Abstract: We measured soil carbon (C) and its stable isotopic composition in paddy fields that had received different fallow treatments for 6 years to investigate how management practices influenced the response of soil C. The experiment compared 4 fallow treatments in neighboring fields: mowing twice a year and no tillage (MN), mowing twice a year and puddling once a year (MP), and flooding to 5 or 15 cm and puddling (WP5, WP15) to prevent succession to wasteland and thus permit future cultivation. MN had the potential to increase soil C more than MP5 through larger root and shoot buildup. However, the total soil C content to a depth of 30 cm was significantly higher in WP5 (13.7 Mg C ha–1) than in MN (11.8 Mg C ha–1). The dry-fallow management increased plant growth while reducing soil C. The large root dry weight in MN and MP could have increased soil C through high root turnover, whereas land use change from flooding to dry-land masked the abundant C input. After cultivation stops, flooding plays a significant role in preventing root growth and C sequestration in fallow paddy fields

Keywords: agricultural abandonment, carbon sequestration, fallow, irrigation, LULUC, stable carbon isotope, weed control

Abstract: The present work describes the occurrence and diversity of rotifers with respect to the physicochemical parameters in a seasonal pond of Pune (India) for a period of one year. The study reports 45 rotifers belonging to 3 orders, 15 families and 26 different genera. Of these, 1, 30 and 38 are new records to India, Maharashtra state and Pune district respectively. The pond water exhibits a typical range of temperature (20.7-30.5 °C) and alkaline nature (7.4-9.5), characteristic of tropical freshwater bodies. The rotifer fauna is characterised by moderate diversity and evenness, higher dominance, and very low temporal community similarities. The study also reveals dominance of eurythermal and eutrophic rotifer species. Rotifer richness is positively correlated to rainfall and temperature, whereas a negative correlation between pH and conductivity is observed. Rotifer abundance is positively correlated with pH, whereas no such correlation is observed with temperature and conductivity. Conservation of seasonal water bodies is essential, as these habitats may reveal interesting relationships between the physicochemical parameters and the rotifer fauna present there

Keywords: Rotifers, seasonal water body, physico-chemical, moderate diversity, high dominance

Abstract: The effect of soot on certain parameters of maize was analysed. We applied low rates of soot (3 gm–2week–1) with a motorised sprayer. The effect of soot on evapotranspiration was tested on plants grown in evapotranspirometer (ET). Soot pollution had no influence on maize growth and development. Leaf withering after full maturity, however, was delayed by the presence of soot. The ability of soot to absorb irradiation and thus increase leaf surface temperatures led to an increase of 4% in the annual evapotranspiration sum. Soot pollution reduced dry matter (DM) on the rainfed plots (8.8 %), but not in the ET tanks. In the ET tanks, soot had no significant influence on either the stalk or the grain DM, though slight reductions were recorded. On the non-irrigated plot there was 12.4 % reduction in grain dry matter in response to pollution. Supplementary water supplies mitigated the plant damage caused by soot. A further advantage was detected in the number of deformed ears

Keywords: soot (black carbon), maize, evapotranspiration, yield

Abstract: In the silty Lithuanian lakes are accumulated about 1,5 mlrd. m3 sediments. It is valuable organic matter, which can be used for fertilization and improving of soil. The experiments with the purpose to study the possibilities to use lake sediments for improvement infertile environmental object - sandy loam Cambisol were carried out at the Voke Branch of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. The investigations on the efficiency of organic lake sediments were conducted on the background containing no mineral fertilizers and in the one with minimum rates of N30-60P30-40K50- 60 mineral fertilizers according to the following scheme: in 1999-2009. Results confirm that fertilization of soil with various rates of organic lake sediments and its mixtures with manure and sewage influences the productivity of crop rotation (maize, maize (Zea mays L.), barley (Hordeum L.), with under-crop, perennial grasses (Trifolium pratense L. and Pheleum pratense L.) of the 1st and 2nd year of use, winter rye (Secale cereale L.) blend of oats and lupin (Avena sativa L. and Lupinus angustifolius L.), barley (Hordeum L.), with under–crop, perennial grasses (Trifolium pratense L. and Pheleum pratense L.), blend of oats and lupin, barley (Hordeum L.).

Keywords: lake sediments, manure, yield, soil, properties, fertilization

Abstract: Impact of short-term exposure of sub lethal concentration of organophosphate pesticides Ekalux on physiology of sub adults of Anabas testudineus in the Kol paddy fields of Central Kerala was studied. Results of the present study indicated that even short-term, exposure to Ekalux is detrimental to A. testudineus. Among the parameters that showed significant changes were heamatological parameters such as Hb, PCV, RBC count, and ESR. Cell morphology shifted from a normal elliptical shape after 24 hr to crenated or fringed and shrinked appearance at 15th day of exposure. It was also seen that protein and amino acid concentration are clear indicators of immediate stress. Histopathological studies of liver showed hypertrophied hepatocytes with reduced number of normal cells after 15 days of exposure. The number of haematopoietic tissue was found to have declined in the kidney also in addition to increased number of melano-macrophage centres (MMC). However, once these fishes were reared in clear water, devoid of any pesticide for six months, values for Hb, PCV, protein, amino acid and liver and renal tissues showed signs of revival. The present study depicts that severity of Ekalux toxicity to sub adults of Anabas testudineus is both dose and time dependant.

Keywords: Wetland, Ekalux, Anabas testudinues, Heamatology, Histopathology

Abstract: Arbuscular mycorhizal fungi (AMF) produce a glycoprotein (glomalin) important for soil structure, fertility and therefore plant nutrition which can be used to evaluate the impact of agricultural practices on soil quality across many land use systems. In the present study, its influence was investigated on soil fertility and aggregation in 3 different land use systems of the humid forest zone of southern Cameroon. Soils were sampled at 10 cm depth from 03 native forest, 03 fallow and 03 continuous growing fields systems at Metet (South Cameroon) for the determination of easily extractable glomalin (EEG), total glomalin (TG), carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and soil water stable aggregate of 1-2 mm diameter (WSA1-2mm). Results showed that both EEG and TG concentrations significantly decreased (P 0.01) from the forest to the growing field, via the fallow system. The rate of EEG decrease was 29.82 % and 38.35 % in the fallow and the growing field system compared to the forest system, respectively. For TG, the decrease rate was 16.65 % to 46.04 % for the fallow and the growing field system compare to the forest system respectively; while C, N, and organic matter (OM) did not changed significantly. The proportion of C, N and OM were 93.6 %, 88.3 %, 93.7 % for the growing field system compared to the forest system respectively. The WSA1-2mm decreased from the forest to fallow and growing field systems, with respective rates of 19.69% and 32.81 %. There was high positive correlation between C, N and EEG (r2 = 0.76, 0.55; P 0.01), suggesting the possible implication of glomalin to soil stock of C and N. Likewise, the high positive correlation between TG and WSA1-2mm (r2 = 0.64, P 0.01), C and TG (r2 = 0.84, P 0.05), OM and WSA1-2mm (r2 = 0.57, P 0.01) as well as OM and TG (r2 = 0.88, P 0.01) suggests that glomalin, C and N may contribute to the formation of WSA1-2mm, and thereby promote the build up of soil structure. These results highlight the view that glomalin can be used as an indicator of soil fertility in this region and should be consider as a criteria when define agricultural management strategies.

Keywords: glomalin, soil stable aggregate, arbuscular mycorhizal fungi, soil fertility

Abstract: In the last decade several researchers found relation between the wingspan size of moths and their light sensitivity. Generally, moths with larger wingspan have higher light sensitivity. We tested these findings using the catch data of 378 Macrolepidoptera species from 19 black light (BL, 125 W) and normal light trap (100 W) pairs of the Hungarian Light Trap Network. We have found that wingspan size of about 25 mm is the limit below which some species were trapped more effectively by normal light trap, compared to BL. However, BL trap catch ratio of moths with wingspan of over about 35 mm is nearly 100 %, compared to normal light trap. According to the catch results of a site where normal and BL traps were placed close enough for the moths to perceive both at the same time, 75 % of moths with even small wingspan were caught by BL traps. Regarding the fact that BL traps collected significantly more individuals of Macrolepidoptera species with their wingspan over 35 mm on all sites of observation, we can conclude that Wolfram light bulb of 100 W is hardly suitable to use for this purpose. Consequently, considering our results, the light trap type can more effectively be specialized to the purpose of the observation according to the wingspan of the targeted species from which fact plant protection applications and entomological research projects can successfully benefit.

Keywords: Macrolepidoptera, wingspan, spectral sensitivity, light traps

Abstract: Under scenarios of increasing climate aridity and human pressure, Ecosystem Sensitivity to Desertification (ESD) is one of the most important targets for sustainable land management. This process is particularly complex in the Mediterranean region since it involves multifaceted, interacting factors that depend on endogenous conditions and exogenous pressures. Environmental indicators quantifying the ESD level at local scale should reflect the interaction among biophysical and socioeconomic factors that are (directly or indirect) associated to soil and land degradation. This paper illustrates a Geographical Information System (GIS) investigating the main factors determining ESD at land unit scale. This tool incorporates a Decision Support System (DSS) capable to simulate the effect of short-term environmental changes on the ESD (hereafter ‘DSS-ESI’). The final output of the DSS-ESI is a composite index of land sensitivity to desertification (ESI) calculated separately for representative land cover types. The illustrated system was supplemented by a web-based interface which estimates the overall level of land sensitivity under different climate, population, and policy scenarios. The paper illustrates the main results produced by the DSS-ESI in a study site application (Basilicata, Italy) and comments about its applicability to other Mediterranean areas. Monitoring systems like the one illustrated here may support local-scale responses to mitigate land degradation in the Mediterranean basin.

Keywords: Decision Support System, Key Indicators set, Desertification, Climate change, Land use change, Land management

Abstract: Small landscape elements such as ditches are an important remaining refuge for biodiversity in agricultural land especially in the Netherlands. By themselves ditches harbour steep gradients in environmental conditions creating a rich variety in microhabitat availability at the small scale. Regional variation in management and water quality could influence microhabitat variability among these ditches. Some 400 ditches in six major agricultural polder areas around Amsterdam were studied. Data were collected on ditch width, submerged or emergent plants, conductivity, bank height, slope and ditch depth. A principal component analysis using these variables showed observed variability and attributed to the ditch dimensions related to ditch maintenance carried out by the farmers and ditch water quality. Microhabitats prevalence such as percentage algal cover and emergent, vary greatly even in early spring. It was found that, there is a great variability between the ditches within the sampled agricultural polder areas.

Keywords: Drainage, ecosystem, management, duckweed, temperature

Abstract: Spawning sites, floodplain lakes and the vegetation integrity were mapped and quantified in the upper Grande River basin, to aid the conservation of local migratory fish fauna, including the management of the existing fish pass. The distribution of critical habitats for the life cycle of migratory species, such as spawning sites and nursery areas, is essential because some significant impacts, such as "source-sink" dynamics and ecological traps may take place depending on their distribution. We assessed seven lotic stretches throughout the upper Grande River basin, including the Aiuruoca, Capivari, Mortes, and Cervo tributaries and three regions in main stem. Floodplain lakes were present and well distributed in all of the tributaries and stretches of the Grande River, although all of them had less than half of the original vegetation. Due to their high density of eggs and larvae, the Mortes and Aiuruoca tributaries stood out as essential for fish recruitment in the basin. It was possible to figure out the current situation of the upper Grande River basin in terms of the remaining vegetation surrounding the lotic stretches, the presence of nurseries (floodplain lakes), and spawning sites (egg and larvae drift), and to propose management strategies for the entire basin.

Keywords: Conservation, ichthyoplankton, neotropical fish, nursery areas

Abstract: Accumulation of heavy metals – Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Manganese (Mn) in root, stem and leaves of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) grown on loamy coastal soil amended with different doses (100, 75, 50, 20, and 10 tha-1) of municipal solid waste compost was assessed during a period of 45 days. Heavy metal accumulation in root, stem and leaves of the plants were significantly different across different amendments and sole soil (P 0.05). The ranking order of accumulated and translocated concentration of the heavy metals was Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd > Mn in the roots, which changed to Mn > Pb > Zn > Cd > Cu in the stem and to Mn > Pb > Cd > Zn > Cu in the leaves of the plants. The ranking order of heavy metal accumulation in different parts of the plant was root>stem>leaves for Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd; however, it was stem>leaves>root for Mn across all the treatments. The accumulation of the metals increased gradually and significantly with the passage of time in days from 15 to 45 days (p 0.05).

Keywords: Bioaccumulation, Mobility Index, Phytoremediation, Translocation

Abstract: Environmental justice has become an important topic in environmental sciences, and GIS is being increasingly used in environmental justice research to fully understand the relationship between low-income racial minorities and toxic facility locations. This study used GIS based proximity measures in combination with environmental justice indices to assess the status of environmental justice concerns in the Mississippi River Industrial Corridor in Louisiana. Comparative Environmental Risk Indices (CERI) for poverty and minority computed for parishes along the Mississippi River Industrial Corridor suggested a higher degree of environmental injustice in East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Jefferson, Orleans, St. Charles, St. James and St. John parishes. Standard Minority Ratios (SMIR) and Standard Poverty Ratios (SPR) provided stronger evidences for environmental injustice in the study area. The study approach allows preliminary assessment of environmental justice concerns, which has policy implications in industrial zone planning, and siting potentially toxic industrial facilities

Keywords: Environmental injustice, Louisiana, GIS, Environmental justice indices