Search results for "Soils"

Ecological restoration in contaminated soils of Kokdzhon phosphate mining area (Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan)

2016

Abstract This study provides results of an ecological restoration activity performed in the Kokdzhon phosphate mining of the Zhambyl region (a semi-desert mining area of Kazakhstan). The test area was made by a quarry-hole, about 1.25 hectares wide, that was preliminarily filled with the earthy material of a dump and, subsequently, levelled. The total volume of human transported material (HTM) used was 700 tonnes. Soil samples were taken from 0 to 30 cm depth at 23 sampling sites and several soil quality parameters were determined. In the test area 750 tree species were planted in suitable dug holes: (150 seedlings of Russian Olive; 150 seedlings of Black Saxaul); 150 seedlings of Androsov …

A new opportunity in bioremediation of copper polluted soils.

2016

Elemental geochemistry of soils from the volcanic island of Pantelleria, Sicily: implications for Moscato wine production.

2006

The volcanic island of Pantelleria produces a naturally sweet wine Moscato di Pantelleria DOC obtained from the «Moscato d'Alessandria» (or «Zibibbo»), a grape favoured by hot climate. Geochemical and mineralogical investigations performed on soil profiles devoloped on rocks representative of the major outcropping lithologies (pantellerite, trachyte and alkalic basalt) show that the soils have preserved the parent material imprint. Consistently, values of the chemical index of alteration (CIA) indicate a low to moderate weathering degree for the rocks exposed in the Pantelleria area and consequently a low to moderate soil evolution. Soil-solution chemical analyses highlight that macro- and …

THE ENVIROMENTAL PROBLEMS OF THE PIANA DEL SIGNORE (GELA, SICILY) FOR A CORRECT AGRONOMIC, CULTURAL AND LANDSCAPE UPGRADING AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE AR…

2017

In Sicily it is witnessing an environmental degradation that can be conducted to the human activity and the already known process of desertification. The present study had as object the c/da Piana del Signore in plain of Gela being an area characterized by an extreme aridity and salinity. Through consultation and study of the various researches realized on the area, the various environmental and territorial characteristics outlined, highlighting the issues and possible improvements. The objective was to outline the damages caused by man proposing possible routes for a correct requalification of the area in order to enhance a landscape of great agronomic and naturalistic interest. In fact to…

Characterization of the 3D printing process for fine-grained soils

2023

The purpose of this study was to explore the 3D printing process of fine-grained soils with a geomechanichal approach. In particular, identifying the factors (including geomechanical characteristics of the soil, geometry of the problem, and 3D printer settings) that influence the behavior of 3D printed samples. To answer this question, three groups of materials differing in mineralogy, consistency limits and consistency, and three types of equipment have been used – an extruder and two 3D printers – to widely investigate the behaviour of the fine-grained soils when subjected to the process. First, the extrusion process has been studied finding that the parameter to take into account to pred…

The effect of alternating different water qualities on accumulation and leaching of solutes in a Mediterranean cracking soil

2002

The relevance of bypass flow on water flow, solute or pesticide transport is becoming increasingly recognized. Recent investigations proved that soil salinization may be influenced by bypass flow, i.e. the rapid transport of water and solutes via macropores and/or shrinkage cracks to subsoil and groundwater. This paper explores the role of bypass flow in the process of accumulation and leaching of solutes, as well as of sodium, in a Mediterranean cracking soil irrigated with saline/sodic waters. The results of bypass flow experiments performed on undisturbed soil cores showed that leaching of solutes occurred in concomitance with bypass fluxes when a low salinity solution was alternated wit…

The distribution of Rare Earth Elements discriminates the growth substrate of Vitis vinifera L.

2021

Sustainable agricultural, food-related strategies and geographic traceability require understanding of the plant physiological response to stress potentially generated by contaminated soils. Here, we have investigated the effect of contaminated substrate on growth of Vitis vinifera L. plants analysing the distribution of full Rare Earth Elements (REE) spectra in different parts of the plant. Experiments were carried out using pristine plants growing in a handmade substrate (blank experiment) and in REE artificially-enriched soil (spiked experiment). Our results show that both plant mass and REE amount in leaves are not influenced by the substrate enrichment while roots are by one-order of m…

The Impact of Copper Ions on Oxidative Stress in Garden Cress Lepidium sativum

2017

Abstract Normal oxygen metabolism is an endogenous source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The source of ROS are also many environmental factors including heavy metals. In certain concentration range, the presence of ROS is necessary to maintain proper cell function. Thus, cells have many mechanisms, which role is focused on maintaining a constant concentration of ROS. Imbalance between the formation of ROS and action of a protective antioxidant system leads to oxidative stress. This may results with a damage to the structure of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, which in turn can lead to disturbances in the functioning of the cell and even to the death. The aim of the study was to evalua…

Multiple Non-linear Reservoirs to Model Water Balance Components in Sandy Soils

2023

In the hydrologic literature, to model water flow in unsaturated soils, the Richards equation is usually applied, allowing the main components of the hydrologic cycle, as rainfall partitioning into surface runoff and infiltration, to be determined. The Richards equation is highly nonlinear, making very challenging to derive analytical solutions. Recently, for constant rainfall intensity, under the simplified hypothesis of gravity-driven infiltration, and by assuming a capacitance framework, a simplified solution of the Richards equation that considers the Brooks and Corey hydraulic conductivity function was suggested. By maintaining the assumption that the infiltration process is dominated …

Renewable energies driven electrochemical wastewater/soil decontamination technologies: A critical review of fundamental concepts and applications

2020

Abstract Electrochemical wastewater and soil treatments are exciting set of technologies that has been well-studied over the recent years as one of the most-effective remediation techniques for the removal of hazardous pollutants from liquids effluents and soil. The main requirement of these technologies is electricity and their sustainability can be largely improved if they are powered by renewable energy sources. Likewise, this green energy powering can help to apply these technologies in remote areas, such as rural communities in developing countries, where no electricity grid is available. This review presents a comprehensive discussion on fundamental concepts and applications of renewa…