scholarly journals BIO-SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES FOR IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH INDEX

Author(s):  
Suruchi Malik ◽  
Anil Kanaujia

As the anthropogenic activities are increasing day by day, the environmental pollution has also been rising. The continuous disposal and improper treatment of domestic, industrial, and agricultural wastes is highly toxic and has emerged as a serious pollution threat which is jeopardizing the environment & human health. Soil contamination is referred to as the accumulation in the soil of persistent harmful substances, chemical compounds, radioactive wastes, salts, or pathogens that have a negative impact on biological systems. Bioremediation is a waste management technique that includes the use of living organisms to eradicate or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site. Other processes use plants, earthworms and biochar to attenuate the toxicity of contaminants.

Author(s):  
M. N. Konkova ◽  
V. N. Dolich ◽  
V. V. Gudz

The article presents a hygienic assessment of the working environment in the process of educational and industrial training of adolescents in construction professions. The increased concentrations of harmful substances (manganese in welding aerosol, ozone) and paper dust in the air of educational and industrial premises were revealed, measures for prevention of their negative impact were proposed.


Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 269
Author(s):  
Megawati Zunita

Mercury (Hg) is one of heavy metals with the highest toxicity and negative impact on the biological functions of living organisms. Therefore, many studies are devoted to solving the problem of Hg separation from wastewater. Membrane-based separation techniques have become more preferable in wastewater treatment area due to their ease of operation, mild conditions and also more resistant to toxic pollutants. This technique is also flexible and has a wide range of possibilities to be integrated with other techniques. Graphene oxide (GO) and derivatives are materials which have a nanostructure can be used as a thin and flexible membrane sheet with high chemical stability and high mechanical strength. In addition, GO-based membrane was used as a barrier for Hg vapor due to its nano-channels and nanopores. The nano-channels of GO membranes were also used to provide ion mobility and molecule filtration properties. Nowadays, this technology especially nanofiltration for Hg removal is massively explored. The aim of the review paper is to investigate Hg removal using functionalized graphene oxide nanofiltration. The main focus is the effectiveness of the Hg separation process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-219
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Xiaohong Chen ◽  
Linshen Xie ◽  
Gong Cheng ◽  
Zhao Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractGroundwater chemical evolution is the key to ensuring the sustainability of local society and economy development. In this study, four river sections and 59 groundwater wells are investigated in the Longgang River (L.R.) basin in South China. Comprehensive hydrochemical analysis methods are adopted to determine the dominant factors controlling the chemical evolution of the local phreatic groundwater and the potential impact of human activities on groundwater quality. The results indicate that the ionic composition of the local phreatic groundwater is dominated by Ca2+ (0.9–144.0 mg/L), HCO3− (4.4–280.0 mg/L), and SO42− (1.0–199.0 mg/L). Ca–Mg–HCO3, Ca–Na–HCO3, and Na–Ca–HCO3 are the major groundwater hydrochemical facies. Water–rock interactions, such as the dissolution of calcite and dolomite, are the primary source of the major ions in the local groundwater. Cation-exchange reaction has its effects on the contents of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+. Ammonia concentration of the sampling sections in the L.R. increases from 0.03 to 2.01 mg/L along the flow direction. Groundwater nitrate in the regions of the farmland is attributed to the lowest level of the groundwater quality standards of China, while the same test results are obtained for heavy metals in the industrial park and landfill, suggesting a negative impact of the anthropogenic activities on the local phreatic groundwater quality.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanrong Zeng ◽  
Munazza Zahoor ◽  
Muhammad Waseem ◽  
Alia Anayat ◽  
Muhammad Rizwan ◽  
...  

Chromium (Cr) is recognized as a toxic metal that has detrimental effects on living organisms; notably, it is discharged into soil by various industries as a result of anthropogenic activities. Microbe-assisted phytoremediation is one of the most emergent and environmentally friendly methods used for the detoxification of pollutants. In this study, the alleviative role of Staphylococcus aureus strain K1 was evaluated in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Cr stress. For this, various Cr concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg·kg−1) with and without peat-moss-based bacterial inoculum were applied in the soil. Results depicted that Cr stress reduced the plants’ growth by causing oxidative stress in the absence of S. aureus K1 inoculation. However, the application of S. aureus K1 regulated the plants’ growth and antioxidant enzymatic activities by reducing oxidative stress and Cr toxicity through conversion of Cr6+ to Cr3+. The Cr6+ uptake by wheat was significantly reduced in the S. aureus K1 inoculated plants. It can be concluded that the application of S. aureus K1 could be an effective approach to alleviate the Cr toxicity in wheat and probably in other cereals grown under Cr stress.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tehreem Aslam ◽  
Ambreen Ahmed

In today’s world, environment is exposed to lead due to various anthropogenic activities. It adversely affects plants as well as microorganisms by disturbing soil health and fertility. Bioremediation is a technique used to sequester heavy metals from the contaminated soil and it can be used to decontaminate the polluted soil. Lead-tolerant plant health promoting rhizobacteria (PHPR) can be used to enhance the efficacy of lead remediation. Lead uptake can be enhanced through bacteria by modifying root structure, secreting metal sequestering molecules in rhizosphere and alleviating lead induced phytotoxicity. For this purpose, lead-resistant auxin-producing bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of some plants. These auxin-producing lead-tolerant bacteria were used to treat Zea mays both in the presence and absence of lead-stress under laboratory conditions and its impact on plant growth and biochemical parameters of Zea mays were analysed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Ni Kadek Nova Anggarani ◽  
D.J. Djoko H.S. ◽  
Unggul P. Juswono

Cigarette smoke is a source of free radicals. Cigarette smoke is a component of Aerosols and free gases that contain large amounts of chemical compounds. Cigarette smoke can be divided into two: main smoke and side smoke. The main smoke of cigarettes inhaled by smokers is known to cause a buildup of harmful substances and causes of oxidative stress so that research is carried out using ESR Leybold Heraeus. The sample used is a smoke sample from two types of cigarettes that are popular in Indonesia. The measurement is done by pulling smoke directly into the measurement tube. Then the resonance pattern is observed and the external magnetic field is calculated and the value of the lande factor is based on frequency and current data. Measurements result showed resonance in both types of cigarettes, at a frequency of 32.4-70.8 MHz and obtained values of lande factors that vary and have a value between 1.9-2.1 with two acquisition values that are outside the range that is 1.8368; and 2.2060. There are differences in the number of resonances that occur for each sample. This difference can be due to differences in the constituent of content and the texture of cigarettes which can affect the results of the combustion process.


Agronomy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Li ◽  
Yining Niu ◽  
Yuefeng Ruan ◽  
Ron DePauw ◽  
Asheesh Singh ◽  
...  

The global demands for various grains, including durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.), are expected to increase substantially in the coming years, due to the ever-growing human population’s needs for food, feed, and fuel. Thus, providing consistent or increased durum grain to the world market is one of the priorities for policy-makers, researchers, and farmers. What are the major achievements in agronomic advancement for durum wheat cultivation in recent decades? How might the current cropping systems be improved to increase crop yield and quality and improve resource use efficiencies while minimizing input costs and decreasing negative impact on the environment? Canada is one of the major durum wheat producers in the world, as Canada contributes about 50% to global trade of durum grain. Canada’s research achievements in durum wheat might serve as a guide for advancing the cultivation of the crop in other regions/countries on the planet. This review summarizes the major Canadian research findings in the aspects of durum wheat agronomics during the period 2001 to 2017 years. It highlights the main advancements in seeding and tillage, crop rotation and diversification, and use of pulse-induced microbiomes to improve soil health and feedback mechanisms. The genetic gain and breeding for resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses are discussed. Finally, we identified the main constraints and suggested some near-term research priorities. The research findings highlighted in this review will be of use for other areas on the planet to increase durum wheat productivity, improve soil fertility and health, and enhance long-term sustainability.


Author(s):  
Petras Vaitiekūnas ◽  
Reda Banaitytė

Pollution is a major problem in all countries, even developed ones. It is the major environmental negative impact of anthropogenic activities affecting ecology. There are two major ways for assessment of negative impact of motor transport flow intensity and pollution level: monitoring the air or modeling pollutant dispersion. It is very important to estimate different unknown air modeling programs. In this work modeling is to be executed by the US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) the so‐called “the best possible existing software for strategic environmental assessment”. That is also recommended by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania. In this work pollution modeling was executed for the northern part of Vilnius (the network of streets Geležinis Vilkas ‐ Ozas ‐ Kalvarijos). For motor vehicle pollution mathematical modeling, it is necessary to evaluate meteorological parameters like temperature, humidity, the wind direction and speed. Modeling software can also estimate relief conditions. Pollution emission measurements were used, and pollution dispersion modeling was performed. The main target was to evaluate pollutant dispersion from motor transport in the analysed area of Vilnius. During investigation maximum hourly, daily and annual concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter were observed.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shafaqat Ali ◽  
Zohaib Abbas ◽  
Mahmoud F. Seleiman ◽  
Muhammad Rizwan ◽  
İlkay YAVAŞ ◽  
...  

Unexpected biomagnifications and bioaccumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in the surrounding environment has become a predicament for all living organisms together with plants. Excessive release of HMs from industrial discharge and other anthropogenic activities has threatened sustainable agricultural practices and limited the overall profitable yield of different plants species. Heavy metals at toxic levels interact with cellular molecules, leading towards the unnecessary generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), restricting productivity and growth of the plants. The application of various osmoprotectants is a renowned approach to mitigate the harmful effects of HMs on plants. In this review, the effective role of glycine betaine (GB) in alleviation of HM stress is summarized. Glycine betaine is very important osmoregulator, and its level varies considerably among different plants. Application of GB on plants under HMs stress successfully improves growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzymes activities, nutrients uptake, and minimizes excessive heavy metal uptake and oxidative stress. Moreover, GB activates the adjustment of glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) contents in plants under HM stress. Excessive accumulation of GB through the utilization of a genetic engineering approach can successfully enhance tolerance against stress, which is considered an important feature that needs to be investigated in depth.


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