Ewald Schnug

Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

A quarter of a century ago an outcry about a new ammunition roared through the international press: “Depleted Uranium, DU” was used for projectiles in military ammunition during the Kosovo war and later in the war with Iraq. After decades of hypocritical denial of even knowing about DU, now it is fair to assume that DU ammunition has become a “stan...

Allelopathy refers to the chemical interactions between plants, where certain species release chemicals which affect the growth, development and survival of neighboring plants. These chemicals, known as allelochemicals, can have also positive or negative side effects on ecosystems, which have potential to interact with climate change. However, the...

What if the circle no longer closes? In our world everything runs in cycles, everything is only a question of time: the earth will cool down again sometime, CO2 will disappear again and extinct species will find replacements: everything is only a question of time until cycles close. But what about things that were never there before? Can their exis...

Phosphorus is one of the primary nutrients essential for plant growth and thus its availability is critical for sustainable agricultural development and food security. Increased utilization of P-phosphate fertilizer over the last decades has caused eutrophication of numerous water resources. Elevated levels of metals and metalloids in phosphate roc...

A field experiment was conducted investigating the possibility of using treated wastewater (TWW) on sites affected by water scarcity in summer, waterlogging during the wet season, and salinity. A corresponding pot experiment was conducted comparable to the field experiment in Kalaât Landelous. The same plant species (Atriplex nummularia Lindl., Euc...

Silent Alienation of Soils through Microplastics in the Anthropocene Plastics are a characteristic signature of the Anthropocene. All types of plastics accumulate in soils where they generate a completely new and alien soil fraction, as they are robust against biological and chemical degradation. Plastic debris and microplastic unfold effects on...

Elemental loads with phosphate fertilizers - a constraint for soil productivity? Ewald Schnug1,4*, Yajie Sun2, Liankai Zhang3, Heike Windmann1,4, Bernd G. Lottermoser5, Andrea E. Ulrich4, Roland Bol2, Miyuki Maekawa4 and Silvia H. Haneklaus4 Mineral fertilizers manufactured from phosphate rock are a significant source for elemental loads to soils,...

Allelopathy: a natural factor constraining or supporting the productivity of soils? Beata Barabasz-Krasny1, Peiman Zandi2, Joanna Puła3, Alina Stachurska-Swakoń4, Andrzej Dane5, Ewald Schnug6 Allelopathy describes the interaction between organisms through biochemical compounds (allelochemicals). It is one of the rarely considered natural factors...

The evolving of synthetic carbon polymers, often trivial called "plastics", is a characteristic signature of the anthropocene. More than 70 years into the new geological age plastics are ubiquitous and can be found in every ecosystem. Plastics still appear in always new variations replacing traditional materials in nearly every daily lifes applica...

Evidence on the contribution of root regions with varied maturity levels in iron plaque (IP) formation and root exudation of metabolites and their consequences for uptake and bioavailability of chromium (Cr) remains unknown. Therefore, we applied combined nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) and synchrotron-based techniques, micro-X...

Soil conventional tillage has been associated with deterioration of its characteristics, while organic farming has been promoted as an approach to conserve a favorable soil environment. With the interest in nominating the tillage strategies without ploughing for maintaining long-term soil quality and subsequently increasing yields, this study set t...

Phosphorus is one of the primary nutrients essential for plant growth and thus its availability is critical for sustainable agricultural development and food security. Increased utilization of P-phosphate fertilizer over the last several decades has caused eutrophication of numerous water resources. Elevated levels of trace elements in phosphate ro...

Since mid-1990’s, the annual global phosphate rocks production rates increased to a peak of 270 million metric tons (as P2O5) in 2017 and declined to a level of 220 million tons in 2021. Consistently, global phosphate fertilizer consumption has increased up to 47 million metric tons in 2020. Previous studies have reported that sedimentary phosphate...

Accumulating evidence points to the multidimensional role of ultraviolet radiation in plant growth and development. Ultraviolet-A (UV-A), as the main component of UV radiation in nature, has a wide range of effects on plants. As there is some evidence of its positive effect as a regulator of plant growth in a controlled environment, there has long...

Adequate knowledge of tempo-spatial variability on soil hydraulic properties plays an important role in irrigation scheduling and precision farming. This study was conducted to compare the impact of tempo-spatial variations in long-term conservation tillage applications in organic farming (superficial tillage using a chisel at 10 cm depth) on soil...

This study attempts to determine which of the habitats occupied by Filipendula vulgaris creates better conditions for its growth and development. Selected physiological parameters—PSII activity, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide content as well as biomass, the occurrence of mycorrhiza, and soil characteristics—were investi...

The distribution of arsenic continues due to natural and anthropogenic activities, with varying degrees of impact on plants, animals, and the entire ecosystem. Interactions between iron (Fe) oxides, bacteria, and arsenic are significantly linked to changes in the mobility, toxicity, and availability of arsenic species in aquatic and terrestrial hab...

The persistent bioavailability of toxic metal(oids) (TM) is undeniably the leading source of serious environmental problems. Through the transfer of these contaminants into food networks, sediments and the aquatic environmental pollution by TM serve as key routes for potential risks to soil and human health. The formation of iron oxyhydroxide plaqu...

Environmental conditions are subject to unprecedented changes due to recent progressive anthropogenic activities on our planet. Plants, as the frontline of food security, are susceptible to these changes, resulting in the generation of unavoidable byproducts of metabolism (ROS), which eventually affect their productivity. The response of plants to...

The application of phosphorus (P) fertilizers inevitably contributes to the accumulation of trace elements, such as uranium (U), in agricultural soils. The fertilizer-derived U accumulation was first reported in Rothamsted Research in 1979. In the present study, we expand this key early research by evaluating the fertilizer-derived U accumulation i...

Core messages and conclusions 1. Uranium combines radiological and chemical toxicity. 2. Uranium is known to be nephrotoxic, but has also potential for cancerogenic and estrogenic effects. Uranium decay products (Po, Ra and Rn) may have an even higher radiological and chemical toxicity. 3. Today the main source for uranium loads to the environm...

Schnug, Holzhausen, Haneklaus: Contribution of mineral-and tap waters to the dietary intake of tooth forming elements.

Uranium (U) is ubiquitously abundant in the environment. Significant amounts of U are applied on agricultural soils with mineral phosphorus fertilizers; thus, entering the food chain. The daily intake of U with solid food varies only slightly. It is lowest with a mixed standard diet (1.3 µg/day U) and highest with a vegan diet (2.0 µg/day U). It is...

The fate of antibiotics and their effects on plant growth may be changed by the application of fertilizers. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of sulfadiazine (SDZ), rice husk compost (RHC), rice husk biochar (RHB), and mycorrhiza (MR) on the growth attributes of Iranian Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A. Mey. A greenhouse experim...

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used non-selective systemic herbicides, but nowadays its application is controversially discussed. Optical remote sensing techniques might provide a sufficient tool for monitoring glyphosate use. In order to investigate the potential of this technology, a laboratory experiment was set-up using pots with rolled g...

The study of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and concentration distribution of multielements including toxic elements in river–wetland ecosystem at different locations of Satluj River and Harike Wetland were carried out to understand the mobilization behavior of elements including toxic elements. The concentrations of multi-elements in water and sedim...

Ob auf dem Balkon oder im Garten, als Hobbygärtner greift man schnell und gerne zu handelsüblichen Düngemitteln um das Nährstoffangebot für Kulturpflanzen zu ergänzen. Schließlich will man das Beste für die grünen Mitbewohner und ein Blütenmeer und reiche Ernte das ganze Jahr lang. Doch warum verstecken sich Fleisch- und Knochenmehle im Dünger? Ist...

Die Ostsee eines der am stärksten eutrophierten Meere weltweit. Die Entwicklung von Strategien, die den landwirtschaftlichen P-Kreislauf schließen, ist unverzichtbar, da die P-Düngung nur dann nachhaltig sein kann und P-Verluste auf ein unvermeidbares Minimum reduziert werden. Auf intakten Böden, die ausreichend mit P versorgt sind, um das Ertragsp...

In memoriam – Dr. Holger Lilienthal (1972–2020). "In the air!" Said my angel. "Then give me the wings," I said. [Wolfgang J. Reus (1959-2006)] In the middle of life and at the height of his scientific career in the Institute of Crop and Soil Science at the Julius Kühn Institute in Braunschweig, Dr. Lilienthal died on the night of May 12-13, 2020...

High phosphorus (P) inputs into environmental system such as the Baltic Sea are a topic of growing concern as eutrophication is endangering this natural ecosystems in its function as a habitat for sea life. The high P inputs are caused to a significant proportion from agriculture. Farmyard manure, sewage sludge, biogas digestates or animal by-produ...

Phosphorus (P) budgets and flows in particular regions or countries are assessed and suitable strategies discussed to identify and improve the P use efficiency in these countries. These strategies will help to reduce P losses, close the P cycles and protect vulnerable waters, such as the Baltic Sea, from further eutrophication. The P budgets and fl...

A pot experiment was carried out to study the effect of the use of treated wastewater (TWW) on selected plant species. In total three treatments were compared including high soil salinity under drained and waterlogging conditions in comparison to a drained non‐saline treatment. The effect of TWW on growth performance of the plant species was invest...

Phosphate rocks (PRs) used in fertilizer production contain uranium (U), which enters agricultural soils through phosphorus fertilization. However, our knowledge is still limited and cannot explain the different levels of U contamination found in agricultural systems. The paper reviewed the spatial and temporal U variations in PRs to obtain a compr...

PLANT nutrition is considered one of the most important plant sciences dealing with plant productivity and hencehas a great role in global food security. The proper nutrition of cultivated plants in its time, source, amount, and place is the guarantee for this satisfied production. Therefore, the science of plant nutrition is an increasingly import...

The potential accumulation of heavy metals in soils due to rapid urban and industrial development, and increasing reliance on agrochemicals in the last several decades has been of public concern. Excessive heavy metal accumulation in soils may not only result in environmental contamination, but excessive heavy metal uptake by crops may affect food...

Antibiotics enter agro-ecosystems via the application of farmyard manure, sewage sludge, animal by-products, or digestates. There are many open questions regarding the behavior of such compounds in the soil like their adsorption, degradation, half-life, and their effects on soil organisms and plants. The impact of antibiotics on the development of...

The evolving of carbon polymers, trivial called plastics, is a characteristic of the anthropocene. More than 50 years into the new geological age plastics are ubiquitous and can be found in any ecosystem. Biological and chemical stable only physical forces break them down to ever smaller particles of which the smallest ones are called "microplastic...

Review on application of global position system on modern agriculture 全球卫星定位系统在现代农业中的运用 马友华 转可钦 Ewald Schnug (安徽农业大学土化系 合肥 2 3 0 0 3 6) (德国农业研究中心)

The aim of this field experiment was to analyze the influence of different nitrogen and sulfur doses on yield as well as the content and uptake of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) by spring rye grain. The study was conducted in south-eastern Poland (2009–2011) on Cambisols (WRB 2015), in conditions of low sulfur content in soil....

Im UNECE Ammoniakleitfaden sind alle Techniken zur Minderung der Ammoniakemissionen aus der Tierhaltung zusammengestellt und hinsichtlich ihrer Minderungspotenziale und Kosten bewertet. Dies gilt auch für die Maßnahme "Ansäuerung von Gülle". Jedoch fehlt eine umfassende Betrachtung der Umweltwirkungen dieser Maßnahme.

Study of Uranium Mobilization from Terrestrial to Aquatic Environment using Nuclear Analytical and Conventional ICP-MS Techniques

Irrigation with treated waste water (TWW) in combination with plantation of agroforest species was tested in the Kalaât Landelous region for the reclamation of salt affected soils. Five species (Atriplex nummularia, Eucalyptus gomphocephala, Acacia cyanophylla, Casuarina glauca, Pinus halepensis) were cultivated in saline soils that are affected by...

Irrigation with treated waste water (TWW) in combination with plantation of agroforest species was tested in the Kalaât Landelous region for the reclamation of salt affected soils. Five species (Atriplex nummularia, Eucalyptus gomphocephala, Acacia cyanophylla, Casuarina glauca, Pinus halepensis) were cultivated in saline soils that are affected by...

Veterinary antibiotics can enter the environment especially agricultural soils via animal manure application in which Sulfadiazine (SDZ) is considered as one of the most used antibiotic. After soil application, it may be transported into subsurface water. The sorption behavior of SDZ is not only influenced by the soil type but also by soil organic...

Bottled mineral waters are a popular beverage. In relation to the spring mineral waters contain varying amounts of essential, beneficial and potentially detrimental elements. In particular, mineral waters with a high content of total dissolved solids show highest mean elemental concentrations. With respect to the tolerable daily intake (TDI), consu...

There are numerous classification systems which attempt to categorize mineral waters according to their suitability to contribute to the mineral nutrition of humans, pharmaceutical significance, and others. The categorization of classes within every classification system is based on measurable features; the attribution of water to a class reveals r...

The concentration of toxic elements present in surface water of Sutlej River and Harike wetland besides Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as water hyacinth, is estimated employing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Toxic elements such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), uranium...

Rosemary is one of the most important medicinal plants. In order to study the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Azolla compost and Azolla biochar on dry matter, nutrient uptake, physiological parameters and essential oil of rosemary, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 6 replications. Tr...

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of rice husk compost (RHC), rice husk biochar (RHB) and mycorrhization (MY) on some properties of Iranian Echium amoenum Fisch & C. A. Mey and also on some selected post-harvesting soil properties. A completely randomized design experiment was conducted with six treatments and six replications. Tre...

In order to study the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Azolla compost and Azolla biochar on some soil quality indicators and rosemary growth, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six replications. Treatments consisted of T1 (control), T2 (1% Azolla compost), T3 (1% Azolla biochar), T4 (P...

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of bio-fertilizers including mycorrhiza (MY), rice husk compost (RHC), and biochar (RHB) on dry matter yield, nutrients uptake and some secondary metabolites of the medicinal plant Echium amoenum Fisch & C. A. Mey. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design and executed with s...

Salinity is a serious abiotic stress factor as it restricts growth of many field crops, especially in the arid and semi-arid areas of the world. In this study, the effects of salinity stress on germination and early seedling growth of sugar beet seeds of different cultivars and breeding lines under laboratory conditions are investigated. Untreated...

The term "Guano" applies to natural mineral deposits consisting of excrements, eggshells and carcasses of dead seabirds found in almost rainless, hot-dry climatic regions and corresponding fertilizers. Guanos are classified according to age, genesis, geographical origin and chemical composition. Main types are nitrogen-and phosphate Guanos. Phospha...

Summarizing 35 years of Precision Agriculture Research: Achievements for Farmers and Fertilizer Industry

The enigma of phosphorus fertilizer utilization

Assessment of surface water runoff for catchments poses a problem in view of the limited gauged data available. It is assumed that the surface runoff depends on the quantity of rain, the intensity of rainfall, ground configuration and rate of soil infiltration. The purpose of this research is to use a hydric runoff model to assess and to evaluate t...

The European Copernicus program delivers optical and radar satellite imagery at a high temporal frequency and at a ground resolution of 10m worldwide with an open data policy. Since July 2017 the satellite constellation of the Sentinel-1 and-2 satellites is fully operational, allowing e.g. coverage of Germany every 1-2 days by radar and every 2-3 d...

Worldwide, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses from agriculture are main contributors to eutrophication of water bodies so that forceful agro-technical measures are required to reduce their diffuse discharge to the environment. With view to worldwide finite mineral rock phosphates efficient standards are required to close the agricultural P cycl...

It is well established that the nutrients of plant play a vital role in all plant processes starting from the emergence, development, productivity, and metabolism reaching to the promotion and protection of plants. These plant nutrients could be in general characterized as macronutrients (e.g., Ca, Mg S, N, K, and P) and micronutrients (i.e., Fe, B...

Klassifikationen fassen Individuen mit gemeinsamen Merkmalen zusammen. Im Fall von Wässern sind das insbesondere Merkmale der stratigraphischen und hydrogeologischen Herkunft sowie der hydrogeochemischen Typisierung. Im Beitrag wird die Frage untersucht, welche Informationen über Elementgehalte in Brunnenwässern aus der stratigraphischen Zuordnung...

Fertilisation is as old as is the cultivation of crops. In the 19th century, plant nutrition became an area of research in the field of agricultural chemistry. Liebig’s “Law of the Minimum” (1855) is still the basis for plant nutrition. It states that the exploitation of the genetically fixed yield potential of crops is limited by that variable, wh...

The global agriculture is facing many challenges including sustainable use and conservation of natural resources, climate change, urbanization, and pollution resulting from agrochemicals (e.g., fertilizers and pesticides). So, the sustainable agriculture is an urgent issue and hence the suitable agro-technological interventions are essential (e.g.,...