Carbon-driven eco-agriculture without nitrogen deficiency

A farmer grew crops by adding only organic material with a high C:N ratio (40) to the soil for 30 years. He focused on the role of carbon in increasing the number of microorganisms. This idea was based on the concepts of 1) indirect crop management via microorganisms and 2) providing carbon to microorganisms for energy. Here, we name this practice “carbon -driven eco-agriculture” (CDEA). We determined the effect of CDEA on a laterite soil vegetable field in Sao Paulo for 4 years. The yield exceeded the national average. Soil aggregates formed to 29 cm thickness, and the microbial activity was one order of magnitude higher than that in a conventional control field. The output/input ratios of carbon and nitrogen were 1.88 –2.35 and 3.58–6.00, respectively, indicating a sustainable system for these elements. Incorporating high-C:N-ratio (>20) organic material results in nitrogen deficiency. However, our results indicate that large numbers of microorganisms provide crops with sufficient nitrogen at low concentrations. This method overcomes the yield limitation of chemical fertilizer application and reverses soil degradation.

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A Method for Semiquantitative Spectrographic Analysis of Plant Ash for Use in Biogeochemical and Environmental Studies

Applied Spectroscopy ◽

10.1366/000370272774351633 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 636-641 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Elwin L. Mosier

Keyword(s):

Confidence Level ◽

Comparison Method ◽

Simultaneous Recording ◽

Separate Analysis ◽

Spectrographic Analysis ◽

Volatile Elements ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Plant Ash

A visual comparison method for semiquantitative spectrographic analysis of plant ash by dc arc technique has been applied to a wide variety of plant material. A split slit technique utilizing a Hartmann diaphragm and step filter assemblage enables the simultaneous recording of volatile elements from a short burn at 100% transmission and less volatile elements from a total energy burn at 15% transmission from the same electrode charge. Volatile elements, e.g., Ag, As, Bi, etc., are thus detected at low concentrations without the necessity of a separate analysis. Standards in a plant ash base are prepared in progressively lower concentrations from spectrographically pure powders in ranges applicable to most plants. Results are reported as six possible logarithmically spaced intervals per order of magnitude. Results show the repeatability to be within one reporting interval of the standards at the 68% confidence level and within two reporting intervals of the standards at the 95% confidence level. The over-all speed of the method suggests an application to large numbers of samples, and the analysis of more than 800 samples per man-month attests to the value of this method in reconnaissance studies.

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Degradation of Monochlorophenols by Pseudomonas putida CP1 in the Presence of Growth Supplements

Bangladesh Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.3329/bjm.v24i2.1254 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 115-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

ANM Fakhruddin ◽

M Alamgir Hossain

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Putida ◽

Yeast Extract ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Sole Source ◽

Optimum Level ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Growth Supplement ◽

Level 3 ◽

Enhanced Degradation

Influence of readily degradable additional sources of carbon and nitrogen on the degradation of monochlorophenols by Pseudomonas putida CP1 was investigated. The organism grew on all three isomers of monochlorophenols when supplied as the sole source of carbon and energy. Low concentrations (0.01 to 0.5%, w/v) of yeast extract enhanced degradation of monochlorophenols. The order in terms of rate of removal of monochlorophenols was 4-chlorophenol > 2-chlorophenol > 3-chlorophenol, both in the presence and absence of the growth supplements. The rate of removal of monochlorophenols was highest when carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio maintained at optimum level (3:1) with monochlorophenols and growth substrates. The organism clumped when grown in the presence of monochlorophenols alone. The degree of clumping decreased with the addition of growth supplements. Keywords: Biodegradation, Growth supplement, Monochlorophenol, Pseudomonas putida CP1DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjm.v24i2.1254 Â Bangladesh J Microbiol, Volume 24, Number 2, December 2007, pp 115-118 Â Â

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Relaxation Times in Strictly Disk Systems

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100028451 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 15-19

Author(s):

George B. Rybicki

Keyword(s):

Numerical Experiments ◽

Relaxation Times ◽

Galactic Structure ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Vlasov Limit ◽

The Mean ◽

Gravitating Systems

AbstractIt is shown that the time of relaxation by particle encounters of self-gravitating systems in the plane interacting by 1/r2 forces is of the same order of magnitude as the mean orbit time. Therefore such a system does not have a Vlasov limit for large numbers of particles, unless appeal is made to some non-zero thickness of the disk. The relevance of this result to numerical experiments on galactic structure is discussed.

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N Management of European Grasslands: Can the Exchange of Gaseous N Species Be Influenced at the Operational Level?

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2001.373 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 652-657 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P. Calanca ◽

A. Neftel ◽

J. Fuhrer

Keyword(s):

Late Summer ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Effective Control ◽

Management Options ◽

Total N ◽

Model Calculations ◽

Weather Forecasts ◽

Grassland Ecosystems ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

N Management

Grassland ecosystems can be regarded as biochemical reactors in which large amounts of organic nitrogen (N) are converted into inorganic N, and vice versa. If managed in a sustainable manner, grasslands should operate in a quasi steady state, characterized by an almost perfect balance between total N input and output. As a consequence, the exchange of gaseous N species (NH3, NO, NO2, N2O, and N2) between grasslands and the atmosphere is very small compared to the total N turnover. In this study, the effects of two management options (mowing and fertilization) on production and emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) from a grass/clover crop were examined on the basis of observations and model results referring to an experiment carried out on the Swiss Plateau in late summer of 2000. It was found that production and emission of N2O induced by mowing were of the same order of magnitude as those brought about by fertilization, suggesting a possible transfer of N from clover to the soil after defoliation. Emissions were strongly modulated by precipitation on time scales ranging from 1 day to 1 week. This indicates that effective control of N2O emissions through management on a day-to-day basis requires reliable medium-range weather forecasts. Model calculations were not able to reproduce essential characteristics of the emissions. The model slightly overestimated the background emissions, but severely underestimated the emission peaks following fertilizer application, and largely failed to reproduce emission induced by mowing. Shortfalls in the model used for this study were found in relation to the description of soil-water fluxes, soil organic matter, and the physiology of clover.

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Carbon and nitrogen and their elemental and isotopic ratios in the bottom sediment of the Solina-Myczkowce complex of reservoirs

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies ◽

10.2478/v10009-008-0007-z ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Piotr Koszelnik ◽

Janusz Tomaszek ◽

Renata Gruca-Rokosz

Keyword(s):

Bottom Sediment ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Isotopic Ratios ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen

Carbon and nitrogen and their elemental and isotopic ratios in the bottom sediment of the Solina-Myczkowce complex of reservoirsThe studies concerned the ecosystem of the Solina-Myczkowce cascade of reservoirs. While the elemental C:N ratio was higher in the Solina Reservoir branches and in the Myczkowce Reservoir (>10), the values for stations located near the Solina Dam were low (<10). Markedly, the lowest values for δ

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Soil organic carbon and nitrogen sequestration and turnover in aggregates under subtropical leucaena–grass pastures

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr18016 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (6) ◽

pp. 632 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kathryn Conrad ◽

Ram C. Dalal ◽

Ryosuke Fujinuma ◽

Neal W. Menzies

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Aggregates ◽

Soil Mass ◽

Δ13c And Δ15n ◽

Organic C ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Nitrogen Sequestration ◽

C And N

Stabilisation and protection of soil organic carbon (SOC) in macroaggregates and microaggregates represents an important mechanism for the sequestration of SOC. Legume-based grass pastures have the potential to contribute to aggregate formation and stabilisation, thereby leading to SOC sequestration. However, there is limited research on the C and N dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) fractions in deep-rooted legume leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala)–grass pastures. We assessed the potential of leucaena to sequester carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil aggregates by estimating the origin, quantity and distribution in the soil profile. We utilised a chronosequence (0–40 years) of seasonally grazed leucaena stands (3–6 m rows), which were sampled to a depth of 0.3 m at 0.1-m intervals. The soil was wet-sieved for different aggregate sizes (large macroaggregates, >2000 µm; small macroaggregates, 250–2000 µm; microaggregates, 53–250 µm; and <53 µm), including occluded particulate organic matter (oPOM) within macroaggregates (>250 µm), and then analysed for organic C, N and δ13C and δ15N. Leucaena promoted aggregation, which increased with the age of the leucaena stands, and in particular the formation of large macroaggregates compared with grass in the upper 0.2 m. Macroaggregates contained a greater SOC stock than microaggregates, principally as a function of the soil mass distribution. The oPOM-C and -N concentrations were highest in macroaggregates at all depths. The acid nonhydrolysable C and N distribution (recalcitrant SOM) provided no clear distinction in stabilisation of SOM between pastures. Leucaena- and possibly other legume-based grass pastures have potential to sequester SOC through stabilisation and protection of oPOM within macroaggregates in soil.

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A Case Study On Predicting The Environmental Impacts Of Untreated Effluent Generated From Tannery Industrial Estate In Dhaka, Bangladesh

GEOGRAPHY ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY ◽

10.24057/2071-9388-2019-127 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 22-31

Author(s):

Shakil A. Masum ◽

Md. Sultanul Islam

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Discharge Rate ◽

Soil Aggregates ◽

Elevated Concentration ◽

Natural Ecosystem ◽

Industrial Site ◽

Discharge Rates ◽

Regulatory Standard ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Recommended Guidelines

Significant amounts of heavy metals in the directly discharged wastewater released from the newly built tannery industrial site in Dhaka, Bangladesh are reported. Despite their detrimental impacts on public health and natural ecosystem, no environmental impact study is yet conducted. Therefore, information on safe discharge rates are not available. In this study, the extent of pollution around the industrial site is investigated for four representative trace metals. Temporal and spatial distributions of chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) have been predicted using a numerical model with the aim to estimate safe discharge of these metal contaminants. From multiple simulation runs it has been estimated that a discharge of0.026 m3 of wastewater per day can lead to high levels of Cr and Pb accumulation, exceeding the regulatory standard limits, in the study area. Whilst As and Cd concentrations remain below the advised limits in most cases at this rate. However, an order of magnitude reduction in the total discharge rate, i.e.,0.0026 m3 per day, results into the metal accumulation below the recommended guidelines in all cases. Elevated concentration of Pb is found to be limited to the top 0.5 m of the soil as compared to Cr, As and Cd, which exhibit larger spread along the depth of the soil. The relative dominance of the metal contamination follows the sequence: Pb>Cr>As>Cd as sorbed concentration in soil aggregates and Cr>Pb>As>Cd as aqueous concentration in soil porewater. Further investigations that are essential for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment have been highlighted.

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Field-obtained carbon and nitrogen uptake rates of phytoplankton in the Laptev and East Siberian seas

10.5194/bg-2017-234 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sang Heon Lee ◽

Jang Han Lee ◽

Howon Lee ◽

Jae Joong Kang ◽

Jae Hyung Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Production ◽

Arctic Ocean ◽

Nitrogen Uptake ◽

The Arctic ◽

Chl A ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Uptake Rates ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Western Arctic ◽

System Program

Abstract. The Laptev and East Siberian seas are the least biologically studied region in the Arctic Ocean, although they are highly dynamic in terms of active processing of organic matter impacting the transport to the deep Arctic Ocean. Field-measured carbon and nitrogen uptake rates of phytoplankton were conducted in the Laptev and East Siberian seas as part of the NABOS (Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System) program. Major inorganic nutrients were mostly depleted at 100–50 % light depths but were not depleted within the euphotic depths in the Laptev and East Siberian seas. The water column-integrated chl-a concentration in this study was significantly higher than that in the western Arctic Ocean (t-test, p > 0.01). Unexpectedly, the daily carbon and nitrogen uptake rates in this study (average ± S.D. = 110.3 ± 88.3 mg C m−2 d−1 and 37.0 ± 25.8 mg N m−2 d−1, respectively) are within previously reported ranges. Surprisingly, the annual primary production (13.2 g C m−2) measured in the field during the vegetative season is approximately one order of magnitude lower than the primary production reported from a satellite–based estimation. Further validation using field-measured observations is necessary for a better projection of the ecosystem in the Laptev and East Siberian seas responding to ongoing climate change.

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