Trace metals found in industrial effluents are highly toxic pollutants, and these include cadmium and chromium (VI). The objective of this work is to remove cadmium and chromium (VI) on activated carbons, prepared from biomaterials such as nuclei of <i>Ziziphus lotus</i> and coffee grounds. The characterization of adsorbents was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results of the characterization showed an important porosity on the activated carbon’s surface, with sizes between 6 and 50 <i>μ</i>m. Similarly, the adsorption results showed that the adsorption process is very rapid and that the increase in contact time and temperature improves the efficiency of the Cd and Cr(VI) removal process. Indeed, abatement rates (R%) of 80% for Cr(VI) and 60% for Cd were obtained after 80 minutes of adsorption on activated carbon prepared from <i>Ziziphus lotus</i>, whereas activated carbon obtained from coffee grounds allows a reduction rate of about 50% for Cr(VI) and Cd. Hence, it seems clearly that the activated carbon of <i>Ziziphus lotus</i> is more effective than that of coffee grounds, especially for the Cr(VI) adsorption. The kinetic modeling of the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model, and the Freundlich model has better explained the adsorption isotherm for Cd and Cr(VI). The thermodynamic study showed that adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic.

Ibrahim Touzani

Imane El Machrafi

Kaoutar Harboul

Otmane Boudouch

Imad Alouiz

Khalil Hammani

Rachid Flouchi

Kawtar Fikri-Benbrahim

Evaluation of Activated Carbons Prepared from Bioprecursors for the Removal of Cadmium and Chromium (VI)

A detrimental decline in soil fertility has been attributed to losses in arable land productivity in Ethiopia. In this line, several studies were conducted to enable informed decisions; however, monitoring soil property dynamics in different biophysical, climatic, and cropping systems is yet to be adequate to support and influence decision and policymakers. To this end, this study evaluated soil physicochemical properties on land managed for annual crops and coffee land use in the Chentale watershed, the upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. About 24 soil samples were collected from the two land uses and soil depths (topsoil: 0–15 cm and subsoil: 15–30 cm) with 6 replications for soil properties analysis. The result showed that most of the soil parameters varied significantly with land uses and were higher with coffee landuse (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18.973pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" id="M1" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 18.973 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-113" d="M570 304C570 398 525 448 414 448C385 448 343 445 312 434L329 511L321 518C297 504 262 482 244 460L233 411C195 397 159 381 128 358L135 332C160 347 189 360 224 373L111 -147C97 -210 84 -218 17 -231L13 -257L254 -247L259 -218L233 -216C183 -212 177 -202 189 -142L218 -1C238 -10 266 -12 283 -12C351 3 429 48 483 105C543 168 570 242 570 304ZM482 289C482 161 380 33 304 33C278 33 248 51 233 69L303 396C326 400 352 403 369 403C428 403 482 380 482 289Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.342,0)"><path id="g117-91" d="M512 -3V55L134 254V256L512 456V514L75 281V230L512 -3Z"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="21.921pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.555183800000002 -8.34882 21.921 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.605,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,28.845,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,31.809,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.049,0)"><path id="g113-50" d="M384 0V27C293 34 287 42 287 114V635C232 613 172 594 109 583V559L157 557C201 555 205 550 205 499V114C205 42 199 34 109 27V0H384Z"/></g></svg>)</span></span> than with cropland. Furthermore, a neutral pH range, clay loam texture, medium level of organic matter (3.93%) and nitrogen (0.18%), high level of available phosphorus (23.35 PPM), and high to very high level of exchangeable base were recorded from coffee landuse than from cropland. Whereas the mean values of organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (TN) decreased significantly (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18.973pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" id="M2" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 18.973 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-113"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.342,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-91"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="21.921pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.555183800000002 -8.34882 21.921 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.605,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,28.845,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,31.809,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.049,0)"><path id="g113-54" d="M153 550H386L412 615L406 623H120L82 318C104 327 142 338 184 338C294 338 347 275 347 187C347 112 305 39 221 39C160 39 119 71 97 89C88 97 80 96 71 90C59 80 50 67 49 57C48 45 52 36 66 23C80 9 123 -12 169 -12C221 -11 288 15 342 59C403 109 431 165 431 225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g></svg>)</span></span> decreased in the subsoil. However, most of the physical and chemical properties of the soil did not vary significantly with depth. Moreover, low pH, low OM content, and low TN are the main properties of soil considered constraints of soil fertility in cropland at both depths. Therefore, it is recommended to maintain agroforestry practices, reduce the intensity of tilling, and supply organic materials to sustain the productivity of cropland.

Feven Azene Tebekew

Teshome Betru Tadesse

Desta Adane Alemu

Amsalu Awoke Ayalew

Soil Physicochemical Properties Variation under Annual Crop and Coffee Landuse in the Chentale Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

The increasing cost of mineral fertilizer has posed a barrier for smallholder farmers, resulting in lower application rates, declined soil fertility status, and crop yield. Therefore, it is vital to look for cheap, impactful, and locally accessible organic fertilizer sources. Thus, two-year on-farm studies were conducted to evaluate potential organic fertilizer sources based on their decomposition dynamics and agronomic, economic, and farmer preference responses. The organic fertilizer sources used were dried tree leaves of <i>Croton macrostachyus</i> (Cm) and <i>Erythrina bruci</i> (Eb) and farm yard manure (FYM) and their mixture at ratios of 1 : 1:0, 2 : 1:0, and 1 : 1:1 Cm : Eb : FYM, respectively. The organic materials were buried using litter bags at 5 tons ha<sup>−1</sup> rate in the crop field and retrieved at the weeks of two (14 days), four (28 days), six (42 days), and eight (56 days) after placement. Data were collected that included dry mass (DM) remaining, daily decomposition rate (<i>k</i>), and half-life (<i>t</i>1/2). Furthermore, to validate the findings of litter bag trials, the mixture of three organic fertilizer sources [1 : 1 : 0, 2 : 1 : 0, and 1 : 1 : 1 of Cm : Eb : FYM] and four application times (two, four, six, and eight weeks before sowing) were evaluated on bread wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>) as a test crop in factorial randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. Data on agronomic, economic, and farmers’ preferences were recorded. The result revealed an increased weight loss over 56 days in the order of 2 : 1 : 0 > 1 : 1 : 0 > 1 : 1 : 1. The <i>k</i> value significantly (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="19.289pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" id="M1" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.6359 19.289 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-81" d="M600 480C600 590 528 650 384 650H143L137 622C222 614 225 607 210 531L130 127C113 41 106 36 23 28L17 0H294L300 28C204 36 195 42 212 127L243 284L314 263C327 263 339 263 352 264C465 271 600 337 600 480ZM508 481C508 351 402 304 329 304C289 304 265 311 250 317L295 559C302 594 310 606 323 611C335 616 350 619 367 619C455 619 508 573 508 481Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.658,0)"><path id="g117-91" d="M512 -3V55L134 254V256L512 456V514L75 281V230L512 -3Z"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="21.918pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.8711838 -8.6359 21.918 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.921,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,29.161,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.125,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.365,0)"><path id="g113-54" d="M153 550H386L412 615L406 623H120L82 318C104 327 142 338 184 338C294 338 347 275 347 187C347 112 305 39 221 39C160 39 119 71 97 89C88 97 80 96 71 90C59 80 50 67 49 57C48 45 52 36 66 23C80 9 123 -12 169 -12C221 -11 288 15 342 59C403 109 431 165 431 225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g></svg>)</span></span> varied among organic fertilizer sources. The <i>k</i> value (% day<sup>−1</sup>) in 2013 varied between 3.42% and 0.023%, whereas in 2014, it was 3.10% and 0.23% for Cm and FYM, respectively. The <i>k</i> value was in the order of Cm > 2 : 1 : 0 > 1 : 1 : 0 > Eb > 1 : 1 : 1 > FYM. Applying organic fertilizers two weeks before sowing significantly improved wheat performance compared to applications made eight weeks prior. For example, the mean grain yield was 4.1 tons ha<sup>−1</sup> and 2.6 tons·ha<sup>−1</sup> at two and eight weeks before sowing, respectively. Although there were no statistically significant differences among the mixed sources, the 2 : 1 and 1 : 1 over 1 : 1 : 1 proportion have resulted in a higher grain yield. Farmers showed the highest preference rank for 2 Cm : 1 Eb and 1 Cm : 1 Eb, incorporated two weeks before sowing. The partial budget analysis demonstrated the highest net benefit from applying two weeks before sowing and 2 Cm : 1 Eb organic material mixture. Considering the findings generated from the decomposition test, agronomic and economic evaluations, and farmers’ preferences, we could conclude that the wheat growers should use 2 Cm : 1 Eb and incorporate it into the soil two weeks before sowing.

Fanuel Laekemariam

Gidago Gifole

Getachew Kefita

Management of Alternative Organic Fertilizer Sources for Wheat Production: Evidence from Decomposition Dynamics and Agronomic, Economic, and Farmers’ Preferences

This paper aims to investigate the level of pollution of water, sediment, and soil due to semimechanized artisanal gold mining in Béké, Adamawa region of Cameroon. For this purpose, water and sediment samples were collected and analyzed. In order to achieve this goal, several research studies and field observations were carried out. Questionnaires were also used to complement field investigations. All these enabled the identification of the potential sources of impacts on the human, physical, and biological environment. Three soil samples (S1, S5, and S7) were collected on the same spot with the water sample and analyzed to assess the intensity of soil contamination. The water samples (W1–S9) were characterized physically, chemically, and microbiologically to evaluate the water quality contamination. The results of the physicochemical analysis of the water samples showed that the rivers in this zone are moderately acidic (with pH values ranging from 5.11 to 6.37) and slightly mineralized (with sample W2 collected from the Béké river having an iron concentration of 6.7 g/L). The pattern of mean trace metal concentration in sediments was Fe > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn. According to pollution indices, the contamination degree (CD) varied from 4.03 to 4.56 corresponding to low contamination. The index of ecological risk (<span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-3.9435pt" id="M1" height="15.7176pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -11.7741 12.4708 15.7176" width="12.4708pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-70" d="M593 650H142L136 622C219 616 224 611 209 531L130 120C114 39 108 34 23 28L17 0H501C518 32 557 130 568 158L540 169C519 132 495 93 469 70C439 43 409 35 332 35C272 35 241 37 225 50C211 61 211 89 222 149L253 320H350C441 320 443 312 441 239H471L510 434H481C455 366 448 358 360 358H260L303 572C311 613 312 615 348 615H431C509 615 522 603 532 581C544 555 546 531 545 491L574 493C583 555 592 631 593 650Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,8.008,-5.741)"><path id="g50-106" d="M250 606C250 634 233 656 203 656C168 656 146 618 146 593C146 564 169 545 192 545C227 545 250 573 250 606ZM227 95L212 119C187 98 152 71 135 71C129 71 128 78 134 102L207 373C219 418 217 451 194 451C165 451 92 411 30 351L44 326C77 353 106 371 114 371C124 371 121 357 117 341L55 97C32 5 46 -12 70 -12C108 -12 191 51 227 95Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,7.943,3.784)"><path id="g50-115" d="M397 380C406 395 404 411 396 425S369 451 350 451C302 451 239 372 192 294H189L199 338C214 407 207 451 180 451C152 451 83 405 30 345L48 318C87 354 117 372 125 372S135 362 127 324L55 -5L61 -12C87 -5 117 3 139 5C154 87 168 162 179 207C198 250 240 310 260 332C281 355 297 366 307 366C321 366 333 360 347 346C351 342 360 342 369 348C379 355 389 366 397 380Z"/></g></svg>)</span> for all the trace metals was low (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-3.9435pt" id="M2" height="15.7176pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -11.7741 12.4708 15.7176" width="12.4708pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-70"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,8.008,-5.741)"><use xlink:href="#g50-106"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,7.943,3.784)"><use xlink:href="#g50-115"/></g></svg> ≤ 40) and the geoaccumulation index (<i>I</i><sub>geo</sub>) ranged between uncontaminated and moderately contaminated (<i>I</i><sub>geo</sub> 0-1). The result of our field investigations and analysis shows that the semimechanized artisanal gold mining in the locality of Béké has very significant environmental consequences such as land degradation, deforestation, water pollution, and landscape modification.

Blanche Mefomdjo Fotie

Harouna Boukari

Ibrahim Elhadji Daou

Christian Kapta Momegni

Manyi Audrey Ebua Eta

Louis Bernard Tchuikoua

Luc Leroy Mambou Ngueyep

Physicochemical Characterisation of Water and Sediment of the Semimechanized Artisanal Gold Mining Environment of the Béké Locality

Despite being the highest value fruit crop in Australia, little is known about the types and condition or “health” of Australia’s apple growing soils. This study is unique in being the first to report the condition and characteristics of Australia’s apple growing soils; it provides essential baseline data for future monitoring of soil health in apple production systems, as well as soil physical and chemical data required for the development of perennial soil-tree-climate models. Soil chemical and physical properties were measured at 34 orchards, across five states. Soils were assessed for water retention, hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, macroporosity, organic carbon, CEC, ESP, pH, and EC. Despite high to very high levels of organic carbon, most topsoils were moderately to poorly structured. Around one-third to half of all sites showed evidence of poor aeration or impeded drainage, whilst 10 of the 34 sites were prone to nutrient leaching. Plant available soil water (PAWC) varied greatly between sites from 31 mm to 170 mm from 0 to 60 cm depth and between sites within the same soil order. Whilst topsoils had high to very high levels of organic carbon (average: 2.46%), they were otherwise poorly structured, with higher than expected bulk density (average: 1.32 g/cm<sup>3</sup>) and lower than expected air capacity (average: 9.97%) and macroporosity (average: 1.75%). Subsoils were also found to have little soil water availability (average: 15.39 mm/100 mm), low air capacity (average: 5.28%), and low CEC (average: 8.12 cmol (+) kg<sup>−1</sup>). Notably, 10 of the 34 sites had less than 6 cmol (+) kg<sup>−1</sup> CEC throughout the entire soil profile, indicating potential risk of nutrient leaching. This study indicates that apple growing soils require careful management to improve topsoil structure, and to maintain or increase soil carbon, as well as use of soil moisture sensors to schedule irrigation. In addition, some sites also require improved subsoil drainage and care to ensure fertigation and irrigation do not result in leaching of nutrients beneath the root zone.

Marcus Hardie

Garth Oliver

William Cotching

Brianna Walker

Rachel Lancaster

Nigel Swarts

Health and Characteristics of Australian Apple Growing Soils

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<p><em>Applied and Environmental Soil Science </em>publishes research in the field of soil science. Its focus reflects the multidisciplinary nature of soil science, especially the dynamics and spatial heterogeneity of processes in soil.</p>


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Applied and Environmental Soil Science | Hindawi

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Applied and Environmental Soil Science publishes research in the field of soil science. Its focus reflects the multidisciplinary nature of soil science, especially the dynamics and spatial heterogeneity of processes in soil.

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