuels, except of wood, and probably are related to the nitrogen content in heating material.