Global-scale assessment of agrochemicals contamination — the case study of glyphosate

<p>The need for comprehensive assessments of agrochemicals use and its potential risk of environmental contamination are imperative, but studies currently exist only at regional and watershed scales. By coupling the recently developed PEST-CHEMGRIDS data product to the BRTSim (BioReactive Transport Simulator) computational framework, we conducted the first mechanistic assessment of the environmental hazard of glyphosate (GLP) use at global scales. PEST-CHEMGRIDS provides the annual application rate of 95 active ingredients, including GLP, on various dominant and aggregated crops (Maggi et al., 2019), and is used to feed the biogeochemical reaction network of GLP biogeochemistry embedded in BRTSim (la Cecilia et al., 2018). Deployment of BRTSim over a georeferenced global-scale grid allowed us to assess four key quantities that determine the level of environmental hazard, namely: (i) soil residue, (ii) biodegradation recalcitrance, (iii) leaching rate below the root zone, and (iv) persistence in the root zone. Our assessment (Maggi et al., 2020) shows that the total average residue in the root zone and leaching below root zone is important only in minor areas globally, but also show that biodegradation recalcitrance and persistence can lead to an environmental hazard in vast agricultural areas worldwide. The latter were largely related to the GLP transformation product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), because of slow reaction kinetics, further inhibited by the presence of aqueous inorganic phosphate. With the four key quantities, we have mapped the aggregated hazard geographically to identify hotspots where GLP contamination may have to be assessed with greater level of detail. High hazard hotspots cover less than 1% of the agriculture area (inclusive of pastures) and are identified in north Europe, USA, Brazil, and China.</p><p>Maggi F., Tang F.H.M., la Cecilia D., McBratney A., (2019), Scientific Data 6(1), 1-20.</p><p>la Cecilia D., Tang F.H.M., Coleman N., Conoley C., Veervort R.W., and Maggi F., (2018), Water Research, 146, 37-54.</p><p>Maggi F., la Cecilia D., Tang F.H., & McBratney A., (2020). Science of the Total Environment, 717, 137167.</p>

Optimization Approach for Solvent Extraction Process of Oily Contaminated Soil with Addition of Biosurfactant

Objectives : Solvent extraction is a process in which not only enable to reduce oil contaminant from soil residue, but also capable to recover oil from soil matrix of oily contaminated soil which has opportunity to be reutilized. Optimization process has been simulated by previous studies related to type and dosage of solvents, variances of temperature, additional of surfactants, and other related parameters to increase oil removal from oily contaminated soil. This study seeks an approach of optimization for solvent extraction process to oily contaminated solid waste by conducting statistical analysis into laboratory experimentation from perspective of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) removal.Method : Biosurfactant became single extractors for multistage extraction process and also combined with other solvents which are acetone and toluene. Mixing method that utilized during the study was combination between horizontal shaking at 150 rpm in 15 min duration and centrifugation force at 1,570 g in 10 min duration. Statistical analysis were conducted to seek its multiple regression.Result : Study describing biosurfactant performance single extractor by using multistage extraction process achieve 77% TPH removal, while combination of biosurfactant and solvent extraction by using toluene and acetone also capable to increase TPH removal 7% higher from original performance of both toluene and acetone at solvent extraction.Conclusion : Surfactant and solvents combination is promising to improve TPH removal, while statistics analysis that implemented to observed extraction process has possibility to be used for engineering higher efficiency of extraction process.

Automated Soil Residue Levels Detecting Device With IoT Interface

Cloud computing and internet of things (IoT) are playing a crucial role in the present era of technological, social, and economic development. The novel models where cloud and IoT are integrated together are foreseen as disruptive and enable a number of application scenarios. The e-smart is an application system designed by leveraging cloud, IoT, and several other technology frameworks that are deployed on the agricultural farm to collect the data from the farm fields. The application extracts and collects the information about the residue levels of soil and crop details and the same data will be hosted in the cloud environment. The proposed e-smart application system is to analyze, integrate, and correlate datasets and produce decision-oriented reports to the farmer by using several machine learning techniques.

PENGARUH APLIKASI KOMPOS KOTORAN KAMBING DENGAN RESIDU UREA-HUMAT TERHADAP UNSUR P, K SERTA PERTUMBUHAN OKRA (Abelmoshus esculentus L.) PADA ENTISOL, WAJAK MALANG

Entisol of Wajak Malang has low base saturation and organic matter and slightly acid. The result of the analysis also showed that soil has nutrient P with high criteria; however, N, K, Ca, Mg, Na contents are low to very low criteria. Application of humic acid at the first planting can leave residual nutrients and can still be used in the second planting. Besides urea-humic, goat manure can also be because it can improve soil properties, organic matter and nutrients contents. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of the application of urea-humic residue with goat manure on the availability of phosphorus, potassium and the growth of okra on an Entisol of Wajak Malang. The combination of treatments consisted of: U1 (soil residue urea-humic 100% + goat manure), UH1 (soil residue of urea-humic 75% + goat manure), UH2 (soil residue of urea-humic 100% + goat manure), UH3 (soil residue of urea-humic 125% + goat manure), UH4 (soil residue if urea-humic 150% + goat manure). The five treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The results showed that urea-humic residue with application goat manure had no significant effect on available P, exchangeable K in the soil, plants height and leaf number of okra on 4, 6 and 8 weeks after planting.

Evaluating plant residue decline data with KinGUII and TREC: results from case studies involving also non-SFO kinetic models

Background Foliage residue decline data are used to refine the risk assessment for herbivorous birds and mammals foraging in fields treated with plant protection products. For evaluation, current EFSA guidance has a clear focus on single-first order (SFO) kinetic models. However, other kinetic models are well established in other areas of environmental risk evaluations (e.g., soil residue assessment), and easy-to-use calculation tools have become available now. We provide case studies with 6 fungicides how such evaluations can be conducted with two of these tools (KinGUII and TREC) that have been developed by Bayer. Results SFO kinetics provided the best fits only for 13 of 36 residue decline studies conducted in a standardized design under field conditions. Biphasic models (double first order in parallel, hockey stick) were often superior and sometimes more conservative for risk assessment. The additional effort is manageable when using software such as KinGUII and TREC, and appears justified by the more reliable outcome of the evaluations. Conclusions Further research would be useful to better assess the extent to which non-SFO better fits foliage residue decline, but our study suggests that it may be a significant proportion. Therefore, we encourage the use of biphasic models in the regulatory risk assessment for herbivorous birds and mammals, in the ongoing revision of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidance document from 2009.

Evaluating plant residue decline data with KinGUII and TREC: results from case studies involving also non-SFO kinetic models

Background: Foliage residue decline data are used to refine the risk assessment for herbivorous birds and mammals foraging in fields treated with plant protection products. For evaluation, current EFSA guidance has a clear focus on single-first order (SFO) kinetic models. However, other kinetic models are well established in other areas of environmental risk evaluations (eg, soil residue assessment), and easy-to-use calculation tools have become available now. We provide case studies with 6 fungicides how such evaluations can be conducted with two of these tools (KinGUII and TREC) that have been developed by Bayer.Results: SFO kinetics provided the best fits only for 13 of 36 residue decline studies conducted in a standardized design under field conditions. Biphasic models (double first order in parallel, hockey stick) were often superior and sometimes more conservative for risk assessment. The additional effort is manageable when using software such as KinGUII and TREC, and appears justified by the more reliable outcome of the evaluations.Conclusions: Further research would be useful to better assess the extent to which non-SFO better fits foliage residue decline, but our study suggests that it may be a significant proportion. Therefore we encourage the use of biphasic models in the regulatory risk assessment for herbivorous birds and mammals, in the ongoing revision of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidance document from 2009.

Impact of fulvic acid and free amino acids on paclobutrazol absorption by ‘Keitt’ mango

This study evaluated the impact of fulvic acid and free amino acids on paclobutrazol soil residue, their absorption and effects on ‘Keitt’ mango grown in tropical semi-arid environmental conditions. The experiment was carried out from 2017 to 2018 simultaneously in two orchards with the same plants and management characteristics, located in Cabrobó, Pernambuco, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four treatments, five replications and four plants per replication. The treatments consisted of paclobutrazol combinations with acid fulvic and free amino acids, as follows: Treatment 1: paclobutrazol + water (control); Treatment 2: paclobutrazol + fulvic acids; Treatment 3: paclobutrazol + free amino acids; and Treatment 4: paclobutrazol + fulvic acids + free amino acids. According to the results, the use of fulvic acids, free amino acids or both affects the paclobutrazol absorption by 'Keitt' mango. The addition of fulvic acid to the paclobutrazol improves the absorption of this molecule by the plant, with greater inhibition of vegetative growth of 'Keitt' mango and lower soil residues.

Evaluating plant residue decline data with KinGUII and TREC: results from case studies involving also non-SFO kinetic models

Background: Foliage residue decline data are used to refine the risk assessment for herbivorous birds and mammals foraging in fields treated with plant protection products. For evaluation, current EFSA guidance has a clear focus on single-first order (SFO) kinetic models. However, other kinetic models are well established in other areas of environmental risk evaluations (eg, soil residue assessment), and easy-to-use calculation tools have become available now. We provide case studies with 6 fungicides how such evaluations can be conducted with two of these tools (KinGUII and TREC) that have been developed by Bayer.Results: SFO kinetics provided the best fits only for 12 of 36 residue decline studies conducted in a standardized design under field conditions. Biphasic models (double first order in parallel, hockey stick) were often superior and sometimes more conservative for risk assessment. The additional effort is manageable when using KinGUII and TREC, and appears justified by the more reliable outcome of the evaluations.Conclusions: Further research would be useful to better assess the extent to which non-SFO better fits foliage residue decline, but our study suggests that it may be a significant proportion. Therefore we encourage the use of biphasic models in the regulatory risk assessment for herbivorous birds and mammals, in the ongoing revision of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidance document from 2009.

Study on the effects and changes of soil degradation under the influence of antibiotics

The use of antibiotics in large quantities against the combat of pests in soils, indicates an increased remanence of them, which leads to major environmental risks. After entering in the soil, antibiotics are subjected to a succession of biogeochemical processes under the action of multiple environmental factors: absorption, migration, transformation, degradation or nutritional prosperity of plants. In order to know the current state of the environment and the effects of antibiotics it is essential to discover procedures for improving the degradation and combating the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Research in recent years on the extraction of antibiotics from the soil is based on complex processes, such as: Soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic extraction or accelerated solvent extraction. Soil residue was determined using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, being the equipment that provides the highest accuracy in the analysis of polar compounds in very low concentrations. The purpose of the paper is to find an efficient and ecological solution for the elimination of antibiotics from soils and to highlight the evaluation of the contaminated land regarding the antibiotic residues and the impact on the composition of the bacterial community. Information about the effects of antibiotics accumulated in soil, persistence, resistance and sensitivity to chemical and microbiological substances, degradation and results related to soil fertility and crop production are highlighted.