shahab ahmadi doabi; Majid Afyuni; Mahin Karami
Abstract
Introduction: Atmospheric dust is an important source of heavy metals, particularly in urban environments. Heavy metals can easily attach to dust particles and be distributed in large areas. Therefore, assessing the extent of heavy metals pollution present in nuisance dust is important for establishing ...
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Introduction: Atmospheric dust is an important source of heavy metals, particularly in urban environments. Heavy metals can easily attach to dust particles and be distributed in large areas. Therefore, assessing the extent of heavy metals pollution present in nuisance dust is important for establishing pollution control strategies and evaluating the results of previous measurements. Heavy metals contamination in atmospheric dust of Kermanshah provine has not been previously investigated. The main objective of this initial study was to determine the concentrations of heavy metals in atmospheric dust samples that were collected from Kermanshah province and to assess their contamination level. The results can provide a baseline for use in future environmental impact assessments and to guide pollution mitigation targets.
Materials and Methods: Dust samples were collected from 49 sites across the province, during the summer 2013. Dust sampling sites were selected in different urban (35 site) and suburban (14 site) locations in Kermanshah, Songhor, Gilangharb, Ghasre-Shirin, Sahneh, Sarpolzahab, Kangavar, Paveh and Javanrood cities. Dust collectors were installed on the roof of buildings about 3–4 m above the ground level. Each collection tray consisted of a circular plastic surface (320 mm in diameter, 120 mm depth) that was fixed on holders with 33 cm height and covered with a 2 mm PVC mesh on top to form a rough area for trapping saltant particles. The dust samples were analyzed for their Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn and Fe concentrations using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. In the present study, geo-accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), pollution index (PI) and integrated pollution index (IPI) were calculated to assess the heavy metal contamination level in the atmospheric dust.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that except for Fe and Mn, all heavy metal concentrations of atmospheric dust in Kermanshah provine were higher than in the background soils of world, showing that these heavy metals are likely from anthropogenic sources. The order of mean Igeo values was Ni> Zn> Cu> Cr> Mn> Fe, similar to the order of their EFs and PIs, which can also be seen as the decreasing order of their overall contamination degrees in atmospheric dust of Kermanshah province. The mean Igeo for Ni points to moderately to strongly pollution. 59% of calculated Igeo for Ni falls into class 2 (moderately polluted) and 37% into class 3 (moderately to strongly polluted), while according to the Igeo values for Mn (98%) and Fe (100%), they were practically unpolluted (class 0). The maximum EFs of Zn, Cu and Ni were higher than 10, which show that Zn, Cu and Ni in atmospheric dusts mainly originate from anthropogenic sources. It seems that EFs can also be an effective tool to differentiate the natural origins from anthropogenic sources. The mean EF (11.2) and 94% of Ni EFs were in the range of 5–20 indicating that Ni was a main contaminant in studied samples. Mn had 41% EFs less than 2 and 59% EFs in the range of 2–5, with mean EF less than 2, indicating minimal enrichment. The analytical results of heavy metals Igeo are same as the analytical results of EFs. The PIs of Zn, Cu and Ni were in the ranges of 2.1 to 11.3, 1.7 to 18.3 and 3.3 to 13.6, with an average of 3.8, 3.3 and 6.9, respectively. These data indicate that Zn, Cu and Ni may cause serious pollution in atmospheric dust of Kermanshah. The IPIs of atmospheric dust samples vary from 1.9 to 6.2 with mean value of 2.9, indicating that all studied samples were polluted by heavy metals.
Conclusion: The concentrations of heavy metals that were investigated in this study were compared with the reported data of other cities and with the background values of elements in the world soils. The concentrations of Zn, Cu, Ni and Cr in urban dust samples, and Fe and Mn in suburban dust samples were higher than their respective values in the world soils. The results indicate that atmospheric dusts in Kermanshah provin have elevated metal concentrations in general. The calculated values of Igeo and EF of heavy metals revealed the order of Igeo and EF as Ni> Zn> Cu> Cr> Mn> Fe. The high Igeo and EF for Ni, Zn and Cu in atmospheric dusts indicated that there was a considerable Ni, Zn and Cu pollution (Especially nickel), which possibly originate from traffic and industrial activities. The Igeo and EF of Mn and Fe were low. The results of PI also supported Zn, Cu and Ni serious pollution in atmospheric dust. Similarly, IPI results confirmed atmospheric dust samples pollution by heavy metals. These findings indicated that more attention should be paid to heavy metal contamination of atmospheric dusts in Kermanshah, especially in case of Ni.
shahab ahmadi doabi; Majid Afyuni; Mahin Karami; Safura Merati Fashi
Abstract
Introduction: Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for plants as well as for animals and humans. On the other hand, Zn is a heavy metal and its high concentration can cause some environmental problems. There are significant relationships between soils, plants and humans Zn status in a certain agro-ecosystem.Therefore, ...
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Introduction: Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for plants as well as for animals and humans. On the other hand, Zn is a heavy metal and its high concentration can cause some environmental problems. There are significant relationships between soils, plants and humans Zn status in a certain agro-ecosystem.Therefore, mass flux assessment of Zn in agro-ecosystem is important regarding to plant and human nutrition in one hand and environmental quality on the other hand. Therefore, assessing the Zn accumulation trend in agricultural soils is essential to prevent Zn deficiency as well as soil pollution by Zn.
Materials and Methods: This investigation was conducted in order to model Zn accumulation rate in agricultural soils of Kermanshah province using inputs and outputs fluxes mass balance. Mass Flux Assessment (MFA) model were applied for the modeling accumulation rate of Zn uses a random method of element balance with the combination of Latin Hyporcube method and Mont-Carlo simulation, in several agricultural ecosystems of some townships (Kermanshah, Songhor, Gilanegharb, Ghasreshrin, Shaneh, Sarpolezahab, Kangavar, Paveh and Javanrood). In this study, mass flux assessments were done at both provincial and township scales. Various routes of Zn considered in this study were livestock manure, mineral fertilizers, pesticides, atmosphere deposition, municipal waste compost (input) and uptake by plant (output). Agricultural information, including crop type, crop area and yield, kind and number of livestock, application rates of mineral fertilizers, compost, pesticides and atmospheric deposition rates and also a metal concentration in the plants, livestock manure, mineral fertilizers, compost and dust was used to quantify Zn fluxes and Zn accumulation rate. Given that the other sources of Zn input such as sewage sludge and output such as leaching are not important fluxes in the study area, the calculations performed here presented a good estimation of the average net effects of the dominating Zn inputs and outputs of the Zn status in agricultural soils of the study region.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the maximum and minimum of the Zn accumulation rate were seen in agricultural soils of Paveh (1172 g ha-1yr-1 in average) and Kermanshah (-26 g ha-1yr-1 in average)respectively. The average net flux of Zn accumulation rate for Kermanshah province was also 1538 g ha-1yr-1. The negative Zn accumulation rate of Kermanshah soils implies depletion of this element that is due to higher uptake of Zn by plants, especially crops with high performance such as maize and sugar beet. The calculated accumulation rates were less than the critical accumulation rate (calculated for the next 200 years in the study area). The results showed the high range (difference between the simulated maximum and minimum) of the Zn accumulation rate in Paveh was 1307 g ha-1yr-1, and the lowest in Songhor was 175 g ha-1yr-1. The major part of the uncertainty in the Zn balance resulted from manure source. According to the calculated SRCAP (Standardized Regression Coefficients Aggregated in Percent) values, Zn input with manure and then Zn output with crop removal were the main sources of Zn net flux uncertainty at township and province 9 levels. The uncertainty associated with livestock manure fluxes explained 67-94% of the total uncertainty. This large contribution was mainly due to large uncertainty in the numbers of dominant livestock, in particular cattle and poultry, and in the Zn:P concentration ratios of their manures. The influence of crop removal on Zn net fluxes uncertainty ranged from 3-29% among the townships. Differences in contributions of individual crops to the total cultivated area and in the Zn concentration of dominant crops as well as uncertain crops yield data were the main reasons for this large variation among townships.
Conclusion:The most important routes of Zn entry into the agricultural soils were livestock manures (69-93%) and atmosphere deposition (9-28%) in township level, while in provincial scale, they were compost (61%), livestock manures (33%), and atmosphere deposition (5%) respectively. The uncertainty analysis results indicated that livestock manure was the most effective rout on Zn accumulations rate uncertainty (79% in province scale and 67-94% in township scale). The results also indicated that current agricultural management generally leads to accumulation of Zn in soils of the study area (with exception for Kermanshah township soils). This can cause some difficulties such as soil contamination or soil fertility loss by nutritional elements imbalance in future.
shahrzad kabirinejad; mahmoud kalbasi; amir khoshgoftar manesh; M. Hoodaji; Majid Afyuni
Abstract
Introduction: Preceding crops as a source of organic matter are an important source of micronutrient and can play an important role in the soil fertility and the micronutrients cycle of soil. In addition to the role of the organic matter in increasing the concentration of micronutrients in soil solution, ...
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Introduction: Preceding crops as a source of organic matter are an important source of micronutrient and can play an important role in the soil fertility and the micronutrients cycle of soil. In addition to the role of the organic matter in increasing the concentration of micronutrients in soil solution, attention also should be paid to the role of the kind and the quantity of the root’s exudates that are released in response to the incorporation of different plant residues in the rhizosphere. Present research was conducted with the objective of studying the effect of the kind of preceding crops: Trifolium (Trifolium pretense L), Sofflower (Carthamus tinectirus L), Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L), Sunflower (Heliantus annus L) and control (fallow) on the chemical forms of copper in the wheat rhizosphere and the bulk soil and Cu uptake by wheat and also investigating the correlation between the fractions of Cu in soil and Cu uptake in wheat.
Materials and Methods: The present research was conducted as split plot in a Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with 3 replications and 5 treatments, in field conditions. In the beginning, the preceding crops were cultivated in the experimental plots and after ending growth, preceding crops were harvested. Then the wheat was cultivated in the experimental plots. Finally, after harvesting the wheat, soil samples were collected from the two parts of the root zone (the wheat rhizosphere and the bulk soil). The soil samples were air dried ground and passed through a 2-mm sieve and stored for chemical analysis. Soil pH (in the soil saturation extract) and organic matter (Walkley–Black wet digestion) were measured in standard methods (1). The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) was measured by Analyzer (Primacs SLC TOC Analyzer (CS22), Netherlands). The available Cu in soil was extracted by DTPA and determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (2). The fractionation of soil Cu was carried out using the MSEP method (3).
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the preceding crops significantly decreased soil pH, also significantly increased the DOC and DTPA-extractable Cu.These changes were higher in the Trifolium preceding treatment in the rhizosphere soil. Also, the preceding crops significantly decreased Carbonate -Cuand Residual-Cu fractions in the wheat rhizosphere compared with the bulk soil. The preceding crops (except Trifolium) significantly increased Oxide-Cu fraction. The soil Oxide- Cu fraction was higher in the rhizosphere in comparison with the bulk soil. The preceding crops increased the Organic-Cu in both the wheat rhizosphere and the bulk soil and it was higher in Trifolium treatment. The preceding crops increased Cu uptake by wheat and Organic-Cu positively correlated with Cu uptake by wheat.
Conclusion: The Organic-Cu fraction increased in the rhizosphere compared with the bulk soil, whereas Oxide- Cu, Carbonate–Cu and Residual-Cu fractions decreased. According to the results, the observed increase in the copper concentration of organic fraction in the rhizosphere was due to the decrease in the copper concentration of carbonate, oxide and residual fractions. In fact, the main process is the transmission of copper from carbonate, oxide and residual fractions to another fraction. Also, the results showed that the root exudates of the preceding crops and wheat affected the different forms of copper in the soil solid phase. Furthermore, the results of copper forms correlation analysis with Cu uptake by wheat showed that the Organic-Cu fraction had more important role in supplying copper was needed for wheat. Therefore, the preceding crops increased the copper concentration of organic fraction in the rhizosphere compared with the bulk soil, and these changes are associated with increasing the amount of copper uptake in wheat.
A. Abtahi; M. Hoodaji; M. Afyuni
Abstract
The objectives of this research were to study the effect of three kinds of biosolids applications such as urban compost, sewage sludge, cow manure and chemical fertilizers (sulphates of Zn, Fe) concentration on soil and corn plant. Two calcareous soils having different textures (sandy loam and clay loam) ...
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The objectives of this research were to study the effect of three kinds of biosolids applications such as urban compost, sewage sludge, cow manure and chemical fertilizers (sulphates of Zn, Fe) concentration on soil and corn plant. Two calcareous soils having different textures (sandy loam and clay loam) were used in order to study the uptake of the above zinc and iron by corn. This study was carried out in pots in a greenhouse using a factorial experiment design which was block completely randomized and each treatment was replicated three times. The levels of biosolids used were 0, 25, 50 Mg ha-1 and chemical fertilizers applied were as (Zn and Fe) sulphates. Seventy five days after corn seeds were sown; young plants at 4 to 5 leaf stage were harvested and made ready for chemical analyses. Results of the soil analysis showed that in sewage sludge treatment (50 Mg ha-1) the CEC, and the DTPA extractable (Zn and Fe) increased significantly compared to control and other treatments in soils. Cow manure treatment (50 Mg ha-1) had a significant effect on OM, and EC. Result of the plant analysis showed that in the sewage sludge treatment the concentration of Zn in the roots, and the concentrations of Zn, Fe in the shoots increased significantly. In general, corn yields increased significantly in the sewage sludge treatment compared to the other treatments in clay loam soils. Generally, the results of this study showed that biosolid application including sewage sludge increased concentration of micronutrients (Zn and Fe) in soil and corn plant.
M. Mohseni Sajadi; M. Afyuni; H. Khademi; Seyed Asadallah Mohseni Movahed; Sh. Ayoubi
Abstract
Abstract
Fluoride (F-) is an essential element for human and some animals. The fluoride concentration in irrigation water is an important index for water quality. The objective of the present study was to determine spatial variability of fluoride in groundwater and soils of some areas in Arak plain. ...
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Abstract
Fluoride (F-) is an essential element for human and some animals. The fluoride concentration in irrigation water is an important index for water quality. The objective of the present study was to determine spatial variability of fluoride in groundwater and soils of some areas in Arak plain. Therefore, during two seasons, autumn (2007) and the end of spring (2008), 87 and 92 water samples were collected from the wells, in the study area, respectively. Furthermore thirty soil samples were taken from the same positions. Fluoride concentrations in groundwater and soil samples around Arak city was measured by Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) method. The results show that the average fluoride of water samples during two seasons ranged from 0.3 to 0.06 mg/L which is below the standard level (1.5). These values were suitable for irrigation. Generally, spatial distribution in groundwater and isopiezometry maps indicated that fluoride increased where groundwater flow lines were centralized. Besides, fluoride concentration has increased in the rural zones and discharge areas. Average concentration of fluoride in agricultural and industrial areas were 1.5 and 7.5 mg/Kg respectively. Maximum concentration of fluoride belonged to industrial areas with 26.5 mg/Kg showing significant difference in 1 % scale in comparison with agricultural zone. There was negative correlation between fluoride with lime values and positive correlation with pH.
Keywords: Fluoride, Spatial variability, Groundwater, Soil, Arak plain
B. Khalilimoghadam; M. Afyuni; A. Jalalian; K. Abbaspour; A.A. Dehghani
Abstract
Abstract
Surface soil shear strength is an effective parameter in soil erosion and runoff modeling, and known as soil erodibility index. This study was conducted to investigate and predict soil shear strength in central Zagros region using multiple linear regressions (MLR). The study site was selected ...
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Abstract
Surface soil shear strength is an effective parameter in soil erosion and runoff modeling, and known as soil erodibility index. This study was conducted to investigate and predict soil shear strength in central Zagros region using multiple linear regressions (MLR). The study site was selected in rangeland and degraded-rangeland landuse with an area of 23562 ha. Based on the maps of geology, topography, landuse and soil capability, 18 Land Unit Tracts (LUT) was created. Supervised random sampling was used to collect samples in every land unit. A total of 120 samples were collected in triplicates to determine sample variability in each LUT. Soil samples were collected from the 0-3 cm of soil depth. Routinely measured (available) parameters included particle size distribution, soil organic carbon, CaCO3 in addition to slope, aspect; elevation and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were used. Three MLR models were tested and investigated for soil shear strength in this study. The performances of the different models were evaluated using spearman’s correlation coefficient (r) between the observed and the estimated values, normalized mean square error (NMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), geometric mean of error ratio (GMER) and geometric standard deviation of the error ratio (GSDER). Results showed that land degradation significantly reduced surface soil shear strength. Addition of slope, aspect, elevation and NDVI to soil attributes as input parameters improved the performance criteria for soil shear strength.
Keywords: Surface soil shear strength, Soil erodibility, Central Zgros
M. Hamidpour; M. Kalbasi; M. Afyuni; H. Shariatmadari
Abstract
Abstract
Siderophores are of important factors influencing bioavailability and fate of heavy metals in the arid and semi-arid soils. They are low molecular weight organic ligands excreted by aerobic soil microorganisms and some plants roots to acquire Fe. Siderophores may also complex other metals such ...
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Abstract
Siderophores are of important factors influencing bioavailability and fate of heavy metals in the arid and semi-arid soils. They are low molecular weight organic ligands excreted by aerobic soil microorganisms and some plants roots to acquire Fe. Siderophores may also complex other metals such as Pb .The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of DFOB-siderophore on sorption of Pb on montmorillonite. The sorption of Pb on montmorillonite was studied as a function of pH (sorption envelopes) and as a function of Pb concentration (sorption isotherms) in the presence of siderophore using a 24–h batch equilibration experiment. The results of sorption envelopes showed that the siderophore increased sorption of Pb onto montmorillonite in all solution pH, specially at pH ≥5. The results of equilibrium test (isotherms) revealed that removal of Pb from solution was not affected by siderophore at pH=4.5, while the siderophore strongly influenced the isotherm shape and increased Pb sorption onto montmorillonite at pH=6.5. The equilibrium data is best described by a Freundlich isotherm, in which the values obtained for the KF constant were 4.8 and 196.5 and for n constant were 0.8 and 2.1 in the absence and presence of the siderophore, respectively. These values are indication of high sorption affinity of Pb on montmorillonite in the presence of the siderophore.
Keywords: Lead, Siderophore, Sorption, Montmorillonite
H. Shirani; M.A. Hajabbassi; M. Afyuni; A. Hemmat
Abstract
Abstract
Methods of tillage and organic matter affect root growth and distribution and therefore nutrient uptake by plant and its growth. This study was performed consecutive two years. Tillage treatments included disk harrowing + two disk harrowings as reduced tillage (15 cm plowing depth) and moldboard ...
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Abstract
Methods of tillage and organic matter affect root growth and distribution and therefore nutrient uptake by plant and its growth. This study was performed consecutive two years. Tillage treatments included disk harrowing + two disk harrowings as reduced tillage (15 cm plowing depth) and moldboard plowing + two disk harrowings as conventional tillage system (30 cm plowing depth). Also, three levels of 0, 30 and 60 tons per hectare farmyard manure were used as organic manure treatments. The above mentioned treatments were done in a split block design with 3 replications and under corn cultivation for two years. To determination of root morphological properties of plant, sampling was done by a cylinder with a cap from top of the row and root length and density were measured. The results showed, tillage systems had a significant effect (p=0.05) on root length and density of corn in 0-20 cm soil depth. In the reduced tillage treatment, root length and density in the stages of 9 and 11 leaves increased significantly in comparison conventional tillage, but root depth was higher at conventional tillage than reduced tillage. This is due to presence of soft soil (disturbed soil) in lower soil depth from top of the row under conventional tillage. The results indicated that manure had no significant effect on morphological root characteristics, but increased biological yield of corn.
Keywords: Reduced tillage, Conventional tillage, Farmyard manure, Corn root