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Vuaille J, Abrahamsen P, Jensen SM, Diamantopoulos E, Wacker TS, Petersen CT. Modelling pesticide degradation and leaching in conservation agriculture: Effect of no-till and mulching. Sci Total Environ 2024; 929:172559. [PMID: 38641110 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
No-till and mulching are typical management operations in conservation agriculture (CA). To model pesticide degradation and leaching under a CA scenario, as compared to a conventional-tillage scenario (CT), the mulch module of the agro-hydrological model Daisy was extended. A Daisy soil column was parameterized with measurements of topsoil, mulch, and a realistic subsoil, and tested against published experimental data of pesticide fate in laboratory soil columns covered by mulch. Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses of the new Daisy version were conducted for a series of weather, soil, pesticide, and mulch parameters, using 4939 Monte Carlo simulations under each scenario. Results showed that there was no systematic difference in pesticide leaching from the topsoil (to the subsoil and directly to drains via drain-connected biopores) between CA and CT, but pesticide degradation and sorption were significantly different; degradation in the mulch and uppermost soil surface layer (0-3.5 cm) was larger in CA while degradation was larger in CT when considering the whole topsoil (0-30 cm). This difference for the whole topsoil could be explained by pesticide interception in CA in the part of the mulch not in direct contact with the soil where degradation is assumed not to occur. The sensitivity analysis highlighted non-influential parameters and seven parameters out of twenty-five to be better estimated to improve the accuracy of the predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Vuaille
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
| | - Per Abrahamsen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Signe M Jensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegård Alle 30, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark
| | | | - Tomke S Wacker
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegård Alle 30, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark
| | - Carsten T Petersen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Hassan F, Mu B, Yang Y. Natural polysaccharides and proteins-based films for potential food packaging and mulch applications: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 261:129628. [PMID: 38272415 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Conventional nondegradable packaging and mulch films, after reaching the end of their use, become a major source of waste and are primarily disposed of in landfills. Accumulation of non-degradable film residues in the soil leads to diminished soil fertility, reduced crop yield, and can potentially affect humans. Application of degradable films is still limited due to the high cost, poor mechanical, and gas barrier properties of current biobased synthetic polymers. In this respect, natural polysaccharides and proteins can offer potential solutions. Having versatile functional groups, three-dimensional network structures, biodegradability, ease of processing, and the potential for surface modifications make polysaccharides and proteins excellent candidates for quality films. Besides, their low-cost availability as industrial waste/byproducts makes them cost-effective alternatives. This review paper covers the performance properties, cost assessment, and in-depth analysis of macromolecular structures of some natural polysaccharides and proteins-based films that have great potential for packaging and mulch applications. Proper dissolution of biopolymers to improve molecular interactions and entanglement, and establishment of crosslinkages to form an ordered and cohesive polymeric structure can help to obtain films with good properties. Simple aqueous-based film formulation techniques and utilization of waste/byproducts can stimulate the adoption of affordable biobased films on a large-scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faqrul Hassan
- Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design, 234 GNHS Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0802, United States
| | - Bingnan Mu
- Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design, 234 GNHS Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0802, United States
| | - Yiqi Yang
- Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design, 234 GNHS Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0802, United States; Department of Biological Systems Engineering, 234 GNHS Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0802, United States.
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3
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Saberi Riseh R. Advancing agriculture through bioresource technology: The role of cellulose-based biodegradable mulches. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 255:128006. [PMID: 37977475 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Agriculture plays a pivotal role in meeting the world's ever-growing food demands. However, traditional agricultural practices often have negative consequences for the environment, such as soil erosion and chemical runoff. Recently, there has been a pressing need for advance agricultural practices. Cellulose-based mulches offer a solution by optimizing agricultural productivity while minimizing harm. These mulches are made from renewable bioresources derived from cellulose-rich materials. Compared to plastic mulches, cellulose-based alternatives show potential in improving nutrient retention, soil health, weed suppression, water conservation, and erosion mitigation. The article investigates the characteristics and application methods of cellulose-based mulches, highlighting their biodegradability, water retention, crop protection, and weed suppression capabilities. It also evaluates their economic feasibility, emphasizing their potential to transform sustainable farming practices. Overall, cellulose-based mulches have the potential to revolutionize agriculture, addressing environmental concerns while optimizing productivity. They represent a significant step toward a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roohallah Saberi Riseh
- Departement of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan 7718897111, Iran.
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Douibi M, Krishtammagari A, Sánchez-Martín MJ, Rodríguez-Cruz MS, Marín-Benito JM. Mulching vs. organic soil amendment: Effects on adsorption-desorption of herbicides. Sci Total Environ 2023:164749. [PMID: 37295534 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mulching and organic soil amendment are two agricultural practices that are being increasingly used to preserve soil from degradation, although they may modify the fate of herbicides when applied in soils subjected to these practices. This study has set out to compare the impact of both agricultural practices on the adsorption-desorption behaviour of the herbicides S-metolachlor (SMOC), foramsulfuron (FORAM), and thiencarbazone-methyl (TCM) involving winter wheat mulch residues at different stages of decomposition and particle size, and unamended soils or those amended with mulch. The Freundlich Kf adsorption constants of the three herbicides by mulches, and unamended and amended soils ranged between 1.34 and 65.8 (SMOC), 0-34.3 (FORAM), and 0.01-1.10 (TCM). The adsorption of the three compounds was significantly higher in mulches than in soils (unamended and amended). The adsorption of SMOC and FORAM increased significantly with mulch decomposition, with this positive impact also being observed on the adsorption of FORAM and TCM after mulch milling. Simple and multiple correlations between mulches, soils, and herbicide properties, and adsorption-desorption constants (Kf, Kd, Kfd) reflected the organic carbon (OC) content and/or dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content of the adsorbents as main variables controlling the adsorption and/or desorption of each herbicide. The statistic R2 revealed that >61 % of the variability in the adsorption-desorption constants could be explained by jointly considering the OC of mulches and soils and the hydrophobicity (for Kf) or water solubility of herbicides (for Kd or Kfd). The same trend observed for Kfd desorption constants as for Kf adsorption ones resulted in higher percentages of herbicide remaining adsorbed after desorption in amended soils (33 %-41 % of SMOC, 0 %-15 % of FORAM, and 2 %-17 % of TCM) than in mulches (< 10 %). The results reveal a higher efficiency of organic soil amendment than mulching as an agricultural practice for immobilising the herbicides studied when winter wheat mulch residues are used as a common adsorbent, and as a better strategy for avoiding groundwater contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Douibi
- Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Akhil Krishtammagari
- Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - María J Sánchez-Martín
- Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - M Sonia Rodríguez-Cruz
- Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jesús M Marín-Benito
- Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain.
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Bell S, Kunz A, Damerow L, Blanke M. [Effect of Soil Contamination on the Reflective Properties of Reflective Groundcovers]. Erwerbsobstbau (Berl) 2023; 65:215-229. [PMID: 37006815 PMCID: PMC9812350 DOI: 10.1007/s10341-022-00799-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The objective of the present work was to study the effects of contamination on the reflective properties of groundcovers used for enhancing fruit colouration in the orchard. Contamination also affects longevity and possible sustainable re-use of materials. A white, woven textile (polypropylene Lumilys™) and silver aluminium foil were experimentally contaminated with soil, similar to the situation after an autumn storm in a fruit orchard. Clean material served as control.Using a spectrophotometer (StellarNet; Tampa, FL, USA), vertically directed (0°) and diffuse (45°) light reflection in the range of 500-850 nm was compared from clean and contaminated groundcover in the laboratory. Reflection from vertically directed aluminium foil exceeded that of Lumilys™; however, the highest reflection in all spectral measurements was at 45° (diffuse) from the clean woven textile, i.e., in all directions, and exceeded that of aluminium foil. In contrast, the contaminated vertically directed (0°) aluminium foil reflected less light than the clear foil but, surprisingly, reflected much more light at 45° than the clean foil. Both materials showed reflection peaks at 625-640 nm; light spectra and peaks remained unchanged irrespective of soil contamination.Light reflection in the visible range (PAR, 400-700 nm) was concomitantly measured in the field at CKA Klein-Altendorf near Bonn (50°N), Germany, at 0.5 m and 1 m height using a portable TRP‑3 light sensor (PP-Systems, Amesbury, MA, USA) on sunny and cloudy days at a solar angle of 49°. Surprisingly, in these field measurements, Lumilys and aluminium foil reflected most light in both directions (0° and 45°) when slightly to moderately contaminated. Only with heavy contamination did the reflection decrease. Both groundcovers reflected more light than the grass in alleyways of fruit orchards or open soil under the trees.UV‑B reflection (280-315 nm) was examined in parallel in the field using an X1 optometer (Gigahertz Optik, Türkenfels, Deutschland), as it enhances anthocyanin biosynthesis and red fruit colouration in combination with PAR and low temperature. Straight (0°) UV‑B reflection from aluminium foil exceeded that from white woven textile (Lumilys™) on both clear and overcast autumn days. As expected, straight (0°) UV‑B reflection from aluminium foil decreased with soil contamination to a certain extent, but it unexpectedly increased from the woven textile with soil contamination.Surface roughness in dependence of contamination was measured non-destructively by a profilometer type VR5200 (Keyence, Osaka, Japan). The roughness index, Sa, increased from 22 to 28 µm with soil contamination of the woven textile and from to 2 to 11 µm with aluminium foil, possibly explaining differences in the observed reflectivity.Overall, the expected severe decline in light reflection (PAR and UV-B) was not seen. In contrast, light (2-3 g soil/m2) and moderate (4-12 g soil/m2) contamination improved light reflection of PAR (400-700 nm) and UV‑B (280-315 nm) by woven textile (Lumilys™) and aluminum foil. Thus, with slight contamination the materials can be reused, whereas severe contamination (24-51 g soil/m2) reduces light reflection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael Blanke
- INRES-Gartenbauwissenschaften, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland
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Marks JNJ, Lines TEP, Penfold C, Cavagnaro TR. Cover crops and carbon stocks: How under-vine management influences SOC inputs and turnover in two vineyards. Sci Total Environ 2022; 831:154800. [PMID: 35341834 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing awareness surrounding the importance of maintaining and increasing soil organic carbon (SOC, henceforth) stocks in vineyard systems. Increasing SOC positively influences numerous soil properties and has the added advantage of removing atmospheric CO2, thereby helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. Cover crops have long been used to influence soil properties in vineyard mid-rows, including increasing SOC content. Few studies, however, have quantified cover crop influence on SOC stocks and composition in the under-vine area, owing to a general reluctance to adopt under-vine cover crop management. This research aims to quantify SOC stocks and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soils from four treatments of under-vine management practice including two cover crop combinations, a straw mulch and herbicide-managed control across two vineyard sites established in 2014. We sampled soils under-vine to depths of 0-30 cm (stratified; 0-10 cm and 10-30 cm) and quantified both SOC concentrations and bulk density to ascertain SOC stocks. Further to this, we quantified water extractable organic carbon (WEOC) as a measure of the labile carbon stock, and measured heterotrophic respiration in a laboratory incubation as an indication of SOC turnover. We found that cover crop-managed soil under-vine sequesters up to 23% more soil organic carbon (SOC) as the traditional, herbicide practice over a five-year period of growth. Microbial activity increased by more than double in cover crop soils, owing to an increase in DOC and that there is evidence for more resistant C in cover crop soils. These results suggest that cover crop management under-vine is a viable solution to increase SOC stocks within vineyard systems. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that a shift from bare earth to cover crops in the under-vine region has the potential to sequester carbon in vineyard soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N J Marks
- The Waite Research Institute and the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, the University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia.
| | - T E P Lines
- The Waite Research Institute and the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, the University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia
| | - C Penfold
- The Waite Research Institute and the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, the University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia
| | - T R Cavagnaro
- The Waite Research Institute and the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, the University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia
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Doren J, Hadad R, McKEAG L, Tucker C, Newbold E. Food Safety Risks of Harvesting Dropped and Drooping Produce: A Review. J Food Prot 2022; 85:571-582. [PMID: 34914837 DOI: 10.4315/jfp-21-369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The Produce Safety Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) sets forth minimum standards for fruit and vegetable production in the United States. One provision states that growers must not harvest dropped produce because damage or ground contact may contaminate produce. In an unpublished survey of 2020 food safety inspections conducted by the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety, handling of dropped produce covered by the FSMA was a common misunderstood and noncompliance issue among growers in the Northeast. In consideration of this provision's on-farm practicality, this review was conducted to evaluate the risks associated with dropped and drooping produce, to guide growers in making informed risk management decisions, and to answer the following questions: (i) what are the risk factors that influence transferability of pathogens from touching the ground to produce and (ii) what are the risks associated with harvesting dropped or drooping produce covered under the Produce Safety Rule? A search of online databases revealed 12 relevant publications, which highlighted moisture, contact time, and crop features as affecting contamination rates from a ground surface to a crop surface. Soil and mulch posed a differential risk, with bare soil generally presenting a lower risk than plastic mulch. The effects of other mulch types are unclear. Mulches may promote pathogen persistence in soil, although they may also protect produce from contaminated soils. These studies were limited in their scope and applicability and most did not directly address dropped produce. Research is needed to clarify the various effects of dropped and drooping produce, the impact of ground surface type on pathogen survivability and transfer, soil and crop features that facilitate contamination, and postharvest risks of harvesting dropped or drooping produce. A comprehensive understanding of these issues will guide growers in implementing preventive measures and better managing risk in a way practicable to each farm's unique conditions. HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Doren
- Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety, University of Vermont Extension, Bennington, Vermont 05201
| | - Robert Hadad
- Cornell Vegetable Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Rochester, New York 14617
| | - Lisa McKEAG
- Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, University of Massachusetts Extension, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Caitlin Tucker
- Cornell Vegetable Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Rochester, New York 14617
| | - Elizabeth Newbold
- Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety, University of Vermont Extension, Bennington, Vermont 05201
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Kubiku FNM, Mandumbu R, Nyamangara J, Nyamadzawo G. Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.) yield response to rainwater harvesting practices in the semi-arid farming environments of Zimbabwe: A meta-analysis. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09164. [PMID: 35368550 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rainwater harvesting practices are increasingly gaining recognition as viable adaptation strategies to overcome rainfall variability caused by climate change in semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe. A meta-analysis was conducted to provide a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of biophysical conditions (rainfall, soil texture, N fertility, mulch) under which basins, rippers, and tied ridges affected sorghum yields in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe. Rainfall amount (<600 mm, 600–1000 mm), soil texture (20 % clay, 20–35 % clay), mulch (basin + mulch, ripper + mulch, tied ridges + mulch), and fertility (0–30 kg N/ha, 30–100 kg N/ha) were used to evaluate the response of sorghum grain yield to rainwater harvesting practices. Grain yield response was compared to the control (conventional practice) using the weighted mean yield difference approach. The results showed comparable sorghum grain yields in all the rainwater harvesting practices across the biophysical conditions, except under rainfall and soil textural classes. Tied ridges had a significant (p < 0.05) negative sorghum grain yield response (−0.25 t/ha) under <600 mm of rainfall, while ripper planting resulted in a substantial negative grain yield response (−0.32 t/ha) under 600–1000 mm of rainfall. Ripper planting reduced grain yield significantly (p < 0.05) (−1.06 t/ha) in soils with 20–35% clay. The results suggest that basins, rippers, and tied ridges did not improve sorghum grain yield across all agronomic conditions.
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Biswas B, Chakraborty D, Timsina J, Roy DPD, Adhikary S, Das I, Sarkar A, Ray BR, Sarkar S, Mondal M, Kanthal S, Bhowmick UR. Replacing winter rice in non-traditional areas by strawberry reduces arsenic bioaccumulation, and improves water productivity and profitability. Sci Total Environ 2021; 788:147810. [PMID: 34034178 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Use of huge amount (1450-1650 mm) of arsenic contaminated (14.0-24.5 mg l-1) ground water to irrigate winter rice resulted in high deposition of arsenic (As) in the topsoil and in rice grains, posing a serious threat to soil and human health of the Bengal basin. Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) requires 250 mm irrigation and fetches 3.5 times more net return over the winter rice, and can be grown as an alternate crop in place of winter rice to save the environment. In comparison to rice As load in edible parts of strawberry reduced from 865 to 39 μg kg-1. Deficit irrigation (0.8 and 0.6 crop evapotranspiration, ETc) to strawberry further reduced total as well as different As species load in fruits. Jute and straw mulches recorded lower As in fruits over other mulches. Drip irrigation to recharge full or 80% of ETc loss and use of jute agrotextile surface mulch maximized root growth and yield in strawberry, benefit:cost ratio, and energy efficiency and productivity. Results demonstrate that strawberry cultivation in non-traditional winter rice growing areas of Bengal basin can potentially benefit millions of people by reducing As load in food chains, ensuring higher returns, and aid in reviving the local jute agrotextile industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benukar Biswas
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal 741 252, India.
| | - Debashis Chakraborty
- Division of Agricultural Physics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
| | - Jagadish Timsina
- Global Evergreening Alliance, 1 Vision Drive, East Burwood, VIC 3151, Melbourne, Australia; Institute for Study and Development Worldwide, 8/45 Henley Rd., Homebush West, Sydney, NSW 2140, Australia
| | | | - Saju Adhikary
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal 741 252, India
| | - Indranil Das
- Directorate of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, Jessop Road, Kolkata 1, India
| | - Arindam Sarkar
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal 741 252, India
| | - Bikash Ranjan Ray
- Directorate of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, Jessop Road, Kolkata 1, India
| | - Supradip Sarkar
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal 741 252, India
| | - Mousumi Mondal
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal 741 252, India
| | - Sahely Kanthal
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal 741 252, India
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Taguas EV, Marín-Moreno V, Díez CM, Mateos L, Barranco D, Mesas-Carrascosa FJ, Pérez R, García-Ferrer A, Quero JL. Opportunities of super high-density olive orchard to improve soil quality: Management guidelines for application of pruning residues. J Environ Manage 2021; 293:112785. [PMID: 34102498 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Applying pruning residues in the lanes of olive groves has become a popular practice because it is economical and accrues benefits for soil and water management. This study presents an analysis of the impact of different rates of pruning residue on soil properties, in particular related with soil quality. Over 4 annual campaigns, chopped pruning residues used as a mulch were analyzed in terms of composition, coverage and moisture content to evaluate their effects on the amount of soil organic carbon (-10 cm and -20 cm) and CO2 emissions, temperature and moisture. The experiment was carried out in a super-intensive olive orchard in Cordoba (SE, Spain) and used four amounts of fresh pruning residue: 7.5 t ha⁻1(T1), 15.0 t ha⁻1 (T2) and 30.0 t ha⁻1 (T3), with a control T0 = 0.0 t ha1. Mulch mean leaf fraction was 46.0 ± 17.5% (±SD) and initial water content, 24.8 ± 8.6%. The mulching benefits for soil moisture were observed in amounts of pruning residue >7.5 t ha⁻1, which are only produced in super-intensive olive groves or in orchards with high tree densities. The low impact of the treatments on soil moisture was explained by the dramatic annual variations in residue moisture contents, caused by the regimes of high temperatures and rainfall-evapotranspiration deficits inherent to the Mediterranean Basin climate. Thus, the mulching capacity only resulted efficient when the residues were still humid in spring. In addition, 15.0 t ha⁻1 of pruning residues was the threshold to provide significant increases in soil organic carbon at depths of 0-20 cm. Thus, accumulating pruning residue in lanes at rates of over 15 t ha⁻1 (T2 and T3) is more convenient than a uniform distribution with lower amounts, due to the low mineralization rates occurring during warm seasons and the larger inputs of OM increasing the annual balance of SOC.
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Irshad M, Ullah F, Fahad S, Mehmood S, Khan AU, Brtnicky M, Kintl A, Holatko J, Irshad I, El-Sharnouby M, EL Sabagh A, Datta R, Danish S. Evaluation of Jatropha curcas L. leaves mulching on wheat growth and biochemical attributes under water stress. BMC Plant Biol 2021; 21:303. [PMID: 34187364 PMCID: PMC8240320 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-03097-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organic mulches are widely used in crop production systems. Due to their benefits in improving soil fertility, retention of soil moisture and weed control. Field experiments were conducted during wheat growing seasons of 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 to evaluate the effects of Jatropha leaves mulch on the growth of wheat varieties 'Wadan-17' (rainfed) and 'Pirsabaq-2013' (irrigated) under well irrigated and water stress conditions (non-irrigated maintaining 40% soil field capacity). Jatropha mulch was applied to the soil surface at 0, 1, 3 and 5 Mg ha-1 before sowing grains in the field. Under conditions of water stress, Jatropha mulch significantly maintained the soil moisture content necessary for normal plant growth. RESULTS We noted a decrease in plant height, shoot and root fresh/dry weight, leaf area, leaf relative water content (LRWC), chlorophyll, and carotenoid content due to water stress. However, water stress caused an increase in leaf and root phenolics content, leaf soluble sugars and electrolytes leakage. We observed that Jatropha mulch maintained LRWC, plant height, shoot and root fresh/dry weight, leaf area and chlorophyll content under water stress. Moreover, water stress adverse effects on leaf soluble sugar content and electrolyte leakage were reversed to normal by Jatropha mulch. CONCLUSION Therefore, it may be concluded that Jatropha leaves mulch will minimize water stress adverse effects on wheat by maintaining soil moisture and plant water status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Irshad
- Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology Bannu, KP Bannu, Pakistan
| | - Faizan Ullah
- Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology Bannu, KP Bannu, Pakistan
| | - Shah Fahad
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bio Resource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228 China
- Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur, 22620 Pakistan
| | - Sultan Mehmood
- Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology Bannu, KP Bannu, Pakistan
| | - Asif Ullah Khan
- Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology Bannu, KP Bannu, Pakistan
| | - Martin Brtnicky
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrisciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Environmental Protection, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Antonin Kintl
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrisciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Agricultural Research, Ltd., 664 41 Troubsko, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Holatko
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrisciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Inam Irshad
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000 Pakistan
| | - Mohamed El-Sharnouby
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944 Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayman EL Sabagh
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Rahul Datta
- Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 3, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Subhan Danish
- Departments of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, 60800 Pakistan
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12
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Öbek E, Topal EIA, Topal M. Assessment of potential health risk associated with the use of Cladophora fracta as mulch. Environ Geochem Health 2021; 43:2175-2191. [PMID: 33411123 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-020-00790-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study, cadmium, copper, nickel, zinc, chromium, manganese and lead were determined in Cladophora fracta present in Lake Hazar (Turkey). The health risks (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic) of heavy metals associated with the use of Cladophora fracta as mulch were also determined. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) and metal pollution index (MPI) were calculated. When compared with reference value (1.5 mg/kg for Cr and 200 mg/kg for Mn), the highest accumulation by Cladophora fracta was seen in the month of June as 1442 ± 7.2% (23.13 mg/kg) for Cr and the lowest accumulation calculated in the month of July as 5 ± 0.2% (210 mg/kg) for Mn. In our study, the highest MPI value was 13.69 in September. The magnitude of MPI values of heavy metals determined during April to September appeared in the following order September > August > July > June > May > April. The HQing (hazard quotient due to ingestion) and HQinh (hazard quotient due to inhalation) in all months were chidren > female > male while the order of HQder (hazard quotient due to dermal) was determined as male > female > children. Non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) values in terms of ingestion, inhalation and dermal ways were lower than 1. Also, total HI values were < 1. As a result, there was not non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with usage of Cladophora fracta as mulch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erdal Öbek
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey.
| | - E Işıl Arslan Topal
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Murat Topal
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Processing Technologies, Tunceli Vocation School, Munzur University, Tunceli, Turkey
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13
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Dawar K, Khan A, Sardar K, Fahad S, Saud S, Datta R, Danish S. Effects of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin and mulch on N 2O emission and fertilizer use efficiency using 15N tracing techniques. Sci Total Environ 2021; 757:143739. [PMID: 33229088 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N2O), is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) that shares 7% of global warming around the world. Among different sources, agricultural systems account for approx. 60% of global anthropogenic N2O emissions. These N2O emissions are associated with the activity of nitrifiers and denitrifiers that contribute to >4 Tg (teragrams) N2O-N emission per year. Application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers and manures in agricultural fields plays an imperative role in this regard. On the other hand nitrification inhibitors are an effective approach to minimize N2O-N emissions from agricultural fields. Here we examined the effects of applying urea with a nitrification inhibitor (Ni) nitrapyrin and mulch (Mu) on urea transformation, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, grain yield and nitrogen (N) uptake efficiency. The treatments include a control (zero N), urea (U) applied at 200 kg N ha-1, U + Ni (Ni applied at 700 g ha-1), U+ Mu (Mu applied at 4 t ha-1) and U + Ni + Mu. The N2O emission factor (EF) was 66% and 75% when U and Mu were applied, respectively. Yield-scaled N2O emissions were lower in U and Mu by 45% and 55%, respectively. The Ni coupled with Mu enhanced urea-15N recovery by 58% and wheat grain yield by 23% and total N uptake by 30% compared with U alone. In conclusion, Ni usage is an effective strategy to mitigate N2O emissions under field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadim Dawar
- Department of Soil and Environmental Science, the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan.
| | - Aamir Khan
- Department of Soil and Environmental Science, the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Kamil Sardar
- Department of Soil and Environmental Science, the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Shah Fahad
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China; Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 22620, Pakistan.
| | - Shah Saud
- Department of Horticulture, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Rahul Datta
- Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Subhan Danish
- Department of Soil Science, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Punjab, Pakistan
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14
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Huang B, Sun L, Liu M, Huang H, He H, Han F, Wang X, Xu Z, Li B, Pan X. Abundance and distribution characteristics of microplastic in plateau cultivated land of Yunnan Province, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021; 28:1675-1688. [PMID: 32851528 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10527-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution in cultivated soil has received increasing attention recently. There may be more serious microplastic abundance but little research has been done in cultivated soil in plateau areas. To survey the pollution characteristics of microplastics in inland cultivated soil, 100 soil samples collected from 10 counties of Yunnan Province were investigated through density separation and microscopic examination. The research results showed that microplastic abundance was in the range of 0.9 × 103 to 40.8 × 103 particles (kg Ds)-1 with average abundance of 9.8 × 103 particles (kg Ds)-1. Moreover, compared with other studies on sediments, it was found that microplastic abundance in inland soil was one order of magnitude higher than that in offshore sediments. The use of plastic mulch and its long-term residue in cultivated soil was an important reason for microplastic pollution. In this survey, various morphologies of microplastics existed, including fragment (78.3%), transparent/translucency (49.7%), and micro-size microplastics (< 500 μm) (89.3%). And the microplastic morphologies occurred in different degrees of aging phenomenon under the influence of the environment factors such as ultraviolet radiation. The findings provided the pollution status of microplastics in cultivated soil, and more attention should be paid to inland soil microplastic pollution. Grapical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Huang
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control in Soils, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Leiye Sun
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Mengran Liu
- Yunnan Provincial Agricultural Environmental Protection Monitoring Station, Kunming, 650000, China
| | - Haiyou Huang
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Huan He
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Fengxia Han
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China.
- Innovation and Development Institute, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China.
| | - Xiaoxia Wang
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Zhixiang Xu
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Bei Li
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Xuejun Pan
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control in Soils, Kunming, 650500, China
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15
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Zhang S, Wang Y, Sun L, Qiu C, Ding Y, Gu H, Wang L, Wang Z, Ding Z. Organic mulching positively regulates the soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions in tea plantation. BMC Microbiol 2020; 20:103. [PMID: 32349665 PMCID: PMC7191807 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-01794-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Different mulches have variable effects on soil physicochemical characteristics, bacterial and fungal communities and ecosystem functions. However, the information about soil microbial diversity, community structure and ecosystem function in tea plantation under different mulching patterns was limited. In this study, we investigated bacterial and fungal communities of tea plantation soils under polyethylene film and peanut hull mulching using high-throughput 16S rRNA and ITS rDNA gene Illumina sequencing. Results The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi, and the dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota and Basidiomycota in all samples, but different mulching patterns affected the distribution of microbial communities. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Nitrospirae in peanut hull mulching soils (3.24%) was significantly higher than that in polyethylene film mulching soils (1.21%) in bacterial communities, and the relative abundances of Mortierellomycota and Basidiomycota in peanut hull mulching soils (33.72, 21.93%) was significantly higher than that in polyethylene film mulching soils (14.88, 6.53%) in fungal communities. Peanut hull mulching increased the diversity of fungal communities in 0–20 cm soils and the diversity of bacterial communities in 20–40 cm soils. At the microbial functional level, there was an enrichment of bacterial functional features, including amino acid transport and metabolism and energy production and conversion, and there was an enrichment of fungal functional features, including undefined saprotrophs, plant pathogens and soils aprotrophs. Conclusions Unique distributions of bacterial and fungal communities were observed in soils under organic mulching. Thus, we believe that the organic mulching has a positive regulatory effect on the soil bacterial and fungal communities and ecosystem functions, and so, is more suitable for tea plantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuning Zhang
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong, China
| | - Litao Sun
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong, China
| | - Chen Qiu
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong, China
| | - Yiqian Ding
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong, China
| | - Honglian Gu
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong, China
| | - Linjun Wang
- Weihai agricultural and rural affairs service center, Weihai, 264200, Shandong, China
| | - Zhaoshun Wang
- Weihai agricultural and rural affairs service center, Weihai, 264200, Shandong, China
| | - Zhaotang Ding
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong, China.
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16
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Vo VD, Kinoshita AM. Remote sensing of vegetation conditions after post-fire mulch treatments. J Environ Manage 2020; 260:109993. [PMID: 32090797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires are becoming more prevalent and are impacting forests, watersheds and important resources. Hydrologic and geomorphic processes following wildfires can include erosion flooding, and degraded water quality. To mitigate these secondary impacts, post-fire restoration treatments can be applied to a burned area to stabilize the land surface or promote vegetative regrowth. This research focuses on wood and straw mulch treatment implemented after the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado (United States) and estimates the spatial and temporal changes in annual and seasonal vegetation after a fire with respect to geomorphic factors. This study highlights the use of satellite-based remote sensing products to investigate the impacts of post-fire rehabilitation treatments on vegetation. Using Enhanced Vegetation Index as a proxy for vegetative growth, vegetation conditions are evaluated with respect to slope, slope aspect, and burn severity to understand the impact of the ground cover treatments on vegetation for five years before and after the fire (2007-2016). Sixty-three burned and untreated sites, forty-nine burned sites treated with wood mulch, and twenty-eight burned sites treated with straw mulch were analyzed. These sites were also compared to two control sites that were unburned and untreated, Hunter's Run and Fountain Creek. Generally, post-fire conditions did not return to pre-fire levels, where average vegetation levels were lower. By the end of the study, burned and untreated sites had larger vegetative levels than burned and treated sites. The vegetation levels of the burned sites were statistically different (α = 0.05) from pre-fire conditions in all areas of treatment. Burned sites treated with wood and straw recovered to 69% and 73% of pre-fire conditions, respectively. This work demonstrates the novel use of remote sensing to observe vegetation after post-fire treatment applications to augment the number of sites and length of time that can be analyzed. The observed change in vegetation conditions also contributes to furthering our understanding of the impacts of post-fire restoration, which is important for post-fire management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viet D Vo
- Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, 5500, Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Alicia M Kinoshita
- Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, 5500, Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, USA.
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17
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Hou L, Xi J, Chen X, Li X, Ma W, Lu J, Xu J, Lin YB. Biodegradability and ecological impacts of polyethylene-based mulching film at agricultural environment. J Hazard Mater 2019; 378:120774. [PMID: 31226592 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.120774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Discarded Polyethylene (PE) mulches have posed a persistent pollution in the agricultural field. Although PE degraded by microbes has been reported, the effect on in situ soil environment is not completely understood. To determine the biodegradability and ecological impacts of PE-based mulches, we tested the biodegradation related properties of screened strains and analyzed change in soil quality and microbial community after covering with different mulches. Strain Bacillus aryabhattai 5-3 showed 3.85 ± 0.50% gravimetric weight loss after a 30 days incubation with PE-based mulch as the sole carbon source; Considerable pits and vast cavities were found on the surface using AFM and SEM. The hydrophobicity of mulch sheet was decreased to 68.9 ± 0.8°, FTIR identified that new oxidized groups were formed on the surfaces of incubated mulch. Additionally, the fluctuations of microbial communities indicate that synthetic mulch could replace the current commercial product to minimise agricultural pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Hou
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Jiao Xi
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Xiaotian Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Xuewen Li
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Wen Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Jike Lu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Jing Xu
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agriculture University, Tai'an, 271018, PR China
| | - Yan Bing Lin
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China.
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18
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Sintim HY, Bary AI, Hayes DG, English ME, Schaeffer SM, Miles CA, Zelenyuk A, Suski K, Flury M. Release of micro- and nanoparticles from biodegradable plastic during in situ composting. Sci Total Environ 2019; 675:686-693. [PMID: 31039503 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Plastic is ubiquitous in modern life, but most conventional plastic is non-biodegradable and accumulates as waste after use. Biodegradable plastic is a promising alternative to conventional plastic. However, biodegradable plastics must be thoroughly evaluated to ensure that they undergo complete degradation and have no adverse impact on the environment. We evaluated the degradation of biodegradable plastics during 18-week full-scale composting, and determined whether additives from the plastics are released upon degradation. Two biodegradable plastic films-one containing polybutylene co-adipate co-terephthalate (PBAT) and the other containing polylactic acid/poly-hydroxy-alkanoate (PLA/PHA)-were placed into meshbags and buried in the compost. Degradation was assessed by image analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, electrophoretic mobility, δ13C isotope analyses, and single particle mass spectrometry of mulch fragments. The results showed >99% macroscopic degradation of PLA/PHA and 97% for PBAT film. Polymers in the biodegradable films degraded; however, micro- and nanoparticles, most likely carbon black, were observed on the meshbags. Overall, biodegradable plastics hold promise, but the release of micro- and nanoparticles from biodegradable plastic upon degradation warrants additional investigation and calls for longer field testing to ensure that either complete biodegradation occurs or that no long-term harm to the environment is caused.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Y Sintim
- Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States of America; Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, United States of America
| | - Andy I Bary
- Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States of America; Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, United States of America
| | - Douglas G Hayes
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States of America
| | - Marie E English
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States of America
| | - Sean M Schaeffer
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States of America
| | - Carol A Miles
- Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, WSU Mount Vernon, Northwestern Washington Research & Extension Center, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, United States of America
| | - Alla Zelenyuk
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States of America
| | - Kaitlyn Suski
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States of America
| | - Markus Flury
- Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States of America; Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, United States of America.
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19
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Perumalsamy S, Putsathit P, Riley TV. High prevalence of Clostridium difficile in soil, mulch and lawn samples from the grounds of Western Australian hospitals. Anaerobe 2019; 60:102065. [PMID: 31260739 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Despite being considered a major hospital-associated pathogen for many years, Clostridium difficile has been isolated increasingly from people without hospital contact. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of C. difficile in the immediate outdoor environment of several hospitals in Perth, Western Australia, to provide further insight into potential sources of community-acquired C. difficile infection. Over 6 months, a total of 159 samples consisting of soil, mulch, lawn and sand were collected from outdoor surroundings of four different old (age>50 years) and new (age<10 years) hospitals. Samples were cultured in a C. difficile selective enrichment broth. Toxin gene profiling using PCR, and PCR ribotyping, was performed on all C. difficile recovered. C. difficile was isolated from 96 of the 159 samples (60.4%). Of the 112 isolates, 33 (29.5%) were toxigenic and 49 (43.8%) were identified as novel strains. Ribotypes (RTs) 014/020 (14.3%) and 010 (13.4%) constituted the highest proportion of isolates. Interestingly, RT 017, a strain endemic to the Asia-Pacific region (but not Australia), was found in a newly laid lawn. This study adds to existing knowledge of potential sources of C. difficile in Western Australia. More research is required to determine the route of transmission of C. difficile from community sources into the hospital.
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20
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Félix GF, Scholberg JMS, Clermont-Dauphin C, Cournac L, Tittonell P. Enhancing agroecosystem productivity with woody perennials in semi-arid West Africa. A meta-analysis. Agron Sustain Dev 2018; 38:57. [PMID: 30873222 PMCID: PMC6390929 DOI: 10.1007/s13593-018-0533-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Soil degradation in semi-arid West Africa can be reversed through an intensified application of organic matter, especially on coarse soils. Woody perennials have been promoted in the region to secure organic matter sources and improve soil productive capacity, yet the mechanisms by which perennials provide benefits to soils and crops remain poorly understood, and no effective, generalizable agronomic recommendations exist. Here, we reviewed the effects of trees and shrubs on soil properties and on crop yields in semi-arid West Africa (< 1000 mm year-1). Specific objectives of this meta-analysis were to (i) describe and (ii) quantify the effects of the presence of woody perennials and of ramial wood amendments on crop productivity and soil characteristics, and (iii) identify general recommendations on the integration of perennials with crops. An iterative keyword search was conducted to gather relevant literature. The search string consisted of four parts: source, practice, responses, and countries of interest. In total, 26 references on agroforestry parklands and 21 on woody amendments were included in the meta-database (314 entries, 155 for parklands, and 159 for ramial wood). We show that (1) the presence of shrubs and trees on agricultural fields had an overall positive but variable effect on soil total C (i.e. + 20 to 75%); (2) millet and sorghum yields were often higher in the presence of shrubs (- 25 to + 120%); (3) more variability was observed in the presence of trees (- 100 to + 200%); and (4) the use of shrub- and tree-based ramial wood resulted in equal or higher cereal yields as compared to the control (- 30 to + 100%). Upscaling the use of biodiversity-driven processes in farming systems of West Africa may provide benefits to overall ecosystems, but species' choice and trade-offs perceived at the farm level, including labour management and low ramial wood availability, should be addressed through future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges F. Félix
- Farming Systems Ecology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes M. S. Scholberg
- Farming Systems Ecology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Cathy Clermont-Dauphin
- Eco&Sols, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, IRD, Campus SupAgro, Bâtiment 12, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France
- LMI IESOL, Centre IRD-ISRA de Bel Air, BP1386, CP18524 Dakar, Senegal
| | - Laurent Cournac
- Eco&Sols, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, IRD, Campus SupAgro, Bâtiment 12, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France
- LMI IESOL, Centre IRD-ISRA de Bel Air, BP1386, CP18524 Dakar, Senegal
| | - Pablo Tittonell
- Farming Systems Ecology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Natural Resources and Environment Program, CONICET-INTA, Modesta Victoria, 4450 San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro Argentina
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21
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de Cássia Neves Esteca F, Rodrigues LR, de Moraes GJ, Júnior ID, Klingen I. Mulching with coffee husk and pulp in strawberry affects edaphic predatory mite and spider mite densities. Exp Appl Acarol 2018; 76:161-183. [PMID: 30293177 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0309-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mulching of soil beds of strawberry fields is usually done with polyethylene film in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. This material is relatively expensive and difficult to discard after use. In some countries, mulching is done with the use of organic material that could have an advantage over the use of plastic for its easier degradation after use, and for favoring edaphic beneficial organisms. Predatory mites (especially Gamasina, Mesostigmata) may be abundant in the soil and could conceivably move to the soil surface and onto the short-growing strawberry plants at night, helping in the control or pest arthropods. The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is considered an important strawberry pest in that region, where the fungus Neozygites floridana (Weiser and Muma) has been found to infect it. Different mulching types could affect the incidence of this pathogen. Dehydrated coffee husk and pulp (DCHP) is a byproduct readily available in southern Minas Gerais, where could be used as organic mulching in strawberry beds. The temporary contact of that material with the soil of a patch of natural vegetation could facilitate its colonization by edaphic predatory mites helpful in the control of strawberry pests. The objective of this work was to study the effect of mulching type on the population dynamics of the two-spotted spider mite, associate mites and N. floridana, in a greenhouse and in the field. The use of DCHP increased the number of edaphic Gamasina on strawberry plants-Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (Müller) (Melicharidae) and Blattisocius dentriticus (Berlese) (Blattisociidae) were observed on strawberry leaflets, mainly in nocturnal samplings, indicating their possible daily migration from soil to plants. Lower levels of two-spotted spider mite occurred on plants from pots or soil beds mulched with DCHP instead of polyethylene film, possibly because of the slightly higher levels of mites of the family Phytoseiidae and infection by N. floridana. Adding DCHP onto the floor of natural vegetation did not result in higher diversity or levels of gamasine mites on DCHP. Complementary studies should be conducted to find ways to increase diversity and density of those organisms in strawberry beds, in an attempt to improve biological control of strawberry pests. The decision to use DCHP for mulching should also take into account other factors such as strawberry yield, costs and efficiency of weed management, to be evaluated in subsequent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda de Cássia Neves Esteca
- Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz', Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil.
| | - Luis Rodolfo Rodrigues
- Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz', Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Gilberto José de Moraes
- Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz', Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Italo Delalibera Júnior
- Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz', Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Ingeborg Klingen
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), P.O. Box 115, 1431, Ås, Norway
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22
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Gąsiorowska B, Płaza A, Rzążewska E, Cybulska A, Górski R. The potato tuber content of microelements as affected by organic fertilisation and production system. Environ Monit Assess 2018; 190:522. [PMID: 30116902 PMCID: PMC6096882 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6894-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The objective of the work was to determine the effect of undersown catch crops, which were either autumn-incorporated or left on the soil surface as mulch for spring incorporation, on the microelement content in the tubers of potato cultivated in the integrated and organic production system. Field research was conducted at the Zawady Experimental Farm owned by Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Poland (52° 03' 39″ N, 22° 33' 80″ E). The following two factors were examined in the study: (i) organic fertilisation, control, farmyard manure, serradella, westerwolds ryegrass, serradella applied as mulch and westerwolds ryegrass applied as mulch and (ii) production system, organic and integrated. Microelements (B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) were determined in potato tubers samples. The tubers of potato manured with autumn-incorporated serradella had the highest iron and zinc contents, whereas tubers following autumn-incorporated serradella and spring-incorporated serradella mulch had the highest boron content. Manuring with undersown catch crops and farmyard manure contributed to a decline in the potato tuber content of copper and manganese. Potato cultivated in the integrated production system contained more copper, manganese and zinc, whereas organic tubers had more iron and boron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Gąsiorowska
- Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Prusa 14, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Anna Płaza
- Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Prusa 14, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Emilia Rzążewska
- Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Prusa 14, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland.
| | - Anna Cybulska
- Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Prusa 14, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Rafał Górski
- Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Prusa 14, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland
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23
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Bavougian CM, Read PE. Mulch and groundcover effects on soil temperature and moisture, surface reflectance, grapevine water potential, and vineyard weed management. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5082. [PMID: 29967742 PMCID: PMC6022731 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this research were to identify alternatives to glyphosate for intra-row (under-trellis) vineyard floor management and to evaluate the potential for intra-row and inter-row (alleyway) groundcovers to reduce vegetative vigor of 'Marquette' grapevines (Vitis spp.) in a southeast Nebraska vineyard. The experiment was a randomized factorial design with five intra-row treatments (crushed glass mulch [CG], distillers' grain mulch [DG], creeping red fescue [CRF], non-sprayed control [NSC], and glyphosate [GLY]) and three inter-row treatments (creeping red fescue [CRF], Kentucky bluegrass [KB], and resident vegetation [RV]). Treatments were established in 2010-2011 and measurements were conducted during 2012 and 2013 on 5- and 6-year-old vines. Soil temperatures were mostly higher under mulches and lower under intra-row groundcovers, compared to GLY. Weed cover in CG, DG, and CRF treatments was the same or less than GLY. At most sampling dates, inter-row soil moisture was lowest under KB. Intra-row soil moisture was highest under DG mulch and lowest under CRF and NSC; CG had the same or lower soil moisture than GLY. Surprisingly, we did not detect differences in mid-day photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) reflectance, despite visual differences among the intra-row treatments. Mid-day vine water potential did not differ among treatments. We concluded it is not necessary to maintain a bare soil strip under established vines in this region, where soil fertility and moisture are non-limiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Bavougian
- Department of Agronomy & Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States of America
| | - Paul E Read
- Department of Agronomy & Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States of America
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24
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Niño de Guzmán GT, Hapeman CJ, Millner PD, McConnell LL, Jackson D, Kindig D, Torrents A. Using a high-organic matter biowall to treat a trichloroethylene plume at the Beaver Dam Road landfill. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:8735-8746. [PMID: 29327189 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-1137-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a highly effective industrial degreasing agent and known carcinogen. It was frequently buried improperly in landfills and has subsequently become one of the most common groundwater and soil contaminants in the USA. A common strategy to remediate TCE-contaminated sites and to prevent movement of the TCE plumes into waterways is to construct biowalls which consist of biomaterials and amendments to enhance biodegradation. This approach was chosen to contain a TCE plume emanating from a closed landfill in Maryland. However, predicting the effectiveness of biowalls is often site specific. Therefore, we conducted an extensive series of batch reactor studies at 12 °C as opposed to the typical room temperature to examine biowall fill-material combinations including the effects of zero-valent iron (ZVI) and glycerol amendments. No detectable TCE was observed after several months in the laboratory study when using the unamended 4:3 mulch-to-compost combination. In the constructed biowall, this mixture reduced the upstream TCE concentration by approximately 90% and generated ethylene downstream, an indication of successful reductive dechlorination. However, the more toxic degradation product vinyl chloride (VC) was also detected downstream at levels approximately ten times greater than the maximum contaminant level. This indicates that incomplete degradation also occurred. In the laboratory, ZVI reduced VC formation. A hazard quotient was calculated for the landfill site with and without the biowall. The addition of the biowall decreased the hazard quotient by 88%.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cathleen J Hapeman
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Patricia D Millner
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Laura L McConnell
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Dana Jackson
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | | | - Alba Torrents
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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25
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Manwaring M, Wallace HM, Weaver HJ. Effects of a mulch layer on the assemblage and abundance of mesostigmatan mites and other arthropods in the soil of a sugarcane agro-ecosystem in Australia. Exp Appl Acarol 2018; 74:291-300. [PMID: 29468348 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0227-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Sugarcane farmers can utilise a soil conservation technique called green cane trash blanketing, a form of mulching that can increase plant productivity through a number of channels, e.g., via altering soil physical, chemical and biological characteristics, and influence soil arthropod assemblages. Predatory mites (Mesostigmata) are important components of soil communities because they can control populations of other soil-dwelling pest species. Our aim was to characterise mulch-influenced predatory Mesostigmata community assemblages in sugarcane soils in Queensland, Australia. We found that application of a mulch layer significantly increased the abundance of Mesostigmata, and oribatid mites and collembolans, in soils. Furthermore, we observed that the assemblages of Mesostigmata in soil covered by mulch were significantly different to those in bare soil; and the assemblages of Mesostigmata changed over time. The assemblages of Mesostigmata, but not Oribatida or collembolans, were significantly different in soil under mulch depending on whether the mulch was freshly laid, or decomposing. Our results show that the use of mulch, specifically the green cane trash blanket, can increase overall microarthropod abundance including Mesostigmata. This is likely due to increased habitat complexity and changing resource availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Manwaring
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - H M Wallace
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - H J Weaver
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia.
- Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, GPO Box 787, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
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26
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Bisceglia KJ, Dharia M, Kaur M, Pavlovici FA. Leachability and potential ecotoxic impact of trifluralin-impregnated mulch. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:2972-2980. [PMID: 29147986 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0575-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The leachability, potential ecotoxicity, and photolysis of trifluralin-impregnated mulch, a popular retail consumer gardening product, were investigated under environmentally realistic conditions. Leachability of trifluralin from impregnated mulch was low (< 1% of total extractable compound) and in the range of reported values for agricultural soils. No trifluralin transformation products were detected in mulch leachate. Yeast-based estrogenicity and androgenicity screens indicated that aqueous trifluralin is not estrogenic but is moderately androgenic at concentrations ~ 1e - 5 M. Impregnated mulch leachate was not hormonally active, even at undiluted concentrations, but it did exert nonspecific toxicity at dilutions of ~ 1:10. Photolysis of trifluralin was investigated in acetonitrile and water and on mulch surfaces. Degradation on mulch surfaces was diffusion-limited; it was ~ 17 times slower than in aqueous solution, but faster than has been reported on kaolinite. An array of trifluralin transformation products was identified, but in no case did they exceed 10% of the parent compound. Using industry-recommended application guidelines, it is estimated that as much as 1400 μg/m2 of trifluralin may leach from impregnated mulch upon the first rainfall. However, provided that consumers are aware that such mulch products contain trifluralin and are properly educated about its use, the potential for direct ecotoxic impact is likely to be small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Bisceglia
- Department of Chemistry, Hofstra University, 151 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA.
| | - Monika Dharia
- Department of Chemistry, Hofstra University, 151 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA
| | - Manpreet Kaur
- Department of Chemistry, Hofstra University, 151 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA
| | - Francesca A Pavlovici
- Department of Chemistry, Hofstra University, 151 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA
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27
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Nemeth D, Lambrinos JG, Strik BC. The effects of long-term management on patterns of carbon storage in a northern highbush blueberry production system. Sci Total Environ 2017; 579:1084-1093. [PMID: 27932219 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Perennial crops potentially provide a sink for atmospheric carbon. However, there is a poor understanding of how perennial crops differ in their carbon allocation patterns, and few studies have tested how agronomic practices such as fertilization influence long-term patterns of carbon allocation in actual production systems. In this study, we report results of a long-term field experiment that tested the individual and combined effects of organic matter incorporation and nitrogen fertilization on carbon allocation. The mature (nine-year-old) blueberry plants in this study had an average standing carbon stock of 1147gCm-2 and average annual Net Primary Production (NPP) of 523gCm-2yr-1, values that are similar to those reported for other woody crops. Forty-four percent of blueberry annual NPP was sequestered in persistent biomass, 19% was exported as harvested fruit, and 37% entered the detrital pathway. Nitrogen applied at rates typical for blueberry production throughout the span of the study had no significant effect on total plant or soil C. However, pre-planting organic matter incorporation and periodic mulching with sawdust significantly increased both soil organic matter and soil C. Pre-planting organic matter incorporation also increased total standing plant C nine years later at maturity. At the field scale, we estimate that fields receiving pre-planting organic matter incorporation would have 4.8% (4.5Mgha-1) more standing C relative to non-amended fields, although the difference is within the range of uncertainty of the estimated values. These results suggest that blueberry production can provide a valuable medium-term carbon store that is comparable in magnitude to that of temperate tree crops, but overall carbon budgets are influenced by management practices over the first decade after planting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Nemeth
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331-7304, USA.
| | - John G Lambrinos
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331-7304, USA.
| | - Bernadine C Strik
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331-7304, USA.
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28
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Prats SA, Wagenbrenner JW, Martins MAS, Malvar MC, Keizer JJ. Mid-term and scaling effects of forest residue mulching on post-fire runoff and soil erosion. Sci Total Environ 2016; 573:1242-1254. [PMID: 27156121 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Mulching is an effective post-fire soil erosion mitigation treatment. Experiments with forest residue mulch have demonstrated that it increased ground cover to 70% and reduced runoff and soil loss at small spatial scales and for short post-fire periods. However, no studies have systematically assessed the joint effects of scale, time since burning, and mulching on runoff, soil loss, and organic matter loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of scale and forest residue mulch using 0.25m2 micro-plots and 100m2 slope-scale plots in a burnt eucalypt plantation in central Portugal. We assessed the underlying processes involved in the post-fire hydrologic and erosive responses, particularly the effects of soil moisture and soil water repellency. Runoff amount in the micro-plots was more than ten-fold the runoff in the larger slope-scale plots in the first year and decreased to eight-fold in the third post-fire year. Soil losses in the micro-plots were initially about twice the values in the slope-scale plots and this ratio increased over time. The mulch greatly reduced the cumulative soil loss measured in the untreated slope-scale plots (616gm-2) by 91% during the five post-fire years. The implications are that applying forest residue mulch immediately after a wildfire can reduce soil losses at spatial scales of interest to land managers throughout the expected post-fire window of disturbance, and that mulching resulted in a substantial relative gain in soil organic matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Alegre Prats
- Centre for Environmental and Maritime Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Joseph W Wagenbrenner
- School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton,, MI 49931, USA
| | - Martinho António Santos Martins
- Centre for Environmental and Maritime Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Maruxa Cortizo Malvar
- Centre for Environmental and Maritime Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jan Jacob Keizer
- Centre for Environmental and Maritime Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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29
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Micallef SA, Callahan MT, Pagadala S. Occurrence and Dispersal of Indicator Bacteria on Cucumbers Grown Horizontally or Vertically on Various Mulch Types. J Food Prot 2016; 79:1663-1672. [PMID: 28221845 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-16-106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
No data exist on the impact of cultivation practices on food safety risks associated with cucumber. Cucumbers are typically grown horizontally over a mulch cover, with fruit touching the ground, but this vining plant grows well in vertical systems. To assess whether production system affects bacterial dispersal onto plants, field trials were conducted over 2 years. Cucumber cultivar 'Marketmore 76' was grown horizontally on plastic, straw, or bare ground or vertically on trellises installed on bare ground in soil previously amended with raw dairy manure. Fruit, flower, leaf, and soil samples were collected to quantify Escherichia coli , thermotolerant coliforms, and enterococci by direct plating. E. coli isolates were characterized by BOX-PCR to evaluate relatedness among strains. Although thermotolerant coliforms and enterococci were significantly less abundant on fruit in year 1 (P < 0.05), this result was not seen in year 2 when more rain was recorded. Instead, fruit from straw-mulched beds had higher levels of enterococci compared with fruit grown on bare ground (P < 0.05). Leaves on bare ground occasionally had more bacteria than did leaves on plastic mulch beds (P < 0.05). Production system did not impact flower-associated bacterial levels. E. coli isolates (n =127) were genotyped, generating 21 distinct fingerprints. Vertical production did not appear to be a barrier for E. coli dispersal to the crop, as suggested by numerous related isolates from soil and flowers on bare ground, straw-mulched, and trellised beds (subcluster B1). None of the isolates from soil and flowers in this subcluster were related to isolates recovered from fruit, showing that flower colonization does not necessarily lead to fruit colonization. One cluster of isolates contained those from flowers and fruits but not soil, indicating a source other than manure-amended soil. Straw may be a source of E. coli ; a number of closely related E. coli isolates were retrieved from soil and fruits from straw-mulched beds. Our approach revealed E. coli dispersal patterns and could be used to assess bacterial transmission in other production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley A Micallef
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Mary Theresa Callahan
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Sivaranjani Pagadala
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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30
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Cassigneul A, Alletto L, Benoit P, Bergheaud V, Etiévant V, Dumény V, Le Gac AL, Chuette D, Rumpel C, Justes E. Nature and decomposition degree of cover crops influence pesticide sorption: quantification and modelling. Chemosphere 2015; 119:1007-1014. [PMID: 25303661 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.08.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Revised: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/31/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study quantifies and models the influence of the type and the degree of decomposition of cover crops (CC) on three pesticides sorption: epoxiconazole (EPX), S-metolachlor (SMOC) and glyphosate (GLY). Residues of four cover crop species were incubated for 0, 6, 28 or 56 d in controlled conditions. For each incubation time, adsorption of pesticides on CC residues was measured in batch experiments. Additionally, the biochemical and elemental composition (Van Soest fractionation, C:N, (13)C NMR spectroscopy) of CC was characterized. Mineralization of CC residues was monitored at all incubation times using CO2 trapping. Results showed that the adsorption of pesticides differed significantly according to (i) the type of molecule, (ii) the type of CC, (iii) the degree of CC decomposition and the interaction CC×decomposition time. EPX and GLY were the most (Kd ranging from 188 to 267 L kg(-1)) and the least (Kd ranging from 18 to 28 L kg(-1)) sorbed pesticides respectively. With increasing decomposition of the CC residue, sorption increased by 1.6- to 4.7-fold according to the type of pesticide and cover crop. It was significantly correlated with the net cumulative mineralization (ρ>0.7) and other indicators of biochemical composition such as C:N ratio (ρ<-0.7), the Van Soest neutral detergent soluble fraction (ρ>0.5) and the alkyl/O-alkyl C ratio determined by NMR. An innovative model based on net cumulative mineralization of CC residues is proposed to describe the pesticide sorption and appears to be a promising approach to account for the effects of decaying plant residues on the environmental fate of pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cassigneul
- Université de Toulouse - École d'ingénieurs de Purpan, UMR 1248 AGIR - 75, voie du TOEC BP 57 611, 31 076 Toulouse cedex 3, France; INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 1091 EGC, 78 850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - L Alletto
- Université de Toulouse - École d'ingénieurs de Purpan, UMR 1248 AGIR - 75, voie du TOEC BP 57 611, 31 076 Toulouse cedex 3, France.
| | - P Benoit
- INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 1091 EGC, 78 850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - V Bergheaud
- INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 1091 EGC, 78 850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - V Etiévant
- INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 1091 EGC, 78 850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - V Dumény
- INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 1091 EGC, 78 850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - A L Le Gac
- Université de Toulouse - École d'ingénieurs de Purpan, UMR 1248 AGIR - 75, voie du TOEC BP 57 611, 31 076 Toulouse cedex 3, France; INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 1091 EGC, 78 850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - D Chuette
- Université de Toulouse - École d'ingénieurs de Purpan, UMR 1248 AGIR - 75, voie du TOEC BP 57 611, 31 076 Toulouse cedex 3, France; INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 1091 EGC, 78 850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - C Rumpel
- CNRS, Biogéochimie et Écologie des Milieux Continentaux, BioEMCO, (UMR 7618 UPMC, UPEC, CNRS, INRA, AgroParisTech, IRD), F-78850 Thiverval Grignon, France
| | - E Justes
- INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 1248 AGIR, Auzeville - BP 52627, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan cedex, France
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