Recycled Nutrients as a Phosphorus Source for Canadian Organic Agriculture: A Perspective

The challenges associated with the global phosphorus (P) cycle are complex and multi-faceted, from geological resource limitation, to P deficiency on arable farmland, to environmental contamination via excess P fertilization. While no single solution can address all of the challenges associated with the P cycle, the principle of circularity provides a framework toward a more sustainable and food-secure P system. Phosphorus deficiency on farmland is widespread, particularly on organically managed farms due to negative P balances in low-input cropping systems. Recycled nutrient sources divert food and human wastes back onto farmland; they have the potential to ameliorate both the global scale issues of phosphate rock depletion and environmental contamination, and the farm-scale issue of P deficiency, particularly for organic farms. In order for recycled nutrients to act as viable alternatives to conventional nutrient sources, their ability to supply P and improve yields must be demonstrated. This paper provides an introduction to the importance of recycled fertilizer sources in the global P cycle, and the key role they can play on organic farmland in Canada.

ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION PRACTICES AMONG RURAL COMMUNITY

Introduction: Proper sanitation promotes health, improves the quality of the environment and thus, the quality of life in a community. Sanitation refers to the safe collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of human wastes. It is a fundamental health service without which there cannot be any improvement in the state of community health. It is both public and private element, and the individuals hygiene can affect the whole community. Improving the sanitation within a community leads to an improvement in health. Thus, sanitation is an integral component of environmental protection, which ensures a productive life. Methodology: In this pre-experimental study, 200 households of rural community in the age group of 20-60 years were selected as the samples for the study by using total enumeration sampling technique. The data was collected by using observational checklist on environmental sanitation. Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. SPSS-17 software was used and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Result: In the pre test [mean=12.2, SD=2.2], majority of the rural community had poor environmental sanitation practices and in the post test [mean =25.9, SD=3.0], majority of the rural community had good environmental sanitation practices. Discussion: The result shows that there was improvement in practices regarding environmental sanitation practices after implementation of HEALTH EDUCATIONon environmental sanitation practices which was calculated at 0.05 level of significance. So, it is concluded that the HEALTH EDUCATION on environmental sanitation practices has an effect on to improve poor and average environment sanitation practices.

Ecological Sanitation (ECOSAN) in Oasis Communities

The chapter highlights the importance of the concept of “ecological sanitation” (Ecosan) in environmental education. It also describes the implementation and management of the “Ecosan” project in several primary and middle schools and explores the lessons learned from reusing organic waste to promote sustainability in arid communities in the southeastern region of Morocco. The project planned and built Ecosan systems that recycle human wastes in five schools from five oasis villages of the Draa-Tafilalt region. The results suggest that the Ecosan system may be a sustainable option to support water, soil, and biodiversity in the vulnerable arid areas, but the scale-up of the project and adoption by the local communities will require more work and coordination with the government and local stakeholders.

Global Economic Consequences And Possible Solutions To COVID-19

The purpose of the study is to determine the impact of the self-isolation regime due to the pandemic on the world economy and the economies of economically developed and developing countries, as well as the prospects for the development of GMO technologies and human wastes into biogas and electricity to obtain positive effects in the socio-economic and environmental spheres of society. Countries can use а new polices and new technologies such as (Genetically Modified Crops, Animals Cloning and Turning the human wastes into biogas and electricity) that can help us to face and overcome this recession and increase the GDP in a short time. Research methods include: historical approach to the object of research, methods of quantitative statistical analysis. Conclusions and results of the study include: comparison of the economic situation under the influence of coronavirus in Russia and Egypt showed the similarity of problems due to the similar structure of the economy, the high role of the state in solving crisis economic situations; to ensure the availability of food products in the conditions of constantly decreasing consumer solvency of the majority of the world’s population with low and middle income, the authors presented the achievements and advantages of GMO products in crop and livestock production and – the authors justify a set of measures to implement the policy of support and development of the production of GMO goods and services at the global and national level and human wastes into biogas and electricity.

Urban Groundwater Processes and Anthropogenic Interactions (Porto Region, NW Portugal)

Groundwater in fissured rocks is one of the most important reserves of available fresh water, and urbanization applies an extremely complex pressure which puts this natural resource at risk. Two-thirds of Portugal is composed of fissured aquifers. In this context, the Porto urban region is the second biggest metropolitan area in mainland Portugal. In this study, a multidisciplinary approach was developed, using hydrogeological GIS-based mapping and modeling, combining hydrogeochemical, isotopic, and hydrodynamical data. In addition, an urban infiltration potential index (IPI-Urban) was outlined with the combination of several thematic layers. Hydrogeochemical signatures are mainly Cl-Na to Cl-SO4-Na, being dependent on the geographic proximity of this region to the ocean, and on anthropogenic and agricultural contamination processes, namely fertilizers, sewage, as well as animal and human wastes. Isotopic signatures characterize a meteoric origin for groundwater, with shallow flow paths and short residence times. Pumping tests revealed a semi- to confined system, with low long-term well capacities (<1 L/s), low transmissivities (<4 m2/day), and low storage coefficients (<10−2). The IPI-Urban index showed a low groundwater infiltration potential, which was enhanced by urban hydraulic and sanitation features. This study assessed the major hydrogeological processes and their dynamics, therefore, contributing to a better knowledge of sustainable urban groundwater systems in fractured media.

Assessing the Wild Mammals Status Affected by Human Wastes, Based on the Field Works and MCDM Analysis

Background: Waste has negative impacts on animal species and their habitats. Objectives: This study was aimed to evaluate the wild mammals status affected by human wastes. Methods: The study was carried out in villages of Oshtorankooh protected area of Lorestan province in 2019. The quality and quantity of waste was measured by sampling and measuring waste in 42 villages. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) in combination with the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) was used to evaluate impacts. Results: The waste generation rate and density were 555 g/day and 412 kg/m3, respectively. Also, the results of ranking showed that Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, and Hyaena hyaena were ranked with the highest scores of 2.260, 1.958, and 1.948, respectively, and these species were more affected. Conclusions: It is necessary to consider waste effects on animal species, and according to the results of TOPSIS and impacts assessment, the presented method has shown good performance.

Global environmental problems in Russia

Recycling of household waste and environmental pollution is currently one of the most serious environmental problems in Russia. During the year, about 400 kg of household solid waste is generated per inhabitant of Russia, and effective methods of inorganic waste disposal have not yet been developed. Human wastes also have a significant impact on the pollution of water bodies, since water used in cities for sewage system needs often goes directly to open water bodies, bypassing a system of treatment facilities that have poor quality: most of them are already almost unable to cope with their functions due to outdated and unusable equipment. The subject of the study is the national project “Ecology” developed in Russia. The purpose of the study is to create a set of additional measures to improve the environmental situation and reduce the emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. To study the topic, the trends of the environment change and the scenario of the expected trends up to 2030 have been systematized. Reduction of expenditures on the national project “Ecology”. This project is mainly aimed at combating the effects of environmental pollution, rather than identifying the causes of degradation processes.