Overcoming biochar limitations to remediate pentachlorophenol in soil by modifying its electrochemical properties

In this study, we produced modified biochars with enhanced electrochemical properties to increase PCP remediation in soil. Although all biochars enhanced PCP remediation in aerobic conditions, only a few did in anaerobic soil. The most successful modifications were (i) the preloading of biomass with 10% w/w FeCl3, to obtain a biochar rich in redox-active metals (B-Fe); (ii) the oxidation of a conductive biochar pyrolyzed at 1000 ºC with 0.025 M KMnO4, to produce a biochar with both moderate conductivity and redox capacity (B-1000-KMnO4); and (iii) KMnO4 oxidation of an amorphous biochar pyrolyzed at 400 ºC to obtain a biochar with very high redox capacity (B-KMnO4). B-Fe reduced extractable PCP to almost zero after 50 days in both incubations, but showed slow kinetics of remediation in aerobic soil. B-1000-KMnO4 had the highest rate of remediation under aerobic conditions, but no significant effect under anaerobic conditions. B-KMnO4, however, presented high rates of remediation and high removal of extractable PCP under both conditions, which made it the recommended modification strategy for increased PCP remediation. We found that the degree of remediation primarily depends on the redox capacity, while the rate of remediation was determined by both the conductivity and redox capacity of biochar

Why disease ecology needs life-history theory: a host perspective

When facing an emerging infectious disease of conservation concern, we often have little information on the nature of the host-parasite interaction to inform management decisions. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the life-history strategies of host species can be predictive of individual- and population-level responses to infectious disease, even without detailed knowledge on the specifics of the host-parasite interaction. Here, we argue that a deeper integration of life-history theory into disease ecology is timely and necessary to improve our capacity to understand, predict and mitigate the impact of endemic and emerging infectious diseases in wild populations. Using wild vertebrates as an example, we show that host life-history characteristics influence host responses to parasitism at different levels of organisation, from individuals to communities. We also highlight knowledge gaps and future directions for the study of life-history and host responses to parasitism. We conclude by illustrating how this theoretical insight can inform the monitoring and control of infectious diseases in wildlife

Why disease ecology needs life-history theory: a host perspective.

When facing an emerging infectious disease of conservation concern, we often have little information on the nature of the host-parasite interaction to inform management decisions. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the life-history strategies of host species can be predictive of individual- and population-level responses to infectious disease, even without detailed knowledge on the specifics of the host-parasite interaction. Here, we argue that a deeper integration of life-history theory into disease ecology is timely and necessary to improve our capacity to understand, predict and mitigate the impact of endemic and emerging infectious diseases in wild populations. Using wild vertebrates as an example, we show that host life-history characteristics influence host responses to parasitism at different levels of organisation, from individuals to communities. We also highlight knowledge gaps and future directions for the study of life-history and host responses to parasitism. We conclude by illustrating how this theoretical insight can inform the monitoring and control of infectious diseases in wildlife

Relationship between postharvest diseases resistance and mineral composition of citrus fruit

reen and blue moulds, due to the pathogenic action of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum respectively are the main cause of orange losses during postharvest. Under Mediterranean climate conditions, both together are responsible for 80% of total postharvest citrus fruit decay. The type of orchard production system, field location with different types of climate and soil has a main influence on mineral composition of fruits. The mineral composition of fruits can have a significant impact on fruit quality and shelf life during postharvest period. These include effects on fruit colour, texture, disease susceptibility, juice composition and development of physiological disorders. Oranges from different regions from South of Spain and Portugal and from three different production systems (conventional, integrated and organic) were studied to evaluate whether both factors (origin and production system) affected the degree of fruit sensitivity to decay. Results indicate that the sensitivity to green or blue mould is determined better by the origin of fruit than by the system of production.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influencia de la producción integrada del olivar sobre la calidad del aceite de oliva virgen

A study has been conducted to determine the influence of integrated olive production on the quality of extra virgin olive oil. On two different dates, samples from three different holdings were taken in integrated production (I) parcels, and in conventional production (C) parcels, both adjacent. The analytical determinations were free acidity, peroxide value, K232 and K270, fatty acid composition, esterols, phenolic compounds, tocopherols, stability to oxidation and sensory analysis. Most interesting among the results obtained were total contents of esterols and tocopherols, higher in olive oils of integrated production.Se ha realizado un estudio para ver la influencia de la producción integrada del olivar sobre la calidad del aceite de oliva virgen. Se tomaron muestras de aceitunas de tres fincas distintas, en parcelas correspondientes a olivar de secano, de producción integrada (I), y en parcelas adyacentes a estas de producción convencional (C), en dos fechas diferentes. Las determinaciones analíticas realizadas han sido acidez libre, índice de peróxidos, K232 y K270, composición de ácidos grasos, esteroles, compuestos fenólicos, tocoferoles, estabilidad oxidativa y análisis sensorial. En los resultados obtenidos destaca que los valores más altos de esteroles totales y tocoferoles corresponden a los aceites de producción integrada. Así mismo, los aceites de producción convencional presentan mayor contenido de fenoles totales y parecen ofrecer mayor estabilidad

Biochar Improves the Properties of Poultry Manure Compost as Growing Media for Rosemary Production

[EN] Compost represents a sustainable alternative for peat (P) replacement in soilless plant cultivation, but its use can be limited by several inadequate physical and physicochemical properties. Biochar can alleviate some of the limitations of compost for its use as growth media by improving the physical properties, decreasing salinity and making the phytotoxic compounds unavailable for plants. We studied the physical and physicochemical properties of holm oak biochar (B), poultry manure compost (PMC), poultry manure composted with biochar (PMBC), a commercial peat (P) and multiple combinations of these materials as growth media, and their effect on the rooting and growth of rosemary. PMBC and PMC showed similar physical and physicochemical properties as growing media, and they both were phytotoxic when used in a rate above 50% (by volume) in the growing medium. However, when used at proportion of 25%, PMBC was less phytotoxic than PMC and enhanced the percentage of rosemary cutting rooting. The incorporation of B in the growing medium instead of P (either at 50% or 75% in volume) increased the stability of the growing media and the percentage of rooted cuttings, but it did not affect plant growth significantly. Our results demonstrate the potential of substituting peat by a combination of poultry manure compost and biochar for the formulation of growth media.This research was funded by SPANISH MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND COMPETITIVENESS, grant numbers AGL2012-40143-C02-01 and RTI2018-099417-B-I00, co-funded with EU FEDER fundsFornes Sebastiá, F.; Liu-Xu, L.; Lidón, A.; Sanchez-Garcia, M.; Luz Cayuela, M.; Sanchez-Monedero, MA.; Belda Navarro, RM. (2020). Biochar Improves the Properties of Poultry Manure Compost as Growing Media for Rosemary Production. Agronomy. 10(2):1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020261S116102KERN, J., TAMMEORG, P., SHANSKIY, M., SAKRABANI, R., KNICKER, H., KAMMANN, C., … GLASER, B. (2017). SYNERGISTIC USE OF PEAT AND CHARRED MATERIAL IN GROWING MEDIA – AN OPTION TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON PEATLANDS? Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management, 25(2), 160-174. doi:10.3846/16486897.2017.1284665Tiemeyer, B., Albiac Borraz, E., Augustin, J., Bechtold, M., Beetz, S., Beyer, C., … Zeitz, J. (2016). High emissions of greenhouse gases from grasslands on peat and other organic soils. Global Change Biology, 22(12), 4134-4149. doi:10.1111/gcb.13303Raviv, M. (2005). Production of High-quality Composts for Horticultural Purposes: A Mini-review. HortTechnology, 15(1), 52-57. doi:10.21273/horttech.15.1.0052GARCIADELAFUENTE, R., CARRION, C., BOTELLA, S., FORNES, F., NOGUERA, V., & ABAD, M. (2007). Biological oxidation of elemental sulphur added to three composts from different feedstocks to reduce their pH for horticultural purposes. Bioresource Technology, 98(18), 3561-3569. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2006.11.008Alburquerque, J. A., Gonzálvez, J., García, D., & Cegarra, J. (2006). Measuring detoxification and maturity in compost made from «alperujo», the solid by-product of extracting olive oil by the two-phase centrifugation system. Chemosphere, 64(3), 470-477. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.10.055Wang, P., Changa, C. M., Watson, M. E., Dick, W. A., Chen, Y., & Hoitink, H. A. J. (2004). Maturity indices for composted dairy and pig manures. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 36(5), 767-776. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2003.12.012Sáez, J. A., Belda, R. M., Bernal, M. P., & Fornes, F. (2016). Biochar improves agro-environmental aspects of pig slurry compost as a substrate for crops with energy and remediation uses. Industrial Crops and Products, 94, 97-106. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.08.035Kelleher, B. ., Leahy, J. ., Henihan, A. ., O’Dwyer, T. ., Sutton, D., & Leahy, M. . (2002). Advances in poultry litter disposal technology – a review. Bioresource Technology, 83(1), 27-36. doi:10.1016/s0960-8524(01)00133-xAtiyeh, R. M., Subler, S., Edwards, C. A., Bachman, G., Metzger, J. D., & Shuster, W. (2000). Effects of vermicomposts and composts on plant growth in horticultural container media and soil. Pedobiologia, 44(5), 579-590. doi:10.1078/s0031-4056(04)70073-6Steiner, C., & Harttung, T. (2014). Biochar as a growing media additive and peat substitute. Solid Earth, 5(2), 995-999. doi:10.5194/se-5-995-2014Woolf, D., Amonette, J. E., Street-Perrott, F. A., Lehmann, J., & Joseph, S. (2010). Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change. Nature Communications, 1(1). doi:10.1038/ncomms1053Fornes, F., & Belda, R. M. (2018). Biochar versus hydrochar as growth media constituents for ornamental plant cultivation. Scientia Agricola, 75(4), 304-312. doi:10.1590/1678-992x-2017-0062Tian, Y., Sun, X., Li, S., Wang, H., Wang, L., Cao, J., & Zhang, L. (2012). Biochar made from green waste as peat substitute in growth media for Calathea rotundifola cv. Fasciata. Scientia Horticulturae, 143, 15-18. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2012.05.018Fornes, F., Belda, R. M., Fernández de Córdova, P., & Cebolla-Cornejo, J. (2017). Assessment of biochar and hydrochar as minor to major constituents of growing media for containerized tomato production. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 97(11), 3675-3684. doi:10.1002/jsfa.8227Petruccelli, R., Bonetti, A., Traversi, M. L., Faraloni, C., Valagussa, M., & Pozzi, A. (2015). Influence of biochar application on nutritional quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Crop and Pasture Science, 66(7), 747. doi:10.1071/cp14247Belda, R. M., Lidón, A., & Fornes, F. (2016). Biochars and hydrochars as substrate constituents for soilless growth of myrtle and mastic. Industrial Crops and Products, 94, 132-142. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.08.024Fornes, F., & Belda, R. M. (2019). Use of raw and acidified biochars as constituents of growth media for forest seedling production. New Forests, 50(6), 1063-1086. doi:10.1007/s11056-019-09715-yHuang, L., Niu, G., Feagley, S. E., & Gu, M. (2019). Evaluation of a hardwood biochar and two composts mixes as replacements for a peat-based commercial substrate. Industrial Crops and Products, 129, 549-560. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.12.044Alvarez, J. M., Pasian, C., Lal, R., Lapez, R., & Ferna¡ndez, M. (2017). Vermicompost and biochar as substitutes of growing media in ornamental-plant production. Journal of Applied Horticulture, 19(03), 205-214. doi:10.37855/jah.2017.v19i03.37Steiner, C., Das, K. C., Melear, N., & Lakly, D. (2010). Reducing Nitrogen Loss during Poultry Litter Composting Using Biochar. Journal of Environmental Quality, 39(4), 1236-1242. doi:10.2134/jeq2009.0337Wang, C., Lu, H., Dong, D., Deng, H., Strong, P. J., Wang, H., & Wu, W. (2013). Insight into the Effects of Biochar on Manure Composting: Evidence Supporting the Relationship between N2O Emission and Denitrifying Community. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(13), 7341-7349. doi:10.1021/es305293hWang, Y., Villamil, M. B., Davidson, P. C., & Akdeniz, N. (2019). A quantitative understanding of the role of co-composted biochar in plant growth using meta-analysis. Science of The Total Environment, 685, 741-752. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.244Sánchez-García, M., Alburquerque, J. A., Sánchez-Monedero, M. A., Roig, A., & Cayuela, M. L. (2015). Biochar accelerates organic matter degradation and enhances N mineralisation during composting of poultry manure without a relevant impact on gas emissions. Bioresource Technology, 192, 272-279. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.05.003Maroušek, J., Hašková, S., Zeman, R., Žák, J., Vaníčková, R., Maroušková, A., … Myšková, K. (2015). Polemics on Ethical Aspects in the Compost Business. Science and Engineering Ethics, 22(2), 581-590. doi:10.1007/s11948-015-9664-yAbad, M., Fornes, F., Carrión, C., Noguera, V., Noguera, P., Maquieira, A., & Puchades, R. (2005). Physical Properties of Various Coconut Coir Dusts Compared to Peat. HortScience, 40(7), 2138-2144. doi:10.21273/hortsci.40.7.2138Laird, D., Fleming, P., Wang, B., Horton, R., & Karlen, D. (2010). Biochar impact on nutrient leaching from a Midwestern agricultural soil. Geoderma, 158(3-4), 436-442. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.05.012Jaiswal, A. K., Elad, Y., Paudel, I., Graber, E. R., Cytryn, E., & Frenkel, O. (2017). Linking the Belowground Microbial Composition, Diversity and Activity to Soilborne Disease Suppression and Growth Promotion of Tomato Amended with Biochar. Scientific Reports, 7(1). doi:10.1038/srep44382Elad, Y., David, D. R., Harel, Y. M., Borenshtein, M., Kalifa, H. B., Silber, A., & Graber, E. R. (2010). Induction of Systemic Resistance in Plants by Biochar, a Soil-Applied Carbon Sequestering Agent. Phytopathology®, 100(9), 913-921. doi:10.1094/phyto-100-9-0913Graber, E. R., Meller Harel, Y., Kolton, M., Cytryn, E., Silber, A., Rav David, D., … Elad, Y. (2010). Biochar impact on development and productivity of pepper and tomato grown in fertigated soilless media. Plant and Soil, 337(1-2), 481-496. doi:10.1007/s11104-010-0544-6Fornes, F., Belda, R. M., & Lidón, A. (2015). Analysis of two biochars and one hydrochar from different feedstock: focus set on environmental, nutritional and horticultural considerations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 86, 40-48. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.08.057Fornes, F., Belda, R. M., Carrión, C., Noguera, V., García-Agustín, P., & Abad, M. (2007). Pre-conditioning ornamental plants to drought by means of saline water irrigation as related to salinity tolerance. Scientia Horticulturae, 113(1), 52-59. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2007.01.008Moran, R. (1982). Formulae for Determination of Chlorophyllous Pigments Extracted with N,N-Dimethylformamide. Plant Physiology, 69(6), 1376-1381. doi:10.1104/pp.69.6.1376Mendoza-Hernández, D., Fornes, F., & Belda, R. M. (2014). Compost and vermicompost of horticultural waste as substrates for cutting rooting and growth of rosemary. Scientia Horticulturae, 178, 192-202. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2014.08.024Fornes, F., Mendoza-Hernandez, D., & Belda, R. M. (2013). Compost versus vermicompost as substrate constituents for rooting shrub cuttings. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 11(2), 518. doi:10.5424/sjar/2013112-3304Esteban, R., Ariz, I., Cruz, C., & Moran, J. F. (2016). Review: Mechanisms of ammonium toxicity and the quest for tolerance. 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Validation and reconstruction of flow meter data in the Barcelona water distribution network

12 páginas, 16 figuras, 1 tabla.-- El PDF es la versión pre-print.-- et al.This paper presents a signal analysis methodology to validate (detect) and reconstruct the missing and false data of a large set of flow meters in the telecontrol system of a water distribution network. The proposed methodology is based on two time-scale forecasting models: a daily model based on a ARIMA time series, while the 10-min model is based on distributing the daily flow using a 10-min demand pattern. The demand patterns have been determined using two methods: correlation analysis and an unsupervised fuzzy logic classification, named LAMDA algorithm. Finally, the proposed methodology has been applied to the Barcelona water distribution network, providing very good results.This work is part of a applied research project granted by ADASA and AGBAR companies. The authors also wish to thank the support received by the Research Commission of the Generalitat of Catalunya (Group SAC Ref. 2009 SGR 1491) and by CICYT (Ref. HYFA DPI2008-01996 and WATMAN DPI2009-13744) of Spanish Ministry of Education.Peer reviewe