Runoff and interrill erosion were measured on three composted organics applied at 5-cm and 10-cm depths, a topsoil treatment (15-cm application), and the existing soil on a highway embankment with a 3 to 1 slope. Treatments were tested immediately after preparation and six weeks later to allow for the vegetative cover crop to grow. Rainfall simulations were conducted at an average intensity of ...

Eutrophication, a major problem in many fresh and brackish waters, is largely caused by nonpoint-source pollution by P from agricultural soils. This lysimeter study examined the influence of P content, physical properties, and sorption characteristics in topsoil and subsoil on P leaching measured during 21 mo in 1-m-long, undisturbed soil columns of two clay and two sandy soils. Total P losses ...

The aim of this study was to examine the contamination, accumulation, and distribution of mercury in fruiting bodies by Leccinum versipelle fungus collected from distant sites across Poland. Mercury was determined using validated method by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy after direct sample matrix combustion. A large set of data gained using 371 fruiting bodies and 204 soil samples re...

This study assessed the geochemical impact of mine tailings reclamation on the quality of soils from the AngloGold Concession, Obuasi, Ghana. Soil samples from mine tailings reclamation sites were evaluated for the concentrations of plant nutrients and trace metals. Contaminations of trace metals, using geochemical pollution indices were used to assess possible effects on agriculture and liveli...

Tree water uptake relies on well-developed root systems. However, mine wastes can restrict root growth, in particular metalliferous mill tailings, which consist of the finely crushed ore that remains after valuable metals are removed. Thus, water stress could limit plantation success in reclaimed mine lands. This study evaluates the effect of substrates varying in quality (topsoil, overburden, ...

For this study, we collected a total of 77 topsoil samples from urban, suburban, and rural gradients in the Urumqi city area northwest China analyzed their concentrations seven trace elements: Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn). To assess compare contamination levels potential health risk elements along an urbanization gradient, employed pol...

Soil degradation, affecting around 38% of the world's cropland, threatens global food supply. Due to soil's complexity, measure soil degradation that involves loss fertility due crop system management processes represents an unsolved problem. Exergy is a property with potential be used in and/or analysis. A methodology determine exergy value fenced fertile its inorganic and organic components e...

........................................................................................................................2 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................3 THE NATIONAL MAIZE ECONOMY.............................................................................4 GUATEMALA’S AGRICULTURE AND MAIN MAIZE PRODUC...

Abstract Along an urbanization gradient, we explored the soil metal pollution in Vienna, Austria. We analyzed physical and chemical parameters of topsoil from urban, suburban, rural areas. The following elements were quantified using ICP-OES technique: Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, Zn. For heavy metals, PI (pollution index) values used to assess level p...

Methods Following a standardized physical exam using sterile gloves and a sterile stethoscope, bacterial contamination of the following regions were assessed using contact plates: stethoscope diaphragm, stethoscope tube, fingertips, thenar region, hypothenar region and back of physician’s dominant hand. Total aerobic colony count (ACC) were determined on digital photographs using a counting tool.