Screening Procedure for Soils and Pesticides for Potential Water Quality Impacts

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 701-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don W. Goss
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Screening Procedure ◽  
Low Loss ◽  
High Loss ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pesticide Losses

A screening procedure has been developed to evaluate the relative loss of pesticides from soils, to assist the Soil Conservation Service in implementing water quality for conservation planning. This screening procedure is a first-tier evaluation of the impact of using a particular pesticide on a specified soil. The screening procedure was developed from evaluating pesticide loss from over 40 thousand runs of the GLEAMS (Groundwater Loading Efects of Agricultural Management Systems) model. The model input data were a combination of soils and pesticides with a wide range of properties. The estimated pesticide losses were categorized into losses by leaching, losses adsorbed on sediment in runoff, and losses in the solution phase of runoff. Algorithms using soil properties were developed to rate soils into four loss potential classes for leaching and three loss potential classes for the two categories of runoff. Also, algorithms using pesticide properties were developed to rate pesticides into four loss potential classes for leaching and three loss potential classes for runoff. The soil and pesticide groupings are combined in a matrix to give an overall loss potential rating. Statistics of the overall loss potential indicate the low loss potential class is pure, that is, it does not contain occurrences that have medium or high losses. The medium loss potential classes does not contain occurrences of high loss, but does contain many occurrences of low loss. The high loss potential class contains incidences of medium and low loss.

scholarly journals "It Isn't All about You": The Management of ICT and Non-ICT Information Resources via Human Information Behaviour

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Paul Daniel Atkinson
Keyword(s):  
Activity Theory ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Information Use ◽  
Information Behaviour ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

<p>"Applications that gather dust... Technologies no one understands... Information that's ignored... [thus, there is still very much a need to] pay attention to Information behaviour" (Davenport, 1997, p.2). Human Information Behaviour is as important a concept today as it has ever been, as there are still millions of dollars going into improving information technology. While information seeking behaviour has been rigorously studied over the years, information use has not received the same attention. Neither has the IT artefact or choice of such technologies at the hands of users of information. This research paper aims to produce a taxonomy of the information use behaviours and ICT and non-ICT resource use of IT academics through a qualitative study involving both observation (incorporating thinking aloud) and structured face-to-face interview techniques. The research question asks "How do IT Academics manage the integration between various Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and non-ICT sources to support their information behaviours (IB) and, therefore, achieve their desired outcome? We observed and interviewed six IT academics carrying out their normal working activities, looking into actual information events as they occurred, information outcomes, information behaviours, and the technologies used by academics in their daily interactions with information. We developed a systems model, informed by activity theory, to frame the discussion. What was uncovered by the study was a tendency for academics to converge on a single technology - that of the laptop. This together with email was what academics tended to prefer to use, both at the office and in their homes; a surprising find as it was assumed that there would be a plethora of different ICTs in use. We found that technologies contributed to a blurring of the work/life equilibrium for many academics. Academics did exhibit a wide range of behaviours in their laptop and email use. Many of them were relatively unproductive, and involved moving information from one place, or one form to another, and finally ending in deletion rather than active use. Many of our interviewees reflected a need to use their time wisely through time management, and the impact of email on time management. These results also yielded the justification of Activity Theory which was used in the study, and of the systems framework which was constructed for the study. The study also confirmed the importance of environmental influences on academic's working lives, which tended to create a somewhat cyclic nature to their information events. Overall, it was not clear that patterns of use of ICTs contributed to effective information use behaviour by IT academics.</p>

scholarly journals Impact of Urban Stormwater Runoff on Cyanobacteria Dynamics in A Tropical Urban Lake

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talita F. G. Silva ◽  
Brigitte Vinçon-Leite ◽  
Bruno J. Lemaire ◽  
Guido Petrucci ◽  
Alessandra Giani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Integrated Modelling ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Lake Water Quality ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Large Lakes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Modelling Approach

Worldwide, eutrophication and cyanobacteria blooms in lakes and reservoirs are a great concern for water resources management. Coupling a catchment hydrological model and a lake model has been a strategy to assess the impact of land use, agricultural practices and climate change on water quality. However, research has mainly focused on large lakes, while urban reservoirs and their catchments, especially in tropical regions, are still poorly studied despite the wide range of ecosystem services they provide. An integrated modelling approach coupling the hydrological model Storm Water Management Model SWMM and the lake ecological model DYRESM-CAEDYM is proposed for Lake Pampulha (Brazil). Scenarios of increased imperviousness of the catchment and of reduction in the load of nutrients and total suspended solids (TSS) in dry weather inflow were simulated. Runoff water quality simulations presented a fair performance for TSS and ammonium (NH4+) while the dynamics of total phosphorus (TP) and nitrate (NO3−) were poorly captured. Phytoplankton dynamics in the lake were simulated with good accuracy (Normalized Mean Absolute Error, NMAE = 0.24 and r = 0.89 in calibration period; NMAE = 0.55 and r = 0.54 in validation period). The general trends of growth, decline and the magnitude of phytoplankton biomass were well represented most of the time. Scenario simulations suggest that TP reduction will decrease cyanobacteria biomass and delay its peaks as a consequence of orthophosphate (PO43−) concentration reduction in the lake surface layers. However, even decreasing TP load into Lake Pampulha by half would not be sufficient to achieve the water quality objective of a maximum concentration of 60 µg chla L−1. Increased imperviousness in the catchment will raise runoff volume, TSS, TP and NO3− loads into Lake Pampulha and promote greater cyanobacteria biomass, mainly in the beginning of the wet season, because of additional nutrient input from catchment runoff. Recovering Lake Pampulha water quality will require the improvement of the sanitation system. The lake water quality improvement will also require more sustainable and nature-based solutions for urban drainage in order to reduce non-point pollution through infiltration and retention of stormwater and to enhance natural processes, such as chemical sorption, biodegradation and phytoremediation. The integrated modelling approach here proposed can be applied for other urban reservoirs taking advantage of existing knowledge on Lake Pampulha.

scholarly journals Fire and water: contaminants and clearance following uncontrolled fires

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Walsh ◽  
Tim Stevenson ◽  
Richard Terrett ◽  
Cathy Banwell ◽  
Stewart Sutherland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Suspended Particle ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Fire Event ◽  
Water Contaminants ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
The Impact

There is a growing body of evidence surrounding the implications of uncontrolled bushfires and wildfires on water. This topic has importance from an ecological perspective, and significance for human health as it has consequences for drinking water quality and supply. Against the backdrop of climate change, it is especially important to holistically understand the impact of fire on water. This review took a systematic approach to establish a comprehensive overview of the changes occurring in freshwater systems following uncontrolled wildfires and bushfires. Screening of 16,551 results obtained from Web of Science, PubMed, and MEDLINE resulted in 111 manuscripts suitable for inclusion. The impact of fire across a wide range of water quality indicators either relative to pre-fire measurements or reference sites was examined qualitatively (increase/decrease) and where possible quantitatively (% change or difference). Factors included biomass, indicator species and species diversity, metals, nutrients, salts, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, particulates and turbidity, pH, conductivity, temperature, and water course morphology. Evidence focused largely on short to medium term impacts (e.g. within 2 years of the fire event), with only a subset of studies reporting on longer term changes in response to fire. We found that bushfire has acute and long-lasting effects on water in terms of physical (e.g. decreased suspended particle size), chemical (e.g. increased nutrient concentration), and biological (e.g. decreased species diversity) characteristics. There was also evidence of resilience and recovery. We urge future work to consider measures that will fulfil both environmental and human health considerations, to allow more integrated insight into the impacts of fire on water.

Impact of climate change on soil erosion and the efficiency of soil conservation practices in Austria

2010 ◽  
Vol 148 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. KLIK ◽  
J. EITZINGER
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Climate Scenarios ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYThe goal of the present study was to assess the impact of selected soil protection measures on soil erosion and retention of rainwater in a 1·14 km2 watershed used for agriculture in the north-east of Austria. Watershed conditions under conventional tillage (CT), no-till (NT) and under grassland use were simulated using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) soil erosion model. The period 1961–90 was used as a reference and results were compared to future Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios A1B and A2 (2040–60).The simulations for the NT and grassland options suggested runoff would decrease by 38 and 75%, respectively, under the current climatic conditions. The simulation results suggest that, under future climate scenarios, the effectiveness of the selected soil conservation measures with respect to runoff will be similar, or decreased by 16–53%.The actual average net soil losses in the watershed varied from 2·57 t/ha/yr for conventional soil management systems to 0.01 t/ha/yr for grassland. This corresponds to a maximum average annual loss of about 0·2 mm, which is considered to be the average annual soil formation rate and therefore an acceptable soil loss. The current soil/land use does not exceed this limit, with most of the erosion occurring during spring time. Under future climate scenarios, the simulations suggested that CT would either decrease soil erosion by up to 55% or increase it by up to 56%. Under these conditions, the acceptable limits will partly be exceeded. The simulations of NT suggested this would reduce annual soil loss rates (compared to CT) to 0·2 and 1·4 t/ha, i.e. about the same or slightly higher than for NT under actual conditions. The simulation of conversion to grassland suggested soil erosion was almost completely prevented.The selected soil conservation methods maintain their protective effect on soil resources, independent of the climate scenario. Therefore, with small adaptations, they can also be recommended as sustainable soil/land management systems under future climatic conditions.However, based on the available climate scenarios, climate-induced changes in the frequency and intensity of heavy rainstorms were only considered in a limited way in the present work. As the general future trend indicates a strong increase of rainstorms with high intensity during summer months, the results of the present study may be too optimistic.

scholarly journals Analysis of Available Components and Performance Estimation of Optical Multi-Band Systems

Eng ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-543
Author(s):  
Dimitris Uzunidis ◽  
Fotini Apostolopoulou ◽  
Gerasimos Pagiatakis ◽  
Alexandros Stavdas
Keyword(s):  
Single Mode ◽  
Physical Layer ◽  
Single Mode Fiber ◽  
Performance Estimation ◽  
System Level ◽  
Low Loss ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Multi Band

Optical multi-band (OMB) systems exploit the low-loss spectrum of the single mode fiber (SMF) and are key enablers to increase the transportation capacity and node connectivity of already deployed systems. The realization of OMB systems is mainly based on the technological advances on the component and system level, and for this purpose, a broad gamut of various structural elements, such as transceivers, amplifiers, filters, etc. have been commercialized already or are close to commercialization. This wide range of options, which aid in unlocking the concurrent transmission in all amplification bands, is reviewed here for the first time, whilst their pros and cons as well as their limitations are discussed. Furthermore, the needs for additional components in order to fully exploit the ≈390 nm low-loss wavelength range of SMF, which spans from 1260 to 1650 nm, are highlighted. Finally, based on a physical layer formalism, which incorporates the impact of the most important physical layer constraints for an OMB system, the attainable capacity and transparent reach of each amplification band are quantified.

scholarly journals Management learning, performance and reward: theory and practice revisited

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 342-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Rowland ◽  
Roger Hall
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Organizational Effectiveness ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Management Systems ◽  
Management Learning ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which organizational learning is recognized through performance management systems as contributing to organizational effectiveness and competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach – It reviews several pieces of research, employing a wide range of methods, including: content analysis of managers’ reflections; questionnaires completed by managers and mentors; a large-scale survey involving ethnography, interviews and questionnaires; and analysis of documents from professional bodies and management delivery centres. Findings – Genuine integration of individual and organizational goals or transfer of learning from the individual to the organization is not evident. Few qualitative measures of organizational performance are employed. The impact of metrics such as IIP or EFQM on organizational effectiveness is nor discernible. Management learning and development is rarely measured even when it is encouraged by the organization. There is a clear divide between research, teaching and learning and workplace practice. Performance management systems create perceptions of unreliability and inequity. Research limitations/implications – Espousing the value of learning and learning to learn, measuring them accurately and rewarding them with meaningful changes to working life can only improve organizational effectiveness. Research into the few organizations that have successfully embraced triple loop learning in their development of managers may offer a template for transformational learning to sustain competitive advantage. Originality/value – Management development processes have been successful in developing individuals but less successful in achieving organizational development. This paper offers new insights into that gap and the omissions in the metrics by which performance is measured.

A Decision Support System for Evaluating the Effects of Alternative Farm Management Systems on Water Quality and Economics

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Yakowitz ◽  
J. J. Stone ◽  
L. J. Lane ◽  
P. Heilman ◽  
J. Masterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support System ◽  
Support System ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Land Resource ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Surface And Groundwater

A prototype Multi-Objective Decision Support System (MODSS) for water quality has been developed by the Agricultural Research Service at the Southwest Watershed Research Center in Tucson, Arizona. The Decision Support System uses a simulation model to predict the impact of alternative management systems on surface and groundwater quality as well as farm income. The results of the simulation, which includes modeling of hydrology, erosion, nutrient and pesticide transport, crop growth and economics, are analyzed with respect to the multiple objectives of reducing surface and groundwater pollution while maintaining or improving farm income. Often these objectives are in conflict and objectively discerning which practice is preferred can be a difficult task. The multi-objective decision making component of the decision support system makes use of dimensionless utility functions and the concept of importance order dominance. The MODSS allows the user to set up alternatives, choose the decision criteria, and accept or customize the decision mode settings. The results are presented graphically as well as in tabular form. The dominance of one practice over another, if it exists, is clearly evident in the graphical presentation. We illustrate the decision component of the MODSS with pictures of the screens from an example which uses the simulation results of several management alternatives on farmland in the Deep Loess Soil Major Land Resource Area near Treynor, Iowa.

scholarly journals "It Isn't All about You": The Management of ICT and Non-ICT Information Resources via Human Information Behaviour

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Paul Daniel Atkinson
Keyword(s):  
Activity Theory ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Information Use ◽  
Information Behaviour ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

<p>"Applications that gather dust... Technologies no one understands... Information that's ignored... [thus, there is still very much a need to] pay attention to Information behaviour" (Davenport, 1997, p.2). Human Information Behaviour is as important a concept today as it has ever been, as there are still millions of dollars going into improving information technology. While information seeking behaviour has been rigorously studied over the years, information use has not received the same attention. Neither has the IT artefact or choice of such technologies at the hands of users of information. This research paper aims to produce a taxonomy of the information use behaviours and ICT and non-ICT resource use of IT academics through a qualitative study involving both observation (incorporating thinking aloud) and structured face-to-face interview techniques. The research question asks "How do IT Academics manage the integration between various Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and non-ICT sources to support their information behaviours (IB) and, therefore, achieve their desired outcome? We observed and interviewed six IT academics carrying out their normal working activities, looking into actual information events as they occurred, information outcomes, information behaviours, and the technologies used by academics in their daily interactions with information. We developed a systems model, informed by activity theory, to frame the discussion. What was uncovered by the study was a tendency for academics to converge on a single technology - that of the laptop. This together with email was what academics tended to prefer to use, both at the office and in their homes; a surprising find as it was assumed that there would be a plethora of different ICTs in use. We found that technologies contributed to a blurring of the work/life equilibrium for many academics. Academics did exhibit a wide range of behaviours in their laptop and email use. Many of them were relatively unproductive, and involved moving information from one place, or one form to another, and finally ending in deletion rather than active use. Many of our interviewees reflected a need to use their time wisely through time management, and the impact of email on time management. These results also yielded the justification of Activity Theory which was used in the study, and of the systems framework which was constructed for the study. The study also confirmed the importance of environmental influences on academic's working lives, which tended to create a somewhat cyclic nature to their information events. Overall, it was not clear that patterns of use of ICTs contributed to effective information use behaviour by IT academics.</p>

scholarly journals Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 4146
Author(s):  
Mirko Castellini ◽  
Mariangela Diacono ◽  
Concetta Eliana Gattullo ◽  
Anna Maria Stellacci
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Soil degradation is one of the most topical environmental threats. A number of processes causing soil degradation, specifically erosion, compaction, salinization, pollution, and loss of both organic matter and soil biodiversity, are also strictly connected to agricultural activity and its intensification. The development and adoption of sustainable agronomic practices able to preserve and enhance the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils and improve agroecosystem functions is a challenge for both scientists and farmers. This Special Issue collects 12 original contributions addressing the state of the art of sustainable agriculture and soil conservation. The papers cover a wide range of topics, including organic agriculture, soil amendment and soil organic carbon (SOC) management, the impact of SOC on soil water repellency, the effects of soil tillage on the quantity of SOC associated with several fractions of soil particles and depth, and SOC prediction, using visible and near-infrared spectra and multivariate modeling. Moreover, the effects of some soil contaminants (e.g., crude oil, tungsten, copper, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are discussed or reviewed in light of the recent literature. The collection of the manuscripts presented in this Special Issue provides a relevant knowledge contribution for improving our understanding on sustainable agriculture and soil conservation, thus stimulating new views on this main topic.

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