Application of Superabsorbent Polymers for Improving the Ecological Chemistry of Degraded or Polluted Lands

About 3.5 billion ha of land, which amounts to almost 30% of the total solid land of the world, has been degraded by human activities. The ecological restoration of these lands is a major challenge for mankind since they are the only option left for increasing the amount of arable land and producing food for the ever growing worldwide population. One common feature of these degraded lands is the fact that their organic soil matter is degraded also. Rainfall therefore, changes from a blessing to a menace since it is not kept in the soil and therefore causes erosion. A solution for the restoration of these lands could be the application of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) to these soils. These substances are like ‘artificial humus’ as they are hydrophilic and contain carboxylic groups. This enables them to bind cations and water. They have the following advantages for the restoration of degraded lands. They increase the plant available water in the soil which enables the plants to survive longer under water stress. SAP amendment to soils reduces the evapotranspiration rate of the plants. They induce a significantly higher growth rate in plants growing on SAP amended soil. They bind heavy metals and mitigate their action on plants. They mitigate the effects of salinity. The benefits of SAP amendment to soils substantially outweigh their costs.     

Assessment of grazing effect on sheep fescue (Festuca valesiaca) dominated steppe rangelands, in the semi-arid Central Anatolian region of Turkey

In the semi-arid steppe rangelands of Central Turkey, Festuca valesiaca and Thymus sipyleus ssp rosulans have become the dominant species on degraded pastures. We hypothesized that decreases in species richness and abundance are correlated with increasing prevalence of these two species. Therefore, our objectives were to determine whether there are patterns in examined vegetation; how dominant species contribute to these patterns; and how patterns differ between grazed and ungrazed vegetation. We determined that protection from grazing increased species richness. Grazing significantly changed composition through decreasing total plant, forb, grass and F. valesiaca covers, while substantially increasing T. sipyleus cover. Topography, soil and grazing appear to impact the dominance of plant communities where F. valesiaca and T. sipyleus prevail. These two dominant species had a significant effect in shaping vegetation patterns. Based on regression analysis, alterations in species richness with changes in cover of forbs and shrubs were evident, and spatial heterogeneity of F. valesiaca and T. sipyleus indicated unstable vegetative patterns in heavily grazed pastures and successional changes in protected pastures. Our study results identify F. valesiaca and T. sipyleus as indicator species of vegetation suppression in condition assessments of degraded steppe rangelands.     

Comparison of metal accumulation in the azooxanthellate scleractinian coral (Tubastraea coccinea) from different polluted environments

The response of metal accumulation in coral Tubastraea coccinea to various degrees of metal enrichment was investigated from the Yin-Yang Sea (YYS) receiving abandoned mining effluents, the Kueishan Islet (KI) hydrothermal vent field, and the nearshore area of remoted Green Island (GI). The concentrations of most dissolved metals were highest in seawater at YYS, followed by KI, and then GI, showing the effects of anthropogenic and venting inputs on metal levels. Five metals (Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn) yielded significant differences (p < 0.05) among the skeleton samples. We identified similar patterns in the metal–Ca ratios, indicating that the elevated metals in skeletons was a consequence of external inputs. The coral tissues were relatively sensitive in monitoring metal accumulation, showing significant differences among three locations for Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Specific bioconcentration factors provided strong support for the differential metal accumulation in skeletons and tissues.     

天水锻压机床厂滑坡变形破坏机制及形成演化

天水锻压机床厂滑坡(1.4×106 m3)发生于1990年8月11日, 滑坡体主要由次生黄土组成, 滑床为第四系黄土和新近系泥岩, 滑坡沿黄土-泥岩接触面发生, 属黄土接触面滑坡。通过野外调查和工程钻探对锻压机床厂滑坡变形破坏机制及形成演化进行研究, 结果表明, 该滑坡变形破坏方式表现为滑移-拉裂式, 受区内二元斜坡结构控制, 是在工程切坡和降雨、灌溉等诱发因素作用下形成; 其形成演化经历了高陡边坡形成期→滑坡孕育期→滑动面贯通临界期→滑坡启动下滑堆积期→滑坡复活变形期等过程。该滑坡目前处于欠稳定状态, 遇地震或强降雨等作用, 极有可能再次复活下滑。研究成果可为该类滑坡的防治预警提供理论依据。      

长江上游径流变化及其对三峡工程的影响研究

长江上游1881—2006年径流数据分析结果表明,宜昌站1990年之后的径流量比1990年之前明显降低,其中9、10两个月份的降幅最为显著。究其原因,主要是上游地区水资源开发利用和气候变化等因素所致。水资源开发利用的分析和预测研究结果表明:1998—2006年间,上游地区的年用水量平均以6亿m3/a的速度增长;随着上游地区未来用水量的增加、许多水利水电工程的开发建设以及调水工程的实施,三峡水库的来水量及径流过程将发生进一步变化,进而可能对三峡水库未来汛后蓄水、枯水期通航、发电等产生一定的影响,尤其是枯水年份。梯级优化调度模型评价结果表明,上游水资源开发利用的增加,将对三峡电站的发电效益产生显著影响。     

Impact of acid effluent from Kawah Ijen crater lake on irrigated agricultural soils: Soil chemical processes and plant uptake

Volcanogenic contamination of irrigation water, caused by effluent from the hyperacid Ijen crater lake, has severely affected the properties of agricultural soils in East Java, Indonesia. From a comparison of acidified topsoil with subsoil and with top- and subsoil in a reference area, we identified processes responsible for changes in soil and soil solution chemistry induced by acid irrigation water, with emphasis on the nutrients Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn, and on Al, which may become phytotoxic under acid conditions in soils. Compositional data for bulk soil composition and selective extractions with 1 M KCl and 0.2 M acid ammonium oxalate are used in a mass balance approach to specify element fluxes, including uptake by rice plants. The results show that input via irrigation water has produced an increase in the total aluminum content in the affected topsoil, which is of the same order of magnitude as the increase in labile Al. High bioavailability of Al, as reflected by concentrations in KCl extracts, is consistent with elevated concentrations observed in rice plants. In contrast, and despite the high input via irrigation water, Ca and Mg concentrations have decreased in all measured soil fractions through dissolution of amorphous phases and minerals, and through competition of Al for adsorption sites on the exchange complex and plant roots. Strong leaching is also evident for Fe and especially Mn. In terms of the overall mass balance of the topsoil, plant uptake of Al, Ca, Fe, Mg and Mn is negligible. If the use of acid irrigation would be stopped and the soil pH were to increase to values above 4.5, the observed phytotoxicity of Al will be halted. However, crops may then become fully dependent on the input from irrigation water or fertilizer for essential elements, due to the previous removal from the topsoil through leaching.     

基质类型和物种丰度对沉水植物模块化生长及根系发育的影响

沉水植物恢复是富营养化湖泊生态恢复的关键,基质类型和物种丰度对沉水植物生长和群落稳定具有重要作用,本研究旨在探索不同基质类型和物种丰度对沉水植物生长及根系发育的影响,为富营养化湖泊沉水植物恢复技术研究提供基质筛选和物种配置的技术参数。研究选取苦草(Vallisneria natans(Lour.) Hara)、微齿眼子菜(Potamogeton maackianus A.Bennett)、穗状狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum L.)、伊乐藻(Elodea nuttallii(Planch.)H.St.John)4种沉水植物,根据物种丰度(1、2、3、4个物种)配置了11个物种组合,且选配了4种基质类型:无疏松层(a1、a2)和有疏松层(b1、b2),总计处理数为44(n=11×4)。测定了地上生物量、地下生物量、总生物量、株高、最大根长、总根长、总根表面积、总根体积、根平均直径、总根尖数、根分枝数、根交叉数、根冠比、根比表面积等14个生长及根系功能性状指标。结果表明:(1)随着沉水植物丰度的增加,地下生物量、总生物量、株高、最大根长、总根长、总根表面积、总根体积、总根...