Effectiveness of zinc application to minimize cadmium toxicity and accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal and its presence in soil is of great concern due to the danger of its entry into the food chain. Among many others, proper plant nutrition is an economic and practicable strategy for minimizing the damage to plants from Cd and to decrease Cd accumulation in edible plant parts. The study was carried out to compare the effectiveness of soil and foliar applications of zinc (Zn) to minimize Cd accumulation in wheat grains. The results revealed that the exposure of plants to Cd decreased plant growth and increased Cd concentration in the shoots and grains of wheat, when compared with unexposed plants. Foliar application of 0.3 % zinc sulfate solution effectively decreased Cd concentration in wheat grains. Foliar application of Zn at a suitable concentration can effectively ameliorate the adverse effects of Cd exposure and decrease the grain Cd concentration of wheat grown in Cd-contaminated soil.     

Arsenic and metal contamination of water resources from mining wastes in Korea

 Water resources near a gold-mine waste site were studied for the distribution and contents of contaminants, and their behavior in the surface and groundwater systems. Arsenic, cadmium, and manganese were identified with levels exceeding the drinking water guidelines of WHO (World Health Organization), and their distribution depended upon the differences in source materials and in spatial pH variations. Originating from arsenopyrite, concentrations of dissolved arsenic were controlled by sorption with amorphous iron (Fe(OH)₃) and carbonate minerals. Cadmium and manganese were derived from the mineral phase including sphalerite (ZnS), otavite (CdCO₃), and rhodochrosite (MnCO₃); their concentrations in water resources were limited by the solubility of mineral phases. All of these processes are significantly pH-dependent, implying that a small decline in pH could result in a drastic increase in contaminant concentrations and become a pollution threat to the water resources of the Gubong area. Received: 13 December 1999 · Accepted: 21 March 2000     

A synchronously coupled tide–wave–surge model of the Yellow Sea

A coupled wave–tide–surge model has been established in this study in order to investigate the effect of tides, storm surges, and wind waves interactions during a winter monsoon on November 1983 in the Yellow Sea. The coupled model is based on the synchronous dynamic coupling of a third-generation wave model, WAM-Cycle 4, and the two-dimensional tide–surge model. The surface stress generated by interactions between wind and waves is calculated using the WAM-Cycle 4 directly based on an analytical approximation of the results obtained from the quasi-linear theory of wave generation. The changes of bottom friction factor generated by waves and current interactions are calculated by using simplified bottom boundary layer model. The model simulations showed that bottom velocity and effective bottom drag coefficient induced by combination of wave and current were increased in shallow waters of up to 50 m in the Yellow Sea during the wintertime strong storm conditions.     

Factors controlling groundwater chemistry in an agricultural area with complex topographic and land use patterns in mid‐western South Korea

Shallow and bedrock groundwater from granitic aquifers were investigated for the hydrogeochemistry of major and minor constituents in an agricultural area. Nitrate concentrations were observed up to 49 mg/l as NO₃‐N, with 22% of samples exceeding the drinking water standard, which could pose a significant threat because most residents rely on groundwater as their drinking water source. Principal component analysis revealed three principal components (PCs): (1) nitrate contamination, contributed by major cations, Cl^?, SO and NO , (2) reduction processes positively involving Fe, Mn and B, and negatively involving dissolved oxygen and NO and (3) natural mineralization, involving HCO and F^?. Cluster analysis, performed on the PC scores, resulted in seven sample groups, which were successfully identified by total depth, elevation and land use. The nitrate‐contaminated groups had mixed land uses, with locally concentrated residential areas. Uncontaminated groundwater groups were found in the natural environment, including high‐altitude spring water and bedrock groundwater with a higher degree of natural mineralization. Shallow groundwater groups in paddy fields in lowlands were affected by reducing environments, of which one group was characterized by high Fe, Mn and B, and negligible nitrate. Groundwater with intermediate nitrate and lower Cl^? and SO was found primarily in hilly terrains with orchards and vegetable gardens, indicating lower contaminant loadings than lowland areas. Higher concentrations of F^? and nitrate were observed in the nitrate‐contaminated water, which seemed unlikely to be explained by groundwater mixing. The strong acidity generated from nitrification may infiltrate deeper into the aquifer, induce accelerated weathering of bedrock and result in the coexistence of F^? and nitrate, which may be an evidence of intense nitrate loading, leading to soil acidification. Multivariate statistical analysis successfully delineated hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater attained by natural and anthropogenic processes in an agriculturally stressed area with complex topographic land use patterns. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial assessment of groundwater quality in the Jangseong region,South Korea

A total of 129 groundwater samples were collected in the Jangseong region of South Korea to characterize and evaluate groundwater quality and its suitability for irrigation and domestic uses. Samples were chemically analyzed for major ions, pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids following standard methods. The AquaChem 2014.2 model linked with PHREEQC was used for the statistical analysis and characterization of the hydrochemistry of the groundwater. The analysis showed that in all samples Ca–HCO₃ was the leading water type and that the abundance of major cations was in the order Ca > Na > Mg > K, and of anions in the order HCO₃ > Cl > SO₄ > F. According to the correlation analysis, Ca showed strong interdependence with HCO₃, suggesting that these parameters may have originated from common sources. Saturation index calculations indicated that all samples were undersaturated with respect to aragonite, calcite, dolomite, fluorite, gypsum, halite, and siderite, and oversaturated with respect to goethite and hematite. The irrigation suitability analysis revealed that groundwater in the Jangseong area can be used for irrigation without any restrictions based on EC, sodium adsorption ratio, percent sodium, residual sodium carbonate, Kelley ratio, permeability index, and the US Salinity Laboratory diagram analysis. The drinking water suitability analysis made for major parameters by comparison with the WHO guidelines indicates that the groundwater in the area is suitable for drinking except in some samples with high nitrate–N concentrations. The elevated nitrate concentrations in the groundwater are likely an indicator of agricultural pollution.     

Small-scale turbulence in the atmosphere of Venus

Previous studies based on radio scintillation measurements of the atmosphere of Venus have identified two regions of small-scale temperature fluctuations located in the vicinity of 45 and 60 km. A global study of the fluctuations near 60 km, which are consistent with wind-shear-generated turbulence, was conducted using the Pioneer Venus measurements. The structure constants of refractive index fluctuations c_n² and temperature fluctuations c_T² increase poleward, peak near 70° latitude, and decrease over the pole; c_n² varies from 2 × 10^?15 to 1.5 × 10^?14m^{$\text{2}\text{3}$} and c_T² from 4 × 10^?3 to 7 × 10^?2°K²m^{$\text{?2}\text{3}$}. These results indicate greater turbulent activity at the higher latitudes. In the region near 45 km the refractive index fluctuations and the corresponding temperature fluctuations are substantially lower. Based on the analysis of one representative occultation measurement, $\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>n</mtext>}}{}^2\text{= 2 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?16}}\text{m}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?2</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{and}\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>T</mtext>}}{}^2\text{= 7.3 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{°}\text{K}{}^2\text{m}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?2</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}$ in the 45-km region. The fluctuations in this region also appear to be consistent with wind-shear-generated turbulence. The turbulence level is considerably weaker than that at 60 km; the energy dissipation rate ε is 4.9 × 10^?5m²sec^?3 and the small-scale eddy diffusion coefficient K is 2 × 10³ cm² sec^?1.     

Transferability of hydrological model parameters between basins in data-sparse areas, subarctic Canada

Hydrological models used for the simulation of runoff are often calibrated only on the basis of data obtained at the catchment outlet but the parameters thus derived are then applied to the simulations for the subbasins. Such a practice is common for the data-sparse areas such as the subarctic. However, it may yield erroneous results when the calibrated model parameters are applied to basins of various sizes, or with divergent physical characteristics. This study assesses the feasibility of transferring parameter estimates derived for one basin of a particular size to other basins of different dimensions, using the SLURP model for simulation and the Liard and two of its subbasins as an example. Results indicate that other than the snowmelt factor, the parameter values obtained from the subbasins are similar, but values of several parameters (e.g. maximum capacity of the soil water and groundwater storage, and snowmelt factor) are different from those derived for the large basin. Compared with applying the Liard basin parameters, the subbasins parameter sets generate higher evapotranspiration, earlier termination of the snowmelt period, more soil water storage, a shorter period with significant soil water storage and a better overall agreement between the observed and simulated runoff. It is recommended that adequate attention be given to the transferability of the parameter values to improve the simulation of subbasins hydrology.     

High Arctic wetlands: Their occurrence, hydrological characteristics and sustainability

High Arctic wetlands, though limited in occurrence, are an important ecological niche, providing the major vegetated areas in an arid and cold polar desert environment. These wetlands are often found as patches in the barren landscape. At a few locales which may be ice-wedge polygonal grounds, glacial terrain and zones of recent coastal uplift, wetland occurrence can become extensive, forming a mosaic that comprises patches of different wetland types. Reliable water supply during the thawed season is a deciding factor in wetland sustainability. The sources include meltwater from late-lying snowbanks, localized ground water discharge, streamflow, inundation by lakes and the sea, and for some ice-wedge wetlands, ground-ice melt. Different types of wetlands have their own characteristics, and peat accumulation or diatom depositions are common. The peat cover insulates the wetland from summer heating and encourages permafrost aggradation, with the feedback that a shallow frost table reduces the moisture storage capacity in a thinly thawed layer, which becomes easily saturated. All the wetlands studied have high calcium content since they are formed on carbonate terrain. Coastal wetlands have high salt concentration while snowmelt and ground-ice melt provides dilution. The sustainability of High Arctic wetlands is predicated upon water supply exceeding the losses to evaporation and lateral drainage. Disturbances due to natural causes such as climatic variations, geomorphic changes, or human-induced drainage, can reduce inundation opportunities or increase outflow. Then, the water table drops, the vegetation changes and the peat degrades, leading to the detriment of the wetlands.     

Bioremediation of contaminated coastal sediment: Optimization of slow release biostimulant ball using response surface methodology (RSM) and stabilization of metals from contaminated sediment

The aim of the present study is to optimize the slow release biostimulant ball (BSB) for bioremediation of contaminated coastal sediment using response surface methodology (RSM). Metals contamination and stabilization of metals in coastal sediments using BSB were investigated. The effects of BSB size (1–5 cm), distance (1–10 cm), and time (1–4 months) on the stabilization of metals including Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb were determined. The maximum stabilization percentages of Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb, of 64.5%, 54.9%, 63.8%, and 47.6%, respectively, were observed at a 3 cm ball size, 5.5 cm distance, and a period of 4 months; these values are the optimum conditions for effective treatment of contaminated coastal sediment. The determination coefficient of the R² value suggests that > 91.55%, 89.97%, 96.10%, and 86.40% of the variance is attributable to the variables of Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb, respectively.     

Experimental restoration of a salt marsh with some comments on ecological restoration of coastal vegetated ecosystems in Korea

Since the 1980s, the coastal wetlands in Korea have been rapidly degraded and destroyed mainly due to reclamation and landfills for coastal development. In order to recover damaged coastal environments and to develop wetland restoration technologies, a 4-year study on ecological the restoration of coastal vegetated ecosystems was started in 1998. As one of a series of studies, a small-scale experiment on salt marsh restoration was carried out from April 2000 to August 2001. The experiment was designed to find effective means of ecological restoration through a comparison of the changes in environmental components and species structure between two different experimental plots created using sediment fences, one with and one without small canals. Temporal variation in surface elevation, sedimentary facies, and benthic species were measured seasonally in each plot and in the adjacent natural reference sites. Monthly exposure occurred from 330 cm to mean sea level, which represents the critical tidal level (CTL) at which salt marsh plants colonize. Vegetation, especially Suaeda japonica, colonized the site the following spring and recovered to a similar extent in the natural marshes 16 months later. The sedimentary results indicated that the sediment fences had effects on particle size and sediment accumulation, especially in the plot with small canals. This experiment also showed that tidal height, especially that exceeding the CTL, is an important factor in the recovery of the benthic fauna of salt marshes. From these results, we suggested that designs for the restoration of salt marsh ecosystems must consider the inclusion of a tidal height exceeding CTL, as this may allow reconstruction of the previous natural ecosystem without artificial transplanting.