Wildfire is a natural disturbance, though elemental losses and changes that occur during combustion and post-fire erosion can have long-term impacts on soil properties, ecosystem productivity, and watershed condition. Here we evaluate the potential of forest residue-based materials to rehabilitate burned soils. We compare soil nutrient and water availability, and plant recovery after applicatio...

Mangrove revegetation is a vital strategy to recover ecosystem services (e.g., climate regulation and pollutants retention) provided by these ecosystems. Although soils are directly or indirectly responsible for diverse in mangrove ecosystems, few studies have focused on the recovery of soil functions carbon sequestration) after replanting. This study aimed evaluate processes associated with Fe...

Maximizing utilization of effluent nutrients by forage grasses requires a better understanding of irrigation rate and timing effects. This study was conducted in 1998 and 1999 on a Vaiden silty clay (very-fine, smectitic, thermic Aquic Dystrudert) soil to determine the effects of swine lagoon effluent irrigation rate and timing on bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] growth, nitrogen (N) ...

A new procedure is used for separating Testacea from soil, based on dispersion, sequential centrifugation settling, and subsequent filtration of the soil suspension. Combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), this procedure allows accurate enumeration of Testacea, with a recovery rate of 90% and more precise counting (relative standard deviation, RSD: 5%) of Testacea than in previous works.

Soil substrate membrane systems allow for microcultivation of fastidious soil bacteria as mixed microbial communities. We isolated established microcolonies from these membranes by using fluorescence viability staining and micromanipulation. This approach facilitated the recovery of diverse, novel isolates, including the recalcitrant bacterium Leifsonia xyli, a plant pathogen that has never bee...

4 Abstract Risk assessment models for the soil-to-plant transfer of radionuclides rely on the assumption that soils are homogenously contaminated. However, field soils are characterized by a high degree of heterogeneities mainly caused by macro-structure which can affect the distribution of surface-applied radionuclides and their accessibility by plant roots. The main objective of this thesis w...

Excavation followed by landfilling is the most common method for treating soils contaminated by metals. However, as this solution is not sustainable, alternative techniques are required. Chemical soil washing is one such alternative. The aim of this experimental lab-scale study is to develop a remediation and metal recovery method for Cu contaminated sites. The method is based on the washing of...

To investigate the underlying mechanisms that control long-term recovery of tundra carbon (C) and nutrients after fire, we employed the Multiple Element Limitation (MEL) model to simulate 200-yr post-fire changes in the biogeochemistry of three sites along a burn severity gradient in response to increases in air temperature, CO2 concentration, nitrogen (N) deposition, and phosphorus (P) weather...

Recently, the application of excreta-based fertilizers has attracted attention due to the strongly increasing prices of chemically produced fertilizers. Faecal sludge from on-site sanitation systems is rich in nutrients and organic matter, constituents which contribute to replenishing the humus layer and soil nutrient reservoir and to improving soil structure and water-holding capacity. Hence, ...