Thesis (Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / Acid rock drainage (ARD) is one of the most severe environmental challenges currently faced by the mining industry worldwide. ARD is formed from the oxidation of sulphide-bearing minerals, particularly pyrite, in the presence of water and oxygen. ARD generation is accelerated by the presence of naturally occurring iron and sulphur-oxidizing micro-organisms, which regenerate leaching agents that facilitate sulphide mineral oxidation. ARD pollution is characterized by a high concentration of metals and sulphates in solution, low pH and a high salt content (salinity) in the environment, contaminating soil and groundwater. In South Africa, ARD is a major challenge in the gold and coal mining industries, where millions of tons of sulphide waste rock and overburden are generated and discarded. Characterization of these waste materials is required to develop an appropriate disposal strategy to minimise the risk of pollution and the generation of ARD. Potential ARD generation prediction from waste rock depends on the precise characterization of ARD potential using Biokinetic tests. Commonly used ARD prediction methods are static and long-term kinetic tests. Static tests provide data for a worst-case scenario focussing on strong acid chemical leaching potential to give an overall acid forming potential of a sample. Such kinetic tests provide data illustrating the rate of the net acid generation capacity of mine waste. However, these tests are capital intensive and time-consuming and fail to provide adequate information on the effect of micro-organisms on the overall net acid generation capacity of mine waste. The Biokinetic test reported herein and developed at the University of Cape Town, focusses on addressing a worst case scenario provided by static tests in a cost-effective manner and reduced time frames provided for by conventional kinetic tests. This test primarily provides relative rates of ARD generation in the presence of micro-organisms within 90 days. However, the Biokinetic test is at the developmental stage and thus far, has not been consistently used for different waste ores to determine a standardised approach. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of microbial consortia and to develop a standardisation approach for the test for ARD formation potential using gold-bearing and copper-bearing waste rock. Additionally, to refine the Semi-continuous Biokinetic test simulation, a flow-through system where there is minimal seepage in the waste deposit, was also developed. The sulphur content of the gold and copper-bearing samples used in this study was between 2.3 and 3.15%, respectively. These waste rock samples were found to be potentially acid- forming. In the Biokinetic test, finely milled waste rock samples were slurrified, inoculated with consortia and cultured under standard bioleaching conditions. Leaching and acidification rates were monitored.

O glifosato e o oxifluorfen têm sido os principais herbicidas para controle de plantas invasoras em plantações florestais. Neste contexto, constituíram em objetivos do presente estudo avaliar as taxas de degradação e de lixiviação de glifosato e oxifluorfen em Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo Distrófico psamítico, manejados no sistema de cultivo mínimo, florestados com eucalipto. Para tal, foi conduzido um experimento em condições de campo, na Estação Experimental de Ciências Florestais de Itatinga, ESALQ/USP (Itatinga - SP), sendo as análises realizadas no Laboratório de Resíduos de Pesticidas e Análises Cromatográficas (LARP/USP). Aplicou-se o glifosato (1440g i.a. ha-1) e oxifluorfen (960g i.a. ha-1) em três repetições na dosagem recomendada (4,0 L./ha-1) para condição de campo. A dissipação dos herbicidas foi avaliada por cromatografia. Foram analisadas amostras de serapilheira, solo e solução do solo. Para a avaliação dos teores de herbicidas na serapilheira e no solo foram realizadas amostragens 3 dias antes da aplicação dos herbicidas na testemunha e, nos demais tratamentos, no dia da aplicação 0, 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 e 93 dias após a aplicação dos herbicidas. Foram amostradas a serapilheira e as seguintes camadas de solo: 0-1, 1-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-10, 10-15 e 15-30 cm. Para avaliar a lixiviação dos herbicidas, amostras de solução do solo foram coletadas em lisímetros ativado por gravidade (sem tensão) e outro por vácuo (com tensão). O lisímetro ativado por gravidade foi instalado sob a serapilheira, 15, 50 e 100 cm de profundidade e o outro lisímetro foi instalado 15, 50, 100 e 300 cm. Para avaliar a fotodegradação do oxifluorfen foram instaladas parcelas na sombra (sombrite a 80%). A meia-vida do glifosato no solo sem serapilheira foi de 10 dias e no solo sob serapilheira, de 47 dias. Sua lixiviação no solo sob serapilheira foi 36% menor do que no solo sem serapilheira. Devido a este efeito, os riscos de contaminação de solos manejados no sistema de cultivo mínimo são menores. A concentração do glifosato decresceu enquanto a do seu metabólito (AMPA) aumentou durante as duas primeiras semanas após sua aplicação. E tais resíduos foram detectados na solução do solo após 8 dias de sua aplicação, a 15 cm de profundidade. A meia-vida de oxifluorfen no solo sem serapilheira foi de 25 dias e no solo com serapilheira sua meia-vida foi reduzida para 13 dias. O oxifluorfen no solo com serapilheira lixiviou até 5cm e no solo sem serapilheira até 8cm. Em ambas as situações as concentrações foram muito baixas. O teor de oxyfluorfen sob sombra foi sempre maior do que sob pleno sol, comprovando sua fotodegradabilidade. / Glyphosate and oxyfluorfen have been the main herbicides used for the control for the weed control in forest plantations. In this context, to evaluate the degradation and the leaching of glyphosate and oxyfluorfen in red-yellow latosols (oxisol) under minimum cultivation of the soil and planted with eucalyptus were the objectives of the present study. To do so, an experiment was carried out under field conditions in the Experimental Forest Science Station at Itatinga, ESALQ/USP (Itatinga - SP). The analyses were performed under laboratory conditions at LARP/USP - a laboratory of pesticide residues and chromatographic analyses. Oxyfluorfen was applied (960g a. i. ha-1) in (three repetitions) at the recommended dosage (4.0 L./ha-1) for the field conditions. Glyphosate (1440g a. i. ha-1) and oxyfluorfen (960g a. i. ha-1) were applied in three repetitions at the recommended dosage (4.0 L./ha-1) for the filed condition. The dissipation of the herbicides was evaluated by means of chromatography. Samples of litter, soil and soil solution were analyzed. In order to evaluate the herbicide rates in litter and in soil, samplings were performed three days before the herbicides application in the control and, in the other treatments, at the day of application (0), and at 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60, and 93 days after the application. litter and the following soil layer were sampled: 0-1, 1-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-10, 10-15, and 15-30 cm deep. In order to evaluate the herbicides leaching, samples of soil solution were collected in lisimeters activated by gravity (without tension) and by vacuum (with tension). The lisimeter activated by gravity was installed under the litter at 15, 50, and 100 cm deep; the other was installed at 15, 50, 100, and 300 cm deep. In order to evaluate the photodegradation of oxyfluorfen, the plots were installed under shade (shading net at 80%). The half-life of glyphosate in soil without litter was 10 days and in soil under litter was 47 days. The leaching of glyphosate in soil under litter was 36% smaller than in soil without litter. Because this effect, the risk of contamination of soils that have minimum cultivation are small. The concentration of glyphosate decrease while concentration of your principal metabolite (AMPA) increase during the first two week after application. Glyphosate was found in soil solution 8 days after application up to 15cm deep. The half-life of oxyfluorfen in soil without litter was 25 days and in soil under litter was 13 days. Oxyfluorfen was found at 5 cm deep in soil with litter and at 8 cm deep in soil without litter. In both situations the concentration was very low. Along the experiment, oxyfluorfen under shade was always higher than under sun, this proves the photo-degradation.

La réaction sulfatique interne (RSI) est une pathologie conduisant au gonflement et à la dégradation du béton de certains ouvrages. En tant que gestionnaire d'ouvrages, VINCI doit assurer la sécurité des usagers et des biens. Pour cela, une évaluation de l'aptitude au service des ouvrages concernés est nécessaire. Ce travail a pour but d'améliorer la modélisation des phénomènes mécaniques induits par la formation d'ettringite différée, notamment sous contrainte. Une campagne expérimentale a été réalisée sur éprouvettes prismatiques en béton réactif libres de contraintes, armées uniaxialement, armées triaxialement et soumises à un chargement uniaxial de compression de 14,5 MPa. Les phénomènes expansifs sont relativement isotropes en l'absence de contraintes et atteignent 0,6 % en fin de réaction. Le bridage induit par la présence des armatures conduit à une diminution importante des déformations dans les directions concernées, sans impact majeur sur le gonflement dans les directions libres : les déformations du béton initiées par la RSI sont de fait anisotropes sous chargement anisotrope. Une fissuration préférentielle est observée parallèlement à la direction gênée. L'application d'un chargement uniaxial de compression à hauteur de 14,5 MPa entraine un raccourcissement du béton dans la direction chargée, les déformations de fluage masquant les éventuelles expansions. La décharge de ces corps d'épreuve après environ 420 jours d'immersion a provoqué une reprise des gonflements de l'ordre de 0,10 % en 3 jours dans la direction chargée, sans effet visible dans les autres directions. Au cours des 200 jours suivants, des gonflements longitudinaux et transversaux similaires en termes de cinétique et d'amplitude ont été observés. Ce phénomène a été attribué au renouvèlement de l'eau de conservation ayant eu lieu au moment de la décharge, en particulier à une réaccélération du lessivage des alcalins. L'endommagement induit par la RSI sur le béton a été caractérisé par le biais d'essais de compression, traction par fendage et mesures de module d'Young avant et après gonflement. [...] / Delayed ettringite formation is a pathology leading to swelling and degradation of the concrete of certain structures. As structure manager, VINCI must ensure the safety of users and goods. To do so, an assessment of the serviceability of affected structures is necessary. This work aims to improve the modeling of mechanical phenomena induced by delayed ettringite formation, especially under stress. An experimental campaign was carried out on prismatic reactive concrete specimens. Some were plain, uniaxially reinforced, triaxially reinforced and subjected to an uniaxial compressive loading of 14.5 MPa. Expansions appeared fairly isotropic in stress-free conditions and reached 0,6 %. Restraint due to reinforcements led to decreased strains in the restrained directions. Expansions were only slightly impacted in transversal free directions. Therefore, DEF expansion under uniaxial stress is anisotropic. Cracks were observed parallel to the restrained direction. For prestressed concrete, creep strains hid possible strains induced by DEF. These specimens were unload after 420 days of immersion in water. It led to a strain increase of about 0,10 % in 3 days in the loaded direction, without any effect on transversal directions. Similar kinetic and range of expansion was measured in both longitudinal and transversal throughout the 200 following days. This phenomenon was understood as the consequence of an alkali leaching acceleration after storage water renewal that occurred during specimens unloading. DEF induced damage on concrete was characterize through compressive tests, brazilian tensile tests and Young modulus measurements before and after expansions. DEF effect on steel-concrete bond behavior was also measured through pull-out tests. Maximal steel-concrete bond stress appears slightly impacted by longitudinal expansions of about 0.25 %, but the bond shear modulus decreases significantly after DEF. All collected experimental data were used to fit a poromechanical model of DEF taking into account all the phenomena involved in the of reinforced concrete behavior (plasticity, damage, creep, shrinkage, distributed reinforcements...). [...]

Access to safe water supply--a major determinant of public health--is less than 50% in Madagascar, and access to piped, treated water remains out of reach financially for many in the urban and peri-urban areas where available. The Self-supply option of the Pitcher Pump has been meeting the need for household water in coastal areas of Madagascar since the early 1960s and has proven a sustainable option for many. These pumps make use of leaded components in the construction, however, which may pose a health risk for heavy metal intoxication and therefore cause the water to be unsafe for drinking and cooking. This study assesses the potential for lead (Pb) leaching from Pitcher Pump systems into water at levels of health concern. The objectives of this study are to assess Pb concentrations in water drawn from Pitcher Pumps, to determine the relationship between various factors and the Pb levels, to make a preliminary assessment of public health implications of Pb contamination, and to offer informed recommendations to reduce the likelihood of consuming contaminated water. A field study was undertaken to measure concentrations of dissolved Pb in water from Pitcher Pumps under recently flushed and first-draw pumping conditions at 18 households in the city of Tamatave, Madagascar. Variables potentially affecting Pb leaching were determined including pump age, depth to the well screen, pump manufacturer, season of sample collection, and basic water quality indicators. Sampling campaigns were conducted three times over the course of eight months. Time-release case studies were also carried out at two households to determine the time scale over which the Pb concentration in stationary water reaches equilibrium with the Pb-containing system components. Pilot studies of iron (Fe)-for-Pb substitution of select pump system components were carried out at the same two households to attribute the major contribution of Pb leaching to one set of parts and to assess one strategy for decreasing dissolved Pb concentrations. Finally, the Internal Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model for Lead in Children (IEUBK Model) of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was employed to estimate realistic blood lead levels (BLLs) in children under five years of age, based on Pb concentrations measured in the water. Of the 18 pumps sampled, 15 produced at least one sample exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) provisional guideline of 10 [um]g/L dissolved Pb in water. Specifically, 67% of all samples showed concentrations above 10 [um]g/L under first-draw pumping conditions. Flushing the pumps prior to use decreased the Pb levels significantly (p < 0.0001), with only 35% of samples exceeding the provisional guideline. Under flushed conditions, the median Pb concentration in pumped water was 9 [um]g/L, down from 13 [um]g/L at one hour of inactivity. No statistically significant correlations were observed between measured Pb concentrations and factors like the season of sample collection, pump age, manufacturer, or water quality indicators like pH or temperature. Under first-draw conditions, the concentration of Pb in water increased with increasing duration of pump inactivity, until equilibrium was reached with the leaded pump components. For two pumps, substitution of Fe valves for Pb greatly decreased Pb concentrations in the water, from 37-100 [um]g/L and 7-24 [um]g/L down to 3-4 [um]g/L and 2-8 [um]g/L, respectively. Model-predicted geometric mean BLLs in children range from about 2-8 [um]g/dL, in some instances exceeding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline for an elevated BLL (5 [um]g/dL), depending on the exposure concentrations. This study finds that water provided by Pitcher Pump systems in Madagascar frequently exceeds the WHO provisional guideline value for safe consumption under first-draw conditions, and may do so even after flushing the pumps. The Pb concentrations measured in the field have the potential to elevate BLLs in children under five to levels implicated in serious health issues. Leaching of Pb into the water is therefore an issue of concern for users of the Pitcher Pump systems in Tamatave, and likely for other areas served by this technology. Flushing the pumps before water collection generally reduces Pb levels in the water. These results suggest that most of the Pb leaches from pure Pb check valve weights at the mouth of the pump, and consequently, a substitution of Fe weights on the valves greatly reduces Pb concentrations and the probability for exceeding the WHO provisional guideline. Relatively simple operational changes on the part of the pump manufacturers and the pump users might, therefore, help to ensure the continued sustainability of Pitcher Pumps in eastern Madagascar.

Car exhaust catalysts were introduced in the early 1980’s, to limit the release of pollutants such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. These catalysts contain noble metals such as palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt) and rhodium (Rh) and are able to simultaneously abate all three of the above-mentioned pollutants, hence the name three-way catalyst (TWC). The exposure to high temperatures (800-1000 °C) during operation and the presence of additives in gasoline and lubricants will, after a certain time, lower the activity of the TWC. High temperatures reduce the active area by causing the noble metals to agglomerate and sinter, whereas the additives alter the activity either by fouling the pores of the support material or by interacting with the metals. The main objective of this work was to develop a method which allows for the removal of contaminants (additives) from the washcoat and enables the redispersion of the active sites (noble metals), in an effort to recover lost catalyst activity. For this purpose, regeneration experiments were carried out on a wide spectrum of different commercial car exhaust catalysts. The influence of a thermal treatment in a controlled gas atmosphere, such as oxygen or hydrogen, and a redispersing agent, e.g. chlorine, on the activity of TWC was investigated by means of laboratory-scale activity measurements. Several complementary characterization methods such as SEM/TEM, XRD, BET, LA, XPS and TPR were employed to verify the effects of the regeneration treatments on the catalyst morphology (Papers I, II). The results show that partial regeneration of catalyst activity and noble metal dispersion was achieved after thermal treatment in an oxygen-chlorine rich atmosphere at temperatures below 500 °C. A wet-chemical regeneration treatment with dilute oxalic and citric acid solutions is evaluated in Paper III. These acidic solutions are able to dissolve and remove contaminants from the washcoat, thus partly restoring the catalyst activity. An investigation of the effects of an oxy-chlorine thermal treatment for regeneration of a ‘full-scale’ commercial automotive three-way catalyst was carried out (Paper IV). Improved catalyst activity for a high mileage catalyst could be observed, with emissions lowered by approximately 30 to 40 vol.% over the EC2000 driving cycle. The properties of fresh, aged and regenerated catalysts were then studied by means of labscale experiments, on a local as well as a global level using a mathematical model (Paper V). The model allows for comparison of the intrinsic properties of the active surface by deriving and tuning parameters of a fresh catalyst and verifying the activity of a regenerated or aged catalyst. / QC 20100812

To offer better solutions for the recycling of salt cake from secondary aluminum melting, several innovative investigations were carried out based on hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical views. Thermal diffusivity measurements as a function of temperature on salts-Al composites having various compositions (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12wt pct metallic Al) were carried out. Its attempt to derive theoretical relationships between aluminium contents in the salt-Al composites and the thermal conductivities so that these would serve as calibration curves for industrial samples taken out from secondary aluminium re-melting at a later stage. The AlN hydrolysis behavior in NaCl solution was investigated by immersing pure AlN powder in deionized water, 0.3mol/l NaCl aq, 0.6mol/l NaCl aq and NaCl solution respectively with CO2 bubbling at 291K. The results showed that AlN powder underwent enhanced hydrolysis in NaCl aq than that in deionized water, while, the introduction of CO2 was found to hinder the hydrolysis even in the presence of NaCl. The characterization of the products after hydrolysis was carried out using XRD, SEM and TEM analyses. It was shown that the hydrolysis process included a slow-reaction period involving the dissolution of aluminum hydroxide layer around raw AlN particle, followed by the precipitation of aluminum hydroxide gel and the crystallization of boehmite, bayerite and gibbsite. The effects of sodium chloride concentration on the hydrolysis behavior are presented. The leaching process in CO2-saturated water showed that, at a solid to liquid ratio of 1:20 and 3h at 291K, the extraction of Na and K from the dross could be kept as high as 95.6% and 95.9%, respectively. At the same time, with continuous CO2 bubbling, the mass of generated NH3 during the leaching process decreased significantly, also the escaping NH3 gas decreased from 0.25mg in pure water down to &lt;0.006mg. The above results showed that the introduction of CO2 causes hindrance to the hydrolysis of AlN, meanwhile, effective absorption of ammonia. The plausible mechanisms for the observed phenomena are discussed. The concept of the leaching of the salt cake by carbonated water and the consequent retention of AlN in the leach residue opens up a promising route towards an environment-friendly recycling process for the salt cake viz. recovery of the salts, utilization of CO2 and further processing of the dross residue, towards the synthesis of SiAlON from the leach residues.   In alternative route to the processing of salt cake, the ammonia gas evolved by hydrolysis of AlN was collected by CO2-saturated water during water leaching at 373K. The products, i.e. ammonium carbonates which are free of chlorides, has application as a fertilizer, besides that, this method also has the advantage of fixing carbon from CO2, which is the subject of many investigations around the world. The oxidation behavior of composites SiMgAlON phases (β-SiAlON, MgAlON and 15R) synthesized from the residue during the leaching treatment of salt cake and corresponding synthetic samples was investigated in air by thermogravimetric measurements. The oxidation studies reveal the effects of impurities, namely, Fe2O3 and CaO present in the salt cake residue. From the view of kinetics, the addition of Fe2O3 brings a lower activation energy and more aggressive oxidation. The additive of CaO caused the shrinkage during the synthesis and liquid formation during the oxidation above 1673K, thus retard the oxidation rate. The impurities of CaO and Fe2O3 in the leaching residue can result in an aggressive oxidation at low temperature and a protective oxidation at temperatures above the eutectic point. From the view of phase evolution, with the progress of oxidation, the composition of the material being oxidized moved towards the Al2O3-rich corner of MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 or CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 phase diagrams relevant to SiMgAlON composite. At lower temperatures, the addition of Fe2O3 and CaO facilitated the formation of cordierite and anorthite, respectively. With the increasing of temperature, islands of silicate melt were formed dissolving these oxides, with the liquidus temperature getting lowered as a consequence. The liquid phase formed engulfed the adjacent solid phases providing strong mobility for the cations and enabling the crystal growth. As a result, intermediate products, i.e. cordierite, anorthite, spinel, which formed earlier during oxidation are found to get dissolved in the liquid phase. / <p>QC 20120912</p>

This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of high-rate anaerobic digestion of high-solids organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) for the production of organic acids and alcohols in leaching bed reactors (LBRs). For this purpose, two different experimental set-ups, namely Set-1 and Set-2, were operated. In the Set-1, only OFMSW without paper was studied in two identical LBRs, whereas, four identical LBRs, fed with OFMSW with paper and cow manure in different proportions, were operated in the Set-2. In this study, 50-60% of hydrolysis efficiency was achieved in the LBRs of Set-1, whereas this value was decreased to 20-25% in the LBRs of Set-2 / which was resulted from OFMSW containing cellulose and less volume of water addition in the Set-2. The mass of total volatile fatty acids (tVFA) production was found as 7000-9000 mg at the end of 80 days in the LBRs of Set-1, fed with OFMSW without paper, whereas it was 3000 mg at the end of 40 days in the LBR of Set-2, containing only OFMSW with paper. It was also observed that cow manure addition increased the amount of tVFA production in the LBR of Set-2. In conclusion, LBRs were found as alternative reactors for the degradation of OFMSW compared to completely stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) in terms of rapid hydrolysis and acidification, which can result in high hydrolysis yield and tVFA production.

Pyrite (FeS2) is commonly present in complex sulphide ores in significant amounts. After the enrichment of such ores by flotation, pyrite is either produced as a separate concentrate and sold to acid manufactures or removed and disposed off as tailing. Due to lack of demand from manufacturers, most of pyrites is usually disposed off as tailing. Therefore, pyrite is usually a waste from complex sulphide ores. Yet, it may be a remediation additive for calcareous soils and calcareous- alkali soils deficient in Fe and other micronutrients such as Cu, Zn and Mn. Waste pyrite may be also an alternative amendment to gypsum because of the production of sulphuric acid which is effectively used in the reclamation of calcareous alkali soils. The effectiveness of adding waste pyrite and sulphuric acid produced from waste pyrite to calcareous-alkali soil (Sarayk&ouml / y-Ankara) and calcareous soil (Gaziantep) was studied under laboratory conditions. Pure gypsum was also used as an amendment for the comparison of the effectiveness of waste pyrite in the reclamation of alkali soils. Gypsum, powder waste pyrite and sulphuric acid were applied to the soil with reference to the gypsum requirement (GR) of the soils. Greenhouse pot tests were carried out with wheat as test plant to determine the effect of waste pyrite treatment on the plant yield (wheat) and on the amount of micronutrient (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn) essential for plant growth. Hazard potential of pyritic tailings in terms of heavy metal contamination was also taken into account. The results showed that the soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), indicators of alkalization, decreased upon pyrite addition to calcareous- alkali soils of Sarayk&ouml / y-Ankara. It was also found that pyritic tailings were effective in the increasing level of essential micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) for plant growth in both soils. This was ascertained by the dry matter yield of the plants in the green house pot tests. Heavy metal toxicity caused by pyrite which is a rightful concern remained well below the legal limits in the soils. Thus, it was concluded that the application of pyritic tailings promoted rapid amelioration of calcareous-alkali soil (Sarayk&ouml / y-Ankara) and calcareous soil (Gaziantep) with no deleterious heavy metal contamination.

No description available.

The impact of different agricultural systems used in agriculture on the leaching of nutrients and nitrates first of all depends on many factors that are not noticed and sometimes even underestimated by farmers trying to reach larger yields and better economic results. This article analysis the issue of changes in water regime and nitrate nitrogen leaching under the change of agricultural systems; such issue has not been investigated in Lithuania before. This research is especially relevant under the conditions of the Middle Lithuanian Lowland, where annual crops (cereals and sugar beet) area mainly cultivated, the ground is aerated in-tensely thus increasing the mineralization of organic substances and a lot of fertilizers are used. The change of conventional tillage for reduced tillage resulted in the decrease of the resources of surface soil water by 4,91-5,85 % and after changing it into no-tillage water resources decreased by 23,4 %. Reduced tillage and late ploughing are appropriate environmental means reducing nitrate nitrogen leaching from soil. / Įvairių žemdirbystės sistemų naudojamų žemės ūkyje poveikis maisto medžiagų ir labiausiai nitratų išsiplovimui priklauso nuo daugelio veiksnių, kurių žemdirbiai siekdami didesnių derlių ir geresnių ekonominių rezultatų nepastebi, o kartais ir reikiamai neįvertina. Šiame darbe, nagrinėjamas šalyje netirtas vandens režimo ir nitratų azoto išplovimo pasikeitimų, keičiantis žemdirbystės sistemoms, klausimas. Šie tyrimai ypač aktualūs Lietuvos Vidurio lygumos sąlygomis, kur daugiausia auginama vienmečių augalų (javų ir cukrinių runkelių), kasmet žemė intensyviai aeruojama, taip didinant organinių medžiagų mineralizaciją, naudojama daug trąšų. Pakeitus tradicinį žemės dirbimą į sumažintą žemės dirbimą paviršinio dirvožemio sluoksnio vandens atsargos sumažėjo 4,91-5,85 %, o pakeitus į neariminį žemės dirbimą vandens atsargos sumažėjo 23,4 %. Sumažintas žemės dirbimas bei vėlyvas arimas yra tinkamos aplinkosauginės priemonės, mažinančios nitratų azoto išplovimą iš dirvožemio.