Evaluation of Metals Bioavailability in Agricultural Soil Treated with Wood Ash

In the present work, we aimed to study the effect of quantitative changes of micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Mn) in soil and plants caused by wood ash applied into the soil in increasing doses. A pot experiment with medium textured soil, white mustard as a test plant and six amendment treatments (doses of wood ash: 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 Mg·ha-1) was performed. Total contents of Cu, Zn and Mn were determined in soil and plant samples. Single (DTPA and HCl) and sequential (BCR) extractions were used to evaluate the available amounts of metals and their distribution in fractions. A plant’s ability to accumulate metals from soils was estimated using the bioconcentration factor (BCF), which is defined as the ratio of metal concentration in the plants to that in soil. The increasing doses of wood ash increased total and available contents of trace elements, especially Cu and Mn. The distribution of metals among particular fractions depended mainly on their geochemical character. The highest content of Cu was found in the reducible and oxidisable fractions, whereas, the greatest amounts of Zn and Mn were in the exchangeable and reducible fractions, and the lowest in the oxidisable fraction. Despite small wood ash influence on metal distribution in the individual soil fractions, increasing doses of wood ash increased the amounts of Cu, Zn, Mn in easily soluble fractions, which are potentially available to plants. As a result of wood ash increasing doses application, the higher amounts of Cu, Zn and Mn in plant tissues were found. However, only in the case of Zn, the value of BCF indicated on such accumulation in the plants

Application of biological methods to assess the toxicity of soils contaminated with heavy metals and the effectiveness of stabilisation processes

Short-term biotests were used to determine the effectiveness of the use of compost and fly ash in the stabilization of heavy metals in contaminated soil. For this purpose, in two independent experiments, either compost (3:1) or fly ash (1:1) were added to soil contaminated with heavy metals. To assess seed germination and root elongation of Sorghum saccharatum L., Lepidium sativum L., Sinapis alba L. after three days a Phytotoxkit test was used. Seedling emergence and biomass yield after 21 days were evaluated. Obtained data indicate better practical applicability of the seedling emergence test thanks to the longer duration resulting in more reliable conclusions provided in that test. A short, 3-day test did not confirm any effective stabilizing role of theapplied additives. Sorghum saccharatum L. turned out to be most sensitive to the altered soil conditions, while Lepidium sativum L. was most tolerant

SEPARATE COLLECTION OF MUNICIPAL WASTE IN KNOWLEDGE AND SOCIAL PARTICIPATION ASPECTS

The paper presents the state of knowledge and social participation of inhabitants of Darłowo city in the process of municipal waste segregation. Assessment was based on populations surveys. Populace was divided into groups according to age and education. Each group consisted of 100 persons. On the basis of the obtained result one may state that the residents showed quite satisfactory knowledge related to necessity of wastes segregation. Moreover, respondents can correctly distinguish essential fractions of municipal wastes as: paper, glass, plastics and metals. Among surveyed groups, the youngest, represented by young of 18–25 age, revealed the lowest degree of knowledge and participation in waste segregation. The obtained data of surveys indicate that, in inhabitants’ opinion, information about the segregation principles is given in satisfactory way by local self-government. However at the same time this kind of information was not precise enough

REVIEW OF SELECTED BIOLOGICAL METHODS OF ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

The xenobiotics introduced into the environment are the effect of human activities. It is especially soil contamination that leads to degradation of soils, which may finally be referred to the biological imbalance of the ecosystem. Normally chemical methods are used for the assessment of soil’s quality. Unfortunately, they are not always quick and inexpensive. Therefore, the practice and the science at environmental monitoring more frequently employ biological methods. Most of them meet the above mentioned conditions and become a supplement of routine laboratory practices. This publication shows an overview of selected common biological methods used to estimate the quality of the environment. The first part of the paper presents biomonitoring as a first step of environmental control which relies on the observation of indicator organisms. The next section was dedicated to the bioassays, indicating the greater or lesser practical applications confirmed by literature on the subject. Particular attention has been focused on phytotests and the tests based on the invertebrates

The effect of wheat straw quality on the rate of its mineralisation in soil

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of straw of two spring wheat cultivars, Tybalt – with the culm filled with pith, and Ostka Smolicka – with the hollow culm, added to light textured soil, on the mineralisation rate of organic matter. The incubation experiment was established under laboratory conditions and comprised three experimental combinations: K1 was soil with an addition of pith-filled culms, K2 – soil with an addition of straw with hollow culms, and K0 – the control with no straw added. In all the combinations, mineral fertilisation was applied in the form of urea. Incubation lasted for 14 months. At specific dates the amounts of CO2 released within 24 h and pH values were recorded. The rate of organic matter mineralisation was expressed in mg CO2·d−1. Analyses showed that the addition of straw, both with pith-filled and hollow culms, significantly influenced the mineralisation of organic matter in the first months of incubation. Mineralisation was most intensive in the soil incubated with straw with hollow culms. The large amount of released carbon dioxide in the first days of incubation caused a decrease in pH both in the control soil and in soils with the addition of straw. The change in the soil reaction to its initial value was recorded at day 222 for the soil combination K0 and at day 250 of incubation in soils fertilised with straw

KNOWLEDGE OF INHABITANTS OF DARŁOWO AND WRZEŚNIA IN THE ASPECT OF CORRECT MUNICIPAL WASTES MANAGEMENT

The paper presents state at social participation of inhabitants of Darłowo and Września in the process of municipal wastes management. The aim of the paper was an evaluation of the people’s knowledge connected with municipal waste segregation, as well as further fate of the separated municipal wastes. The assessment was based on the populations surveys. People are divided into 3 groups according to age. Each group consisted of 100 inhabitants of Darłowo, as well as Września. On the basis of obtained results it may be stated, that the residents showed quite satisfactory knowledge related to the necessity of wastes segregation. Moreover, the respondents can correctly distinguish essential types of municipal wastes as: paper, glass, plastics and metals. Despite this, the further fate of selected municipal wastes for most of was the surveyed was not well – known. In this context the respondents very often indicated on a landfi ll as a one of the most popular methods of municipal wastes utilisation. The obtained data of the surveys indicated that, the knowledge of inhabitants of Darłowo was higher than that of Września. In general men presented broader range of information related to municipal waste management. The oldest persons, 60+, showed a complete knowledge of municipal waste management

Bioactive levels of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd and Mg, Fe in pollution sensitive and tolerant Scots pines needles – Is survival mineral-dependent?

Pine species are considered worldwide as developing various mechanisms counteracting industrial pollution specifically with Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cd. We assumed that the survival of plants should involve also the active concentrations of plant-born heavy metals as well as the mineral elements (Mg, Fe) crucial for normal photosynthetic activity of needles. The needles were collected from 100 randomly selected trees, which were divided into 50 specimens of sensitive (S) and 50 specimens of tolerant (T) species. In the study, the needles were also separated by age into 1 and 2 year-old needles. Two solutions of pH 3.5 and 6.0, mimicking acid rains (AR) were applied for extracting the bioactive forms of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd and Mg and Fe. The elaborated mineral photosynthetic indices (12 in total), SPI (Single Phytotoxicity Indices), IPI (Integrated Phytotoxicity Indices) and TIPI (Total Integrated Phytotoxicity Indices) revealed that bioactive concentrations of Mg and Fe should be specifically regulating Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd fluxes in Scots pine needles. Such mechanism appears crucial for the survival of pine needles, both 1 and 2-years old, since Mg and Fe are directly activated in the photosynthesis process. The concentrations of bioactive Mg and Fe fractions were higher in sensitive (S) as compared to tolerant (T) pines, explaining thus the basis of their response - stronger for S and weaker for T - to adverse effects induced by the particular heavy metals. We stipulated that magnesium and iron should emerge promptly and permanently as toxicity mitigation factors, acting as a Mineral Toxicity Fence (MTF), supporting thus the survival mineral-dependent hypothesis