Symbiotic N2 Fixation and N Uptake of Yellow and White Lupines Influenced by Spontaneous Rhizobia Infection and Substrate

Abstract

By using soil as substrate, white and yellow lupines (Lupinus albus L., Lupinus luteus L.) assimilated higher N amounts than under quartz sand conditions. This was caused by spontaneous infection of lupines with wild Rhizobia strains and also by an additional N uptake from the soil. In yellow lupines without inoculation in non-sterile soil, only the additional N uptake played a role. Differences in P and K supply as the cause of different N acquisition from soil and quartz sand could be excluded. As compared with white lupines, yellow lupines inoculated with Rhizobia had a high N₂ fixation that exceeded the effect of spontaneous infections. This result as well as the positive effect of spontaneous infections with soil-borne Rhizobia on white lupines indicates insufficient effectiveness of the strains used for inoculation on this plant species.     

Environmental radioactivity of soils and sediments: Egyptian sector of the Nile valley

The activity concentrations of natural ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th, and ²³⁸U in 89 soil and 84 sediment samples collected over the entire Egyptian Nile River basin including the Nile delta are reported based on the results of epithermal neutron activation analysis. The average activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th, and ²³⁸U equal to 15.3?±?6.6, 15.6?±?11.1 and 220?±?31 Bq/kg, respectively, are significantly lower than those reported for the Upper Continental Crust, World Average Sediments as well as World Average Soils, suggesting the presence of a considerable portion of mafic material, most probably originating from the Ethiopian High Plateau. Their average activity concentrations are statistically the same in soil and sediments, indicating that the Nile sediments and soil material are of the same origin. The main goal of this study was not only to estimate the radiological hazards but also to show the influence of sedimentary material transportable by the Blue Nile from the Ethiopian High Plateau. The different hazard indices like the radium equivalent, gamma index, external hazard as well as the internal hazard show a low radiological exposure either on direct contact or if local mud bricks are used in the construction of dwellings.     

A preliminary approach of dynamic identification of slender buildings by neuronal networks

The study of the dynamic behavior of slender masonry structures is usually related to the preservation of the historic heritage. This study, for bell towers and industrial masonry chimneys, is particularly relevant in areas with an important seismic hazard. The analysis of the dynamic behavior of masonry structures is particularly complex due to the multiple effects that can affect the variation of its main frequencies along the seasons of the year: temperature and humidity. Moreover, these dynamic properties also vary considerably in structures built in areas where land subsidence due to the variation of the phreatic level along the year is particularly evident: the stiffness of the soil–structure interaction also varies. This paper presents a study to evaluate the possibility of detecting the variation of groundwater level based on the readings obtained using accelerometers in different positions on the structure. To do this a general case study was considered: a 3D numerical model of a bellower. The variation of the phreatic level was evaluated between 0 and −20 m, and 81 cases studies were developed modifying the rigidity of the soil–structure interaction associated to a position of the phreatic level. To simulate the dispositions of accelerometers on a real construction, 16 points of the numerical model were selected along the structure to obtain modal displacements in two orthogonal directions. Through an adjustment by using neural networks, a good correlation has been observed between the predicted position of the water table and acceleration readings obtained from the numerical model. It is possible to conclude that with a discrete register of accelerations on the tower it is possible to predict the water table depth.     

Nuklearpharmaka — Ihre Entwicklung,Präparation und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten

Radioaktiv markierte Präparate haben in denletzten Jahren in schnell zunehmendem Maße Eingang in die klinische Medizin gefunden. Sie sind beieiner Reihe von Indikationen schon jetzt außerordentlich wertvolle Hilfsmittel bei der Diagnose, besonders bei der Prüfung von Organfunktionen.     

Development of Resin Membranes as a Sensitive Indicator of Heavy Metal Toxicity in the Soil Environment

Abstract

Ion exchange resins in contact with soil can act as a sink for metal cations, thereby simulate the action of plant roots. Ion exchange resins in membrane form offer additional advantages in ease of use and handling. A procedure was developed to assess the bioavailability of four heavy metals Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb via direct in soil burial. A growth chamber experiment with three representative crops (oats, radish and lettuce) was set up to determine the phytotoxic levels of the four heavy metals. The critical levels varied widely from crop to crop, and soil to soil. Lettuce was most sensitive to high concentration of metals. The toxic effects are more pronounced on sandier textured soils.     

Influence of Earthworms on the Sulfur Turnover in the Soil

Abstract

The effects of earthworm activity on the concentration and isotopic composition of total sulfur in soils was investigated using batch experiments. Two ecologically different lumbricid species, the anecic Lumbricus terrestris and the endogeic Aporrectodea caliginosa, were used. The earthworms were fed birch leaves, beech leaves, cattle manure or mixed plant litter. All food sources differed isotopically (δ³⁴S) from the soil (Parabraunerde). As a reference, one experiment was carried out without additional food.

The experimental results show, that both earthworm species influence the total S-content and the δ³⁴S-values in the soil by digestion of the different food sources. The differences in the total S-content of the earthworm tissues and in the S-isotopic composition of the casts can be attributed to the ecological differences between the earthworm species.     

15N-Traceruntersuchungen zum Mechanismus der N2O-Bildung in Böden

Nitrous oxide is a potential environmental hazard responsible for the green house effect and the destruction of the ozone layer in the lower stratosphere. Biological denitrification under anaerobic conditions in soils results in the formation of both N₂O and N₂, whereby highly nitrogen-fertilized agricultural soils contribute to a considerable extent of the N₂O emission. Latest results in the literature indicate that nitrous oxide can also be formed as a byproduct of the microbial nitrification. This is of importance for soils in central Germany because of the non-existence of typical denitrification conditions in a semiaride climate.

This study was conducted to measure the path of N₂O formation in Haplic Phaeozen: using [¹⁵N] ammonium and [¹⁵N] nitrat and a GC-MS aided incubation system. The kinetic isotope method was used to evaluate the experimental data. The results are:

- Under anaerobic conditions (～ 90% of the water holding capacity = WHC) N₂O originates mainly from the nitrate pool by denitrification.

- As expected, the N₂O formation is low under aerobic conditions (～ 80% WHC) but the gas originates directly from the ammonium and not from the nitrate pool, probably as a byproduct of the nitrification process.     

Calibration Curve with Improved Limit of Detection for Cadmium in Soil: An Approach to Minimize the Matrix Effect in Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopic Analysis

The present article describes a working or combined calibration curve in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopic analysis, which is the cumulative result of the calibration curves obtained from neutral and singly ionized atomic emission spectral lines. This working calibration curve reduces the effect of change in matrix between different zone soils and certified soil samples because it includes both the species' (neutral and singly ionized) concentration of the element of interest. The limit of detection using a working calibration curve is found better as compared to its constituent calibration curves (i.e., individual calibration curves). The quantitative results obtained using the working calibration curve is in better agreement with the result of inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy as compared to the result obtained using its constituent calibration curves.     

超声辅助提取/离子色谱法测定铬污染土壤中的六价铬

建立了超声辅助提取/离子色谱法测定铬污染场地中铬（Ⅵ）的方法。选用0.3 mol/L的KCl溶液作提取剂,对12组土壤样品中的铬（Ⅵ）进行超声辅助提取20 min。采用Metrosep A Supp 4-250（250 mm×4.0mm）型阴离子分离柱,以4 mmol/L Na₂CO₃-1 mmol/L NaHCO₃混合溶液为淋洗液对样品进行分离分析。铬（Ⅵ）在0.01²0 mg/L浓度范围有较好的线性关系,相关系数（r²）为0.999 8;该方法的检出限为0.003 mg/L,加标回收率为96.4%¹06.8%,相对标准偏差（RSD,n=3）为0.56%。该方法具有简便、快速、准确等优点,适用于铬污染场地的监测与调查。     

A New Organophosphorus Insecticides Removal Process Using Fly ASH

Abstract

Fly ash and soil mixtures with a range of fly ash content from 1 to 100% were used to study adsorption and desorption of four organophosphorus insecticides, ethyl parathion, methyl parathion, fenitrothion and fenthion, in batch experiments. The object of the study was to develop a treatment process using fly ash as sorbent material to isolate/immobilize organic contaminants from aqueous solutions. The adsorption isotherms fit the Freundlich equation x/m=K_dC^1/n. The K_d values increase with the increase of the fly ash content. The isotherms seem to fit the S type, in mixtures of soil with a fly ash content from 0 to 10%, which implies that adsorption becomes easier as the concentration in the liquid phase increases. In mixtures of soil with a fly ash content from 25 to 50% the isotherms become L type and correspond to a decrease of site availability as the solution concentration increases. Finally in mixtures of soil with a fly ash content over 50%, C type adsorption was observed which correspond to a constant partition of the insecticides between the bulk solution and the adsorbent. Mass balance estimations show that the mean percent amounts of insecticides for a range of concentration 0.5–15 mg/l, removed by adsorption in the soil sample are 81.56 % for ethyl parathion, 48.97 % for methyl parathion, 67.06 % for fenitrothion and 86.65 % for fenthion. The adsorption increases as the fly ash content increased and reach the 100% in the “pure” fly ash. The adsorbed amounts of insecticides in mixtures of soils with >50% fly ash content, are up to 99%. In contrast, the amounts of desorption in water decrease as the fly ash content increase.

The results of this research demonstrate that the fly ash shows a significant capacity for adsorption of organophosphorus compounds from aqueous solution and can be used for pesticide removal process.