Effects of smelter pollutants on forest leaf litter decomposition near a nickel–copper smelter at Sudbury, Ontario

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (15) ◽  
pp. 1722-1736 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Freedman ◽  
T. C. Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Copper Smelter ◽  
Contaminated Sites ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Nickel Copper ◽  
Forest Leaf Litter ◽  
And Control

Forest soils and litter in the vicinity of a large nickel–copper smelter at Sudbury, Ont. are known to be contaminated with a variety of heavy metals. In view of this, studies were carried out to determine if forest litter decomposition processes have been affected. The effects of nickel and copper on the decomposition of forest litter were investigated using a variety of techniques in which contaminated and control sites were compared. At contaminated sites an increase in litter standing crop was found. This was related to lower rates of litter decomposition at these sites, as evidenced by reduced rates of breakdown of litter in mesh bags, compared with uncontaminated sites. Lower rates of CO2 flux and acid phosphatase activity were also found at the contaminated sites. In a laboratory experiment, the addition of copper and (or) nickel to a homogenate of leaf litter was shown to depress the rate of dry weight loss and CO2 flux. Negative effects commenced at metal concentrations comparable to those observed in litter at contaminated sites in the field.

scholarly journals Comparative allelopathic effects of mango, litchi, sal forest leaf litter on the germination and seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa)

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (08) ◽  
pp. 1392
Author(s):  
Menovikho Hoshi ◽  
Kamla Dhyani ◽  
Shweta Sahni ◽  
Chhaya Singh*
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
The Other ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Sal Forest ◽  
Phytotoxic Effect ◽  
Leaf Powder ◽  
Forest Leaf Litter

The present investigation is carried out to study the effect of leaf litter extract on the other crop.  Allelopathic is the, phytotoxic effect of plants leaf on the other plants is well known. Some plants whether orchard crop or forest trees releases some chemicals which effects negatively sometimes positively to the growth of the other plants.  In the present study it was studied that how the soil treated with leaf litter powder of trees (Litchi, Mango, Forest tree) is effected the growth and development of other plant. In an orchard generally leaf litter is the important source of allelochemicals in the soil. Litchi, Mango and forest litter all inhibit the growth of the test crop(Rice) but maximum inhibition is recorded by Litchi leaf powder treatment followed by mango and Forest whether Agriculture soil is treated as control in this case. Germination %, MDA content, Root shoot dry weight is highly affected but chlorophyll was maximum recorded from litchi leaf treatment.

scholarly journals No Difference in Instream Decomposition Among Upland Agricultural and Forested Streams in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen C. Kadeka ◽  
Frank O. Masese ◽  
David M. Lusega ◽  
Augustine Sitati ◽  
Benjamin N. Kondowe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Fine Mesh ◽  
Agricultural Streams

Expansion of agriculture is particularly worrying in tropical regions of the world, where native forests have been replaced by croplands and grasslands, with severe consequences for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. However, limited data exist on the effects of agriculture on the functioning of tropical streams. We conducted a leaf litter decomposition experiment in coarse- and fine-mesh litterbags using the three species of leaves (Eucalyptus globulus [non-native], Vernonia myriantha, and Syzygium cordatum [indigenous]) in three forested and agricultural streams to determine the effect of agriculture on instream leaf litter decomposition in headwater stream sites. We also examined the functional composition of macroinvertebrates in the streams through the contents of benthic kick samples. Agricultural streams had a less dense riparian canopy and smaller abundance of coarse organic particulate matter, and higher electric conductivity and suspended solids than forested streams. In terms of the effects of litter quality on decomposition rates, Vernonia had the fastest decomposition rates while Eucalyptus had the slowest in both forested and agricultural sites. Shredder invertebrates were less abundant in agricultural streams, and in both stream types, they were less diverse and abundant than other functional groups. Overall, leaf litter decomposition rates did not respond to agricultural land-use. The hypothesized negative effects of agriculture on organic matter processing were minimal and likely modulated by intact riparian zones along agricultural streams.

scholarly journals Factors controlling <i>Carex brevicuspis</i> leaf litter decomposition and its contribution to surface soil organic carbon pool at different water levels

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Lianlian Zhu ◽  
Zhengmiao Deng ◽  
Yonghong Xie ◽  
Xu Li ◽  
Feng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Carbon Pool ◽  
Litter Input

Abstract. Litter decomposition plays a vital role in wetland carbon cycling. However, the contribution of aboveground litter decomposition to the wetland soil organic carbon (SOC) pool has not yet been quantified. Here, we conducted a Carex brevicuspis leaf litter input experiment to clarify the intrinsic factors controlling litter decomposition and quantify its contribution to the SOC pool at different water levels. The Carex genus is ubiquitous in global freshwater wetlands. We sampled this plant leaf litter at −25, 0, and +25 cm relative to the soil surface over 280 d and analysed leaf litter decomposition and its contribution to the SOC pool. The percentage litter dry weight loss and the instantaneous litter dry weight decomposition rate were the highest at +25 cm water level (61.8 %, 0.01307 d−1), followed by the 0 cm water level (49.8 %, 0.00908 d−1), and the lowest at −25 cm water level (32.4 %, 0.00527 d−1). Significant amounts of litter carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were released at all three water levels. Litter input significantly increased the soil microbial biomass and fungal density but had nonsignificant impacts on soil bacteria, actinomycetes, and the fungal∕bacterial concentrations at all three water levels. Compared with litter removal, litter addition increased the SOC by 16.93 %, 9.44 %, and 2.51 % at the +25, 0, and −25 cm water levels, respectively. Hence, higher water levels facilitate the release of organic carbon from leaf litter into the soil via water leaching. In this way, they increase the soil carbon pool. At lower water levels, soil carbon is lost due to the slower litter decomposition rate and active microbial (actinomycete) respiration. Our results revealed that the water level in natural wetlands influenced litter decomposition mainly by leaching and microbial activity, by extension, and affected the wetland surface carbon pool.

scholarly journals Fuel Briquettes from Sal (Shorea robusta) Forest Litter as an Alternative Cooking Fuel

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-74
Author(s):  
Sushmita Dulal ◽  
Ramesh Man Singh
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Cooking Fuel ◽  
Shorea Robusta ◽  
Combustion Properties ◽  
Sal Forest ◽  
Forest Leaf Litter

Sal (Shorea robusta) forest leaf litter strongly influences seed germination and seedling survivorship. Therefore, it is crucial to open up the litter layer in such a forest with abundant leaf litter. Briquetting of Sal forest leaf litter can be an option for its management and meet the increasing energy demand. This research work is performed to quantify the amount of Sal forest litter and study the briquette’s combustion properties. The study was carried out in the Namuna Community Forest of Jhapa district. The average weight of leaf litter in the field was observed to be 851 g/m2 . Five varieties of briquettes were produced using different briquetting technologies. Proximate analysis results, calorific value and water boiling tests show these briquettes have good fuel characteristics and can be used as alternative cooking fuel.

scholarly journals High-output suspended mega-sifter for sampling forest litter mesofauna

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Vasily V. Grebennikov
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Forest Leaf Litter ◽  
High Output

A novel mega-sifter suspended from trees and designed to quickly process large amount of forest leaf litter in search of mesofana is illustrated and discussed.

scholarly journals The Impact of Water-Soluble Inorganic Ions in Particulate Matter (PM2.5) on Litter Decomposition in Chinese Subtropical Forests

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanli Ji ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
Rumeng Ye ◽  
Kai Tian ◽  
Xingjun Tian
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Nitrogen Loss ◽  
Inorganic Ions ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Promoting Effect ◽  
Water Soluble Inorganic Ions ◽  
The Impact

Although numerous studies have demonstrated the toxic effects of fine particulates less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) on the health of humans, little information is available on the ecotoxicity of PM2.5. Water-soluble inorganic ions (WSII, including Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, NO3−, and SO42−) can compose more than 60% of PM2.5. To better understand the possible impacts of WSII-PM2.5 on leaf litter decomposition, we conducted an experiment in which two leaf litters from oak (Quercus variabilis) and pine (Pinus massoniana) dominant forests in subtropical China were incubated in microcosms containing their respective forest soils and treated with WSII-PM2.5. Our results showed that, after six-months of decomposition, the WSII-PM2.5 treatments inhibited leaf litter decomposition rates, carbon and nitrogen loss, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities in the two forests. In addition, higher WSII-PM2.5 concentration led to stronger negative effects. Comparative analysis showed that the negative effects of WSII-PM2.5 on oak forest were greater than on pine forest, relating to the higher susceptibility to changes of soil microenvironment in oak forests. WSII-PM2.5 may influence decomposition through soil acidification and salinization, which could also cause a sub-lethal depression in soil isopod activity. However, in the first month of decomposition, mass loss of the oak and pine leaf litters under the low concentration WSII-PM2.5 were 21.63% and 35.64% higher than that under the control, respectively. This suggests that transitory low concentrations of WSII-PM2.5 have a promoting effect on decomposition. Long-term PM2.5 exposure, therefore, may have profound ecosystem consequences by altering the balance of ecosystem carbon flux, nutrient cycling, and humus formation in the future.

Pollutant inputs from the atmosphere and accumulations in soils and vegetation near a nickel–copper smelter at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Freedman ◽  
T. C. Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Forest Litter ◽  
Copper Smelter ◽  
Nickel Iron ◽  
Airborne Pollutants ◽  
Nickel Copper ◽  
Organic Horizons ◽  
Sampling Intervals ◽  
Calcium Magnesium ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Mineral Soils

The inputs of the airborne pollutants nickel, copper, iron, and sulfur were determined in bulk dustfall–rainfall collection and in snow samples taken along transects originating at a large nickel–copper smelter near Sudbury, Ontario. Determinations were made from 1975 to 1978, which was subsequent to the building of a 380-m smokestack at the smelter in 1972. Atmospheric SO2 was also monitored, using sulfation plates. Higher levels of all smelter pollutants occurred at sites closer to the smelter, compared with sites as far as 60 km SSE. All bulk rainwater samples collected along a 60-km transect SSE of the smelter were found to be acidic, most with a pH of less than 4.0. Since there was no clear gradient of acidity with distance from the smelter, it appears that the acidic precipitation problem is a severe regional one. Simple deposition budgets based on data collected on six 30-day sampling intervals in 1976 and 1977 indicate that less than 3% of the sulfur emitted from the smelter was deposited within a 60-km radius. In contrast, about 42% of the nickel, 40% of the copper, and 52% of the iron emitted from the smelter were calculated to be deposited within a 60-km radius.The contamination of forest soils, soil litter, and vegetation by copper, nickel, iron, and sulfur at sites closer to the smelter has been caused by past as well as ongoing emissions. In soil profiles, the metals were concentrated in the surface organic horizons, relative to deeper mineral soils. Surface soils up to 70 km from the smelter showed elevated nickel and copper concentrations. Elevated concentrations of these same metals in the foliage of a number of tree species were detectable at least to 12 km from the smelter. The horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum showed especially high concentrations of sulfur, while the moss Polytrichum commune was an accumulator of nickel, copper, and sulfur at sites up to 6 km. No consistent trends with distance occurred for foliar levels of the bases calcium, magnesium, and potassium. However, higher calcium concentrations occurred in forest litter collected at control sites, compared with sites closer to the smelter.

scholarly journals The interrelations of herbage productivity with mouse-like rodents and forest litter in linden and ash flood oak grove of Prysamar'ya

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 62-66
Author(s):  
A. O. Dubina ◽  
O. A. Reva ◽  
M. V. Shulman
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Herbaceous Plants ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Vegetation Season ◽  
Growing Period

The relationships between the productivity of herbage as one of the structural elements of forest biogeocenosis with the nature of the formation and chemical composition of the forest litter and the activity of mouse-like rodents in linden and ash flood oak grove of Prysamar’ya were investigated. It was found that leaf-litter affects to the species composition and the degree of development of grass of investigated biogeocenose. It was revealed that the trophic removal of herbage phytomass by mouse-like rodents in the initial period of vegetation promotes its products. As a result, the above-ground herbage on rodent habitats increases by 1.2 times. The alienation of above-ground herbal phitomass in natural conditions under the influence of mouse-like rodents in the middle of the vegetation season increases in areas devoid of rodents’ influence by 1.05 times. It was found that in the final vegetation season, the above-ground herbage at the rodents’ exposure sites decreases by 1.3 times. It was investigated that the above-ground herbage for the whole vegetation season in the natural conditions of the flood oak grove was 115.4 g/m2, and in experimental areas, devoid of rodents’ exposure was 124.0 g/m2. Thus in the study biogeocenosis the value of herbage productivity was under the influence of mouse-like rodents and it reduced to 1.07 times during the whole growing period. In turn, the grass contributes to the increase in stocks of leaf-litter, ash elements including trace elements in forest litter. The quantitative proportion of herbaceous plants in leaf-litter and the chemical composition of grass in two synusias (wild chervil and starwort) were studied. It was revealed that the air-dry weight of the above-ground parts of herbage in synusia of wild chervil was higher than in synusia of starwort. It was determined that the accumulation degree of individual trace elements varies in different species of herbaceous plants. The maximum content of Mn, Pb and Cu more at wild chervil and Ti, Mo, V, Ni and Cr maximum contents were marked at starwort.

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