Gas film mass transfer coefficients (kGat , kGaw) and liquid film mass transfer coefficients (kLaw) for packing materials used in biofilters and biotrickling filters for air pollution control were determined experimentally. Lava rock, polyurethane foam cube (PUF), Pall ring, porous ceramic beads, porous ceramic Raschig rings and compost–woodchips mixtures were investigated. The experiments were...

Soil aggregate stability (SAS) is an important factor for soil quality and fertility. There are limited possibilities to influence this property, but one investigated method the application of additives which have potential improve SAS. We established a four-year field experiment on clay-loam Luvisol with poor structure monitor SAS following grassland revegetation. Treatments included: (1) untr...

A study was conducted to quantify tar formation in a stratified downdraft gasifier using wood pellets. The effect of biomass flow rate on tar concentration was also analyzed, and more than thirty compounds in tar were quantified. Among the different compounds in tar, tertiary condensed products such as toluene, o/p-xylene, naphthalene, phenol, styrene, and indene were observed in significant am...

Biochar has received increased attention in environmental applications recent years. Therefore, three pilot-scale denitrifying bioreactors, one filled with woodchips only and the other two enriched 10% 20% by volume of biochar from deciduous wood, were tested under field conditions for removal nitrate (NO3-N) phosphate (PO4-P) tile drainage water Lithuania over a 3-year period. The experiment s...

Composting has been used to dispose of animal mortalities and infected materials, such as manure feed, during major disease outbreaks. In this study, we adapted the plastic-wrapped mortality composting system developed by Canadian Food Inspection Agency 2004 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak compost swine mortalities. The goals study were evaluate performance field test its ability eli...

In the Okanagan Valley, sweet cherry production has expanded to higher latitudes due climate change, but availability of irrigation water is limited in this semi-arid region. Postharvest deficit (PDI) and organic mulches can reduce use orchards, their interactive effects on soil fertility, relations, crop performance new orchard environments are unknown. a randomized block split-plot design, fu...

Many hydrological studies of forested ecosystems focus on the study of the forest canopy and have partitioned gross precipitation into throughfall and stemflow. However, the presence of forest litter can alter the quantities of water available for soil infiltration and runoff. Little information exists regarding the value of storage and drainage parameters for litter layers. Vegetation paramete...

Oak woodchips, used for production of shiitake Lentinula edodes (Berk) Pegler, are increasingly difficult to obtain due to dwindling supplies. We investigated the effect of adding ground wheat straw as a substitute for portions of oak woodchips in substrate formulae on mushroom yield and size. We also determined the effect of mushroom cropping on relative feed value (RFV) by chemical analysis o...