Soils and Environmental Quality
Abstract
Aperpetual bestseller, this third edition remains the obvious choice for those instructors who strive to make their teaching applicable to contemporary issues. The three authors, all teaching professors distinguished in soil science, have updated this student favorite to include a greater number of even more relevant topics. Responding to requests, they have also placed an increased emphasis on management issues. As with previous editions, the third edition offers students in soil or environmental science an overview of soil science, hydrology, atmospheric chemistry, and pollutant classification. The text moves from the theoretical to the practical with an abundance of contemporary examples, such as an exploration of allowable pesticide concentrations in drinking water and an inquiry into soil contamination from the trace elements in organic by-products. Also considered are the use of soil carbon sequestration as a remedy for global climate change, and the effects of acid precipitation on forestation. NEW TO THE THIRD EDITION: · New chapters on nutrient management planning, and the environmental testing of soil, plants, water, and air · Additional and revised case studies that continue to relate academic content to real-life situations, while inspiring students with real –life challenges to solve · Eight-page color inset · Direct encouragement and links to fully access the Internet as a resource for the most up-to-date findings Always Relevant, Always Interesting The text also covers environmentally-related current events, fostering discussion of the political, economic, and regulatory aspects of environmental issues, the human side of environmental problems, the use and misuse of the scientific method, and potential bias in the presentation of facts. Students in soil science, environmental science, chemistry, biology, geology, and other disciplines will gain valuable insight from this multifaceted text.
... In general, poultry manure has lower N/P ratios than cattle manure due to its higher P content. This may result in over P fertilization if amounts applied are to meet N requirements of crops [28]. ...
... Generally, fresh plant residues, such as grass clipping or green manure, may quickly release P into the soil solution while more stable forms of organic inputs, such as aged animal manure or mature compost, act as slow-release P sources. The conversion rate from organic to inorganic P would be favorable and relatively fast if the ratio of its organic C to total P is < 200:1; if this C/P ratio is > 300:1, immobilization which is the incorporation of soluble P into microbial biomass may occur [4,28]. ...
... Organic P in soils, or P added to soils in manures or crop residues, represents an important source of P for plant growth [28]. Laboratory studies, using isotopic dilution techniques [61,62] reported that gross mineralization rates ranged from 0.2 to 4 mg P kg -1 day -1 (measured after 1-week equilibration), which are substantial in terms of crop P uptake. ...
Phosphorus (P) is essential to all living organisms and a major nutrient for the successful crop production in organic farming. Organic production guidelines ban the use of highly soluble, manufactured P fertilizers, thus P sources for organic farming must come from P rock, green or animal manures, compost, and biofertilizers. In this article, we first briefly describe the P dynamics in soils, covering organic and inorganic P operational pools. Next, practical P sources for organic farming are discussed. These include phosphate rock, bone meal, animal and green manures, and compost. Bio-enhancers of soil P availability is covered next, including mycorrhizal fungi, P solubilizing microbes and biofertilizers with mixed microbial species. Detailed organic P molecules, such as phytate (monoesters phosphate) and nucleic acids (diester phosphates) and their hydrolyzing enzymes are presented. Finally, the role of organic P in crop growth is considered.
... Greenhouse gas (GHG) is increasing in the Earth"s atmosphere and causing climate change and the planet to be warmer. Among the GHGs, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) contributes about 60% of the anthropogenic greenhouse effects (Pierzynski et al., 2005;Hendri et al., 2014). In the recent century, the rapid increment of CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere is coupled with increasing human population and LULC changes (Albrecht and Kandji, 2003;Bălteanu et al., 2013;Chave et al., 2014). ...
... The atmospheric concentration of CO 2 has increased dramatically since the onset of the industrial revolution with adverse effects of climate change (Pierzynski et al., 2005;Houghton, 2007;FRA, 2010;Padilla et al., 2010;FAO, 2011a). So far, deforestation and LULC contribute nearly one-third of anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. ...
... So far, deforestation and LULC contribute nearly one-third of anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. Climate change, which is a major global challenge of our time, has many mounting pieces of evidence of irreversible environmental impacts (Pierzynski et al., 2005;Metzger et al., 2006;FC, 2011 Several studies show that forests are depleting fast but we need C sinks to control global warming (Wolde Mekuria et al., 2009;Zerihun Getu et al., 2011;Tumwebaze, 2012). ...
Despite many anthropogenic pressures in diverse land-use types, agroforestry practices and remnant forests have played significant roles in biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. This study aimed to examine the floristic composition, structure, and carbon stocks of tree biomass along environmental gradients in the Kibate Forest and assess the land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics and traditional agroforestry practices across the two agroecological zones in Wonchi District, Ethiopia. Sixty-six (30 × 30 m) plots were established every 100 m distance interval in five transects using systematic sampling for data collection in Kibate Forest. Landsat images were acquired from Earth Explorer and the changes were quantified for the years 1985, 2001, and 2019. Post-classification techniques were employed using ERDAS Imagine 2015, version 15.0, and ArcGIS 10.4.1. A ground survey was conducted with 100 key informants who were selected from 10 sites using a purposive sampling method. Ten sites were selected in the two agroecological zones using a stratified random sampling method. A total of 125 vascular plant species belonging to 104 genera and 52 families were identified in Kibate Forest. Eighteen species were endemic to the Flora area. The two most dominant families, Asteraceae (29 species) and Lamiaceae (eight species) accounted for 30% of the total number of species. The highest numbers (54%) of species were herbs. Of the four community types (viz., Olinia rochetiana-Myrsine melanophloeos, Ilex mitis-Galiniera saxifraga, Erica arborea-Protea gaguedi, and Hagenia abyssinica-Juniperus procera), the highest species richness (82%), evenness, diversity, endemic taxa, and importance value index were recorded in community types 2 and 4. The results showed that environmental variables such as altitude, slope, human impact, and overgrazing by livestock, both with interactions and without interactions significantly (p < 0.05) affected species richness. The mean total tree biomass was 91.9 ± 10.01 Mg. The mean total C stock was 45.9 ± 5.17 Mg ha−1, out of which 38.3 ± 4.31 and 7.7 ± 0.91 Mg ha-1 were stored in above- and belowground C pools, respectively. Total C stock showed a significant (p = 0.04) weak positive correlation with species richness. The highest C stocks (67.4%) per species were contributed only by four species (Juniperus procera, Ilex mitis var. mitis, Nuxia congesta, and Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata). In traditional agroforestry systems, a total of 103 agroforestry plant species belonging to 44 families were documented in the two agroecological zones, 74 were indigenous including seven endemics and 29 exotic species. Fabaceae was the most represented family (13 species) in the agroforestry systems. A mixed farming system was the most frequently (56%) reported source of income. The results of LULC changes from 1985 to 2019 showed that the agroforestry cover and settlement cover including road construction increased with an annual rate change of 0.3 and 2.7%, respectively. These changes corresponded with a decreasing trend of the land covered by forest, cropland, water body, and shrub at a rate of 4.7, 1.3, 0.8, and 0.5%, respectively. Anthropogenic factors are the main drivers and threats to remnant forests in the study area. In conclusion, reducing anthropogenic pressures, the heightening agroforestry practices uniformly, sustainable forest management, and conservation measures through community-based participation should be considered. Typically protecting and planting indigenous and multipurpose plant species are essential as restoration techniques for degraded land-use types.
... A detailed list of chemical P extraction methods tested on each fertilizer is given in Table 1. Eleven chemical extractions were selected to assess the P concentration in recycled P fertilizers: two frequently named "total or pseudo-total" P extraction methods for biosolids, closed microwave (MW) AR and NA destruction methods, previously described in Bogdan et al. (2021), with a difference in addition of 10 mL extraction solution of AR (1 HNO 3, 65%: 3 HCl, 37%, v/v) or NA (HNO 3 , 65%) respectively; five soil/substrate P methods, AL AA (VLM 2010), MEH 3 (Pierzynski et al. 2005), BR 2, OLS, and CA CL (Van Ranst et al. 1999); and four fertilizer P methods, W, MA, CA, and NAC (EC 2003). Each extraction was performed in four replicates, except for the CA CL method which was done in two replicates for FeP and ASH2 and three for STR and ASH1. ...
... After P extraction, using BR 2, MEH 3, and OLS soil P methods, P concentration was determined using the colorimetric method of Scheel (Van Ranst et al. 1999) on Jenway 6400 spectrophotometer (Barloworld Scientific T/As Jenway, Felsted, UK) at a wavelength of 700 nm, as recommended in the protocols (Pierzynski et al. 2005;Van Ranst et al. 1999). For the other eight P extraction methods, in addition to the colorimetric method, the determination of P was also done using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) (Varian Vista MPX CCD Simultaneous ICP-OES) at a wavelength of 213.618 nm. ...
... This could be considered an "overestimation" of P concentration and has already limited the applicability of BR 2 for several commercial mineral P fertilizers (Zapata and Roy 2004). Finally, low P concentrations of the recycled P fertilizers in the extracts of CA CL were probably caused by the presence of Ca in the extracting solution of CA CL which led to P precipitations in form of calcium phosphates (Blombäck et al. 2021;Pierzynski et al. 2005). ...
With the emerging production of recycled phosphorus (P) fertilizers, adequate measurements of their P availability are needed. Chemical extractions are commonly used to evaluate the P availability of commercial fertilizers. However, their appropriateness for the measurement of dynamic P availability from recycled P fertilizers is still not well understood. Thus, this study examined the P availability of struvites (STRSL and STLQ), ashes (ASH1 and ASH2), and dry sludge iron phosphate (FeP) recycled from wastewater using eleven different chemical P extractions. Furthermore, perennial ryegrass was treated with these recycled P fertilizers during a 7-month pot trial to compare the shoot’s P uptake to the chemically extracted P. High P concentrations, comparable among the methods, were extracted from the STRLQ, STRSL, and ASH1. In contrast, P concentrations extracted from less purified ASH2 and FeP were highly variable depending on the methods. The plant P uptake efficiency at the end of the pot trial indicated the same order among the products: STRSL (42%) ≥ STRLQ (36%) > ASH1 (25%) > FeP (20%) > ASH2 (14%). A correlation between the shoot’s P uptake and chemically extracted P by all the analyzed methods, except for Olsen’s P, became the highest (r > 0.8) only after 4 months of plant growth when the slow-released P from the recycled fertilizers became available to plants. The type of P recycling technology and wastewater used determined the P availability pattern of examined fertilizers. The P concentration in recycled P fertilizers extracted using ten chemical methods corresponded with a P uptake by plants grown for a minimum of 4 months.
... The selection of robust parameters is important for monitoring the soil quality; it should be based on the reliability of measurement, sensitivity to changes in soil management, land use, spatial and temporal variability, and ease of interpreting the changes (Cherubin et al., 2016). Therefore, the set of soil parameters intended to be used for the monitoring activities needs to be simple but can explain the complex nature of the soil (Pierzynski et al., 2005;Bünemann et al., 2018). Moreover, baseline data is needed for monitoring the degradation and recovery of the soil quality (Lal, 1997;Pierzynski et al., 2005;Baveye and Laba, 2015). ...
... Therefore, the set of soil parameters intended to be used for the monitoring activities needs to be simple but can explain the complex nature of the soil (Pierzynski et al., 2005;Bünemann et al., 2018). Moreover, baseline data is needed for monitoring the degradation and recovery of the soil quality (Lal, 1997;Pierzynski et al., 2005;Baveye and Laba, 2015). Mahmood et al. (2021) developed a baseline soil quality database in 2020 for the restored sites of the Rohingya Refugee camps. ...
Rohingya influx in Bangladesh destructed about 3200 ha of the reserved forest of Cox's Bazar South Forest Division for the construction of housing, other utilities, and firewood collection. To reduce soil erosion, the degraded sites were intervened with different slope management initiatives (without terrace, earthen terrace, bamboo terrace). Restoration initiatives were intensified in 2019 and 291.90 ha of degraded forest areas were brought under plantation. A soil quality baseline study was conducted in 2020. The present study monitored the changes in soil properties (bulk density, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and potassium) after four years in the restored sites. Comparatively, higher bulk density (1.61±0.03 g/cm3) and organic carbon (2.45±0.09 %) were observed for the control site soil and bamboo terrace, respectively. Similar pH (4.94±0.07 to 5.14±0.14) and Electrical Conductivity (EC) (109.99±38.17 µS/cm to 122.60±13.13 µS/cm) were observed for the soil of all slope management interventions. In the case of nutrients, higher concentrations of total nitrogen (0.09 %) and available potassium (94.79±22.63 µg/g) were detected for the soil of the bamboo terrace. Similar concentrations of available phosphorus were observed for all slope management interventions. The present study showed a significant (P(T<=t) two-tail) higher content of organic carbon and EC than the baseline study. At the same time, phosphorus and potassium concentrations dropped significantly (P(T<=t) two-tail) compared to the baseline.
... They provide readily available nutrients to plants, promoting rapid growth and high yields (Cavigelli et al., 2008) [1] . However, excessive use of inorganic fertilizers can lead to soil degradation, nutrient imbalances, and environmental pollution through nutrient runoff and leaching (Pierzynski et al., 2005) [8] . Several studies have compared the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on crop yield, quality, and soil health. ...
... They provide readily available nutrients to plants, promoting rapid growth and high yields (Cavigelli et al., 2008) [1] . However, excessive use of inorganic fertilizers can lead to soil degradation, nutrient imbalances, and environmental pollution through nutrient runoff and leaching (Pierzynski et al., 2005) [8] . Several studies have compared the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on crop yield, quality, and soil health. ...
... Cd and Pb are non-essential metals for plants and can cause damage to living organisms if certain concentration thresholds are exceeded (Pierzynski et al., 2005), while Cu and Zn are essential for biological functions but also trigger toxic effects at high concentrations. Several studies have shown that the application of fertilizers and amendments is one of the main causes of TEs accumulation in the soil (Mann et al., 2002;Nicholson et al., 2003;Xiaobing et al., 2020). ...
... For this element, the most demanding legislation establishes a concentration of 30 mgkg-1 (Czech Republic) and the maximum concentration reported was 14.5 mg.kg-1 in urea. In general, the limits established for Pb are higher than those for Cd because the former is less mobile in the soil (Pierzynski et al., 2005), so there is less risk of being uptaken by plants and therefore entering into the food chain. ...
... In this process, a molecule of N2 is reduced to two molecules of NH3 and immediately used to form organic compounds that can be metabolized to amino acids within the plant. In fertilized crops, excess soil NO3is an environmental concern because it is not readily adsorbed to soil mineral particles and organic matter and can be leached into ground water by excessive irrigation or precipitation (Pierzynski et al., 2000). Thus, BNF in association with legumes is an environmentally benign and sustainable alternative to chemical N fertilization. ...
... Ammonium leaches very little because the cation is held by negatively charged soil surfaces and organic matter (OM) comprising a soil's cation exchange capacity, while NO3is repelled by the same charges. In fertilized crops or under manure application, excess soil NO3is an environmental concern because it is readily leached into ground water, streams and lakes by irrigation or precipitation that exceeds crop water use (Pierzynski et al., 2000;, contributing to eutrophication. Nitrogen mineralization and nitrification are key N transformations that largely determine the availability and mobility of N in soils . ...
Conventional beef production systems, which include intensively managed feedlots, are of concern to the public due to diverson of cereal grains to high-grain cattle diets and the environmental impacts associated with ruminant production. These include
contamination of groundwater and water bodies with antibiotics and hormones, and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as enteric methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and CO2. Some alternative beef production systems have been proposed, like grass fed-beef, but still present some disadvantages such as lower feed efficiency conversion, requiring longer finishing periods, and greater numbers of animals and land to produce
the same quantity of beef product as feedlot systems, and greater CH4 emissions due to lower quality of the diet. Therefore, mitigation strategies are needed to counter these negative impacts and support healthy soils, flora, fauna, and water resources that, in turn, can sustain natural ecological processes (e.g., the nutrient cycle, water cycle, and energy flow). Mitigation can be addressed through the use of alternative legume species such as tannin-containing birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) and non-tannin containing cicer milkvetch (CMV) for beef finishing. Tannin-containing temperate perennial legumes are bloat-safe, fix their own nitrogen (N) and provide greater nutritional valuable similar to concentrates when grown under irrigation in the Mountain West. This study demonstrated that legume-based pasture finishing can be used to reduce GHG emissions and enhance N and carbon (C) utilization for both tannin-containing and non-tannin temperate legumes. In a field study, legume forage quality resulted in greater dry matter intake per unit of respired enteric CH4 than for the grass, resulting in a reduced C footprint for beef production on
legume pastures. This study demonstrated greater soil C sequestration under meadow bromegrass (MB) and small burnet (SB), a hydrolysable tannin-containing forb, mainly in the uppermost (0-10 cm) soil layer where greater soil microbial activity responded to greater soil warmth and oxygenation, and greater turnover of fine roots and root C exudation. Therefore, adoption of well-adapted perennial legumes for beef production
can reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with traditional forage-based beef production systems, while improving the profitability of beef production and reducing the time spent grazing through more rapid rates of gain. Even greater soil C sequestration can be achieved with highly productive grasses and forbs. In an in vitro study, legume hay digestibility ranged between 69 and 77%. Of these legumes, cicer milkvetch demonstrated greater in vitro dry and organic matter digestibility than alfalfa, BFT, and sainfoin as well as MB and small burnet, likely due to its greater leaf proportion and vine-like stems with less structural tissue. Residual tannins in fiber did not impede microbial fermentation but may have impacted the rate of rumen
microbial colonization. Greater time to reach half cumulative gas production of MB during in vitro fermentation likely could be explained by slower rumen microbial colonization due to physical constraints, given the longer, larger fiber bundles in grasses.
Greatest dry matter intake would be expected for the legumes, due to their higher fermentation rates at the beginning of the incubation process and shorter half-time to maximum asymptotic cumulative gas production, resulting in lower total gas production
for all legumes, faster rates of passage and reduced rumen fill.
In a controlled environment study, greater organic N and C concentrations in the uppermost soil layer were likely due to greater root proliferation resulting from manure deposition. Total soil N ha-1 was greater for MB and SB than for BFT and CMV and total soil organic C was greatest for BFT and least for MB, suggesting a role for tannin in reducing N mineralization and nitrification rates, and preventing N losses through nitrate
leaching, ammonia volatilization and N2O emissions from the pastures systems. Greater root mass accompanied by greater total root C and N in MB columns did not convert on greater soil C storage. When N balances were developed for four simulated grazing systems of BFT, CMV, MB and small burnet, SB and MB gained significant soil organic N, thereby enhancing soil quality and carbon sequestration. These results ultimately have the potential to alleviate a number of the concerns associated with ruminant production systems and improve ecosystems services.
... Soil quality has two parts: an essential part covering its inherent ability for crop growth and a dynamic part affected by its user or manager. Dynamic soil quality changes in response to soil use and management (Pierzynski et al., 1994;Dumanski and Pieri, 2000;Blum, 2003 andNovak et al., 2010 and).Soil quality is considered one of the best methods for soil determination due to facility of use, resilience and quantification. These indicators perform the cumulative effects of different soil characteristic (physical and chemical) as an index from the part of each index in soil quality . ...
Soil quality assessment was done by integrating remote sensing and GIS for the west El-Minya Governorate. The district is of high seniority for agriculture development. Twenty-five soil profiles were drilled to represent the main geomorphologic units within the investigated area. The result indicated that ten main morphological units were identified,1-old wadi sediments, 2-Peniplains, 3-Old stream terraces, 4-Plains outwash, 5-Sand dunes, 6-Erosional plains, 7-Sand sheets, 8-hill, 9-Rock out crops, and 10-Shoulders. The soil quality index (SQI) was estimated depending on parent material, drainage condition, soil texture class, rock fragments (%), soil depth (cm),slope gradient (%), EC (ds/m), ESP, pH and CaCO3 (g/kg).Soil of west El-Minya area variable from high soil quality to low soil quality and percentages were as follows: High quality areas index represent 7.0 % of the total area (40021 ha) in RT mapping unit, most of the study area 88 % (506401 ha) consists of moderate and moderate low-quality classes in SH, WS, P, S, EP and PO mapping units, and low-quality areas index represents 5 % of the total area (26203ha) in RO, SD and H mapping units. The research additionally explains the significance of GIS in constructing a land resource database of soil that is very substantial for better observance of soil characteristics for optimum sustainable agriculture.
... Soil residual NH 4 -N and NO 3 -N At the end of the soil column study, significantly higher NO 3 -N and NH 4 -N at the bottom of the column indicated the downward movement of nitrogen (Panday et al., 2020;Pierzynski et al., 2005). Previous studies have shown that 25.4 mm of rainfall or irrigation can transport nitrate to a depth of 150-200 mm in a loamy sand soil (Endelman et al., 1974). ...
Increased environmental nitrogen (N) losses have prompted the use of enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers, including nitrification inhibitors. However, the comparative effects of nitrification inhibitors with conventional nitrogen fertilizers and herbicides on soil nitrification and nitrogen losses remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the impact of a nitrification inhibitor (Instinct NXTGEN), two nitrogen sources (broadcast urea vs. injected aqueous ammonia), and a preemergence herbicide (Acuron) on (1) soil nitrification through a 25‐day soil incubation experiment and (2) NH3 volatilization, NO3‐N leaching, and N2O‐N emissions through a 31‐day soil column study in loamy sand soil. In both experiments, treatments included combinations of nitrification inhibitor versus no inhibitor, two nitrogen sources, and preemergence herbicide versus no herbicide. Results revealed that nitrogen source significantly influenced nitrification, with injected aqueous ammonia reducing nitrification by 33% compared to surface broadcast urea. Nitrification inhibitors and herbicide had no effect on soil nitrification. Injected aqueous ammonia reduced NH3 volatilization by 87% compared to surface broadcast urea, but the effect of the nitrification inhibitor on NH3 volatilization was inconsistent across both nitrogen sources. Injected aqueous ammonia led to 39% higher cumulative nitrogen (NO3‐N + NH4‐N) leaching than urea, while the nitrification inhibitor had an inconsistent effect on NO3‐N leaching across both nitrogen sources. No significant differences in N2O‐N emissions were observed among treatments, and the herbicide had no effect on any measured parameters. These findings suggest that nitrogen source plays a more critical role in regulating soil nitrogen losses than nitrification inhibitors or herbicides.
... Studies have shown that naturally occurring heavy metals in the soil ecosystem which is a result of weathering of parent materials are usually at very low concentrations (less than 1000mg/kg) and are seldom toxic [16]. Meanwhile, another investigation revealed that heavy metals in contaminated soil resulting from anthropogenic sources tend to be more mobile than heavy metal contamination from natural sources [17]. ...
Right from pre-historic times, humans have always looked for ways to explore the environment to satisfy basic economic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. History is filled with various strategies borne out of this desire by humans to subdue the environment and judging from the drawbacks of some scientific advancements, one will be stating the obvious that the soil environment is at the receiving end of the brazen intrusion of nature. Regardless of the improvement in science we still experience environmental challenges such as soil pollution, soil degradation, drought, biodiversity loss, deforestation, etc. This article advocates that the advancement in science with the sole aim of food security and sustainability should not necessarily translate into stress and struggle for soil biodiversity.
... Third, the amounts of metals in rejection materials are significantly higher than those that normally occur in the receiving environment. Finally, the chemical forms (species) of these metals in the receiving environment can enhance bioavailability [16] [17]. ...
Heavy metal poisoning in roadside soils is a worldwide environmental issue with serious consequences for both ecological health and human well-being. This study provides a detailed summary of the state of heavy metal pollution along roads, spanning multiple locations and centuries
... Zn is a heavy metal ranked highly among environmental pollutants due to its vast abundance and toxicity (Pierzynski et al., 2005). Zn enters the environment through natural and anthropogenic sources. ...
Millions of individuals worldwide regularly use cosmetics, personal care items, and tattoos. Tattoo ink and other makeup cosmetics also contain potentially toxic heavy metals. Heavy metals may build in the body after prolonged exposure. Most of them, including Pb, Cd, Hg, As, and Sb, are carcinogenic, allergenic, neurotoxic, teratogenic, and mutagenic contributing to hair loss and other cosmetic issues. Despite of numerous researches around the world and regulations on cosmetic items in developed countries to determine safe levels of heavy metals, most consumers have not knowledge enough about the related risks, especially in developing nations where equivalent regulations are absent. In addition, everyday discarded cosmetics by customers pollute the environment, pose threats to microbes, plants, and animals, and are found in the solid waste and wastewater created by the cosmetic business. For these reasons, research, analytical analysis, publishing, surveying, reviewing and enhancing consumers' understanding of current laws, regulations, legislation , and recommendations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), and others are all necessary to raise public awareness about the hazards posed by heavy metals. The current mini-review aims to summarize cosmetics and tattoos' historical background and development, focusing on their hazardous ingredients, health impact, and allowable levels of heavy elements according to regulations.
... Heavy metal (e.g., nickel) precipitation from the atmosphere to the earth owing to the combustion of fossil fuels, exhaustion of automobiles, metal smelting, chemical industries, burning of waste, and large fires is due to the chemical contamination of soil to this element. Chemicals used in agriculture, drainage of sewage, abandoned industrial places such as gas plants, electrical industries, tanneries or leather industries, and even sports and recreational activities such as shooting are highly effective in nickel metal contamination in soils [33,34]. ...
Background & Aims: This study aimed to assess the health risks and ecological hazards of heavy metals cadmium, lead, and nickel in agricultural soils of Khuzestan province in 2018. Materials and Methods: In this study, sampling was gathered from three farms in three cities (Baghmalek, Shavur, and Shushtar) and five points with three replications. A plot with dimensions of 10×10 m was considered in the field, and four soil samples were taken from four sides of the plot and one from the center of the plot with 0-30 cm depth, and finally the composite sample was obtained. Results: The average of cadmium, nickel, and lead in the soils of Baghmalek, Shavur, and Shushtar was 5.04, 83.44, and 312.64 mg/kg, respectively. The mean values of cadmium and nickel in the soils of the studied fields were higher than the global average values, but the amount of lead in the studied soils was lower than the global average. Moreover, the ecological risk of heavy metals in soil showed that the farms in Baghmalek and Shavur have an extremely high ecological risk, and Shushtar had a severe ecological risk. Conclusion: Based on the calculation of pollution indices, soils in Baghmalek, Shavur, and Shushtar had heavy metal contamination of cadmium, lead, and nickel and had human origin. In this study, the risk index of heavy metals was less than 1, and it was only higher than 1 in the case of lead metal in children absorbed by ingestion. The carcinogenic risk index of metals also indicated that nickel has the potential for carcinogenesis in children.
... As a result, the water becomes unfit for human use and for aquatic life, such as fish, due to low oxygen levels. Many soils near animal and poultry production facilities in the USA and Europe have high P levels (Pierzynski et al., 2005b). ...
Phosphorus dynamics, and biogeochemical processes for unlocking soil phosphorus reserves
... Trace elements (TEs) are naturally found in low concentrations in soil and other compartments of the biosphere, and some of them are essential for plants, animals, and humans. However, TEs are associated with environmental and human risks, as they can harm diverse organisms if critical concentration thresholds are exceeded (Pierzynski et al. 2005). In the long term, these elements can reach and accumulate in soils mainly from anthropogenic sources, such as those derived from industrial, mining, and agricultural activities (Antoniadis et al. 2019). ...
Cadmium (Cd) is a trace element of great interest due to its mobility in the soil-plant-water system and the potential toxicity for humans. The main anthropogenic Cd inputs into the soil are industrial and mining wastes, as well as agricultural applications of phosphorus fertilizers, organic materials, and wastewater. In the long term, Cd can accumulate in the soil and migrate to important food crops such as potato plant. There is evidence of Cd contamination of potato tubers in some agricultural systems. In this crop, tuber load with Cd arises from the root uptake, the transfer from the roots to the above-ground biomass, and the subsequent translocation from the leaves. This paper summarizes the evidence of Cd accumulation in potato tubers and other plant organs in diverse cropping systems. It also emphasizes the factors that influence the Cd accumulation in potato plants related to the potential risk for human consumption of the harvested product. Factors such as soil properties, plant characteristics, environmental conditions, and crop management are discussed, highlighting considerations for future research to generate information for cropping a safe food product.
... However, we must highlight an under-representation of Actinomycetota; only three Actinomycetota isolates were identified and referred to as genera Microbacterium (two mycohyphospheric isolates) or Brevibacterium (one root isolate). This phylum is ubiquitously distributed in a large range of soils (Pierzynski et al., 2005;Qin et al., 2016). Moreover, a large number of Actinomycetota exhibit PGP traits, with several being P-solubilizers (Hamedi and Mohammadipanah, 2015), either as free-living bacteria or endophytic bacteria (Qin et al., 2017;. ...
Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a common problem in croplands where phosphate-based fertilizers are regularly used to maintain bioavailable P for plants. However, due to their limited mobility in the soil, there has been an increased interest in microorganisms that can convert insoluble P into a bioavailable form, and their use to develop phosphate-solubilizing bioinoculants as an alternative to the conventional use of P fertilizers. In this study, we proposed two independent experiments and explored two entirely different habitats to trap phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSBs). In the first experiment, PSBs were isolated from the rhizoplane of native plant species grown in a rock-phosphate (RP) mining area. A subset of 24 bacterial isolates from 210 rhizoplane morphotypes was selected for the inorganic phosphate solubilizing activities using tricalcium phosphate (TCP) as the sole P source. In the second experiment, we proposed an innovative experimental setup to select mycohyphospheric bacteria associated to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae, indigenous of soils where agronomic plant have been grown and trapped in membrane bag filled with RP. A subset of 25 bacterial isolates from 44 mycohyphospheric morphotypes was tested for P solubilizing activities. These two bacterial subsets were then screened for additional plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, and 16S rDNA sequencing was performed for their identification. Overall, the two isolation experiments resulted in diverse phylogenetic affiliations of the PSB collection, showing only 4 genera (24%) and 5 species (17%) shared between the two communities, thus underlining the value of the two protocols, including the innovative mycohyphospheric isolate selection method, for selecting a greater biodiversity of cultivable PSB. All the rhizoplane and mycohyphospheric PSB were positive for ammonia production. Indol-3-acetic acid (IAA) production was observed for 13 and 20 isolates, respectively among rhizoplane and mycohyphospheric PSB, ranging, respectively, from 32.52 to 330.27 μg mL⁻¹ and from 41.4 to 963.9 μg mL⁻¹. Only five rhizoplane and 12 mycohyphospheric isolates were positively screened for N2 fixation. Four rhizoplane PSB were identified as siderophore producers, while none of the mycohyphospheric isolates were. The phenotype of one PSB rhizoplane isolate, assigned to Pseudomonas, showed four additive PGP activities. Some bacterial strains belonging to the dominant genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas could be considered potential candidates for further formulation of biofertilizer in order to develop bioinoculant consortia that promote plant P nutrition and growth in RP-enriched soils.
... Numerous agroecosystem support functions rely on the properties of soils. They provide a structure for plant growth, a reservoir for a wide variety of nutrients necessary for the survival of plants, and a filter that regulates air quality via interactions with the atmosphere (Pierzynski et al., 2005). Soils also provide a medium for storing and purifying water as it percolates through and a location where biological life is engaged in decomposing and recycling plant and animal products (Wolf & Snyder, 2003). ...
Soils perform various functions for the purpose of supporting agroecosystems. Numerous agroecosystem support functions rely on the properties of soils. Inappropriate agricultural techniques and land usage have led to a global 12.5% drop in soil health during the previous few decades. Inappropriate cultivation, nutrient mining, and overuse of inorganic chemical treatments are some of the activities that may have degraded soil quality. A study on the influence of intensive agriculture on soil properties and nutrient availability under different cropping systems and locations was done in the years 2018 and 2019 in Kauwi and Zombe Wards of Kitui County, Kenya. Four commonly occurring cropping systems, namely, vegetable, cereal, fruit, and agroforestry, were selected in the two locations. Uncultivated land in the area was considered as control. In total, there were five treatments, which were replicated five times in each of the locations. During the typical long (March, April, May) and short (October, November, December) rainfall seasons, composite soil samples were randomly taken from the cropping systems. Analysis of the results revealed that the influence of cropping systems on locational variation of soil quality parameters varied significantly (p<0.05). Further, the interaction between cropping strategies and locations significantly influenced soil pH and soil organic carbon. In Zombe, the vegetable cropping system registered the lowest soil pH and electrical conductivity values. Similarly, Soil Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium mean values under the vegetable farming system were higher in Zombe compared to Kauwi ward, probably due to the heavy application of fertilisers. Based on the results from the study, farmers in the area should be sensitised to embrace sustainable agricultural practices that promote moderate application of fertilisers to maintain healthy soils
... Within the soil environment, heavy metals are a natural occurrence resulting from the pedogenetic mechanisms of parent material weathering. These levels are typically classified as trace amounts (<1000 mg kg −1 ) and are seldom associated with toxicity [31,32]. ...
Pollutant contamination from biosolids application is a major constrain of its utilization in the agricultural ecosystem. Alimodian (fine isohypherthermic, calcic halfultalf) soils planted with Red Spanish pineapple (Ananas bracteatus) in Aklan, Philippines were evaluated to determine the Pollutant Concentration Limit (PCL), Annual Pollutant Loading Rate (APLR), and the Site Life (SL) for biosolids enrichment of the area. Standards prescribed by the USEPA Biosolids Management Handbook, Department Administrative Order 2013-32, and the Bureau of Agriculture Fishery Standards in the Philippines were utilized. As per USEPA standards, the pollutant concentration (mg/L) of arsenic (As) is 0.0057, cadmium (Cd) 0.003, copper (Cu) 0.76, mercury (Hg) 0.0001, nickel (Ni) 0.26, lead (Pb) 0.03, selenium (Se) 0.0003, and zinc (Zn) 3.11. Similarly, based on the DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2013-32 and Bureau of Agricultural Fisheries and Standard (BAFS), As, Hg, Ni, Se and Zn are within the permissible limits. The APLR in number of bags of biosolids that can be applied is 11,380 bags for one year to meet the 1.9 kg ha-1 yr-1 ceiling for Cd in one agricultural site for Red Spanish Pineapple. For all the other sites, the permissible number of bags of biosolids that could be applied is 9,260 to not exceed the Pb ceiling of 15 kg ha-1 yr-1. Site life or the period biosolids is safe based on the standard range of 20 to 21 years.
... Excessive quantities of synthetic fertilizers are regularly added to provide N, P and K to enhance crop growth and yield. Those agrochemicals including synthetic fertilizers have been identified as the major source of heavy metals in agricultural soils (Premarathna et al., 2011), especially Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) contains a considerable levels of Cd as an impurity (Pierzynski et al., 2000) (Table I). Chandrajith et al (2012) also showed that the TSP collected from Medirigiriya and some parts of Giradurukotte had higher levels of Cd than in other fertilizers. ...
The growing phenomenon of environmental contamination mainly due to heavy metals have gained considerable attention of both scientific and public communities. Heavy metals are natural constituents of the environment. Indiscriminate human interventions, such as agriculture and related industries have changed the atmospheric geochemical cycles and biochemical balance of heavy metals. It is well established that excess exposure to heavy metals causes adverse effects on both plants and human beings. The present review is based on the current research evidence on the reported levels of toxic heavy metals such as Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg) Manganese (Mn) and Chromium (Cr) in the Sri Lankan geo-environment.
... 이 에 석회물질이나 철이 함유된 제철공정의 부산물과 광산 배수처리 슬러지의 적용성이 검토된 바 있다 (Kim et al., 2014;Ko et al., 2015;Moon et al., 2015;He et al., 2017). 카드뮴(cadmium; Cd)이나 납(lead; Pb)과 같은 양이온 중 금속 대상으로는 착화물 형성이나 침전을 통한 이동성 저감을 위해 유기퇴비나 석회물질을 사용하고 있다 (Huang et al., 2016;Lim et al., 2015;Pierzynski et al., 1994). 아 울러 근래에는 탄소고정과 함께 토양의 생산성 증대의 목적으로 연구되고 있는 바이오차(biochar)의 무기원소 안정화 효과를 확인한 바 있다 (Bessley et al., 2014;Enaime et al., 2020;Fellet et al., 2011;Kumar et al., 2022). ...
... Besides, mining operations have the potential to destroy the flora and fauna and contaminated soil, air and water in the surrounding areas. In Jharia coalfield, Dhanbad of Jharkhand the air quality is deteriorated due to coal mining, land degradation, water pollution and siltation, loss of vegetation and driving out fauna, noise and vibration, reduction in aesthetics and rehabilitation of people [24] [25]. All the components of environment and ecology are affected by the process of mining, resulting in different types of pollution problems like soil, surface and ground water pollution. ...
This is an Open Access Journal / article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. All rights reserved. Coal mining activity creates a harmful effect on the environment and the whole ecosystem ; simultaneously it heavily damages local flora and fauna. Mainly the forest land is topographically altered to a great extent for coal mining activity. It affects the underground water and adjoining land area level silts surrounding water reservoir. Coal mining has a great contribution in economic development of a country but also it has a great adverse impact on the mining workers, local inhabitants' health, behavior and their socio-cultural life. The present review, study of cited information vividly reflectsthe coal mining in the global perspective, the Indian perspective and the West Bengal perspective.
... The flow of energy between the circle of soil, circulation of material, hydrosphere, and the atmosphere are included in the vegetation. On a global scale, vegetation plays an indispensable role in managing the concentration of carbon, decreasing greenhouse gases, and balancing climate stability (Pierzynski et al. 2005). Vegetation is a significant variable in land environment cooperation (Kalisa et al. 2019). ...
Vegetation cover change and its interaction with climate are significant to study as it has impact on ecosystem stability. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and climatic factors (temperature and rainfall) for investigating the relationship between vegetation and climate. We also traced spatiotemporal changes in the vegetation in Pakistan from 2000 to 2020; we used the Hurst exponent to estimate future vegetation trends in Pakistan. Our results show an increase in vegetation throughout Pakistan, and the Punjab Province is showing the highest significant vegetation trend at 88.51%. Our findings reveal that the response of vegetation to climate change varies by region and is influenced by local climatic conditions. However, the relationship between rainfall and annual NDVI is stronger than the temperature in the study area-Paki-stan. The Hurst exponent value is above 0.5 in all four provinces, that is, the indication of consistent vegetation trends in the future. The highest values are observed in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). In the Punjab Province, 88.41% of the area showed positive development, with forests in particular showing a significant positive effect on land use classes. On the other hand, the Sindh Province has the highest negative result at 2.87%, with urban areas showing the highest negative development. To sum up, the NDVI pattern and change attribute suggest vegetation restoration in Pakistan.
... It is loved by all kinds of livestock due to its nutritious and palatable quality possesses about 16-25% crude protein and 20-30% fiber [1] . It is not only important forage crop but also improve soil fertility through the addition of biologically fixed nitrogen [2] . In Pakistan lucerne is mainly grown for the purpose of green fodder and seed production. ...
The studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of seven insecticides viz., spinosad (Spintor
480SC)@ 100 ml, chlorantraniliprole (Coragen 20SC) @ 62.5 ml, lufenuron (Marshal 5EC) @ 500 ml,
methoxyfenozide (Runner280SC) @ 250, emamectin benzoate (Emamectin1.9 EC) @ 500 ml, bifenthrin
(Welthrin 10EC) @ 500 ml, flubendamide (Belt 48SC) @ 125ml per hectarewith different mode of
actions were tested against alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica G.) in the field of lucerne crop at Fodder
Research Institute, Sargodha during, 2016-17. The data was recorded pre and post (3, 5, 7 and 10 days)
treatment. Results showed that all seven insecticides gave satisfactory results as compared with control.
But statistically highest mortality was found with the application of spinosad, emamectin benzoate and
bifenthrin while the lowest mortality was found with chlorantraniliprole, methoxyfenozide, lufenuron and
flubendamide. Biopesticides, emamectin benzoate, spinosad were remained comparatively safe for
predators as compared with pyrethroids bifenthrin.
... It is known that synthetic fertilizers used in rice cultivation contain heavy metals as impurities (Rezania et al., 1989). Chemical fertilizers, such as triple superphosphate, contain considerable levels of Cd as impurities (Pierzynski et al., 2005) together with other heavy metal ions. Animal manure also contains some amount of trace metals (Wijewardena and Gunaratne, 2004). ...
Increased use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to severe environmental and health problems, particularly an increase in heavy metal contamination in food commodities, especially in rice. In this research, yield and heavy metal content in rice obtained with conventional and eco-friendly farming were compared. Rice grains obtained with two farming practices were analyzed to obtain heavy metal ion content using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Powdered and digested rice grains were investigated for the contents of heavy metals, including As, Cd, and Cr. The mean values of heavy metal content in rice obtained with conventional farming in two seasons [Season 1 ("Yala"-May to August) and Season 2 ("Maha"-September to March)] were, As: 139 µg kg-1, Cd: 138 µg kg-1, and Cr: 1314 µg kg-1. The metal contents in rice obtained with eco-friendly farming were, As: 93 µg kg-1, Cd: 85 µg kg-1, and Cr 437 µg kg-1. The average rice yield obtained from eco-friendly farming (862.6 g m-2) is considerably less than that obtained from conventional farming (1,047.4 g m-2) in Season 1. However, in Season 2, the average yield of eco-friendly farming (966.4 g m-2) is increased in comparison to the yield of rice obtained from conventional farming (946.4 g m-2). These findings also revealed that rice obtained with eco-friendly farming has a considerably less amount of heavy metal ion content than that of rice obtained with conventional farming. Further, the results suggest that a certain time is required to enrich and fertilize the soil with homemade and natural fertilizer nutrients.
... In the last two decades, those factors have inspired much attention due to their policy implications over time, such as urbanization, economic growth, and sustainable development. Particularly, municipal solid wastes are still among the prominent problems in urban society, and many studies have emphasized that wastes if managed not properly, may be harmful to human, plants, animals and environment, steadily deteriorate the health status of individuals, and gradually reduce the environmental quality (Pierzynski et al. 2005; Keleş et al. 2012). For example, landfilling, as a conventional waste disposal technique, may increase health expenditures due to increased congenital abnormality, cancer incidence, and mortality rate, especially under-five (Jerrett et al. 2003;Ruston 2003). ...
Improving environmental quality is one of the prominent purposes of the governments in developing countries where additional international pressures with an increasing level of environmental awareness exist. Environmental quality models are predicted by using generally its components such as air pollution, emissions, demand and awareness to protect it, but by somehow lack of municipal solid waste generation and municipal solid waste management expenditures. Objectives This study aims at exploring the effects of municipal solid waste generation per capita, municipal solid waste expenditures per capita, and waste expenditures rate on environmental quality. Prior work A range of assessment tools have been designed to provide holistic picture of smart cities and many common prospects of the system. Focusing on the specific domains of the smart city concept, some scholars propose four smart environment indicators, including attractiveness of natural conditions, pollution, environmental protection and sustainable resource management. Approach The current study constructed a national dataset from Turkish provinces, including environmental indicators, running a causal relationship model. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between environmental quality and municipal solid waste management. Results The mean of environmental quality index level in 81 cities. The mean of annual municipal solid waste generation in 81 cities was 429 (± 100.25) kg per capita in Turkey in 2016. Municipal solid waste expenditures per capita was a predictor of environmental quality level. Implications The findings of this study signal that we can estimate the * Corresponding Author "Smart Cities" 2019-52-level of environmental quality by using municipal solid waste management in the next years. Our results showed that municipalities' solid waste management expenditures clearly had an impact on environmental quality level in Turkey. This type of convergence of interests might get municipalities to adopt municipal solid waste management programs adopting IT towards better environmental quality level. Value Environmental quality level turned out to be reflecting environmental inequality in the provinces of Turkey.
... Nevertheless, the contracting effect of nitrification inhibitors on NH3 volatilization can be due to specific soil conditions in each study. Herbicide had no significant effect on ammonia volatilization that corresponded with no significant herbicide effect on net nitrification during the incubation study.2.5.3 Soil Residual NH4 + -N and NO3 --NAt the end of the soil column study, significantly higher NO3 --N and NH4 + -N at the bottom of the column indicated downward movement of nitrogen in the column(Panday et al., 2020;Pierzynski et al., 2005). Previous studies have shown that 25.4 mm of rainfall or irrigation ...
Nitrogen fertilizer management continue to be challenging due to potential nitrogen losses under variable weather conditions. The objective of this was to evaluate the performance of nitrification inhibitors, nitrogen sources and herbicides on in-season nitrogen availability and agronomy indicators. A two site-year field experiment was conducted in silty clay loam soil in corn phase of the corn-soybean rotation at Central Nebraska. The treatments included three herbicide (no pre-emergence, Acuron, Resicore) and five nitrogen treatments: 1) control, 2) anhydrous ammonia, 3) anhydrous ammonia without nitrification inhibitor, 4) urea with nitrification inhibitors, and 5) urea without nitrification inhibitors. Results indicated that nitrogen source has a more significant effect on NH4+-N retention (78-80% higher in anhydrous ammonia vs. urea) than nitrification inhibitor (24-47% higher with inhibitor vs. without inhibitor) and herbicides. Similarly, nitrogen source significantly affected NO3--N formation (134-176% lower in anhydrous ammonia vs. urea) than nitrification inhibitor (8-31% lower with inhibitor vs. without inhibitor) and herbicides. Pre-emergence herbicide increased corn grain yield at one site year, while nitrification inhibitors did not affect agronomic indicators. Within nitrogen source, anhydrous ammonia increased grain yield by 1.06 Mg ha-1, partial factor productivity by 5.7 kg grain kg-1 N, agronomic efficiency by 5.5 kg grain kg-1 N, aboveground biomass N uptake by 35 kg N ha-1, grain N uptake by 15 kg N ha-1, nitrogen recovery efficiency by 21% and residual total inorganic N by 6-40 kg N ha-1 compared to urea. Advisors: Javed Iqbal and Amit Jhala
... Infertility in women is caused mainly by hormonal imbalance as a consequence of endocrine disruption due to poisoning with PTEs which is currently the most frequent cause of female infertility [93]. The main toxicological effects of individual PTEs have been summarized by [15,88] and [94][95][96][97][98][99]. ...
Emerging pollutants in the environment due to economic development have become a global challenge for environmental and human health management. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs), a major group of pollutants, have been detected in soil, air, water and food crops. Humans are exposed to PTEs through soil ingestion, consumption of water, uptake of food crop products originating from polluted fields, breathing of dust and fumes, and direct contact of the skin with contaminated soil and water. The dose absorbed by humans, the exposure route and the duration (i.e., acute or chronic) determine the toxicity of PTEs. Poisoning by PTEs can lead to excessive damage to health as a consequence of oxidative stress produced by the formation of free radicals and, as a consequence, to various disorders. The toxicity of certain organs includes neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, skin toxicity, and cardiovascular toxicity. In the treatment of PTE toxicity, synthetic chelating agents and symptomatic supportive procedures have been conventionally used. In addition, there are new insights concerning natural products which may be a powerful option to treat several adverse consequences. Health policy implications need to include monitoring air, water, soil, food products, and individuals at risk, as well as environmental manipulation of soil, water, and sewage. The overall goal of this review is to present an integrated view of human exposure, risk assessment, clinical effects, as well as therapy, including new treatment options, related to highly toxic PTEs.
Soil salinization is a widespread hindrance that endangers agricultural production and ecological security. High salt concentrations in saline soils are primarily caused by osmotic stress, ionic toxicity and oxidative stress, which have a negative impact on plant growth and development. In order to withstand salt stress, plants have developed a series of complicated physiological and molecular mechanisms, encompassing adaptive changes in the structure and function of various plant organs, as well as the intricate signal transduction networks enabling plants to survive in high-salinity environments. This review summarizes the recent advances in salt perception under different tissues, physiological responses and signaling regulations of plant tolerance to salt stress. We also examine the current knowledge of strategies for breeding salt-tolerant plants, including the applications of omics technologies and transgenic approaches, aiming to provide the basis for the cultivation of salt-tolerant crops through molecular breeding. Finally, future research on the application of wild germplasm resources and muti-omics technologies to discover new tolerant genes as well as investigation of crosstalk among plant hormone signaling pathways to uncover plant salt tolerance mechanisms are also discussed in this review.
Five medicinal plants viz. Ocimum sanctum, Mentha arvensis, Centella asiatica, Oxalis corniculata and Acorus calamus, belonging to four different families such as Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Oxalidaceae and Araceae were studied for their Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) association. All the test plants were growing in the Botanical Garden of Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.). The result revealed that all the five medicinal plants had AM association in the roots and spore population in the rhizospheric soil. However, percent root colonization, spore population and AMF species varied from plant to plant. Maximum percent root colonization and spore population of AM fungi was observed in Ocimum sanctum followed by Centella asiatica, Mentha arvensis and Oxalis corniculata, whereas minimum root colonization and spore population was observed in Acorus calamus. Total 14 AMF species were identified and quantified in which Glomus spp. were found dominate followed by Acaulospora spp. and Sclerocystis spp. Gigaspora spp. were found poorly distributed.
Rising soil pollution has recently emerged as a significant global issue due to increased industrialization, urbanization, and inadequate waste management. This review thoroughly examines the presence of common heavy elements in damaged soils, such as Pb, Cr, As, Zn, Cd, Cu, Hg, and Ni, utilizing publically available literature. It discusses the concepts of phytoremediation, soil cleaning, and immobilization, highlighting the advantages and drawbacks of each method. These techniques are widely recognized as effective means to remediate heavy metal-polluted soil, addressing associated risks, freeing up land for agriculture, bolstering food security, and resolving land tenure issues arising from changing land use patterns.
Increase in human population has led to industrialization and deterioration of the environment, including the soil. Also, there is also a constant rise in demand for food, mostly gotten from plants. To attain this, the soil needs to be healthy to support the growth of plants. A healthy soil is thus one that is rich in and contains the correct proportion of nutrients, diversity of living organisms and supports plant growth. Living organisms such as earthworms help in stabilizing soil structure, good drainage and ensuring nutrients availability. Soil microorganisms such as Azotobacter spp. and Bacillus spp. also play a huge role in breaking down and ensuring that nutrients such as nitrate, iron and phosphorus are available in forms that can be assimilated by plants. Others such as Pseudomonas spp. breakdown pollutants to useful forms, thereby making the soil conducive for living organisms. This chapter thus looks at the factors that promote soil formation, health and biodiversity while also proffering methods to improve soil health such as the introduction of soil-health promoting living organisms.
Nowadays, air pollution represents one of the most serious public health and environmental challenges globally. It
adversely affects human well-being, weather patterns, and environmental conditions. This pollution arises from various
sources, including hazardous emissions from industries, vehicle exhaust, and the increasing presence of harmful
substances and particulates in the atmosphere, leading to air contamination. Pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO)
and carbon dioxide (CO2
) contribute to negative impacts on environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and air
pressure. Additionally, black carbon particles, emitted through various combustion processes, significantly harm both the
environment and human health. Consequently, there is a pressing need to measure and evaluate air quality effectively,
facilitating prompt decision-making. In this research, a system was developed that offers a user-friendly interface,
providing insights for individuals, communities, and organizations. This empowers them to take informed actions towards
reducing air pollution levels. Our system employs a combination of the PM7003 sensor, Raspberry Pi, additional sensors,
Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, cloud computing, and machine learning. It is specifically designed to detect fine
particulate matter (PM), including PM2.5, PM1, and PM10 particles, in the air. The system is also equipped with sensors
to monitor environmental parameters such as humidity, air pressure, temperature, CO, CO2
, and black carbon particles.
This robust system enables timely and wise decision-making to mitigate air pollution. Variations in air quality graphs
clearly demonstrate the influence of pollutant concentrations on climate change. Our results, comparable to real-world
scenarios, were validated against air quality standards and guidelines. Four favourable outcomes were identified from
our work. By employing machine learning algorithms, our system can predict air pollution levels with high accuracy,
providing reliable forecasts based on historical data and meteorological factors
Transportation of oil from the petroleum reservoirs to the purchaser sites includes a high possibility of oil leakage because of damages and disasters that take place at the time of shipping, along with quarrying, eventually, clash with the ecological community. The outcome of unexpected leakage of lubricants into the water bodies gives rise to consequences of unendurable extinction of flora and fauna which devastate aquatic habitat resources. The noxious quality of fuels is based on the attentiveness and configuration of the petroleum and the liability of the marine organisms. Spilled lubricants can harm marine organisms like sea birds because their compositions of these chemicals are very toxic. Oil can have huge influence on living beings in two ways: firstly, oil enters the living beings’ body through inhalation which leads to the exposure of oil inside the body of organism, secondly it leads to the external exposure like skin and eye irritation. Since most oils float on the ocean’s tropopause or on coastlines, creatures that live there are most affected, like sea otters and sea birds. Biological effects of oil spillage include, phytoplankton cannot grow in the oil-spilled water, the fall of fishery resources takes place, a threat to man through eating contaminated seafood, Damage to the habitat and a reproductive rate of marine organisms can decrease in the long run. In coastal waters, the impact will be on mangroves, seaweeds, and intertidal fauna. Daily tons of oil spills are bound to happen across the globe as well as in seas and rivers. Oil slicks include unintentional discharge of fuel varying from different types of petroleum to enormous, filtered products, from massive diligent oils to lower diligent, but very dangerous oils.
Tato studie se zabývá analýzou miskoncepcí z pedologie u budoucích učitelů přírodopisu, kteří studují na Pedagogické fakultě Jihočeské univerzity v Českých Budějovicích. Nejčastější miskoncepce byly zjišťovány pomocí 10 testových úloh s otevřenou odpovědí. Soubor respondentů tvořilo celkem 35 studentů bakalářského studia. V rámci této studie byly zjištěny četné miskoncepce u budoucích pedagogů. Nejčastěji zjištěné miskoncepce byly tyto: půda není „živá“, půdní druh a půdní typ je jedno a to samé, půda se řadí mezi obnovitelný zdroj, rostliny si z půdy berou vše pro svůj růst a vývoj, humus jsou jen rozložené rostliny. Až 37 % respondentů se potýká s jedním nebo dokonce s více miskoncepty z učiva pedologie. Půda, její vznik, význam a vlastnosti jsou důležité pro pochopení souvislostí mezi živou a neživou přírodou a patří mezi jedno z nejdůležitějších integrovaných přírodovědných témat. V didaktickém výzkumu je proto potřeba se zaměřit na moderní výukové strategie a snažit se odstranit tyto miskoncepce ve výuce o půdě.
In the conventional framework, the utilization of fossil fuel energy is recognized as deriving from non-renewablesources and playing a significant role in the global energy supply within the world economy. Nevertheless, there is alsoongoing examination and study of a new term within the realm of renewable energy sources. The primary objective ofthis study is to examine the influence of fossil fuel energy and renewable energy sources on the phenomenon of climatechange. In the empirical analyses, six characteristics were incorporated to measure climate change. The study was conducted between the years 1990 and 2023, and data was gathered from the World Development Indicator (WDI). Futureresearch endeavors should explore the potential subdivision of energy sources within both the public and private sectors.
Soil salinization is an essential environmental stressor, threatening agricultural yield and ecological security worldwide. Saline soils accumulate excessive soluble salts which are detrimental to most plants by limiting plant growth and productivity. It is of great necessity for plants to efficiently deal with the adverse effects
caused by salt stress for survival and successful reproduction. Multiple determinants of salt tolerance have been identified in plants, and the cellular and physiological mechanisms of plant salt response and adaption have been intensely characterized. Plants respond to salt stress signals and rapidly initiate signaling
pathways to re-establish cellular homeostasis with adjusted growth and cellular metabolism. This review summarizes the advances in salt stress perception, signaling, and response in plants. A better understanding of plant salt resistance will contribute to improving crop performance under saline conditions using multiple engineering approaches. The rhizosphere microbiome-mediated plant salt tolerance as well as
chemical priming for enhanced plant salt resistance are also discussed in this review.
The green revolution which was particularly the interplay of high-yield varieties, irrigation facilities, high inputs of fertilizers, energy, etc. especially in wheat and rice crops had led to a dramatic increase in food grain production in the country. India achieves self-sufficiency in total food grain production. That was no doubt warranted as the condition in the country was precarious before the green revolution and also just after independence, with lots of imports from the western world. However, agricultural intensification over the years added to the degradation of our fragile ecosystems. Loss of fertility of the soil, soil alkalinity, acidity, salinization, water logging, erosion, water pollution, air pollution, heavy metal loading in agricultural fields, a decline in the water table, micronutrient deficiency, incidence of diseases, climate change, etc. is few of the challenges which the present day agriculture is facing in the aftermaths of the green revolution. Fertilizers and pesticides have been used indiscriminately which led to the pollution of soil, air and water. Even indigenous cultivars are slowly being lost in tandem with mono-cropping systems. Several resource conservation tools and innovative resource conservation management strategies have been developed that may serve very beneficial in terms of improving soil fertility, and grain production and also taking care of environmental concerns. It is high time that we should adopt and promote those strategies among the farmers and other stakeholders to have a win-win situation under the present scenario.
In this study was evaluated the adsorption capacity of trivalent chromium by using commercial activated carbon as adsor-bent and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) as bioadsorbent, which was prior treated by steam explosion technique and surfactant impregnated. The samples were characterized by SEM, XRD, XRF and FT-IR analysis. The effect of initial concentration of metal, pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature were further investigated in batch experiments. Isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic studies were carried out in optimal process condition. The adsorption capacity reached a maximum of 28.36 mg g −1 for modified SEEG sample. Thermodynamic parameters reveal that Cr 3+ adsorption is a non-spontaneous and exothermic chemical process. The Langmuir isotherm model showed a well fit unless to the in nature Elephant Grass, which fitted well to Freundlich model. Furthermore, experimental data adjusted better to PSO kinetic model. So that, it was found that the modification techniques employed significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of Cr 3+ .
Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for all organisms because it plays a significant role in metabolic processes (e.g., photosynthesis, respiration, and DNA synthesis), and many metabolic pathways are activated by Fe. Globally, Fe deficiency is a serious health concern due to the consumption of low-iron diets (or plant-based diets). Fe deficiency in humans induces severe diseases such as anemia. Considering the importance of Fe for the development of both humans and plants, this chapter reports some of the recent advancements in nano-fertilizer for improving crop quality and subsequent human intake to alleviate the Fe deficiency. Furthermore, synthesis methods of Fe-based-NPs, e.g., chemically and bio-synthesis are discussed in details alongside advanced characterization techniques. Exposure of Fe-based nanomaterials via control release systems can enhance crops’ growth and nutritional content. Present chapter indicated that Nano-enabled technologies could be beneficial for reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers and solving the Fe deficiency problem. The application of Fe-based nano fertilizers can prove to be a sound and sustainable approach to achieve the goal of increasing micronutrient content and crop yield. Fe-based nano fertilizers can bring nutrient-rich crops with economic advantages if the products are environmentally and economically sustainable.KeywordsIron based nanoparticlesPlant healthToxicityDefensive mechanism
Global agricultural production is facing a lot of challenges. The current agricultural practices seems to be incompetent to meet the global food demands. The increasing health and environmental concerns have also put forward the challenge of attaining global food production in a sustainable manner. The synergistic interactions between different nanoparticles (NPs) and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) have put forward the novel way of improving plant health and increasing its productivity. Different metal and metal oxide NPs like silver, gold, zinc, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and iron oxide are known to interact with different PGPR in a synergistic manner. These interactions increase the functioning of microbial partner by improving its plant growth promotion traits. The co-inoculation of NPs with their microbial synergist can be utilized to increase the plant health and productivity during plant exposure to different stresses like salinity stress, heat stress, drought stress, and heavy metal stress. The plant-microbe interaction facilitated by NPs activate the plant defense systems, increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes in plants, and trigger the accumulation of protective solutes like proline and glutathione that increase the plant health and productivity during stressful conditions. In addition, this combinatorial approach can also be utilized for bio fortification of plants.KeywordsNanoparticlePGPRRhizosphereNanoparticle-PGPR InteractionsPlant-Microbe Interactions
Aluminum, being the most abundant metal on earth, has applications in diverse fields. To utilize the benefits of aluminum completely, aluminum oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized and administered on plants because they are the connecting link between the environment and human health. The effect of aluminum oxide NPs on a variety of plant species to check their interaction, uptake, and translocation is analyzed in this chapter. Aluminum oxide NPs’ phytotoxicity is determined by their absorption, transport, and accumulation in plants. Interestingly, the administration of aluminum oxide NPs at different concentrations resulted in a significant effect on root elongation, shoot elongation, seed germination, as well as macro and micronutrient uptake. This chapter has mostly addressed nanoparticle interactions in plants, including their absorption, mobilization, and metabolic effects. We also looked into NPs’ potential to protect plants and control stress under a variety of adverse settings. Aluminum oxide NPs’ effects on the four enzymatic antioxidants namely CAT, POD, SOD, and APX are compared, to examine their effect on different plant species. This chapter will assist researchers in comprehending nanotechnology in combination with agriculture, allowing them to build specialized NPs to meet agricultural needs sustainably.KeywordsAluminum oxide nanoparticlesAntioxidant enzymesReactive oxygen species
Since the past several years, there has been a lot of focus on the soil-borne accumulation of heavy metals in plants. The agroecosystem has been found to be substantially impacted by the excess of dangerous heavy metals present in soil, such as Ni, Pb, Cd, Ag, Co, Cu, Zn, Mn and Cr, in a number of ways involving physical, morphological and biochemical aspects. By damaging the cellular structure of the plant, causing oxidative stress through the generation of ROS, manipulating the composition of biomolecules, altering the content and fluorescence of chlorophyll, reducing crop yields and depleting soil fertility, nanoparticles carrying heavy metals have contributed to the development of phytotoxicity in plants. However, it has been found that applying designed nanomaterials through solution, seed priming, spraying, etc., increases plants’ resilience to metal stress. Plants use a variety of defence mechanisms to defend themselves from Heavy Metal (HM) stress, including controlling metabolic responses (antioxidants and other enzymatic activities), altering gene expression, changing cellular composition, etc. To create plant varieties that can withstand nanotoxicity, various plants are genetically modified. Numerous PGPR (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) are useful in reducing the effects of phytotoxicity, which in turn improves crop production in metal-contaminated soil. They are also known to have high tolerance to heavy metals. Utilising a variety of plant species, detoxification programmes and phytoremediation techniques are used to deal with these heavy metal contaminants and preserve soil microbiota. Additional research is required to ascertain the threshold at which these heavy metals and/or nanoparticles alone can induce phytotoxicity and to take advantage of methodologies and plant regulatory mechanisms that can be used to remove these contaminants.KeywordsNanoparticlesPhytotoxicityROSAntioxidantsHM stress
Africa boasts immense natural and mineral resources, as they form the skeletal structure of the economy. These resources are distributed across the continent, on land, along the shoreline, and even in the deeper regions of the oceans. Over the last decades, the increased rate of industrialization and urbanization coupled with the increasing human population has contributed in a great way to the menace being caused by pollution. Over-exploitation, in terms of excessive or indiscriminate usage of resources, causes pollution, thereby leading to unsustainability in resource management. Conversely, issues of conflicts over resources and insecurity have also been on the increase most especially along the coastline of the African countries. The Niger-Delta region of Nigeria has been plagued with pollution resulting from oil spillage which has had a grave impact on the life of aquatic and terrestrial animals likewise the plant life. Many other countries within Africa have several industries producing a variety of products such as plastics, iron, pesticides, herbicides, paper, and several others of which their wastes degrade the environment. Countries located along the West African coast and South Africa are known for emitting high amounts of mercury due to their gold mining and coal combustion activities. Discharges or wastes from these industries go into the environment causing air and water pollution. Air pollutants, present within the atmosphere, pollute the water and soil in the form of atmospheric deposition. The major sources of water pollution are the urban and industrial effluent discharges into the aquatic environment. Most countries in Africa do not have enforced standards for effluent discharge into surface waters. All these pollutants affect aquatic biodiversity, as it leads to the migration of fish species from the polluted area in search of survival. The majority of the coastal waters in Africa are faced with this challenge, hence the need to find an immediate solution to help conserve aquatic life. To this end, this chapter will elaborate on the various sources of pollution and their impacts on the environment and biodiversity.KeywordsAquatic environmentBiodiversity managementHuman activitiesPollutionTerrestrial environment
Beyond natural climate variability, frequent and intense extreme events caused by human beings are the reasons for climate change which lead to adverse impacts, losses, and damages to nature and people. Climate change is a global phenomenon that is occurring continuously since the earth came into existence and has become a major scientific issue during the last decade which is threatening food security. It is influencing soil fertility through alteration in soil moisture, increase in soil temperature, and elevated CO2 levels, which are the major causes of land degradation (changes in the productive potential of the land for human use). Land degradation has become a critical issue worldwide, especially in developing countries. Land degradation is caused by climate change which has significant impacts on agriculture through direct and indirect effects on soils which should be considered more important for modern human societies with increasing populations to meet the global demands for food with limited soil resources. Under these circumstances, the concept of land degradation neutrality is the need of the hour, and it is one of the Sustainable Development Goals required to stop the ongoing land degradation. The three concurrent actions required for achieving LDN are (1) avoiding new degradation of land by maintaining existing healthy land, (2) reducing existing degradation by adopting sustainable land management practices and ramping up efforts to restore them, and (3) returning degraded lands to a natural or more productive state. LDN can be achieved by a paradigm shift in land stewardship from “degrade-abandon-migrate” to “protect-sustain-restore.”
The role of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) role is to reduce urban poverty and ensure urban food security, income generation, and livelihood strategies that support Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The UPA production systems often use intensive management techniques and untreated wastewater for food production. The use of untreated sewage may challenge the quality of food products and pose health hazards through the food chain. Quantitative data about the Phyto-availability and food chain transfer of heavy metals in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is scarce. This study was conducted to characterise the elemental and heavy metal transfer among major UPA production systems (farms and railway gardens), in MMR eliciting the soil to root translocation as well as its localisation in produce. It comprises a detailed two-year onsite examination of three farms (F1-3) and three railway gardens (RG1-3) across MMR. Potential risk assessments have been conducted by metal transfer factor (MTF), metal translocation (TF), daily intake of metals (DIM), health risk index (HRI), the average daily dose (ADD) and target hazard quotient (THQ), as well as total metal and element content in comparison with different safety standards. Copper concentration in soils ranged from 29.7 - 545 mg kg ⁻¹ , with the highest and lowest concentrations observed at RG3 and RG2, respectively. The shoots of white radish accumulated Sr concentrations up to 424 mg kg ⁻¹ at RG2. Strontium had a TF up to 32.3 compared with Co, Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr with a maximum of 5.9, 5.3, 3.4, 1.7 and 1.5, respectively. The average daily dose of Zn was between 1.3 × 10 ⁻¹ and 3.6 × 10 ⁻¹ mg kg ⁻¹ d ⁻¹ while Ni had a daily dose of between 4.6 × 10 ⁻² and 7.4 × 10 ⁻² mg kg ⁻¹ d ⁻¹ . The estimated values of ADD were below the world standard levels except for Cr and Ni, and there is a relative absence of health risk imposed by the ingestion of these vegetables produced in UPA systems in MMR. Detailed investigations are needed to identify the sources, mobilisation of heavy metals and trace element contaminations.
The increasing concerns about the effects of bioavailable heavy metals on the biosphere are primarily traceable to anthropological activities on the environment, which affect the populace. The objective of this peer-reviewed paper is to evaluate and analyze the bioavailability of minerals associated with lead zinc (Pb-Zn) metal ore. The evaluation is aimed at ascertaining the bioavailability of heavy metals in the Enyingba, Ameri, and Ameka Pb-Zn mining zones within Abakaliki Mine District and assessing the health risk hazards associated with mineral ore exposure. The various reviewed journals and reports include results from soil, plant, and blood sample analyses. Heavy metal contamination in soil, plants, and blood samples within the study area was reviewed and evaluated. A total of thirty-three journals were evaluated and analyzed with interest in the total metal concentration and bioavailable heavy metals in biotic and abiotic systems within Enyingba, Ameri, and Ameka. Few journals evaluated accounted for the bioavailable heavy metals within the study area, indicating inadequate data to understand the behaviors of bioavailable heavy metals in the biota of the Enyingba and environs.
The results analyzed indicate a considerable concentration of essential heavy metals: iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn), and priority or carcinogenic heavy metals: cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) in the soil, plants, and inhabitants of the study area.
Various authors reported these heavy metals (essential and carcinogens) above permissible limits when compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standards, where Pb, Zn, Fe, Cr, and Mn were found above 500 mg/kg, respectively; copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) were recorded above 30 mg/kg, respectively; nickel (Ni) was recorded above 50 mg/kg; and cadmium (Cd) above 5.0 mg/kg. In Ameka, the bioavailable heavy metals in the plant samples were reported by the authors to occur in the roots rather than the shoots as a result of the translocation factor < 1.
Blood sample results from Enyingba were crucial, as they indicate an exposure of the inhabitants to heavy metals such as Pb, Zn, Fe, Hg, Cu, Cr, and As. These were found to be above permissible limits according to occupationally-exposed and environmentally-exposed individuals. Health risk assessment of these metals available in the plant and human inhabitants in Enyingba, Ameri, and Ameka points to health hazards such as nervous breakdown, DNA damage, and increased blood pressure.
Keywords: Enyingba, Bioavailability, Total Heavy Metal Concentration, Metal Uptake, Health Risk Assessment, Pollution, Mining
Heavy metals entering the food chain through plants occur naturally in the soil. These are seldom toxic for the living organisms until, present in excessive concentrations. concentration in the parent rock from which it weathered, additions from fertilizers and soil conditioners. Cadmium is found to be enriched in sedimentary rocks than in igneous or metamorphic rocks. Anthropogenic sou fertilizers containing excessive levels of Cd which increases its concentration in surface soils. to anthropogenic origin has found to be more than the geogenic ones. Arial deposition of Cd in rural are combustion of fossil fuels, smelting and processing of ores which is comparable to that added to soil from fertilizers and improvements. Bioconcentrations of Cd in plants grown in an elevated level in soil is maximum compared to other metals. The degree of enrichment depend upon the level of Cd present in the soil, the crop species, and the chemical properties of the soil.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.