Effect of aluminum and chromium on the germination and growth of two Vigna species

The study deals with the effect of metal toxicity (aluminum, chromium and combination of both the metals) on seed germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length and dry biomass of Vigna radiata and V. sinensis. Chromium adversely affected the seedling by significantly reducing the growth whereas aluminum did not show such effect in both the species. Percentage of germination was good in both the species at different concentration of treatment (aluminum, chromium and combined treatment). Shoot length was also not much affected in V. sinensis as it was greatly inhibited in V. radiata. Both the species showed the purpling of stem. Dry biomass of V. radiata showed positive effect than V. sinensis. However, dry biomass decreased to a lesser extent when treated with aluminum, chromium and combined treatment as compared to control.     

促根剂及水分胁迫对Cd污染异质土壤中小麦吸收、转运Cd的影响

为了研究促根剂与水分胁迫诱导小麦根伸长及其降低小麦对异质土壤中Cd吸收转运的影响,本研究制备了不同浓度Cd污染土壤,利用根箱法设置了3种不同土层(0~6 cm、7~12 cm及13~18 cm)下的Cd污染异质土壤,研究了3种添加比例(0.1%、0.2%和0.4%)下促根剂与3种水分胁迫诱导(60%、50%和40% MWHC)下小麦根伸长对降低小麦Cd吸收、转运的影响。结果表明：不同促根剂与水分胁迫诱导处理可以明显促进小麦根系生长,表现为小麦根系总长与根表面积的显著增加,其中促根剂促使下层(13~18 cm)土壤中小麦根系总长增加了63.2%~205.9%,水分胁迫诱导增加了69.1%~91.2%。不同促根剂处理可以不同程度增加小麦分蘖数,从而增加了小麦籽粒生物量(小麦籽粒生物量增加5.6%~50.3%);与对照相比,除了40% MWHC水分处理(WS3)外,不同促根剂与水分胁迫处理可以显著降低(P<0.05)Cd污染异质土壤中小麦茎叶与籽粒中Cd的浓度,降低范围分别为24.0%~41.5%和23.0%~42.7%,其中以添加0.4%促根剂处理效果最佳,不同处理对降低小麦籽粒Cd含量效果顺序为RA3≈RA2>WS2≈RA1≈WS1>WS3。基于上述结果,RA2和WS2在Cd异质污染农田修复中具有较大的应用价值。     

Effect of aluminum and chromium on the growth and germination of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora swartz.) DC.

Prosopis seeds were grown under controlled environment in solution of aluminum and chromium at different concentration alone as well as combined together. The effect of these metals was studied on seed germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length and dry biomass. Aluminum and chromium alone, and combined together showed no effects on germination and dry biomass. Chromium alone was found toxic to root, shoot and seedling length. However, application of different concentrations of aluminum increased the root, shoot and seedling growth. It may be concluded that aluminum is not as toxic as chromium, and their combined treatment showed the intermediate effect by ameliorating the impact of one another.     

Phytotoxic effect of aluminum and chromium on the germination and early growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties Anmol and Kiran

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the phytotoxic effect of aluminum and chromium on the germination and early growth of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties Anmol and Kiran. Seed were treated with 40, 80, 120 and 160 ppm of aluminum and chromium solution individually and in combined form. Observations were made on seed germination, root, shoot and seedling length, and dry biomass. Seed germination and dry biomass showed no effect of aluminum, chromium and combined treatment. Root, shoot and seedling length of both the varieties showed significant (P<0.05) decrease as compared to control. The growth was also reduced as the concentration of aluminum and chromium increased. Seedling length decreased in both the varieties at all the concentration of different treatment of aluminum, chromium and combined treatment. Attempts are being made in different laboratories to construct novel plants using genetic manipulation technologies that may have a greater tolerance to the presence of toxic metals. The results of the present study may help in understanding the mechanisms involved and their possible use in pytoremediation.     

蒙古扁桃种子雨散布及种子萌发特性研究

以蒙古扁桃（Amygdalus mongolica Maxim）种群和种子为研究材料,通过物理特性、休眠特性、萌发特性的研究,探讨种群致濒因素。结果表明,蒙古扁桃种子比重、体积和千粒重大,散布时间较集中,散布格局是聚集型散布,散布主要依靠自身重力,靠动物散布和水力作用的散布,使种子能传播较远的距离。制约种子萌发的主要因素是种皮障碍和生理休眠（10%）,采用35 ℃条件下处理72 h后机械破除果皮可破除种子休眠,种子低温（2~5 ℃）层积处理能极显著（P <0.01）提高活力,种子变温（5~10 ℃）层积能极显著（P <0.01）提高发芽率和活力,种子萌发对光照不敏感。蒙古扁桃种子休眠较浅,种子萌发所需温度较低,冬前进入土壤库的种子迅速萌发,因不能度过严冬而死亡,是致濒的主要原因。封冻时进入土壤库的种子,在种皮保护下越冬,仍有很高成苗率,开展人工繁育是拯救蒙古扁桃资源的直接措施。     

Effect of irrigation water qualities on Leucaena leucocephala germination and early growth stage

The evaluation of nonconventional water resources on seed germination and seedling growth performance at early growth stages is still in progress, especially on multipurpose forest trees. This study was designed to test the effect of four water qualities [treated wastewater, industrial, gray and distilled water (control)] on germination and early seedling vigor of Leucaena leucocephala. The results showed that germination was not significantly affected by different water qualities. Seed germination reached a maximum after 17, 14, 14 and 21?days under gray, industrial, treated wastewater and control irrigation, respectively. The highest mean of shoot length was scored under gray water irrigation. Likewise, the highest mean of root length was scored under control, which was not significant from gray water. The means of shoot fresh and dry weight were the highest under treated wastewater. The means of root fresh weight and root dry weight were not significantly different under water treatments. The shoot/root ratios under all water qualities treatments were significantly higher than the control. Growth performance was in progress with no mortality during 21?days of growth. The best nonconventional water quality alternatives based on cleanness, nutrients and toxicity are the gray, treated wastewater and industrial water, respectively.     

Germination and growth of six plant species on contaminated soil with spent oil

Effects of contaminated soil with spent oil on germination, above ground height and biomass of six herbaceous plant species were investigated by conducting a general phytotoxicity test and growth inhibition assessment. Six local plant species were used in order to investigate plant’s ability to germinate and survive in a gradient of contaminated soil with spent oil. The species selected for this experiment include one species of Fabaceae (Medicago truncatular), four species of Gramineae (Bromous mermis, Secal seral, Triticum sativa and A gropyron deserterum) and one species of Linaceae (Linum ussitasimum). Inhibitory effect of contaminated soil on germination, height of young seedling and dry weight were measured. In this study an artificial soil with a light texture included 85% sand, 10% silt and 5% clay was used. The exposure to the contaminated soil carried out using four consecutive concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100 g/kg). Results obtained from the current investigation indicate that all species perform dose-dependent responses to the contaminated soils. Reduction in germination, above ground height and biomass for all species were significantly (P < 0.05) different when compared to their controls, however, Medicago truncatular performed the highest and Linum ussitatisimum the lowest inhibitory effect for germination, above ground height and dry weight of seedling.     

Effects of seed material and solution composition on calcite precipitation

We studied the effects of seed material and solution composition on calcite crystal precipitation using a pH-stat system. The seed materials investigated included quartz, dolomite, two calcites with different particle size and specific surface area, and two dried precipitates from precipitative softening water treatment plants. Our results indicated that, of the seed materials examined, only calcite had the ability to initiate calcite precipitation in a solution with a degree of supersaturation of 5.3 over a period of two hours, and that the precipitation rate was proportional to the available surface area of the seed. For different solution compositions with the same degree of supersaturation, the calcite precipitation rate increased with increasing carbonate/calcium ratio, which contradicts the generally accepted empirical rate expression that the degree of supersaturation is the sole factor controlling precipitation kinetics. By applying a surface complexation model, the surface concentrations of two species, >CO₃⁻ and >CaCO₃⁻, appear to be responsible for catalyzing calcite precipitation.     

放线菌对旱区露天煤矿排土场红豆草根系生长及根际土壤肥力的影响

针对旱区露天煤矿排土场土壤退化问题,采用高效放线菌菌剂接种及原位盆栽试验,探究了放线菌对新疆黑山露天煤矿排土场红豆草根系生长及根际土壤肥力的影响。结果表明:(1) 干旱条件下,放线菌接种可显著促进红豆草根系形态发育及生长。与对照相比,接种放线菌红豆草总根长、平均根系直径、根表面积及根总体积较不接菌对照均显著增加(P<0.05);根鲜重、茎叶鲜重及总鲜重较对照分别增加了77.24%、130%及103.49%。(2) 接种放线菌显著增强了红豆草的抗旱性。接菌根谷胱甘肽、脯氨酸含量和根系活力分别增加了35.36%、229.23%和363.75%,降低了丙二醛含量和根细胞质膜透性。(3) 接种放线菌显著提高了红豆草根际土壤肥力。供试放线菌在红豆草根际土壤中定殖量为2.5×105 cfu/g,接种后红豆草根际土壤细菌和放线菌总数较对照分别增加了113.7%和563.64%;根际土壤多酚氧化酶、脲酶及碱性磷酸酶活性较对照均达显著性增加(P<0.05);进而显著提高了根际土壤全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量,其中土壤全氮增加量最大。(4) 相关分析表明,红豆草根生物量与根际细菌和放线菌数量、土壤脲酶活性、碱性磷酸酶活性及全氮含量呈显著正相关(P<0.01)。结果证实了土壤接种放线菌通过增强植物的抗旱性,提高根际土壤微生物数量、酶活性及肥力水平,显著促进植物根系发育及生长,为旱区煤矿植被恢复及退化土壤改良提供了科学依据。      

Effects of precipitation pulses on water and carbon dioxide fluxes in two semiarid ecosystems: measurement and modeling

Modeling of soil?Cwater, ?Cheat and ?Ccarbon (C) fluxes provides an important tool for predicting mass and energy transfers based on a hydraulic-, thermal- and C-mass balance approach. Model predictions were evaluated using measured data from two water-limited study sites, one pasture and one supporting an alfalfa crop, to indentify differences between these ecosystems. Soil water content, temperature, and evapotranspiration (ET) data were used to validate soil water dynamics components of a process-based numerical model. Soil surface CO₂ efflux estimates (i.e., fluxes from soil respiration) were also made to estimate soil CO₂ emissions. The results show that the Hydrus-1D numerical model can be parameterized to simulate the soil hydrodynamics and CO₂ fluxes measured at both locations. Rainfall and irrigation events triggering increases in plant root and microbial respiration rates were simulated to recreate observed pulsed CO₂ fluxes. There were distinct differences in ET and soil CO₂ effluxes between the ecosystems and watering events significantly modified the fluxes. Differences in potential evapotranspiration and soil texture could help explain these discrepancies. The results demonstrate that numerical modeling can be a useful tool for estimating soil surface fluxes in calibrated ecosystems when micrometeorological methods may not be suitable.     

干旱、半干旱地区蒙古扁桃种子萌发对土壤水分和播种深度的响应特征

蒙古扁桃种子在4%~16%的各含水量条件下, 出苗率高达96%~98%且差异不显著(P>0.05), 在4%~13%的土壤含水量下, 发芽指数、活力指数、平均出苗日数极显著高于16%含水量下的值(P<0.01), 其种子萌发最适宜的土壤含水量为4%~13%. 随土壤含水量的升高, 苗高增加, 根冠比和壮苗指数降低, 根长、幼苗生长量、干物质积累量先升高后降低, 幼苗生长最适宜的土壤含水量为7%~16%; 较低的土壤水分下可以提高幼苗的抗旱性, 有利于培育壮苗. 随播种深度的增加, 出苗率下降, 平均出苗日数增加, 出苗速率放缓, 保证全苗的最适宜播深为0~1 cm, 保证壮苗的最适宜播深为1~3 cm. 种子萌发形成的幼苗为子叶留土型双子叶植物幼苗.     

典型铬渣污染场地铬污染特征研究

选取西南岩溶区某傍河铬渣堆场为研究对象,对场地不同位置与深度的土壤及地下水样品进行采集,通过数理统计对Cr在场地中的空间分布特征以及场地对地下水的影响进行了分析。结果表明:土壤中总Cr浓度的水平分布具有差异性,表层土壤Cr浓度由上游到下游呈明显降低趋势,变化率为3.59;深层饱水带土壤中总Cr浓度分布受到地下水流场的影响,场地下游土壤铬浓度明显高于上游;杂填土垂向剖面的铬浓度分布不同于坡残积红黏土,杂填土中铬浓度随着深度的增加而增加,浓度与土壤深度的关系可用y=63.88ln（x）-75.221来表示;而在红黏土中剖面中,铬大量聚集在土壤表层,后随着深度的增加铬浓度逐渐降低,接近基岩面有升高趋势;场地地下水中Cr（Ⅵ）的浓度受深层土壤中总Cr浓度的影响,两者呈正相关。      

Origin and mobility of hexavalent chromium in North-Eastern Attica,Greece

An integrated framework that is comprised of field surveys of groundwater, surface water and soils, laboratory process experiments and hydrologic and geochemical modeling is used to identify the origin (anthropogenic versus geogenic sources), fate and transport of hexavalent Cr in Tertiary and Quaternary deposits of Oropos plain in Greece. Groundwater and soils were analyzed in May 2008 and exhibited considerable Cr concentrations. Mineralogical analysis and micro-XRF analysis of the heavy soil fractions (metallic components) showed Cr bearing phases like chromites, Cr-silicate phases with positive correlation between Si, Al, Fe and Cr soil concentrations. Column experiments showed the Cr(VI) desorption ability of soils, e.g. concentration of 20 μg L⁻¹ was detected after the application of 50 mm of rain. The groundwater model simulated the variability of Cr concentrations emanating from both anthropogenic and geogenic sources, successfully using rate constants obtained from the laboratory experiments, e.g. 4.24 nM h⁻¹ for serpentine soil and 0.77 nM h⁻¹ for soil in alluvial deposits. The mineralogical and geochemical results support a geogenic origin for Cr in soils and groundwater of Oropos plain while modeling results suggest that contaminants transported by Asopos River have affected only the upper layers of the subsurface in the vicinity of the river. The framework can be used to establish background concentrations or clean up levels of Cr-contaminated soils and groundwater.     

Nutrient pulses, plankton blooms, and seasonal hypoxia in western Long Island Sound

Development of seasonal hypoxia was studied weekly in the western narrows of Long Island Sound (WLIS) during the summers of 1992 and 1993 by measuring hydrographic properties, biological oxygen demand (BOD), biomass, production, and mortality of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton in the water column. Dissolved oxygen in bottom waters was low and variable during stratified periods (19–51% saturation), oscillating in and out of hypoxic conditions (defined as <3 mg O₂ l⁻¹ or 94 μM O₂). Hypoxia was more prevalent in 1993 than in 1992, corresponding to greater water column stratification in 1993. Microbial BOD in bottom waters appeared to be fueled by delivery of autochthonous carbon from phytoplankton blooms rather than allochthonous carbon input. Phytoplankton production responded to elevated NH₄ ⁺ concentrations, especially when the mixed layer was shallow. NH₄ ⁺ concentrations generally varied as a function of the preceding week's rainfall (r²=0.765). Bacterial production did not covary with phytoplankton production, yet was closely correlated with particulate organic carbon, which was chlorophyll-rich. Results indicate that the timing and severity of hypoxia development are strongly coupled to allochthonous input of NH₄ ⁺ after heavy precipitation. Observations illustrate for the first time that bottom waters in this system oscillate in and out of hypoxia on an almost weekly basis rather than sustain them over the entire stratified period. The frequency of these oscillations depends upon variations in nutrients, planktonic production and export, and bottom water ventilation.     

水对亚临界裂纹扩展的影响

利用Instron1342型电液伺服材料试验机,采用双扭常位移松弛法对花岗岩试件在空气中及饱和水两种条件下进行了亚临界裂纹扩展试验研究,获得了相应的裂纹扩展速率V与应力强度因子KI的关系（KI -V曲线）及亚临界裂纹扩展参数,讨论了两种环境下裂纹亚临界扩展的规律,并对两种环境下亚临界裂纹扩展参数进行了对比分析。研究表明：采用常位移松弛法所测试的两种条件下的lgKI -lgV关系都有很好的线性规律。在双对数坐标空间中,含饱和水试件的lgKI -lgV曲线位于空气中试件lgKI -lgV曲线的左上角,曲线斜率减小,而截距增加。在同一应力强度因子水平上,含饱和水试件的裂纹扩展速度大,说明水能加速亚临界裂纹扩展,与实际相一致。     

Distribution of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and zinc in marine sediments in Hong Kong waters

Partitioning of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) in marine sediments collected from various sites in Hong Kong waters were determined using sequential extraction method. Sediments from Kellette Bank, located in Victoria Harbour, had higher metal concentrations especially Cu and Zn than most other sites. Slightly over 20% of total Cu and Cr existed as readily available forms in Peng Chau and Kellette Bank. At most sampling sites, over 15% of the Cu existed as the exchangeable form indicating that Cu could be readily released into the aqueous phase from sediments. A significantly higher percentage of Pb and Zn was associated with the three non-residual fractions. Hence, there is a greater environmental concern for remobilization of Pb and Zn compared with Cr. The high amount of residual Cd (>50%) and the relatively lower Cd content indicate that little environmental concern is warranted for the remobilization of Cd. Distribution of metals in sediments collected from different depth at Kellette Bank shows that metal concentrations decreased with profile depth. The levels of Pb and Zn associated with the two readily available fractions increased sharply in the surface sediment. These metals represented the pollutants, which were introduced into the area in the mid-eighties through early nineties as a result of rapid economic and industrial development in the territory. As significant portions of these metals were bound to the readily available phases in the surface sediments, metal remobilization could be a concern. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Assessing bioaccessible fractions of arsenic,chromium, lead,selenium and zinc in coal fly ashes

The utility of a physiologically based extraction test for evaluating the bioaccessibility of metals from fly ash in the human gastrointestinal system was evaluated in the present research. Calcium-rich and silica-rich fly ashes collected from eight power plants in India and United States of America were assessed for bioaccessibility for arsenic, chromium, lead, selenium and zinc. The results from the physiologically based extraction test were compared with those from a sequential extraction procedure that is often applied to solid wastes. Based on the physiologically based extraction test results, more than 40 % of the arsenic was found to be bioaccessible for all the ashes while selenium was very accessible for the calcium-rich ashes. Lead was found to be insignificantly bioaccessible in calcium-rich as well as silica-rich fly ashes. The mobilization of metals in the first three steps of the sequential extraction procedure was similar to the mobilization in the physiologically based extraction test for selenium for all ashes and for arsenic and chromium for most ashes, but the sequential extraction procedure mobilized more zinc than did the physiologically based extraction test. These results indicate that while sequential extraction procedures can provide good estimates of the bioaccessibility of many elements, extraction tests that more closely simulate physiological conditions can provide more accurate measures of bioaccessible concentrations of metals.     

Contamination assessment of copper,lead, zinc and chromium in dust fall of Jinan,NE China

To assess the pollution of heavy metal in dust fall, nine dust fall samples were collected during the heating period and non-heating period from Jinan, a city in northeastern China. The samples were analyzed for Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr and the contamination level of heavy metals was assessed on the basis of the geo-accumulation index (I _geo). The results indicated that all of the four investigated metals accumulated significantly in the dust fall of Jinan, and the metal concentrations were much higher than background values. During the heating period, the mean values for Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr in the dust fall were 354.9, 688.5, 2,585.5 and 478.6 mg kg⁻¹. During the non-heating period, the mean values for Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr in the dust fall were 228.2, 518.2, 1,933.9 and 96.3 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The I _geo values calculated based on background values revealed that the contamination level of heavy metal in the dust fall ranges from moderately contaminated to heavily contaminated, and it mainly originates from traffic and industry. In this work, the dust fall residue compared to the standard reference was also chosen as the background value to calculate the I _geo value. This method is useful for situations in which the background value is difficult to obtain.