Die Festigkeitssteigerung von Betonen unter hohen Belastungsgeschwindigkeiten ist seit über 100 Jahren im Fokus der Forschung. Bisher konnten bereits eine Vielzahl von möglichen Er-klärungen dieser Festigkeitssteigerung benannt werden, wobei die Heterogenität des Betons im Allgemeinen als eine wesentliche Ursache angenommen werden kann. Die Heterogenität des Betons resultiert aus den im Zementstein eingebetteten Zuschlägen, aber auch durch da-rin eingeschlossene Luft- und Wasserporen, welche Hauptgegenstand dieser Arbeit sind. Es wurde untersucht, inwieweit vorhandenes Porenwasser die Festigkeitssteigerung von Be-ton unter hohen Belastungsgeschwindigkeiten beeinflusst. Auf Basis von experimentellen Ver-suchen im Split-HOPKINSON-Bar an verschiedenen Normalbetonen konnte gezeigt werden, dass vorhandenes Porenwasser die statische und dynamische Betondruckfestigkeit in gleicher Weise signifikant reduziert. Diese Abnahme der Betondruckfestigkeit kann als unabhängig von der Belastungsgeschwindigkeit angesehen werden. Des Weiteren wurden numerische Untersuchungen zum Einfluss von Poren auf die Ausbrei-tung von Belastungswellen durchgeführt. Dabei rückten sowohl das globale Wellenausbrei-tungsverhalten in einer porendurchsetzten Struktur als auch die lokale Wellenbrechung an ei-ner Einzelpore, sowie das Porenmedium (Luft oder Wasser) in den Fokus. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass vorhandene Poren die Wellenausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit reduzieren und dass das Verhältnis aus Porengröße zur Belastungswellenlänge einen wesentlichen Einflussfaktor für die transiente Spannungsverteilung im Porenbereich darstellt. Insbesondere konnte mit ab-nehmender Belastungswellenlänge eine Reduzierung der örtlichen Kerbspannungen am Po-renrand beobachtet werden, woraus festigkeitssteigernde Effekte resultieren können.

Responses to sublethal concentrations of mercury were determined and compared for several populations of the mayfly, Isonychia bicolor from sites on two mercury polluted rivers in Virginia (USA). Results from laboratory respiration experiments indicated that small nymphs were more sensitive to mercury than larger nymphs, and that sensitivity increased with temperature. In addition, mayfly nymphs from polluted sites on the less contaminated South River were found to be more resistant to sublethal doses of inorganic mercury than nymphs from a reference site as indicated by smaller changes in respiration following exposure. Results of preexposure treatments suggested a genetic basis for the observed tolerance. No evidence of tolerance was observed in nymphs from the more contaminated Holston River. Field surveys revealed no significant differences in age structure, growth, or survival between populations at reference and polluted sites on the South River. However, growth and survival of nymphs from the polluted site on the Holston River were significantly slower than at the reference site during the summer. In fact, shortly after the summer generation hatched, nymphal density at contaminated sites declined to zero. This apparent local extinction may have been due to increased toxicity of mercury at warmer temperatures. Results of reciprocal transplant experiments conducted at sites on the South River suggested that population differences in maintenance costs observed in short-term laboratory experiments, may have been reflected by population differences in fecundity in long-term field experiments. When nymphs from the reference site on South River were transplanted and allowed to develop at a contaminated site, lower fecundities were observed than for the native population. No population differences in fecundities were observed on the Holston River. The relationship between allozyme genotype to survival of I. bicolor nymphs to acute mercury exposure was also tested. The probability of survival and individual times to death (TTD) were found to be significantly different among genotypes at the Glucose Phosphate Isomerase (GPI) locus. This was true at both summer and winter temperatures and for populations from two separate, unpolluted streams. However, genotypes identified as sensitive and tolerant in these experiments showed no consistent relationship with environmental mercury levels in polluted rivers. Therefore, the use of allozyme variants as a biomarker to assess evolutionary change in populations due to mercury pollution may be impractical in freshwater systems. / Ph. D.

Ph.D. (Zoology) / Histomorphology as a tool to assess the health status of five economically important fish species in the Okavango Delta Panhandle, Botswana the Okavango Delta, and an inland freshwater wetland of national and international importance was designated by the Ramsar Convention in 1996. This site is of global importance because of a wide diversity of fish species found in this freshwater ecosystem. The Okavango Delta is also one of the last 'near pristine' sites on the African continent and therefore serves as an ideal reference site to describe the normal histomorphology of selected organs in sentinel fish species which could be used as reference for future toxicological studies. The aim of this study was to assess the health status of five economically important fish species namely, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), Clarias ngamensis (Castelnau, 1861), Serranochromis robustus jallae (Gunther, 1864), Serranochromis angusticeps (Boulenger, 1907) and Hydrocynus vittatus (Castelnau, 1861) sampled from the Okavango Delta Panhandle, by describing the normal histomorphology of the liver, gills and gonads of the sentinel species. The sentinel fish species are of significant importance because they form an integral part of the small-scale commercial, subsistence and recreational fisheries in this ecosystem. In the past few decades, fish-health research has focused almost exclusively on histopathological alterations resulting from pollution caused by exposure to chemicals, parasitesand pathogens. Limited attention has been devoted to the normal histomorphology and health status of fish species in various aquatic ecosystems including the Okavango Delta Panhandle. Also, histopathological evaluations noted only the presence of abnormalities without quantitative assessment of the extent of the abnormalities within each tissue section. The absence of baseline normal histomorphology and numerical data however, makes it difficult to establish cause-and-affect relationships between pathology and contamination patterns in various fish species. It is imperative therefore, that the normal histomorphology of organs in fish species occurring in this region should be known so that histopathological conditions maybe accurately diagnosed…

Dissertation (PhD (Bosb))--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the water and nutrient relations of three indigenous deciduous tree species, viz., Cordia africana Lam., Croton macrostachyus Del., Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Baker and two widely planted eucalypts, viz., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh and Eucalyptus globulus Labill from Ethiopia. The study was organized as glasshouse and field observations in Ethiopia. Owing to the lack of baseline studies on the water and nutrient relations of the deciduous tree species, the glasshouse experiments involved a wide range of water and nutrient applications. Seedlings were grown with the supply of various levels of water and nutrients during which gas exchange, water potential, relative water content, tissue nutrient content and biomass production were measured. The field observations were limited to the study of surface root distribution and leaf nutrient composition of mature trees and their effects on soil nutrient pool. The observations were made on isolated trees and mixed or pure stands of trees in Badessa area, Eastern Ethiopia. The field site was selected because of the availability of the study species and suitability of the trees for the study. In the glasshouse, increased water deficit significantly reduced predawn leaf water potential, relative water content, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, whole plant water use efficiency, plant height, diameter, leaf area and biomass production. Both of the eucalypts did not grow faster than the deciduous species under well-watered conditions unlike under water stress conditions. C. macrostachyus and C. africana had higher transpiration rates and tissue nutrient accumulations than the other species. They also demonstrated higher biomass allocation to roots than all the other species to support the intensive water and nutrient uptake rate. Due to the ability to re-orient its leaves to avoid direct solar irradiance, M. ferruginea maintained higher tissue water potential and relative water content than all the other species under water stress regimes. The impact of imposed drought was quick and more damaging to the eucalypts compared to the deciduous tree species indicating that the eucalypts may not survive extreme drought conditions unlike the deciduous species that drop their leaves and may remain dormant for weeks. The current study gave new experimental proof that E. globulus was more vulnerable to drought than E. camaldulensis. Soil N stress resulted in an overall reduction of tissue N concentration, N:P ratio, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic water use efficiency in all the species studied. Pants with high foliar nitrogen concentration had higher photosynthetic capacities indicating that N plays a key role in photosynthesis and growth of all the studied species. The current study showed that for all the tree species, more attention has to be given to soil N than to P as soil P had minor effects on the photosynthetic activities of plants of all species compared to N.The investigation on tissue nutrient composition confirmed that N:P ratio could be used to detect Plimitation in plants. However, N:P ratio could not distinguish between N-limitation and combined limitations of N and P. The study of isolated C. africana and C. macrostachyus trees on soils in Badessa, Eastern Ethiopia indicated improved soil N, P and K under tree canopies whereas no effects were observed on the other soil nutrients studied. Similar to glasshouse conditions, C. macrostachyus and C. africana produced extensive surface roots, interfering with crops grown in association. Due to their high nutrient cycling potential the net effect on soil was positive. Comparison of E. camaldulensis woodlot and a mixed stand composed of deciduous species indicated that the fine root biomass in the surface soil under E. camaldulensis was about three times that under the mixed stand. The fine root biomass of E. camaldulensis inside the stand and 10 meters away from the stand were comparable in the surface soils showing the presence of root competition with adjacent crops. Therefore, planting of E. camaldulensis in association or adjacent to croplands should be avoided. Nutrient and carbon pool of soil inside the mixed stand was generally higher than that of E. camaldulensis indicating that trees of the mixed stand recycled more nutrients to the soil. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verskille tussen water- en voedingstofverhoudings van drie inheemse blaarwisselemde boomsoorte te vergelyk, viz., Cordia africana Lam., Croton macrostachyus Del., Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Baker en twee bekende eucalyptus spesies, viz., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh en Eucalyptus globulus Labil van Etiopië. Die studie het bestaan uit kweekhuis- en veldobservasies in Etiopië. As gevolg van beperkte navorsing ten opsigte van water- en voedingstofverhoudings in bladwisselende boomsoorte, het die kweekhuis-eksperimente bestaan uit 'n wye verkeidenheid water- en voedingstoftoetse. Saailinge is gegroei deur verskillende vlakke van water- en voedingstowwe by te voeg. Gaswisseling, waterpotensiaal, relatiewe hoeveelheid water, hoeveelheid voedingstowwe en produksie van biomassa is gemeet. Die veldobservasies was beperk tot oppervlak-wortelverspreiding en blaarvoedingstof hoeveelhede van volwasse bome, sowel as die effek op grondvoedingstowwe. Observasies was beperk tot geïsoleerde, gemengde en een spesie opstande, in die Badessa area, Oos Etiopië. Die studiearea was gekies op grond van die voorkoms van die gekose boomsoorte, sowel as die toepaslikheid van die bome vir die studie. In die kweekhuis is gevind dat die verhoogte watertekort die pre-sonop blaarwaterpotensiaal, relatiewe hoeveelheid water, stomatiese geleiding, fotosintetiese tempo, heelplant water-gebruikseffektiwiteit, plant hoogte, diameter, blaararea en biomassa produksie beduidend verminder het. Nie een van die eucalyptus spesies het vinniger as die bladwisselende spesies onder voldoende hidrasie gegroei nie. Dit was egter nie die geval onder die waterbeperkte toestande nie. C. macrostachyus en C. africana het ‘n hoër transpirasie tempo sowel as weefselvoedingstof waardes gehad as die ander spesies. Hierdie boomsoorte se wortelbiomassa was ook meer as die ander spesies, om vir die tempo van water- en voedingstofopname te akkomodeer. As gevolg van die vermoë om blare te kan oriënteer om direkte sonlig te vookom, het M. ferruginea ‘n hoër water-weefselpotensiaal en relatiewe waterinname gehad in vergelyking met die ander boomsoorte in beperkte water toestande. Die impak van gëinisieerde droogte het vinnig voorgekom en het meer skade aan die eucalyptus aangerig in vergelyking met die bladwisselende boomsoorte. Dit dui aan dat die eucalyptus-spesie nie ekstreme droogte kan oorleef nie, waar bladwisselende spesies hul blare laat afval en vir weke aan een dormant kan bly. Hierdie studie gee eksperimentele bewyse dat E. globulus minder bestand is teen droogte as E. camaldulensis. Beperkte N in die grond het veroorsaak dat daar ‘n algemene vermindering van weefsel Nkonsentrasie, N:P ratio, fotosintetiese tempo, stomatiese geleiding en fotosintetiese watergebruiks effektiwiteit in al die bestudeerde spesies was. Plante wat oor hoër blaar-stikstofkonsentrasiesbeskik, het hoër fotosintetiese kapasiteite wat aandui dat N ‘n belangrike rol in fotosintese en die groei van al die bestudeerde spesies speel. Die oorhoofse bevindings van die studie was, dat daar meer aandag gegee moet word aan grond-N as P omdat grond-P net ‘n kleiner rol speel in die fotosintetiese aktiwiteite van plante van al die spesies in vergelyking met N. Die ondersoek na weefselvoedingstof hoeveelhede het bewys dat die N:P ratio gebruik kan word om P-tekorte in plante aan te dui. Die N:P ratio kan egter nie die verskil in N-tekorte en gekombineerde tekorte van N en P aandui nie. Die studie van die geïsoleerde C. africana en C. macrostachyus bome op grondtipes in Badessa, Oos Etiopië het verbeterde grond-N, P en K onder kroondak gebiede getoon, daar was egter geen verskille in die ander grondvoedingstowwe wat bestudeer is nie. In toestande gelykstaande aan die van die kweekhuis, het C. macrostachyus en C. africana meer oppervlaksswortels ontwikkel. Die toename aan oppervlakswortels het ingedring op gewasse wat in assosiasie gegroei is, dit het egter ‘n positiewe effek op die grond gehad as gevolg van die hoë voedingstof-siklus-potensiaal. Die E. camaldulensis opstand is gevergelyk met ‘n gemengde opstand van bladwisselende spesies waar daar gevind is dat die fynwortel biomassa in die oppervlak grond onder die E. camaldulensis ongeveer drie keer soveel was as die van onder die gemengde opstand. Kompetisie met aangrensende gewasse is aangeui deurdat die fynwortel biomassa van E. camaldulensis binne die opstand en 10 meter weg van die opstand vergelykbaar was in die oppervlakgronde. Dit dui dus aan dat die plant van E. camaldulensis in assosiasie of aangrensend aan gewasse vermy moet word. Die teenwoordigheid van voedingstowwe en koolstof in die grond van die gemengde opstand was oor die algemeen hoër as die van die E. camaldulensis. Dit is ‘n aanduiding dat die bome van die gemengde opstand meer voedingstowwe aan die grond verskaf.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Vitellogenin in Pimephales promelas was used to assess estrogenicity of a local municipal effluent. Vitellogenin induction in male P. promelas increased in frequency and magnitude with increased exposure duration and was greater ("=0.05) than controls after 2 and 3 weeks of exposure. The level of vitellogenesis induced by effluent exposure was high compared to similar studies. A spring season evaluation followed. Biomarkers in P. promelas were used to assess the efficacy of a treatment wetland to remove toxicity and estrogenicity in final treated wastewater effluent. Comparisons were made with an effluent dominated stream and laboratory controls. Vitellogenin, GSIs (gonado-somatic indices), HSIs (hepato-somatic indices) and secondary sexual characteristics were biomarkers used in P. promelas models to assess aqueous estrogenicity. Biological indicators used to assess general fish health included hematocrit and condition factors. The estrogenic nature of the effluent was screened, concurrent with fish exposure, with GC/MS analysis for target estrogenic compounds including: 17-b estradiol, estrone, ethynylestradiol, Bisphenol A, nonylphenolic compounds, phthalates, and DDT. Plasma vitellogenin measured in P. promelas was significantly elevated (p < 0.0001) at the inflow site of the wetland and stream sites. GSIs for these exposures were less (a=0.001) at the wetland inflow site. At wetland sites closest to the inflow, secondary sexual charateristics, tubercle numbers and fat pad thickness, were less (a=0.0001). Hematocrit and condition factors were less (a=0.001) at sites closer to the wetland inflow. Seasonal variation was examined by repeating the effluent characterization in summer. Additionally, summer testing included exposure to an effluent dilution series. Fish condition heavily influenced interpretation of the results. Pre-acclimation exposure to spawning stresses may have altered many of the biological markers measured. Results are discussed relative to fish health and pre-exposure environment. Toxicity assessed with P. promelas biomarkers was compared with Ceriodaphnia dubia and Vibrio fischeri toxicty tests on this effluent. Biomarkers of fish health were somewhat less sensitive than C. dubia test endpoints, but more sensitive than V. fisheri.

M.Sc. (Zoology) / The Limpopo Province covers an area of 12.46 million hectares and these accounts for 10.2 per cent of the total land area of the Republic of South Africa. The province is endowed with abundant agricultural resources and it is one of the country’s prime agricultural regions noted for the production of fruits and vegetables, cereals, tea, and sugar. A key feature of the agricultural industry of Limpopo Province is its dualism. There are two distinct types of agricultural production systems. The large scale commercial farming system occupies approximately 70% of the total land area. The smallholder farms are located mostly in the former homeland areas and they cover approximately 30% of the provincial land surface area. The town of Thohoyandou, with its surrounding villages, is the area of greatest human concentration in the Luvuvhu Catchment and subsistence farming is about a third of the total agricultural component. It is important to study the effects of agricultural inputs (e.g. fertilizers and sediment loads) on aquatic ecosystems in order to fully understand the processes involved of these stresses on aquatic ecosystems. Knowledge of these impacts toward the environment and human health is often limited due to lack of capacity building, especially among small scale farmers. Ten bio-monitoring sites were studied on five systems in the Vhembe district. The sites were sampled during the low flow period of November 2011 and the high flow period of April 2012. Sampling sites were selected to present conditions in the Mutale, Mutshindudi and Tshinane Rivers upstream and downstream of the potential influence of small scale agricultural activities...

Recently, there has been an increase in marine mammal mortalities, most commonly Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, which is an alarming indication of the health status of the marine ecosystem. Studies have demonstrated that some free-ranging dolphins exhibit a suppressed immune system possibly because of exposure to contaminants or infectious microorganisms. However, this research has been limited due to a lack of commercially available marine-specific antibodies. Therefore, the first chapter of this thesis aims to identify cross-reactive terrestrial-specific antibodies that could be used to phenotype and compare the immune cell populations of dolphins under human care and free-ranging dolphins. The second chapter aims to utilize terrestrial-specific growth factors and dendritic cell (DC) surface markers to generate, characterize, and compare ex vivo DCs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of dolphins under human care and free-ranging dolphins. In summary, I have identified differences within the PBMCs and ex vivo generated DCs of dolphins under human care and free-ranging dolphins that could potentially shed light on the impact of environmental contaminants and infectious microorganisms on immune cells which could lead to increased morbidity and mortality. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Cheng Chung-yin. / Thesis submitted in: December 2004. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 185-195). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of contents --- p.viii / List of tables --- p.xi / List of figures --- p.xii / List of plates --- p.xiv / Plant species used in the experiments --- p.xv / Chapter 1 Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Soil wastes as an environmental challenge --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Landfilling --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Waste degradation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Control of degradation by-products --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Landfill leach ate --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Generation and control of landfill leachate --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Leachate characterization --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Leachate from local landfills --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Leachate treatment --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4 --- Leachate irrigation --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Common practices of wastewater irrigation --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.1.1 --- Spray irrigation / Chapter 1.4.1.2 --- Rapid infiltration / Chapter 1.4.1.3 --- Overland flow / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Effects of leachate irrigation --- p.19 / Chapter 1.4.2.1 --- Effect of leachate irrigation on soil percolate / Chapter 1.4.2.2 --- Effect of leachate irrigation on soil / Chapter 1.4.2.3 --- Effect of leachate irrigation on plants / Chapter 1.5 --- Landfilling in Hong Kong --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Climate --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Geography and economy --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Waste composition --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Leachate sampling sites --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6 --- Objectives of this study --- p.30 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Knowledge gaps --- p.30 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Project outline --- p.33 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Phytotoxicity evaluation of landfill leachate using seed germination tests / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Tests involving the use of germinating seeds --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Importance of germination to plants --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Advantages of germination tests --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Limitations of using germination as an endpoint --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Methods of germination test --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.5.1 --- Test design / Chapter 2.1.5.2 --- Plant species / Chapter 2.1.5.3 --- Measurement endpoints / Chapter 2.1.5.4 --- Statistical analysis and test endpoints / Chapter 2.2 --- Objectives of study --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3 --- Materials and methods --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Sample collection --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Chemical analysis --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Phytotoxicity assay --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4 --- Results and discussion --- p.44 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Leachate characterization --- p.44 / Chapter 2.4.1.1 --- Comparison among landfill sites / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Phytotoxicity assay --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.2.1 --- Dose response relationships / Chapter 2.4.2.2 --- Implication of hormetic-like response on the selection of statistical model / Chapter 2.4.2.3 --- Phytotoxicity of leachate samples / Chapter 2.4.2.4 --- Comparison between species / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusions --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Leachate irrigation: Effects on plant performance and soil properties / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Leachate sampling and analysis --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Leachate irrigation experiment --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Soil and plant analysis --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Soil sampling and preparation / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Soil texture / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- pH and electrical conductivity / Chapter 3.2.3.4 --- Organic carbon / Chapter 3.2.3.5 --- Nitrogen / Chapter 3.2.3.6 --- Phosphorus / Chapter 3.2.3.7 --- Chloride / Chapter 3.2.3.8 --- Metals / Chapter 3.2.3.9 --- Foliage analysis / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.75 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Leachate --- p.75 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Chemical properties / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Phytotoxicity / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Plant responses --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Growth / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Plant survival and health / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- Tissue contents / Chapter 3.3.2.4 --- Incorporating the results of germination tests in leachate irrigation practice / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Soil --- p.101 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- Initial properties / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Soil reaction (pH) / Chapter 3.3.3.3 --- Nitrogen / Chapter 3.3.3.4 --- Phosphorus / Chapter 3.3.3.5 --- Conductivity / Chapter 3.3.3.6 --- Chloride / Chapter 3.3.3.7 --- Metals / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusions --- p.119 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Fate and distribution of N after soil application of landfill leachate / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.121 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- The needs of external N supply in ecological restoration --- p.121 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Objectives of study --- p.122 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.123 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Leachate --- p.124 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Soil column --- p.124 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Plant selection and establishment --- p.127 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Leachate application --- p.129 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Post irrigation harvesting and analysis --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Leachate --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Plants --- p.132 / Chapter 4.3.2.1 --- Growth / Chapter 4.3.2.2 --- Tissue N contents / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Soil and soil percolate --- p.139 / Chapter 4.3.3.1 --- Percolate volume and soil moisture / Chapter 4.3.3.2 --- pH / Chapter 4.3.3.3 --- Electrical conductivity / Chapter 4.3.3.4 --- Nitrate / Chapter 4.3.3.5 --- Ammonium / Chapter 4.3.4 --- N balance of the soil-plant system --- p.160 / Chapter 4.3.4.1 --- Change in the N capital after leachate irrigation / Chapter 4.3.4.2 --- Leaching loss / Chapter 4.3.4.3 --- Unaccountable N loss / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusions --- p.174 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General conclusion / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary of findings --- p.176 / Chapter 5.2 --- Ecological consequence of increased and excess N deposition --- p.179 / Chapter 5.3 --- Research prospects --- p.182 / References --- p.185