Thesis (Ph. D.?)--Universitat Bayreuth, 2006.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 26, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Robert J. Kremer. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

The understanding of the spatial distribution of lead (Pb) in soil is important in the assessment of potential risks and development of remediation strategies for Pb contaminated land. In situ heterogeneity of Pb was measured at two heavily contaminated sites in the United Kingdom using the Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (P-XRF) over a range of spatial scales (0.02 to 50 m). The pattern of the distribution of Pb was very variable, and when expressed as heterogeneity factor (HF), it ranged from 1.2 to 3.2 (highly heterogeneous). The effect of such Pb heterogeneity on plant uptake was investigated in greenhouse pot trials. Two earlier pot trials, which assessed the effect of Pb in a fixed concentration (1000 mg/kg) and in a range of concentration (100 to 10000 mg/kg) found a significant effect of the Pb added treatments, when compared to a control treatment (0 mg/kg Pb added). Biomass and uptake varied by 20 to 100% within and between 16 species/varieties. Results enhanced the selection of two species (Brassica napus and Brassica juncea) for further pot trials. A third pot experiment with Brassica napus and Brassica juncea in simplistic binary model of heterogeneity found 20 to 60% lower uptake in the binary treatment, than homogeneous the treatment. Biomass was higher by 10 to 50% in Brassica juncea and 20 to 40% lower for B. napus in the bianary treatment, when compared to the homogeneous and control treatments. The effect of a more realistic in situ heterogeneity on plant uptake was investigated in a further pot trial, which simulated low (LH), medium) (MH) and high (HH) heterogeneity treatments, compared to a homogeneous (HO) treatment. It detected a significant (P < 0.05) impact of heterogeneity on biomass and uptake between treatments and species. Four to five fold lower biomass were recorded in HH treatment, when compared to the HO treatment. Shoot and root uptake in (mg/kg) concentration increased with increasing heterogeneity with peak uptake (twice as high as HO treatment) in LH for B. napus and in HH and MH treatments for B. juncea respectively. Shoot and root Pb masses in (μg) were maximum in HO and MH treatments respectively with 50 to 70% lower Pb mass in the HH treatment. Results showed that response to heterogeneity is species specific. A sub-experiment explored the behaviour of plant roots in HH treatment and found 20 to 80% variation in root biomass between concentric patches with same nominal soil Pb concentrations. This provided insights into varied responses of these species to realistic Pb heterogeneity. The research demonstrated that the presence and extent of in situ heterogeneity of Pb in soil plays an important role in Pb uptake by plants. It also showed that the homogeneous and simplistic binary model of heterogeneity do not give reliable estimates of plant growth and Pb uptake in realistic field conditions. This work has implications for improving the efficiency of phytoremediation of Pb contaminated land, phytomining, reliability of risk assessment and models of human exposure to Pb.

Heterogeneity of contaminants in soils can vary spatially over a range of scales, causing uncertainty in environmental measurements of contaminant concentrations. Sampling designs may aim to reduce the impact of on-site heterogeneity, by using composite sampling, increased sample mass and off-site homogenisation, yet they could overlook the small scale heterogeneity that can have significant implications for plant uptake of contaminants. Moreover, composite sampling and homogenisation may not be relevant to target receptor behaviour, e.g. plants, and studies, using simplistic models of heterogeneity have shown that it can significantly impact plant uptake of contaminants. The alternative approach, to accept and quantify heterogeneity, requires further exploration as contaminant heterogeneity is inevitable within soils and its quantification should enable improved reliability in risk assessment and understanding variability in plant contaminant uptake. This thesis reports the development of a new sampling design, to characterise and quantify contaminant heterogeneity at scales, from 0.02m to 20m, using in situ measurement techniques, and 0.005m to 0.0005m, using ex situ techniques. The design was implemented at two contaminated land sites, with contrasting heterogeneity based upon historic anthropogenic activity and showed heterogeneity varying between contaminants and at different spatial scales, for Pb, Cu and Zn. Secondly, this research demonstrates how contaminant heterogeneity measured in situ can be recreated in a pot experiment, at a scale specific to the plant under study. Results, from 4 different plant species, demonstrated that existing simplistic models of heterogeneity are an inadequate proxy for plant performance and contaminant uptake under field conditions, and significant differences were found in plant contaminant concentrations between simplistic models and those based upon actual site measurements of heterogeneity. Implications of heterogeneity on plant roots were explored in the final experiment showing significant differences in root biomass between patches of differing contaminant concentrations.

The soils of Australia have extensive macro and micronutrient disorders varying greatly in their capacities to provide the chemical nutrients essential for plant growth. Assessment of nutrient availability in soils is important in order to maximise fertilizer efficiency and crop yields and to minimise environmental pollution associated with over fertilisation. Nutrient availability has proven difficult to assess due to the complexity of trace element soil chemistry and plant uptake mechanisms. The relatively new method, Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films ( DGT ), provides the potential to become an alternative soil test that could accurately predict nutrient availability. To date, DGT technology has only been designed for separate assessment of anionic and cationic species in waters or soils typically at concentrations characteristic of highly contaminated systems. In this study a new mixed binding gel ( MBL ) was developed capable of simultaneous assessment of cations and anions in a single assay at concentrations more representative of uncontaminated agricultural soils, sediments and waters. The MBL has the potential to eliminate measurement errors associated with very fine spatial scale changes in element concentrations in these environments. The MBL consisted of ferrihydrite and Chelex - 100 cation exchange resin combined together in a binding gel. Results from the MBL were comparable to experiments performed using individual Chelex gels and ferrihydrite gels that have been shown to work successfully for DGT methodology. To facilitate combined analysis of P and cations by ICP - MS, HCl ( 1 M ) was used for gel elution to minimise interferences from [superscript 14] N [superscript 16] OH or [superscript 15] N [superscript 16] O on [superscript 31] P. All elements tested ( Cd, Cu, Mn, Mo, P and Zn ) were bound successfully to the MBL. DGT measurements obtained using the MBL on agricultural soils correlated well ( r ? = 0.95 ) with measurements obtained using pure Chelex and ferrihydrite binding layers. This suggests that the MBL could be used for simultaneous measurement of cationic and anionic element availability in soils. Performance of the Diffusive Gradient in Thin Films ( DGT ) technique was compared with three other common testing methods ( Colwell, Olsen, Resin ) for available soil P in terms of the ability of each to predict wheat, canola, lupin and barley responsiveness to applied P on 21 Australian agricultural soils. DGT accurately predicted plant responsiveness in > 90 % of the soils used. In contrast the other soil testing methods failed to correctly predict plant response to P on numerous occasions. These observations reveal that the DGT technique with the newly developed MBL can predict plant available P on these soils with greater accuracy than other traditional soil P testing methods and could become a useful tool for predicting P fertilizer requirements. The DGT method using the MBL was also used to test Zn deficiency thresholds for canola and wheat in a manufactured soil ( acid washed sand ). DGT successfully determined the threshold for Zn deficiency in this soil, overcoming detection limit issues usually accompanying such low levels of Zn. This method also provides that potential to assess other micronutrients ( Mn, Cu ) and with further modification potentially assess K. Before DGT can become established as an alternative soil testing method, validation of the performance is required under field conditions. This study has shown that it out performs current common soil testing methods in glasshouse conditions but questions still remain if this will be reflected out in the field. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2007.

Licentiatavhandling (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2007.

The Ethiopian Highlands have been studied extensively, hosting a large amount of research for development projects in agriculture and forestry over several decades. The encounters in these projects were also encounters of different ways of knowing that were negotiated by the actors meeting in the space provided by the projects. This research explores these encounters and the social worlds they are embedded in, drawing on actor-oriented approaches as well as theories of narratives and framing. Ways of knowing and citizen epistemologies are taken as a lens to understand the role of identities in knowledge production and use. The two case studies were agroforestry research projects in the Ethiopian Highlands. The research followed a range of qualitative and ethnographic research methods. Different types of farmers and scientists meet in the case studies. I recognise that they all have individual agency, nevertheless I use the terms ‘scientist' and ‘farmer' in this thesis. I use the terms to describe certain groups of actors who all draw on different ways of knowing, and different value systems, when interacting with each other and their environment. The results indicate that the importance of social worlds at different scales and the contexts of research projects tend to be underestimated. In spite of good intentions scientific methodologies, terminologies and narratives tend to dominate. Scientists in the case studies acknowledged the existence of farmers' ‘indigenous' knowledge, but they determined the value of knowledge by its scientific applicability and the replicability of experiments. Research systems force the scientists into a certain modus operandi with limited possibilities to experiment and to respond to the complexities and diversities of people's social worlds. Farmers in the case studies preferred observation from their parents, observing from others or the environment as a way of learning and gaining knowledge. Depending on their personalities and their life histories they also relied on alternative ways of knowing rooted in spirituality, emotions and memories. Powerful influences on ways of knowing resulted from the way languages and authority had been used. These often led to the exclusion of marginalised community members from access to knowledge and technologies. Unfortunately, common narratives prevailed in the case studies, and alternative ways of knowing were often marginalised. By acknowledging different ways of knowing and the importance of different social worlds and different ways of doing research, both scientists and farmers could benefit and develop more sustainable pathways for agricultural and forestry land use.

A crise da água, o aumento de esgoto domésticos gerado em estações de tratamentos e o despejo destes efluentes em corpos d\'água vêm sugerindo novas soluções para esses problemas. A disposição de água residuária tratada em solos implica na reciclagem de matéria orgânica e dos nutrientes, atuando como um processo complementar ao tratamento dessas águas. Rica em nutrientes principalmente N (nitrogênio), P (fósforo) e Na (sódio), a água residual tratada vem sendo utilizada na agricultura, utilizando critérios técnicos, como fonte de nutrientes para diversas culturas. Diante deste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os possíveis efeitos da irrigação com efluente tratado em algumas propriedades químicas e físicas de um solo cultivado com laranja. A área experimental esta situada ao lado da Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto (ETE) do Ribeirão Piracicamirim que se localiza nas margens da rodovia \"Luiz de Queiroz\" no município de Piracicaba-SP. Os tratamentos aplicados foram relacionados ao percentual de umidade da capacidade de campo variando em T100%, T125%, T150%, T200% e TSI (tratamento sem irrigação). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos inteiramente casualizados com parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com três repetições. A adubação realizada foi a de metade da dose recomendada para a cultura da laranja. Em todo o estudo as amostragens de solo foram realizadas nas camadas 0-10, 10-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80 e 80-100, enquanto que as amostragens de solução do solo foram realizadas nas profundidades 30, 100 e 200 cm. As variáveis químicas determinadas no solo foram: pH, H + Al, Al, Na, K, Ca e Mg. Em solução do solo as variáveis determinadas foram: pH, CE, Al, Na, K, Ca e Mg. As variáveis físicas determinadas foram: fração granulométrica e grau de dispersão de argilas. O efluente de esgoto tratado (EET) utilizado apresenta baixas concentrações de Ca, Mg, Na, K, Al, CE e RAS quando comparado com valores encontrados na literatura. Por esse fato, o EET apresenta menor potencial de alterações nas propriedades químicas e físicas do solo. O teor de sódio trocável e PST aumentaram no decorrer do experimento, enquanto a concentração de sódio na solução do solo diminuiu. O cálcio trocável no solo sofreu diminuição dos teores nas camadas superficiais, e aumento nas camadas subsuperficias. As perspectivas da irrigação de efluente de esgoto tratado na cultura da laranja são promissoras, haja vista a importância da cultura no cenário brasileiro e mundial. No entanto, estudos de longo prazo são necessários a fim de monitorar os possíveis impactos que a irrigação de EET possa ocasionar na estrutura do solo. / The crisis of the water, the sewage domestic increase generated in stations of treatments and the spilling of these effluents in bodies of water are suggesting new solutions for those problems. The disposition of wastewater treated in soils implicate in the nutrient and organic matter recycling, acting as a complementary process to the treatment of those waters. Rich in nutrients mainly N (Nitrogen), P (Phosphorus) and Na (Sodium) the treated wastewater has been used in the agriculture through technical criteria as source of nutrients for several crops. Before this context, the objective of this work was to analyze the possible effects of the irrigation with effluent treated in some chemical and physical properties of a soil cultivated with Orange. The experimental area located her beside the Station of Sewage Treatment (SST) Piracicamirim that is located in the margins of the highway \"Luiz de Queiroz\" in the municipal district of Piracicaba, São Paulo State. The applied treatments were related to the percentile of humidity of the field capacity varying in T100%, T125%, T150%, T200% and TSI (treatment without irrigation). The experimental design was a split plot scheme of randomized blocks subdivided in time, with five treatments and three repetitions. The accomplished fertilization was the one of half of the dose recommends for the orange crop. In whole the study the soil samplings were accomplished in the layers 0-10, 10-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80 and 80-100, while the samplings of soil solution were accomplished in the depths 30, 100 and 200 cm. The chemical variables determined in the soil were pH, H + Al, Al, Na, K, Ca and Mg. In soil solution the variables were pH, CE, Al, Na, K, Ca and Mg. The certain physical variables were fraction particle sizing and degree of clay dispersion. The sewage effluent treated (SET) used presents low concentrations of Ca, Mg, In the, K, Al, CE and RAS when compared with values found in the literature. For that fact, SET present potential minor of alterations in the chemical and physical properties of the soil. The exchangeable sodium and PST increased in elapsing of the experiment, while the concentration of sodium in the soil solution decreased. The exchangeable calcium in the soil suffered decrease in the superficial layers, and increase in the subsuperficial layers. The perspectives of the irrigation of SET in the orange crop are promising, have seen the importance of the culture in the Brazilian and world scenery. However, it is suggested studies of long period in order to monitor the possible impacts to cause in the structure of the soil.