Nitrate nitrogen losses through subsurface drainage and crop yield are determined by multiple climatic and management variables. The combined and interactive effects of these variables, however, are poorly understood. Our objective is to predict crop yield, nitrate concentration, drainage volume, and nitrate loss in subsurface drainage from a corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Mer...

In this study, the importance of individual soil mineral constituents on non-ionic surfactant sorption is evaluated by employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) to observe microchemical surface composition of model soil colloids and relate surface microchemical composition to the sorption behavior of a non-ionic surfactant, Polyethylene G...

The effects of abundant Mancozeb (Mn, Zn-bisdithiocarbamate) applications (2.5 kg ha⁻¹week⁻¹ for 10 years) on soil and surface-, subsurface- and groundwater pollution were monitored in a banana production region of tropical Mexico. In soils, severe manganese accumulation was observed, wheras the main metabolite ethylenethiourea was near the detection limit. Surface and subsurface water was high...

Lead contamination at shooting range soils is of great environmental concern. This study focused on weathering of lead bullets and its effect on the environment at five outdoor shooting ranges in Florida, USA. Soil, plant, and water samples were collected from the ranges and analyzed for total Pb and/or toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) Pb. Selected bullet and berm soil samples ...

Four soil profiles located near a copper smelter in Poland were investigated for the distribution and chemical fractions of Cu, Pb, and Zn and their mobility in relation to soil properties. Contamination with heavy metals was primarily restricted to surface horizons and the extent of contamination was 7- to 115-fold for Cu, 30-fold for Pb, and 6-fold for Zn as compared with subsurface horizons....

This paper illustrates the usefulness of pre-screening methods for an effective characterization of polluted sites. We applied a sequence of site characterization methods to a former Soviet military airbase with likely fuel and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) contamination in shallow groundwater and subsoil. The methods were (i) phytoscreening with tree cores; (ii) soil gas me...

Temperature changes at the Earth surface propagate into the subsurface and leave a thermal signature in the underlying soil and rock. Measurements of subsurface temperatures have been inverted to yield reconstructions of ground surface temperature (GST) histories that provide regional and global estimates of climatic changes. A principal question remaining in the interpretation of reconstructed...

Soil quality index (SQI) assessment is an important tool for evaluating land use and soil management practices in agroecosystems. Thus, the objectives of this research were to assess SQI using the scoring function analysis for different agricultural management practices, and to evaluate the effects of tillage and drainage systems on SQI of a crosby silt loam in central Ohio. Treatments included...

Future modifications of fuels should include evaluation of the proposed constituents for their potential to damage environmental resources such as the subsurface environment. Batch and column experiments were designed to simulate biofuel spills in the subsurface environment and to evaluate the sorption and desorption behavior of target fuel constituents (i.e., monoaromatic and polyaromatic hydr...