Oxalic acid is the smallest dicarboxylic acid and plays an important role in soil processes (e.g., mineral weathering and metal detoxification in plants). We have first proven its abiotic formation in soils and investigated natural abiotic degradation processes based on the oxidation of soil organic matter, enhanced by Fe(3+) and H(2)O(2) as hydroxyl radical suppliers. Experiments with the mode...

Land degradation by soil erosion and landslides has been recognised as a constraint for sustainable land-use in Eastern Bhutan for a few decades. However, the extreme diversity in agro-ecological zones, the relative inaccessibility of the region, the lack of reliable data and the limited research capacity made it very difficult to develop a relevant land management strategy. To address this iss...

We investigated the effects of various factors (brij 30, brij 35, yeast extract, hydrogen peroxide and compost) on the aerobic degradation of nonylphenol (NP) in soil and characterized the structure of the microbial community in that soil. Residues of NP were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and a change of microbial communities was demonstrated using denaturing gradi...

A degradation pathway of 2-chloro-4-aminophenol (2C4AP) was studied in an Arthrobacter sp. SPG that utilized 2C4AP as its sole source of carbon and energy. The 2C4AP degradation was initiated by a 2C4AP-deaminase that catalyzed the conversion of 2C4AP into chlorohydroquinone (CHQ) with removal of ammonium ion. In the next step, a CHQ-dehalogenase dehalogenated CHQ to hydroquinone (HQ) that clea...

Rates of pesticide degradation in soil exhibit a high degree of variability, the sources of which are usually unclear. Combining data from incubations performed using a range of soil properties and environmental conditions has resulted in greater understanding of factors controlling such degradation. The herbicides clomazone, ̄umetsulam, atrazine, and cloransulam-methyl, as well as the former i...

Ecosystem degradation resulting from resource extraction, land-use change, and invasion by exotic species alters numerous functions and services provided by intact and unexploited ecosystems. Ecological restoration is the human-facilitated improvement of a degraded ecosystem and represents an important means to repair or reinstate many natural services in degraded ecosystems ( Table 5.6.1 ). Re...

N-Methyl-4-nitroaniline (MNA) is used as an additive to lower the melting temperature of energetic materials in the synthesis of insensitive explosives. Although the biotransformation of MNA under anaerobic condition has been reported, its aerobic microbial degradation has not been documented yet. A soil microcosms study showed the efficient aerobic degradation of MNA by the inhabitant soil mic...

During past decades, increased wastewater production by human activities intensified the problem of wastewater usewithout causing undesirable impacts on the environment and human life. However, practice of wastewater use inirrigation crops and green spaces needs careful control because of the potential presence of unwanted constituents such asheavy metals and organic contaminants. This research...

Soil health, along with water supply, is the most valuable resource for humans, as human life depends on the soil’s generosity. Soil degradation, therefore, poses a threat to food security, as it reduces yield, forces farmers to use more inputs, and may eventually lead to soil abandonment. Unfortunately, the importance of preserving soil health appears to be overlooked by policy makers. In this...