the potential risk of metal accumulation in periurban agricultural areas is a matter for concern.the climate characteristics and carbonate content of calcareous agricultural mediterranean soils typical inthese areas favour metal accumulation at the surface level; however there is also a risk of potential metalmobility. our study focuses on the soil properties affecting metal mobility in these s...

Hydrologic response varies within a watershed as a function of topography, soil, and land cover. Spatial and temporal data from experimental watersheds may provide information on where, when, how, and why the response varies. This study examined the hydrologic response of an agricultural watershed, FD-36, in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge physiographic region. FD-36 is characterized by shallo...

96 AI MAGAZINE An adequate use of land resources is an essential guarantee of sustainable development, and many authors have suggested different approaches (Chi-Mei et al. 2002; Stewart, Janssen, and van Herwijnen 2004; Matthews et al. 2000; Tsuruta, Hoshi, and Sugai 2001; Bocco, Sayago, and Tartara 2002). The optimal use of soils is the basis of all forms of sustainable land use, that is, agri...

To understand the effect of intense human activities in suburbs on environmental quality, we obtained 758 measurements of the heavy metals in certain farmland soils of the Beijing suburbs. Multivariate statistical analysis and geostatistical analysis were used to conduct a basic analysis of the heavy metal concentrations, the distribution characteristics and the sources of pollution of the farm...

urban expansion and agriculture intensification are relevant drivers in land degradation (ld)processes in europe due to net loss of land, soil sealing, landscape fragmentation and other negative effects on the environment. this paper explores changes (or “trajectories” of change) in land use and cover (lulc) and their relationship with the consumption of soils in emilia-romagna (northern italy)...

Agricultural soils represent the main source of anthropogenic N2O emissions. Recently, interactions of black carbon with the nitrogen cycle have been recognized and the use of biochar is being investigated as a means to reduce N2O emissions. However, the mechanisms of reduction remain unclear. Here we demonstrate the significant impact of biochar on denitrification, with a consistent decrease i...

Aldrin (C12H8Cl6) and dieldrin (C12H8Cl6O) are two organochlorine insecticides that were used for agricultural and public health purposes from the early 1950s until 1989, when their manufacture in the United States was discontinued. Aldrin and dieldrin were popular pesticides for corn and cotton crops, and were used as a prophylactic and for treatment of timber against termite infestation. Cons...

Copper (Cu) desorption and toxicity to the Florida apple snail were investigated from soils obtained from agricultural sites acquired under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Copper concentrations in 11 flooded soils ranged from 5 to 234 mg/kg on day 0 and from 6.2 to 204 mg/kg on day 28 (steady-state). The steady-state Cu concentration in overlying water ranged from 9.1 to 308.2 mi...

A sink for atmospheric carbon (i.e., CO2) in soils may derive from the application of conservation tillage and the regrowth of native vegetation on abandoned agricultural land. Accumulations of soil organic matter on these lands could offset emissions of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion, in the context of the Kyoto protocol. The rate of accumulation of soil organic matter is often higher on fert...

Glyphosate is the main nonselective, systemic herbicide used against a wide range of weeds. Its worldwide use has expanded because of extensive use of certain agricultural practices such as no-till cropping, and widespread application of glyphosate-resistant genetically modified crops. Glyphosate has a reputation of being nontoxic to animals and rapidly inactivated in soils. However, recent evi...