The influence of organic soil amendments on sulfate adsorption and sulfur availability in a Brazilian Oxisol

Soil management practices that involve additions of organic materials may influence plant sulfur availability in highly-weathered, acid soils. This study evaluated the effects of organic additions on sulfate adsorption and sulfur availability in a limed (3,4 t ha^-1) and unlimed Typic Haplustox soil of the Cerrado Region of Brazil. In unlimed soil, the proportion of applied sulfate (600 kg S ha^-1 as gypsum) that was adsorbed temporarily decreased over two cropping seasons by incorporation of 10 t dry matter ha^-1 crop^-1 of guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) but not when a similar quantity of a tropical legume, feijâo de porco (Canavalia ensiformis L.), was added. Liming reduced sulfate adsorption and resulted in sulfate leaching to a depth of 30 to 45 cm. Both plant materials temporarily reduced sulfate adsorption in laboratory studies when added to an unlimed soil at a rate equivalent to 40 t ha^-1. Analysis of soil properties affected by organic additions and liming showed significant correlations between sulfate adsorption and soil pH, extractable aluminum, calcium and magnesium, and surface charge. Maize dry matter yields increased by 1.3 to 3.5 t ha^-1 with addition of both organic materials. However, only the feijâo de porco treatment resulted in increases in sulfur uptake for the years in which organic materials were applied. Determining the effects of organic material additions on plant sulfur availability is complicated by the combined effects of sulfur mineralization, sulfate adsorption, and the plant's ability to utilize adsorbed subsoil sulfate.Joint contribution of Cornell University and CPAC-EM- BRAPA. This research was supported by USAID through the Title XII CRSP subgrant SM-CRSP-10 from North Carolina State University     

A comprehensive study on the contents and leaching of trace elements from fly-ash originating from polish hard coal by NAA and AAS methods

In order to assess the environmental risks associated with the emission of fly-ash into the atmosphere and its storage on waste heaps, the trace element contents of fly-ashes from burning Polish hard coal were determined by a newly developed INAA method. Leaching of trace elements from the fly-ash by water and H₂SO₄ solution (pH≈2.5) simulating acid rain, respectively, was studied using AAS and spectrophotometric methods. Analogous experiments were done with neutron-irradiated fly-ash, following the composition of the eluate gamma-spectrometrically. The new fine fly-ash (CTA-FFA-1) candidate reference material was prepared, and the certification was undertaken on the basis of an international intercomparison run. Preliminary evaluation of results shows that at least 38 elements will be certified and, in addition, the “information values” for at least 12 elements will be given.     

A comparison of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertilizers: Their nitrate-N and ammonium-N release characteristics and effects on the growth response of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Fortune)

The response of pot grown lettuce to inorganic (ammonium nitrate) and organic (dried blood and Protox) N fertilizers was determined at two temperature regimes (15°C day/10°C night and 20°C day/15°C night) and related to the NH₄–N and NO₃–N release characteristics of each material. The N release characteristics of the organic materials matched the N requirements of lettuce more closely than the inorganic fertilizer. However, was rapidly released from the protein based materials such that composts were depleted of available fertilizer N at the same time irrespective of the form supplied. The warmer temperature regimes resulted in a more rapid depletion of the fertilizers due to biological immobilization such that N recoveries in shoots, roots and leachates were reduced. Approximately 20% of the N present in Protox (a material derived from activated sewage sludge, processed to reduce the heavy metal content to minimal levels) appeared to be resistant to microbial degradation and was unavailable to the plants. Therefore, the growth response of lettuce was slightly reduced with Protox compared to the other materials at similar rates of incorporation. The organic materials did not contribute NO₃–N to the plant and small NO₃–N concentrations in petioles were derived from the water used for irrigation. However, NO₃–N levels in plants receiving inorganic ammonium nitrate were initially high but progressively declined as the fertilizer NO₃–N became depleted.     

Influences of elemental interactions and pedogenic processes in organic matter dynamics

This paper reviews progress in understanding the processes which are important in elemental interactions and which influence organic matter composition of soils of the Great Plains in N. America. Comparison of grassland (semiarid) soils along environmental gradients and cultivation chrono- and toposequences with adjacent forest (subhumid) soils and consideration of the C/N/P/S ratios of organic matter of genetic horizons in the solum have emphasized the importance of movement of low molecular weight organic compounds in soil solution in addition to microbial degradation in the formulation of organic matter in soils. Phosphorus forms and transformations help to provide both an index on weathering and insight into textural influences. Use of ¹⁵N and ³⁴S in combination with¹⁴C and other radioisotopes has provided valuable information on processes. Submicroscopy techniques in combination with cytoplasmic staining techniques have focussed attention in a realistic way on the mechanisms of organic matter stability. More attention must be paid to the catalytic role of soil inorganic constituents and selected minerals in the abiotic formation of stable organic matter. Conceptual and mathematical simulation models have an invaluable role in focussing attention on important processes and verifying hypotheses.     

Ceramic processing of polluted dredged mud

About 45 million m³ of bottom sediment, with an estimated dry matter content of 30%, have to be dredged annually in the Netherlands, of which several million m³ are strongly contaminated with heavy metals and toxic organic substances. Contaminated dredged muds are dumped in special locations on land.The problems of severely polluted muds are likely to remain from many decades to come, and the present disposal reserve may not be adequate. In a densely populated country, large-scale disposal on land is not a satisfactory long-term solution, and a method of cleaning these muds has to be developed. This paper presents some of the results of an investigation into the feasibility of ceramically processing severely polluted dredged muds. Ceramic processing not only destroys the organic micro-pollutants; the leaching of heavy metals is reduced by ceramic bonding and the end-product is a hard, lightweight gravel-size particulate, useful as a building material. Extensive tests have been carried out on the leaching behaviour of the ceramic products and the results showed little or no differences in comparison with other commonly used building materials; the results are better than those of aggregates made from pulverized fuel ashes.     

Influence of coal source and treatment upon indigenous microbial communities

Summary The leaching of six Eastern coals was investigated using experimental coal columns subjected to simulated leaching events. Measurements of CO₂ assimilation and specific enrichment cultures indicated that the microbial communities of all leachates were dominated by iron- and sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophic bacteria. Comparison of CO₂ assimilation rates in leachates and core samples of leached coal indicated that most chemoautotrophs remained within coal columns during leaching. Mean numbers of chemoautotrophic bacteria in leachate samples were correlated with concentrations of dissolved iron and sulfate. Leachates from unwashed, run-of-mine coals contained more chemoautotrophs and more iron and sulfate than did leachates from washed, final product coals. After several leachings, the ratio of sulfur oxidizers to iron oxidizers tended to increase. These data suggest that the chemoautotrophic community of final product coals may be pyritelimited. Aerobic heterotrophs constituted a minor component of the microbial community in leachates from the six coals and their abundance and metabolic activity were apparently not influenced by the beneficiation history of the coal. Changes in rates of acetate metabolism may have been related to microbial succession within the heterotrophic community of coal columns. In all leachates, rates of tritiated methylthymidine assimilation were correlated with rates of acetate incorporation but not with CO₂ assimilation, even though autotrophs dominated the microflora. Thus, thymidine assimilation rates appear to reflect activities or growth of mainly heterotrophic microorganisms in leachate.     

Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations and fluxes in three British Sitka Spruce plantations

A catchment approach was used to estimate mean dissolved inorganic-N concentrations and fluxes through three mature Sitka spruce plantations at Beddgelert (north Wales), Plynlimon (mid-Wales) and Kershope (Cumbria). Dissolved inorganic-N in bulk precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, soil water at 4 or 5 depths, and streamwater was measured every two weeks for periods of 1 or 2 years at all three sites. Bulk precipitation inputs at the three sites varied from 6 to 10.4 kg N ha^-1 a^-1 and stream outputs varied from 6.4 to 13.6 kg N ha^-1 a^-1. Beddgelert Forest had the highest inputs and outputs and is Nitrogen saturated according to certain Scandinavian criteria (Nilsson, 1986). All three sites had much higher outputs than might be expected from the magnitude of the inputs, since conifer forests are normally regarded as being conservative with respect to N. Only at Plynlimon were reductions in dissolved inorganic N flux or concentration observed from bulk precipitation to throughfall and soil waters. At the other two sites, the tree canopies did not assimilate N in incoming rainfall, and active nitrification resulted in high concentrations of nitrate in soil and streamwater. It is proposed that many mature western upland Sitka spruce plantations may behave in a similar manner with respect to dissolved N, in contrast to sites in eastern Scotland where rates of nitrification are slower and nitrogen appears to be less available to plantation trees.     

Long-Term Trends in Stream Nitrate Concentrations and Losses Across Watersheds Undergoing Recovery from Acidification in the Czech Republic

Stream nitrogen (N) export and nitrate concentration were measured at 14 forested watersheds (GEOMON network) in the Czech Republic between 1994 and 2005. In the last several decades, emissions of sulfur (S) and N compounds have decreased throughout much of Europe. In the Czech Republic, atmospheric deposition of S has decreased substantially since the beginning of 1990s, whereas N deposition remains largely unchanged at most sites. The mean dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) streamwater export ranged from 0.2 to 12.2 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ at the GEOMON sites. Despite decades of elevated N deposition, 44–98% of DIN inputs to these watersheds were retained or denitrified, and many watersheds showed seasonal variation in nitrate concentrations. Dissolved organic N export was quantified in 1 year only and ranged from 0.05 to 3.5 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹. Spatial variability in DIN export among watersheds was best explained by spatial variability in average acidic deposition, particularly S deposition (R ² = 0.81, P < 0.001); DIN input and forest floor carbon:nitrogen (C/N) also provided significant explanatory power. DIN export was strongly influenced by the forest floor C/N ratio and depth of the forest floor soils (R ² = 0.72, P < 0.001). The only variable that predicted variations in forest floor C/N (R ² = 0.32, P < 0.05) among watersheds was S deposition. Forest floor depth was also related to deposition variables, with S deposition providing the most explanatory power (R ² = 0.50, P < 0.01). Variation in forest floor depth was also associated with climatic factors (precipitation and temperature). Temporal variability in DIN export was primarily associated with changes in acidic deposition over time; S deposition explained 41% of variability in DIN exports among all watersheds and years. Extensive acidification of forested watersheds was associated with the extraordinarily high S inputs to much of the Czech Republic during earlier decades. We hypothesize that recovery from acidification has led to improved tree health as well as enhanced microbial activity in the forest floor. As these watersheds move into a new regime with dramatically lower sulfur inputs, we expect continued declines in nitrate output.     

Water and element input into native, agri- and silvicultural ecosystems of the Brazilian savanna

The interaction of rain water with the vegetation canopy results in changes of the water quantity and quality. We examined these canopy effects in different ecosystems of the Brazilian savanna, the Cerrado. The ecosystems were 20 yr-old Pinus caribaea Morelet plantations (PI), productive (PP) and degraded Brachiaria decumbens Stapf pastures (DP), continuous corn-soybean rotation (CC), and native typical cerrado (CE). We collected rainfall, throughfall, and, in PI and CE, stemflow from three plots of each ecosystem. Dry deposition and canopy leaching were estimated with a Na-tracer method. Between May 1997 and April 1999, the mean annual rainfall was 1656 mm of which 145 mm fell during the dry season (May–September). The throughfall percentage of the rainfall increased in the order, PI (75–85%) < CC (76–89%) < CE (89–100%) < PP (90–100%) < DP (99–100%); stemflow was < 1% of the rainfall. The volume-weighted mean (VWM) pH in rainfall was higher in the dry (6.5) than in the rainy season (5.4). The VWM pH in throughfall decreased in the order, CC (rainy season: 5.9/dry season: 6.2) > PP (5.5/6.0) > CE (5.2/6.0) > DP (5.2/5.6) > PI (4.8/5.7). The rainfall deposition of the dry season contributed one third of the annual element input with rainfall because of higher element concentrations than in the rainy season. The mean Na deposition ratios, i.e. the ratio of throughfall (+ stemflow) to rainfall deposition as a measure for dry deposition, increased in the order, CE (1.5) = CC (1.5) < PP (1.7) < PI (1.9) < (DP 2.1). Total deposition (rainfall + dry deposition) accounted for 104–164% of the K and Ca fertilizer application in PP and for 6.1–12% of the K, Ca, and Mg fertilizer application in CC. The P concentrations were below the detection limit of 0.2 mg L^–1 in all samples. Net canopy uptake, i.e. a smaller throughfall(+ stemflow) than rainfall + dry deposition, of Ca, K, Mg, S, Cu, and Zn in at least one of CE, PI, DP, and PP indicate that plant growth may be limited in part by these nutrients. During the vegetation period, between 28 and 50% of the applied K and Ca were leached from the canopy in PP and between 8.7 and 17% of the applied K, Ca, Mg, and S in CC. Our results demonstrate that PI causes larger water losses and enhanced acid inputs to the soil compared with all other ecosystems. However, the PI and pasture canopies scavenge more nutrients from the atmosphere than CE and CC.     

Simulated N and S deposition affected soil chemistry and understory plant communities in a boreal forest in western Canada

Aims We conducted a simulated nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition experiment from 2006 to 2012 to answer the following questions: (i) does chronic N and S deposition decrease cation concentrations in the soil and foliage of understory plant species, and (ii) does chronic N and S deposition decrease plant diversity and alter species composition of the understory plant community in a boreal forest in western Canada where intensifying industrial activities are increasing N and S deposition. Methods Our field site was a mixedwood boreal forest stand located ~100 km southeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The experiment involved a 2 × 2 factorial design, with two levels each of N (0 and 30 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1; applied as NH₄NO₃) and S addition (0 and 30 kg S ha^-1 yr^-1; applied as Na₂SO₄). Four blocks were established in July 2006, each with four plots of 20 × 20 m randomly assigned to the treatments. Soil and understory vegetation were sampled and cover (%) of individual species of herb (height ≤ 0.5 m) and shrub (height 0.5–1 m) layers was determined in August 2012. Important findings Seven years after the treatments began, N addition increased dissolved organic carbon and N in the mineral soil (P < 0.05), whereas S addition decreased exchangeable cations (P < 0.05) in the forest floor. In the shrub layer, species evenness, and overall diversity were decreased by N addition (P < 0.05) due to increases in abundance of nitrophilous species and S addition (P < 0.01) due to decreased cation concentrations in soils. Total shrub cover decreased with S addition (P < 0.10). Nitrogen and S addition affected neither species richness nor evenness in the herb layer. However, permutational multivariate analysis of variance and non-metric multidimensional scaling analyses (based on plant cover) indicated that the effect of N and S addition on understory plant species composition in the both shrub and herb layers was species-specific. Addition of N decreased foliar phosphorus and potassium concentrations in some species, suggesting potential risk of N-meditated nutrient imbalance in those species. Our results indicate that long-term elevated levels of N and S deposition can negatively impact plant nutrition and decrease the diversity of the understory plant community in boreal forests in northern Alberta, Canada. However, considering that the current N and S deposition rates in northern Alberta are much lower than the rates used in this study, N and S deposition should not negatively affect plant diversity in the near future.