Bacterial Presence in Manufactured Soils
Maria V. Kalevitch, Valentine I. Kefeli
Abstract
Manufactured soil, also known as Fabricated Soil (FS), is a
natural mixture of decaying substrates rich in
aluminosilicate, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
sources (complete composition and quantity cannot be
disclosed at this time). This substrate is usually used for
landscape rehabilitation, and is an excellent source and
example of environmental remediation.
Fabricated soils could be a solution to the problem of soil
erosion. This became a serious issue as all over the
world millions of acres of soil are damaged. This study
examines the use and application of FS in Western
Pennsylvanian soils that were previously degraded by acid
mining drainage. We are still trying to determine if
fabricated soils are a long-term or short-term solution to
the problem. After the exposure of FS into the natural
habitat for the duration of three years, we evaluated
bacterial activity in soil, as this is an important
indicator of soil health.
Full
Article
Saline Groundwater Pumping Water Change Water Quality and
Management In Dry-Lands: An Experimental and Numerical
Assessments Ahmed Hasson
Abstract
This
involved pumping saline water to shallow ponds, reducing pond
evaporation, diluting salt
levels with winter rain water and then using this water for irrigation
and livestock water supplies.
Studies were conducted at two sites in Iraq and in Western Australia.
These sites all have a
similar climate and share the similar salinity problems. It was found
that there was a reduction of 70%,
72% and 82% of the evaporation from the ponds in Iraq and Western
Australia
respectively. In Upper Euphrates and Babylon the subsequent dilution
with winter rainfall
changed the water quality from highly saline level to moderately saline,
brackish, suitable for
irrigation and livestock. Environmental parameters were used to compare
the applicability of this
technique for the Western Australian wheatbelt. Water pumping were 32%
for Upper-Euphrates, 35%
for Babylon, and 33% for Moora-Katanning.
Full
Article
Manure management on a township scale: Using a land evaluation
approach in Wisconsin
Trisha Wagner, Joshua Posner, Laura Paine
Abstract
In Wisconsin, increased attention to manure management means many
farmers will need to look beyond their farm gate in order to
correctly manage livestock manure. By integrating easily accessible
information at the county level, and with local insight, a series of
maps were developed to help land use planners and farmers envision
manure management on a landscape rather than single-farm scale. On a
township basis, 47% of the area was classified as priority or
cautionary for spreading manure, resulting in a stocking rate of
approximately 1.07 AU/ha (animal units/manurable hectare). This
general discussion about landscape use and nutrient management was
very timely as the town and county prepared its 2010 comprehensive
"smart growth" development plan.
Full
Article
Estimation And Calculation Of A Relationship Between Dispersion
Number, Reynolds Number, Porosity And Hydraulic Gradient in
Horizontal Roughing Filter
Rabindra Nath Barman, Biswajit Mukhopadhayay, Mrinmoy Majumder,
Pankaj Kumar Roy, and
Asis
Mazumder
Abstract
The study was aimed to estimate the flow criteria in Horizontal Roughing
Filter (HRF) used as a
pretreatment unit before Slow Sand Filter (SSF). The Head loss and the
nature of flow in porous
medium i.e. in gravel bed has been ascertained with overflow rate for
the gravel size ranging
between 15mm-10mm, 10mm-5mm, 5mm-1mm. The Dispersion number of the flow
through
gravel bed is in between 0.14 to 0.15 which indicate that the flow
through gravel bed in HRF acts
as a
plug flow type reactor. A relationship among dispersion number,
porosity, Reynolds number
and
hydraulic gradient for flow through gravel bed has been established, for
this study only pond
Abstract
This
study examines the results of collusion between two Portuguese fishing
producers’ organizations (POs), with game theory. The problem is seen
from a “commons” perspective, studying sardine stocks. A Cournot-Nash
model is used and it evidences the benefits of collusion.
Full
Article
A Geospatial Analysis Approach for Assessing the Impact of Land Use on
Groundwater Resources in the SanGong Oasis Region X. Chen, J.
F. Yan, Z. Chen, G. P. Luo, W. Q. Xu
Abstract
In
this study, the relationship between land use and land cover change (LUCC)
and variation of
groundwater table and quality in the SanGong Oasis Region in the western
China is investigated
using
a geospatial approach. Specifically, the interactions among groundwater,
surface water,
and
LUCC are analyzed through the utilization of geographical information
system (GIS), remote
sensing (RS) imagery processing, and geostatistics. Study outputs
indicate that recharging into
the
groundwater in the study area does not change significantly during the
period from 1978 to
1998.
However, both LUCC and groundwater table have changed substantially in
the SanGong
Oasis
Region, and their variations are closely correlated to each other
spatially and temporally
over
the past two decades. This confirms that urbanization and industry are
direct reasons for the
Abstract
Computer modeling has shown that detention ponds, although ubiquitous,
are ineffective at preventing channel erosion. To test these results,
five reaches of Apple Creek under different land use and stormwater
management scenarios were monitored for six years. Results indicate that
channels draining developed basins without stormwater management
enlarged the most. Channels with stormwater management and comparable
levels of development changed very little. These results are contrary to
previous field studies, which revealed channel enlargement downstream of
detention ponds. The Apple Creek reaches downstream of detention ponds
are more cohesive than those without detention ponds, which could
explain their relative stability.
Full
Article
Atmospheric Dust Properties and Its Effect on Light Transmission and
Crop-Soil Productivity
Ahmed Hasson
Abstract
This study is to determine the effect of atmospheric dust properties
on light transmittance,
absorbance and crop yield. The effect of wind erosion on soil carbon and
nitrogen stocks is
assessed. The plastic covers transmitted more red light than blue-violet
light. Dust accumulation on cover reduces such differences but to a
limit extent. The average dust accumulation rate is 4.57 x 10-5
mg/m2/sec, 92.22% dust particles and 7.75% organic materials (0.299
mg/m2/day of organic materials). Dust accumulation over a 22 week period
reduced light transmittance by 60%Crop yield was reduced by 33%. Total
soil carbon and nitrogen stocks of the upper surface are affected
significantly by wind erosion. Soil carbon and nitrogen are at
critically low levels because of the wind erosion. Carbon sequestration
is needed to improve soil carbon and nitrogen levels.
Abstract
Proximate composition and
mineral concentration of Cashew nut (Anarcadium occidentale)
were investigated using standard analytical methods. The
physicochemical characteristics of cashew nut shell liquid were also
determined. The proximate composition (%) was as follows: moisture
(7.2), ash (2.8), crude fat (49.1), crude protein (36.3), crude
fibre (3.2) and carbohydrate (by difference) (1.4). The mineral
composition (mg/100g) of cashew nut showed potassium (27.5 ± 0.4) to
be the highest, calcium (21.5 ± 0.0), magnesium (19.3 ±0.1), sodium
(8.2 ± 0.2) and phosphorous (14.0 ± 0.2). Zinc and iron
concentrations were lower. The physicochemical properties of cashew
nut oil were as follows: colour (yellow), refractive index (1.458),
specific gravity (0.962), acid value (10.7mgKOH/g), saponification
value (137mgKOH/g), iodine value (41.3mgiodine/100g) and free fatty
acid (5.4mgKOH/g). This is an indication that the oil is non-drying,
edible and may not be used for soap making. The CNSL extracted was
dark brown in colour. Ash and moisture content (%) were: 1.2 and 3.9
(for BRZ species), and 1.3 and 6.7 (for AFR species). Specific
gravity and refractive index were 0.941 and 1.693 (for BRZ variety),
and 0.924 and 1.686 (for AFR variety). Saponification, acid, free
fatty acid (mg KOH/g) and iodine (mg iodine/100g) values were (58.1,
12.1, 6.1, 215 respectively (for BRZ species) and 47.6, 15.4, 7.8,
235.(for AFR species). The investigation showed that CNSL is a
drying oil and it is useful in industries for paints, varnishes and
surface coatings.
Full
Article
Abstract
This study on poverty was
analyzed using an econometric model emphasizing the size of agricultural
production and the level of prices act as the determinants of the
population living below the poverty line. The study outlines the role of
international and domestic terms of trade, the size of agricultural
production influencing the incidence of poverty in Kenya, and argues the
major determinants of Kenyan rural poverty are the size of overall
agricultural tradable commodities relative to prices of imports, and the
domestic producer price of food and export crops. The study illustrates
that given international and domestic prices, technological change in
agriculture is fundamental to the achievement of overall agricultural
growth as well as the alleviation of poverty and that the pattern of
public investments is critical in influencing the rate of technical
change.
Full
Article
Characterization of Foliar-Applied Potash Solution as a Non-selective
Herbicide in Malian Agriculture M.S. Martin, J.H.
Westwood, M. N’Diaye, A.R. Goble, D. Mullins, R. Fell, B. Dembélé, K.
Gamby
Abstract
Studies were conducted to evaluate the potential of potash solution as a
foliar herbicide with application to Malian agriculture. Potash samples
were collected in Mali and analyzed for phytotoxicity and elemental
composition. Aqueous potash solutions were applied as foliar sprays to
seedlings of six plant species. All species were injured by the
treatments, with 90% visual injury to common chickweed at 84.4 kg/ha
potash. Broadleaf species showed greater injury in the absence of a
surfactant, but addition of methylated soybean oil increased injury to
most grass species. In all cases, injury was evident within three hours
of treatment and approached maximum levels by 24 hrs. Elemental analysis
of the potash showed the major component to be potassium (ranging from
454,300 to 493,310 ppm). Potash is a concentration of salts extracted
from ash, and is readily available to Malian farmers as a byproduct of
burning wood and crop residues. In light of the increasing interest in
natural products, potash has potential to be an inexpensive,
naturally-occurring herbicide that can fill needs for nonselective weed
control in Malian agriculture.
Full
Article
Genetic diversity of Mycosphaerella graminicola, the causal agent of
Septoria tritici blotch, in Kansas winter wheat
Mehdi Kabbage, John F. Leslie, Kurt A. Zeller, Scot H. Hulbert, William
W. Bockus
Abstract
The genetic structure of Kansas populations of
Mycosphaerella graminicola was evaluated at different spatial scales
(micro-plot, macro-plot, and statewide) using amplified fragment length
polymorphism (AFLP). Genetic identities among populations were >98%.
Tests for population subdivision revealed that 98% of the genetic
variability occurred within populations with a corresponding migration
rate of 16 to 23 individuals per generation. Little evidence of linkage
disequilibrium was observed, on average, only 4.6% of locus pairs were
in disequilibrium. These results indicate that Kansas populations of M.
graminicola are characterized by regular recombination, are genetically
diverse, and appear to be homogenous across different spatial scales.
Full
Article
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