Is soil an appropriate dumping ground for our wastes?

Soil Research ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 995 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Cameron ◽  
H. J. Di ◽  
R. G. McLaren
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Waste Disposal ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Plant Yields ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Environmentally Sound

New Zealand and Australia generate large quantities of agricultural, industrial, and municipal wastes. As authorities move to protect the environment by regulating waste disposal practices, environmentally sound methods of waste disposal are being sought. In particular, land application of wastes as a means of disposal, nutrient re-cycling, and water conservation is becoming increasingly popular. This paper provides an overview of the types, quantities, and characteristics of wastes generated in New Zealand and Australia, and highlights the problems with current waste disposal practices, including landfilling, incineration, and discharging into waters. This is followed by a detailed review of the beneficial effects and adverse impacts of land application of wastes on plant production and soil and environmental quality, and possible hazards to human health. The management of waste application on land is a challenging task and requires rigorous scientific input. Sludges and euents contain significant concentrations of plant nutrients, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter. Their application on land has been shown, in many cases, to result in significant increases in plant yields and improvements in soil physical conditions and chemical fertility. The constraints with some wastes, particularly those of industrial and municipal origin, are that they contain undesirable constituents, e.g. heavy metals, toxic organics, pathogens, and salts, or have extremely high or low pH. High concentrations of nitrate and phosphate derived from wastes are also of concern for ground and surface water contamination. The processes that control the fate of wastes in the soil are complex and many of them are poorly understood, e.g. rate of release of nutrients and other chemicals; leaching of nutrients, metals, and organics through macropores and as suspended solids; emission of greenhouse gases; impact of solvents, surfactants, and sludge organic matter on the sorption, degradation, and leaching of hydrophobic organics; and the long-term bioavailability and fate of metals and organics fixed by soil organic matter. More research is urgently required to develop a sound understanding of waste characteristics and the processes affecting their fate in the soil in order to ensure that land application of wastes is safe.

scholarly journals Preventing rattailed maggot incursion into dairy sheds

2009 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 99-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J. Wilson ◽  
P.J. Gerard ◽  
J.E. de Villiers
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Dairy Effluent ◽  
Barrier Methods ◽  
Sensitive Areas ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Small Scale Model

Rattailed maggots are the larvae of hover flies (Diptera Syrphidae) of which there are about 40 species in New Zealand many of them native The adults are important pollinators and the larvae live in water and mud feeding on rotting organic matter High concentrations occur in dairy effluent bunkers and become health and sanitary issues when prepupal larvae seeking suitable pupation sites exit bunkers and invade nearby dairy sheds Replicated small scale model bunkers were set up to test barrier methods that could prevent maggots entering sensitive areas and divert them to suitable pupation sites Known numbers of migratory prepupal larvae were placed in the model bunkers and their movements recorded over a timed period Both round piping and angular strips proved effective barriers while soil sand and sawdust were all equally attractive as a pupation medium

Application of municipal and industrial residuals in New Zealand forests: an overview

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gujja N. Magesan ◽  
Hailong Wang
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Organic Contaminants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Application Site ◽  
Treatment Technology ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Solid Residuals

Large quantities of wastewater are generated from municipal and industrial sources in New Zealand. More stringent discharge standards and recent improvements in wastewater treatment technology have contributed to the production of large quantities of solid residuals. Increasing public, cultural, and regulatory pressures to protect water quality have resulted in significant interest in applying residuals to plantation forests.In a well-managed land application site, the forest ecosystem can efficiently handle organic contaminants and recycle nutrients provided through the residuals, resulting in significant increase in plant growth. Due to large variations in characteristics of different residuals, land application system design must be tailored to match a particular residual with the assimilation capacities of a particular soil–plant system. In New Zealand, many wastewater irrigation systems are employed in forested land as an alternative treatment of liquid residuals. In recent years, large-scale forested land application of municipal and pulp and paper industrial solid residuals have also increased as a preferred alternative to landfilling. It has been suggested that natural abundance of 15N can be used to trace the fate of residual-derived N in the ecosystems. This technique can resolve one of the main environmental concerns associated with application of residuals in forested land, namely nitrate leaching. Intensive research indicates that significant economic and social benefits can be achieved with minimal adverse impact on the receiving environment. This paper provides an overview of the research issues associated with application of residuals on forested soils in New Zealand, such as sustainability, beneficial effects, and potential adverse impacts on soil and environmental quality. Performances of 4 case studies, representing application of 2 liquid residuals and 2 solid residuals to forested soils in New Zealand, are discussed.

scholarly journals Reproduction and biomarker responses of Eisenia fetida after exposure to imidacloprid in biochar-amended soil

Biochar ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngitheni Winnie-Kate Nyoka ◽  
Ozekeke Ogbeide ◽  
Patricks Voua Otomo
Keyword(s):  
Eisenia Fetida ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pesticide Pollution ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Amended Soil

AbstractTerrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pesticide pollution resulting from extensive use of pesticides, and due to the lack of regulatory measures in the developing world, there is a need for affordable means to lessen environmental effects. This study aimed to investigate the impact of biochar amendment on the toxicity of imidacloprid to life-cycle parameters and biomarker responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. E. fetida was exposed to 10% biochar-amended and non-amended OECD artificial soils spiked with 0, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3 mg imidacloprid/kg for 28 days. An LC50 of 2.7 mg/kg was only computed in the non-amended soil but not in the biochar-amended soil due to insignificant mortality. The EC50 calculated in the non-amended soil (0.92 mg/kg) for reproduction (fertility) was lower than the one computed in the biochar amended (0.98 mg/kg), indicating a decrease in toxicity in the biochar-amended substrate. Significant weight loss was observed at the two highest imidacloprid treatments in the non-amended soil and only at the highest treatment in the biochar-amended substrate, further highlighting the beneficial effects of biochar. Catalase activity decreased significantly at the two highest concentrations of non-amended soil. Yet, in the amended soil, the activity remained high, especially in the highest concentration, where it was significantly higher than the controls. This indicated more severe oxidative stress in the absence of biochar. In all non-amended treatments, there was a significant acetylcholinesterase inhibition, while lower inhibition percentages were observed in the biochar-amended soil. In most endpoints, the addition of biochar alleviated the toxic effects of imidacloprid, which shows that biochar has the potential to be useful in soil remediation. However, there is still a need for field studies to identify the most effective application rate of biochar for land application.

scholarly journals Nutritional impact of partial or complete replacement of clover hay by untreated or biologically treated rice straw and corn stalks on: 1. growth performance and economic evaluation of growing New Zealand (NZW) White rabbits

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed A. A. Omer ◽  
Sawsan M. Ahmed ◽  
Roshdy I. El-Kady ◽  
Aly A. El-Shahat ◽  
Mahmoud Y. El-Ayek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Trichoderma Reesei ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Pleurotus Ostreatus ◽  
Biological Treatment ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Biological Treatments ◽  
Daily Gain

Abstract Background Agriculture by-products are considered a great potential value for utilization by ruminants as well as rabbits. They usually can be the maintenance and part of the production requirements. However, in developing countries, as well as in Egypt, animals suffer from shortage of feeds that are continuously increasing in costs. In general, biological treatments were shown to be the most effective and improved chemical composition of rice straw or corn stalks. Method This work aimed to investigate the possible ways of utilizing rice straws or corn stalks in rabbit feeding. The field work is designed to study the effect of biological treatment of Pleurotus ostreatus cultivated on rice straws and Trichoderma reesei cultivated on corn stalks and replacing clover hay by rice straws and corn stalks at levels of 0, 33, 66, and 100% either without or with microbes adding. Seventy-eight New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits aged 4–5 weeks (565 ± 13.57 g) were randomly divided into thirteen equal experimental groups. Results Untreated rice straws or biologically treated with Pleurotus ostreatus increased their contents of crude protein (CP) by 178.75 and 224.5% and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) by 6.30 and 24.53, respectively. Meanwhile, crude fiber (CF) content was reduced by 31.32 and 56.75%, and organic matter content was decreased by 2.81 and 5.51%, respectively, in comparison with the raw rice straws. Also, biological treatment of rice straws caused a decrease in values of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and hemicellulose contents in comparison with either raw or treated rice straws. Furthermore, biological treatment with Trichoderma reesei realized a decrease in organic matter (OM), CF, NDF, and ADF and increased CP and ash contents in corn stalks. NFE content of corn stalks was decreased as a result of treatment without or with Trichoderma reesei experimental rations by 11.95% and 3.82% compared to raw corn stalks (CS). Biological treatments with fungi significantly (P < 0.05) improved average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion. ADG and feed conversion were significantly (P < 0.05) improved when rabbits were fed diets containing rice straw (RS) compared to that fed CS. Rabbits fed diets replaced clover hay (CH) with 33% or 66% of RS or CS significantly increased ADG compared to control and that replaced 100% of both RS and CS containing rations. Levels of replacing had no significant effect on their dry matter intake (DMI) values. The highest improvement in feed conversion was recorded with rabbits that received diets replaced 33% of berseem hay (BH) by RS or CS, followed by that replaced 66% of BH by RS or CS. There were significantly interactions between biological treatments (T), roughage source (S), and replacement levels (L) (T × S × L) only on ADG. The best fed conversion was realized by rabbits fed diet replaced BH with 33% of RS that are treated by Pleurotus ostreatus (4.05 g DMI/g gain). Rabbits fed 33% biologically treated rice straw with Pleurotus ostreatus showed the highest economic efficiency (179%) followed by rabbits that received 33% of both rice straws treated without Pleurotus ostreatus and rabbits that received corn stalks biologically treated with Trichoderma reesei (161%). Conclusion Biological treatments of rice straws by Pleurotus ostreatus or corn stalks by Trichoderma reesei were safe, and it improves their chemical analysis and improved both daily gain and feed conversion, decreasing the costing of diet formulation which consequently decreased the price of 1-kg live body weight.

675. The carbon dioxide content of New Zealand Cheddar cheese

1957 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Concentration ◽  
Cheddar Cheese ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Content ◽  
Single Strain ◽  
Open Texture ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Lower Temperature

Some of the factors influencing the concentration of carbon dioxide found in New Zealand Cheddar cheese have been investigated.1. Cheeses made with the use of commercial starters (containing betacocci) are characterized by a rapid increase in their carbon dioxide content during the 2 weeks following manufacture.2. Cheeses made with the use of single strain starters do not change in carbon dioxide content in the first 2 weeks following manufacture, but may ultimately contain as much carbon dioxide as commercial starter cheeses.3. High concentrations of carbon dioxide within a cheese result in an open texture, especially when the carbon dioxide is formed shortly after manufacture.4. The loss of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is demonstrated by the existence of a carbon dioxide concentration gradient within the cheese.5. Storage of cheese at a lower temperature than is usual results in retarded carbon dioxide formation.

Modelling organic matter dynamics in New Zealand soils

2001 ◽  
Vol 27 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 111-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aroon Parshotam ◽  
Surinder Saggar ◽  
Kevin Tate ◽  
Roger Parfitt
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Organic Matter Dynamics

The Geochemistry and Ecotoxicity of Offshore New Zealand Phosphorites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Grace Elizabeth Frontin-Rollet
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Surficial Sediments ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Sediment Disturbance ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Element Enrichment ◽  
Ree Patterns ◽  
Chatham Rise Phosphorite

<p>The New Zealand offshore seabed hosts diverse resources including phosphate rich rocks. Phosphate rock deposits on the Chatham Rise have been the focus of previous investigations into their composition and mining potential; however, the diversity of the geochemistry of phosphate deposits, including their wider distribution beyond the Chatham Rise, their trace metal budget, and potential for ecotoxicity, remain poorly characterised. This study addresses some of these gaps by presenting a geochemical investigation, including trace metals, for a range of phosphate nodules from across the Chatham Rise, Bollons Seamount and offshore southeastern South Island. Elutriate and reconnaissance bioaccumulation experiments provide insights into the potential for ecotoxic trace metal release and effects on biota should sediment disturbance through mining activities occur.  The bulk chemistry of Bollons Seamount phosphorite nodules have been characterised for the first time, and show significant enrichment in first row transition metals; Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, in addition to Sr, Y, Mo, U, MnO, CaO and P2O5, and depletion in TiO2, Al2O3, MgO, K2O, FeO, SiO2, Sc, Cr, Ga, Rb, Cs, Hf, and Th relative to average upper continental crust. The cores of these nodules are dominated by apatite, quartz and anorthoclase phases, which are cross cut by Mn rich dendrites. The abundant presence of these minerals results in the significant differences in chemistry observed relative to Chatham Rise phosphorite nodules. The nodules also contain a secondary authigenic apatite phase, with a Mn crust rim. Significant rare earth element enrichment (REE) is most likely due to efficient scavenging by the Mn crust, resulting in seawater REE patterns characterised by negative Ce and Eu anomalies and heavy rare earth element enrichment.  The bulk geochemistry of the Chatham Rise and offshore South Island phosphorite nodules is characterised by enrichment in CaO, P2O5, Sr, U, Y, Mo and depletion in TiO2, Al2O3, MnO, MgO, FeO, K2O, Sc, Cr, Cu, Ga, Rb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, Pb and Th relative to average upper continental crust. The low concentrations of Cd in Chatham Rise, offshore South Island, and Bollons Seamount phosphorites make them potentially suitable sources for direct application fertilizers.  The New Zealand marine phosphorite nodule deposits formed by repeated cycles of erosive bottom currents and phosphogenesis, resulting in the winnowing and concentration of the deposits. The iron pump model is proposed as a mechanism for the formation of apatite and associated mineral phases, giving the nodules their characteristic concentric zoning. The migration of the nodules through the oxic, suboxic, and anoxic zones of the sediment profile led to the formation of glaucony, apatite (suboxic zone), goethite (oxic zone), and pyrite with associated U enriched (anoxic zone) minerals. Rare earth elements (REE) in the Chatham Rise phosphorite nodules are associated with the glaucony rim minerals, and indicate that since the formation of the rims, very little diagenesis has occurred, preserving seawater REE patterns characterised by negative Ce and Eu anomalies and heavy REE enrichment. Site specific enrichments in trace elements Ba, V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Cd and Pb are attributed to either differences in incorporation of material into precursor carbonate e.g. volcanic materials, or higher fluxes of organic matter, delivering high concentrations of essential metals from biota, especially Cu and Zn.  Direct pore water measurements from surficial sediment of the Chatham Rise show high concentrations of dissolved Fe and Mn, along with Cu, indicating suboxic conditions. High Cu concentrations measured in sediment pore water suggest that Cu release requires monitoring should seafloor surficial sediments on the Chatham Rise be disturbed. However, the elutriate experiments were not able to resolve if Cu release by sediment disturbance would exceed Australian and New Zealand Environment Conservation Council (2000) environmental guideline trigger values.  The surrogate amphipod species Chaetocorophium c.f. lucasi shows promise as a biomonitor for disturbed marine sediments. Elements enriched in surficial sediments and phosphorite nodules, Hg, Pb, Fe, U and V, were not observed to bioaccumulate. Site specific differences in chemistry were observed, specifically in the different total relative bioaccumulation of Mo between amphipods exposed to sediments from two different sites. This suggests that future monitoring of chemical release during marine sediment disturbance requires the full geochemical characterisation of the substrate. Furthermore, fresh sediment and deep water should be used for future elutriate experiments, as storage of material by freeze-thawing and/or refrigeration causes mobilisation of some key trace metals such as U, V, Mo, Mn.</p>

scholarly journals Utilisation of wastes as fertilisers with particular emphasis on the Bay of Plenty region

1991 ◽  
pp. 155-159
Author(s):  
M.B. O'Connor ◽  
A.H.C. Roberts ◽  
R.D. Longhurst ◽  
M.F. Hawke
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Chemical Monitoring ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Waste Production ◽  
Pulp And Paper Industries

Estimates of the wastes produced in the Bay of Plenty region indicate that 22 million m' (tonnes) is produced annually. The main contributors to waste production are the dairy industry (shed, factory),municipal sewage, pig, poultry, meatworks, kiwifruit, fishing and pulp and paper industries. In fertiliser terms these wastes are valued at $7.7 million. In addition the timber industry produces > 1 million tonnes of timber residues (sawdust, bark, woodchips) approximately 20% of which is currently dumped. Wastes, when recycled back on to the land, offer a potential source of nutrients to enhance pasture and crop production. In addition organic wastes provide a source of organic matter which may have beneficial effects on the physical properties of soils. Research results indicate that pumice soils are well suited to the application of wastes. Some general recommendations are given for the use of wastes in dairying, orcharding and cropping situations. Three factors are considered important for the successful utilisation of wastes (a) application rates need to be balanced to the nutrient needs of the soil-plant system (b) safeguards in the form of regular chemical monitoring of the effluent, soil, plant and animal need to be implemented, and(c) the economics of using the waste materials must be favourable to the farmer and orchardist. The principle of the producer of the waste paying for its safe disposal or utilisation needs to be adopted in New Zealand as it has in many overseas countries. Keywords nutrients, organic matter, waste recycling, pumice soils, fertiliser value

scholarly journals Different Compost Materials Used as Source of Organic Matter in Production of Chili Pepper

Akta Agrosia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12
Author(s):  
Roy S.O. Sumbayak ◽  
Merakati Handajaningsih ◽  
Hartal Hartal ◽  
Marwanto Marwanto
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Chili Pepper ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Cow Dung ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Organic Growth

Compost has been commonly used as the primary organic matter in organic plant production, especially in vegetable production.  Different sources of compost materials give different medium structures and chemical characteristics. The objectives of this research were: 1) to evaluate the response of growth and yield of chili pepper to a rate of compost and source of animal waste which were used as compost; 2) to determine the optimum rate of fertilizer for the highest growth and yield of chili pepper. The research was carried out from November 2015 until March 2016. Compost material treatments consisted of cow dung, empty palm oil bunches, and mixed of vegetable residue and weeds. The compost rate treatments consisted of 0 ton ha-1, 10 ton ha-1, 20 ton ha-1, and 30 ton ha-1. No interaction between the two treatments was found to influence plant growth and yield variables.   The type of compost materials affected plant height of 5, 6, and7 weeks after transplanting.  Cow dung as a source of compost showed the best effect in increasing chili plant height.  Plant height, the number of plant dichotomous, and plant canopy responded linearly  to the increase of the compost rate. The usage of compost at 20 ton ha-1 and 30 ha-1 resulted in higher fruit length, the number of fruit, and fruit weight per plant.   Keywords: chili pepper, compost, organic, growth, yield 

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