A three-step test of phosphate sorption efficiency of potential agricultural drainage filter materials.

Phosphorus (P) eutrophication of lakes and streams, coming from drained farmlands, is a serious problem in areas with intensive agriculture. Installation of P sorbing filters at drain outlets may be a solution. Efficient sorbents to be used for such filters must possess high P bonding affinity to retain ortho-phosphate (Pi) at low concentrations. In addition high P sorption capacity, fast bonding and low desorption is necessary. In this study five potential filter materials (Filtralite-P(®), limestone, calcinated diatomaceous earth, shell-sand and iron-oxide based CFH) in four particle size intervals were investigated under field relevant P concentrations (0-161 µM) and retentions times of 0-24 min. Of the five materials examined, the results from P sorption and desorption studies clearly demonstrate that the iron based CFH is superior as a filter material compared to calcium based materials when tested against criteria for sorption affinity, capacity and stability. The finest CFH and Filtralite-P(®) fractions (0.05-0.5 mm) were best with P retention of ≥90% of Pi from an initial concentration of 161 µM corresponding to 14.5 mmol/kg sorbed within 24 min. They were further capable to retain ≥90% of Pi from an initially 16 µM solution within 1½ min. However, only the finest CFH fraction was also able to retain ≥90% of Pi sorbed from the 16 µM solution against 4 times desorption sequences with 6 mM KNO3. Among the materials investigated, the finest CFH fraction is therefore the only suitable filter material, when very fast and strong bonding of high Pi concentrations is needed, e.g. in drains under P rich soils during extreme weather conditions.

Sorption and fractionation of dissolved organic matter and associated phosphorus in agricultural soil.

Mobility of dissolved organic matter (DOM) strongly affects the export of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from soils to surface waters. To study the sorption and mobility of dissolved organic C and P (DOC, DOP) in soil, the pH-dependent sorption of DOM to samples from Ap, EB, and Bt horizons from a Danish agricultural Humic Hapludult was investigated and a kinetic model applicable in field-scale models tested. Sorption experiments of 1 to 72 h duration were conducted at two pH levels (pH 5.0 and 7.0) and six initial DOC concentrations (0-4.7 mmol L(-1)). Most sorption/desorption occurred during the first few hours. Dissolved organic carbon and DOP sorption decreased strongly with increased pH and desorption dominated at pH 7, especially for DOC. Due to fractionation during DOM sorption/desorption at DOC concentrations up to 2 mmol L(-1), the solution fraction of DOM was enriched in P indicating preferred leaching of DOP. The kinetics of sorption was expressed as a function of how far the solution DOC or DOP concentrations deviate from "equilibrium." The model was able to simulate the kinetics of DOC and DOP sorption/desorption at all concentrations investigated and at both pH levels making it useful for incorporation in field-scale models for quantifying DOC and DOP dynamics.

Risk factors for faecal sand excretion in Icelandic horses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Sandy soil is often mentioned as a risk factor in the development of sand-related gastrointestinal disease (SGID) in the horse. There are other variables, but few studies confirm any of these. OBJECTIVE: To investigate soil type, pasture quality, feeding practice in the paddock, age, sex and body condition score as risk factors for sand intake in the horse. METHODS: Faeces were collected from 211 Icelandic horses on 19 different studs in Denmark together with soil samples and other potential risk factors. Sand content in faeces determined by a sand sedimentation test was interpreted as evidence of sand intake. Soil types were identified by soil analysis and significance of the data was tested using logistic analysis. RESULTS: Of horses included in the study, 56.4% showed sand in the faeces and 5.7% had more than 5 mm sand as quantified by the rectal sleeve sedimentation test. Soil type had no significant effect when tested as main effect, but there was interaction between soil type and pasture quality. Significant interactions were also found between paddock feeding practice and pasture quality. CONCLUSION: To evaluate the risk of sand intake it is important to consider 3 variables: soil type, pasture quality and feeding practice. Pasture quality was identified as a risk factor of both short and long grass in combination with sandy soil, while clay soil had the lowest risk in these combinations. Feeding practice in the paddock revealed feeding directly on the ground to be a risk factor when there was short (1-5 cm) or no grass. Also, no feeding outdoors increased the risk on pastures with short grass, while this had no effect in paddocks with no grass. More than 50% of all horses investigated in this study had sand in the faeces. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The identification of risk factors is an important step towards prevention of SGID. Further research is necessary to determine why some horses exhibit more than 5 mm sand in the sedimentation test and whether this is correlated with geophagic behaviour.

Starch-encapsulated chlorpyrifos: release rate, insecticidal activity and degradation in soil.

Incorporation of chlorpyrifos into starch matrices was achieved by thermal gelatinization. The level of amylose content in the starch matrices (10 and 52%) and the addition of auxiliary agents, i.e. solvent, emulsifiers or both, were varied and eight different formulations were prepared. According to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction measurements, chlorpyrifos was partly present in a crystalline form in all the starch formulations. The formulations had controlled release properties, and the release rate into water could be described by a linear model. In a bioassay, the formulations killed all larvae of the cabbage root fly at a dosing of 1.4 kg a.i. per ha. The degradation of chlorpyrifos in soil from the starch formulations could be described in a non-linear logistic model and the half-life was predicted to be 88 days. Differences in the amount of amylose in the starch as well as the addition of solvent and emulsifiers in the preparation procedure had no systematic influence on the release rate, the insecticidal effect and the degradation rate. No correlation between release rate into water and degradation in soil could be established. Two commercial chlorpyrifos formulations Lorsban 15 G (granular) and Cyfos 500 gl(-1) (emulsifiable concentrate), were included in the study for comparison.

Copper release from copper intrauterine devices removed after up to 8 years of use.

We studied the copper-releasing ability, weight and microscopic appearance of 2 copper-bearing intrauterine devices (IUDs), Copper-T Cu 200 (CuT) and Nova-T Cu 200 Ag (NovaT), after they had been in utero for up to 8 years. In addition, we studied whether IUDs removed from pregnant women showed different copper release. We found that IUD weight was a linear, negative function of duration of use, and that less than 20% of total copper would be released over a period of 8 years. The average copper-releasing ability was significantly higher for CuT than for NovaT (82.6 +/- 6.4 vs. 42.7 +/- 2.6 micrograms/day). The copper release was constant and thus unrelated to duration of use. Copper-releasing ability was similar in IUDs removed from pregnant and non-pregnant women. Fragmentation or minor defects only occurred in 3% of the IUDs and no correlation was found between deposits or corrosion and copper release rates. We conclude that CuT and NovaT both have constant copper release for at least 5-6 years and that the useful life-span probably can be prolonged to 6-8 years or more.