Geochemistry of surface sediments of a coastal Lake Sarbsko (northern Poland)

The main goal of the pre sented re search was to in ves ti gate spa tial dis tri bu tion of sur face sed i ments and to rec og nize re la tion ships be tween chem i cal com po si tion of wa ter and sed i ments in a coastal Lake Sarbsko (north ern Po land). The Lake Sarbsko is a fresh wa ter ba sin. The wa ter col umn is well ox y gen ated and wa ters ex hibit only mi nor spa tial vari - abil ity of chem i cal com po si tion in di cat ing rapid and good mix ing. Sur face sed i ments of Lake Sarbsko are strongly di - ver si fied with re spect to chem i cal com po si tion. The sed i ments of Lake Sarbsko are char ac ter ized by el e vated con tent of terrigenous sil ica in di cat ing en hanced in put of clastic ma te rial from the wa ter shed and/or in creased dy nam ics of the lake wa ters. More over, SiO2ter is strongly neg a - tively cor re lated with SiO2biog, or ganic mat ter and el e ment con tents, which ar gues for di lut ing ef fect of the for mer to - wards authigenic com po nents of sed i ments. Ba si cally, terrigenous sil ica (quartz) con tent is high est in the lake shores and de clines to wards the lake cen ter. Biogenic sil ica, or ganic mat ter and most of el e ments dis play re versed ten dency. CaCO3 was en coun tered in three iso lated ar eas, where it co-oc curs with FeS. It is an tic i pated that pre cip i ta tion of cal - cite in Lake Sarbsko re sulted from postdepositional pro cesses. Spa tial dis tri bu tion of Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na and K in Lake Sarbsko is also gov erned by their geo chem i cal af fin i ties to or ganic mat ter (Fe), Fe/Mn ox ides (Fe, Mn), sulphides (Fe), clay min er als (Na, K, Mg, Mn) and car bon ates (Ca, Mn)

Evaluation of Agricultural Value of Composts Prepared from Municipal Biowastes in Different Conditions of Composting Process

The increasing mass of organic waste as well as the assumptions of a circular economy enforce the rational management of this type of waste. One method of recycling is composting, which makes it possible to use waste efficiently as an organic fertilizer. This paper presents the results of a comparative study of six different composts in terms of their agricultural quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailable amounts of metals using single extractions with DTPA solution and to characterize various humic compounds. Particular attention was paid to the amounts of labile carbon (LC), hot water-extractable carbon (HWC), and the quantity and quality of humus substances (HS). Regardless of compost types, they were characterized by a small share of easily decomposable compounds such as fulvic acids (FAs), LC, and HWC, which may indicate the low susceptibility of compost humic substances to microbiological degradation in soil. In general, the bioavailable metal amounts found in the analyzed composts were low; therefore, the tested composts applied to the soil can be considered safe for the environment

Evaluation of Agricultural Value of Composts Prepared from Municipal Biowastes in Different Conditions of Composting Process

The increasing mass of organic waste as well as the assumptions of a circular economy enforce the rational management of this type of waste. One method of recycling is composting, which makes it possible to use waste efficiently as an organic fertilizer. This paper presents the results of a comparative study of six different composts in terms of their agricultural quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailable amounts of metals using single extractions with DTPA solution and to characterize various humic compounds. Particular attention was paid to the amounts of labile carbon (LC), hot water-extractable carbon (HWC), and the quantity and quality of humus substances (HS). Regardless of compost types, they were characterized by a small share of easily decomposable compounds such as fulvic acids (FAs), LC, and HWC, which may indicate the low susceptibility of compost humic substances to microbiological degradation in soil. In general, the bioavailable metal amounts found in the analyzed composts were low; therefore, the tested composts applied to the soil can be considered safe for the environment

BOGDAŁÓW SEDIMENT TRAP OF DIRTY WATERS AS AN ECO-HYDROLOGICAL OBJECT

Sediment traps of dirty waters are, generally speaking, temporary hydrotechnical constructions associated with the purification of mine waters from mineral-organic suspensions. Once coal mining is finished and artificial supplies are cut off, such sediment traps – depending on hydrological and hydrotechnical conditions – undergo drainage or are utilised as water reservoirs. Drained sediment traps most commonly go through a period of self-generated reclamation – renaturalisation and become, similarly to water reservoirs, eco-hydrological objects. Bearing in mind the fact that the role of sediment traps is cleaning dirty waters, it seemed advisable to recognise the properties of sediments accumulated in them and to assess their impact on the arising plant communities. Two years after its closure, the entire area of the sediment trap (16 ha) was subjected to soil science and phytosociological investigation. Differentiated moisture content and soil conditions of the sediment tank surface were favourable for the settlement of various species characterised by differing site requirements which conferred a completely new quality to this post-industrial land and its biodiversity. The invasion of herbaceous and woody plants indicates that despite the function of sediment tank played earlier in the brown coalmine infrastructure, the material which was accumulated in it provided a favourable habitat for the development of plant cover. It may be assumed that it can be attributed to a significant admixture of brown coal

Humus stock degradation and its impact on phosphorus forms in arable soils – a case of the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe Zone

Soil humus degradation strengthens nutrient mining, especially phosphorus. This study was carried out on the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe Zone (UFSZ). A total of 21 soil profiles have been investigated: 11 Phaeozems, 6 Luvisols, and 4 Chernozems. Soils were tested for particle size distribution, calcium carbonate (CC), pH, and organic carbon (Corg). The evaluation of humus degradation as a reason of P depletion was performed based on indicators such as Humus Stock Gap (HSG), Humus Stability Index (S), and Yield Gap/Gain (YG/G). In order to evaluate the degree of P depletion, total phosphorus (Ptot) and its five fractions: water soluble – PH2O, exchangeable – PEX, bound to Fe and Al – PFe/Al, bound to Ca – PCa, and residual P – Pres, have been determined. Data revealed that in 14 of 21 investigated soils, S indices were below the threshold its value of nine, considered as the balanced content of humus with respect to soil texture. Next, in 11 of 21 cases, the negative humus balance indicates the yield gap in Phaeozems and Chernozems. The first three P pools (PH2O, P­EX and PAl/Fe) in Phaeozems were exhausted, constituting less than 10% of the Ptot. In Phaeozems, PAl/Fe, in Luvisols, PEX, and in Chernozems, PH2O fractions were basic indicators of available P status. Their pools were directly or indirectly controlled by PCa. Humus content in Phaeozems and Chernozems revealed as the key factor impacting both total P and/or its available resources. Amelioration of P depletion requires efforts oriented on restoration of soil humus stock, concomitant with P fertilization

Remediacyjne działanie polepszaczy z popiołu z biomasy roślinnej oraz pofermentu na glebę zanieczyszczonej metalami ciężkimi

Nine phyto-ashes from the biomass combustion of birch (Betula), oak (Quercus), red oak (Quercus rubra), horbeam (Carpinus), pine (Pinus sylvestris), poplar (Populus), maple (Acer), oilseed rape straw (Brassica napus) and wheat straw (Triticum aestivum) were blended with a biogas digestate at 1:1 mass ratio to give nine organic-mineral soil improvers. The concept of the research was to outline an eco-friendly and low cost soil improver for remediating degraded lands. These (i.e. phyto-ashes, improvers and the biogas digestate) were applied (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 t∙ha-1) to a soil metallurgically contaminated with Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd. Of several tested parameters, pH changes revealed that organic-mineral soil improvers may efficiently replace (linear R2>0.90****, P<0.001) phyto-ashes in soil remedial goals. Buffering properties expressed by the cation exchange capacity (CEC) improved progressively: 29, 52, 71, 100% (phyto-ash treatments) and: 18, 37, 44, 73% (improvers treatments) for the rates 5, 10, 20, 40 t∙ha-1, respectively as referred to the control CEC. The Dynamic Remediation Efficiency (DRE) indices for Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd revealed metal-specific geochemical reactions initiated by phyto-ashes, improvers and biogas digestate. The rates 5.0–10.0 t∙ha-1 for phyto-ashes and about 20 t∙ha-1 for improvers [1:1, i.e. Phyto-ash:Biogas digestate] are recommended. For biogas digestate, the rates 10–20 t∙ha-1 were found more efficient.W pracy zastosowano 9 popiołów z biomasy roślinnej: brzozy (Betula), dębu (Quercus), dębu czerwonego (Quercus rubra), grabu (Carpinus), sosny (Pinus sylvestris), topoli (Populus), klonu (Acer), słomy rzepaku (Brassica napus) oraz słomy pszennej (Triticum aestivum), które wymieszano z pofermentem w stosunku 1:1. Otrzymano 9 organiczno-mineralnych polepszaczy glebowych. Koncepcja badań polegała na wyodrębnieniu taniego i środowiskowo przyjaznego polepszacza do remediacji gruntów zdegradowanych. Zanieczyszczone Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd próbki gleb pobrano w strefie zlokalizowanej po południowo-wschodnej stronie Huty Zn i Pb w Miasteczku Śląskim. Popioły z biomasy roślinnej, polepszacze oraz poferment zastosowano w dawkach 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 t∙ha-1. Skuteczność procesu remediacyjnego oceniono przy użyciu testów: 0,11 mola CH3COOH dm--3, pH 3,0 (Reaktywne formy Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) oraz 0,10 mola NaNO3 dm--3 (formy biodostępne). Spośród wielu zbadanych parametrów, zmiany pH ujawniły, że polepszacze mineralno-organiczne mogą skutecznie zastępować (liniowe R2>0,90****; P<0,001) popioły z biomasy roślinnej w zabiegach remediacyjnych. Właściwości buforowe wyrażone pojemnością wymienną w stosunku do kationów (CEC) poprawiły się progresywnie: 29, 52, 71, 100% (na obiektach z popiołami) oraz: 18, 37, 44, 73% (na obiektach z polepszaczami) odpowiednio dla dawek 5, 10, 20, 40 t∙ha-1, w porównaniu do CEC na kontroli. Wskaźniki dynamicznej skuteczności remediacyjnej (DRE) dla Cu, Zn, Pb i Cd wskazały na specyficzne reakcje geochemiczne zainicjowane popiołami, polepszaczami oraz pofermentem. Dawki 5,0–10,0 t∙ha-1 dla popiołów roślinnych, ok. 20 t∙ha-1 dla polepszaczy [1:1, tzn. popiół:poferment] oraz 10–20 t∙ha-1 pofermentu są zalecane

Effect of harvest date on structural carbohydrates and lignin content in meadow sward in different pluvio-thermal conditions

The content of structural carbohydrates and lignin are important assessment criteria of the feed value of meadow plants. It is affected by many independent factors, including among others its development stage during the harvest as well as climatic conditions, especially the amount of rainfall. During the years 2014-2016, plant samples were harvested at weekly intervals, respectively five times from late April to late May. The effect of harvest date on cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin contents was evaluated. The chemical composition of plants was varied, depending not only on harvest date but also on the year of study. Regardless of the course of meteorological conditions in subsequent growing seasons, the increase of cellulose (from 236.5 to 297.9 g∙kg-1 DM), hemicelluloses (from 159.3 to 210.8 g∙kg-1 DM), and lignin (from 31.5 to 43.1 g∙kg-1 DM) in the following dates of harvest were observed. These parameters were also positively correlated with the total rainfall from the begging of vegetation season to the date of plants sampling (R2 = 0.65, 0.12 and 0.44 for cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin, respectively), and with the average daily air temperature in the moment of harvest (R2 = 0.66, 0.32 and 0.52 for cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin, respectively). The cellulose and lignin content, regardless of the harvest date, were significantly higher in the first year of the study (2014), when moisture conditions for plant development were optimal

Assessment of nutritional status of patients with cancer who are qualified for home enteral nutrition – a retrospective analysis

Background: Patients with cancer are at risk of malnutrition. The aim of this study is to assess the nutritional status of patients with cancer who are qualified for home enteral nutrition. Secondary aim is to compare the nutritional status of patients with gastric cancer and with esophageal cancer. Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of medical documentation of 84 participants with cancer who were qualified for home enteral nutrition in Nutritional Counselling Center Copernicus in Gdansk in 2009-2015 was performed. Assessment of nutritional status included body mass index, the level of total protein and albumin in blood serum, total lymphocyte count, and Nutritional Risk Score 2002 method. Results: Patients with gastric cancer most often presented albumin deficiency in comparison with patients with esophageal cancer (p=0.02). The low level of total lymphocyte count in 1mm3 of peripheral blood was observed in 47.6% participants. All the patients qualified for home enteral nutrition received at least 3 points in NRS 2002 method and most often 5 points (40.4%). Conclusions: All patients required nutritional treatment. Notwithstanding, the nutritional status of patients varied. Hypoalbuminemia was observed more often in patients with gastric cancer in comparison with patients with esophageal cancer