[en] The objective of this study was to identify the effect of lag time and residual water saturation on the vertical migration of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts under transient flow conditions experienced across vegetated filter strips (VFS) receiving runoff from livestock areas. The vertical migration of C. parvum oocysts through unsaturated soils was studied in laboratory sand columns. Approximately 1x10⁵ C. parvum oocysts and 1x10⁵ carboxylated latex microspheres (4.5 μm diameter, Polysciences, Inc.) were applied to the top of sand columns at the beginning of each run. Transient water applications to the top of the sand columns (73 cm per hour) simulated an unusually high rate of pond overflow to the inlet area of a VFS after a large storm event, followed by a lag period of either 4 or 48 hours and a repeated water application. Residual water saturation conditions, during the lag period, were controlled to either 2.9 or 12.6 percent by applying a mild vacuum to the bottom of the sand column. The oocysts and microspheres were enumerated along the sand column profile using epifluorescence microscopy. The median travel distance for oocysts was 8.7 ± 1.1 cm at 12.6 percent residual saturation versus 6.7 ± 0.8 cm for 2.9 percent residual saturation. Lag time did not have a statistically significant effect on median travel distance. The study indicates that surface applied C. parvum oocysts have limited mobility through a uniform unsaturated sand medium experiencing high rates of transient water infiltration. (author)

[en] A simple demand side approach for estimating the monetary value of agricultural residues used as biofuels is proposed. Some of the important issues involved in the use of biomass feedstocks in coal-fired boilers are briefly discussed along with their implications for the maximum acceptable price estimates for the agricultural residues. Results of some typical calculations are analysed along with the estimates obtained on the basis of a supply side approach (based on production cost) developed earlier. The prevailing market prices of some agricultural residues used as feedstocks for briquetting are also indicated. The results obtained can be used as preliminary indicators for identifying niche areas for immediate/short-term utilization of agriculture residues in boilers for process heating and power generation. (author)

[en] Ever increasing demands of food are met through increased production by vertical or horizontal expansion. Vertical expansion needs increased inputs (fertilizer, chemicals, etc.) supply, leaving many negative effects on environment. Horizontal expansion limits the choice for future generations. Apart from agricultural activities, agro-based industries produce large amounts of waste material. Farm waste, along with industrial waste, used as fertilizer after necessary preparation would reduce the cost of production, increase production and clean the environment. Safe and proper disposal of saline water could reduce the risk of further salinization. Alternative methods of irrigation would solve the problem of waster logging. (author)

[en] The solid wastes as sources of heat and electrical energy were analysed. Typical structure of solid waste and organic products from: municipal solid wastes, industrial wastes and agricultural wastes for some developed countries are presented. Some dates of agricultural wastes for R. Macedonia are presented. The structure and percentage of organic products and energy content of solid wastes are estimated. The quantity of heat from solid wastes depending of the waste mass is presented. The heat quantity of some solid wastes component and the mixed municipal waste is presented. (Original)

[en] The solid wastes as sources of heat and electrical energy were analysed. Typical structure of solid waste and organic products from: municipal solid wastes, industrial wastes and agricultural wastes for some developed countries are presented. Some dates of agricultural wastes for R. Macedonia are presented. The structure and percentage of organic products and energy content of solid wastes are estimated. The quantity of heat from solid wastes depending of the waste mass is presented. The heat quantity of some solid wastes component and the mixed municipal waste is presented. (Original)

[en] The purpose of this research is to development of technologies for 1) the removal of toxic organic chemicals in sewage sludges and the volume reduction of the sewage sludge 2) the recycling/reuse of sewage sludge 3) the reconvey of resource from fishery waste by using radiation technologies. This research project focused on the study of treatment, disposal, and recycling/reuse of sewage sludge by radiation technology, and recovery of highly value-added resources from the wastes. As basic studies with a radiation technology, an enhancement of dewaterbilities of sewage sludge, development of dewatering conditioner, reduction of trace toxic organic chemicals, and the toxicities of the byproducts were studied. Based on the basic experimental results, we developed the pilot-scale system with the continuous e-beam and dewatering unit and the advanced treatment system with the use of carbon source recovered from sewage sludge

[en] To evaluate the use of compost and natural rocks as partial replacement of mineral fertilizers in ‘Flame’ seedless grape vineyards. The present work was conducted during three successive seasons (2016, 2017 and 2018), being the first season a preliminary trial on 4-yr old grapes cultivated in two different soil types (sandy and clay) at two different locations, Egypt (Abo Galeb, Giza governorate; EL-Mahala, Gharbia governorate). Treatments were applied as natural raw materials at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% out of recommended mineral NPK rate. The mineral fertilizers used were ammonium sulfate (21.6% N), calcium super phosphate (15.5% P2O5) and potassium sulfate (48% K2O). The natural rocks used were phosphate rock (22.0% P2O5) and Feldspar (10.12% K2O). Yield and fruit characteristics and leaf mineral content were determined.Using compost in combination with natural rocks enriched with NPK mobilization bacteria and mineral NPK enhanced leaf nutrients content and gave the highest yield and cluster weight. This mix also improved berries physical and chemical characteristics. There was an increase in soluble solids content (SSC), SSC/acid ratio, and anthocyanin content, associated with a reduction in nitrate content of the berry juice. The most pronounced effect was related to using 60% mineral fertilization + 40% organic and natural rocks in both vineyard locations.

[en] Composting of organic wastes is a management strategy linked to circular economy models through the transformation of these wastes into an organic product, compost, which can be used as fertiliser, soil amendment or growing media. However, the concept of ‘compost quality’ is not enough defined to take a technical decision about which is its best use or application. In the last decade, different guidelines and regulations about organic fertilisers have been developed. For instance, in Spain the Fertilisers Regulation categorises compost under five kinds according to the raw materials used - organic amendment compost (OaC), manure compost (MaC), green compost (GrC), vermicompost (VC), ‘alperujo’ compost (AlC) -, and under three quality levels (A, B or C) depending exclusively on the heavy metals content. This work analyses the national database of all composts (307) marketed in Spain, considering the analytical parameters declared, with the objective of proposing a methodology to define a global quality index. For this assessment, two indicators are employed: a fertility indicator, related to the nutrients content, and a clean indicator, related to the heavy metals content. Results show an average compost formulation 2.5:2.5:2.5 (N:P2O5:K2O). MaC and OaC present the highest fertility indicator, whereas VC the lowest. Regarding the clean indicator, GrC, MaC and VC are cleaner than OaC. In the future, this new quality assessment should be completed by including other indicators related to physical and biological characteristic (e.g. porosity, stability/maturity, phytotoxicity) that could determine the most proper use of compost.

[en] A field experiment was conducted at research fields of National Institute of Organic Agriculture (NIOA), NARC, Islamabad, Pakistan during Kharif 2011-2012, Summer season vegetables i.e. long gourd, bitter gourd, sponge gourd and farashbeans were grown under walk-in tunnels and open field. Vegetable seedling grown in the first week of July in polythene tubes were shifted during the first of August in open fields. Enriched compost at the rate 100 kg of per acre was used in furrows in the plots in two split doses. The results revealed that long gourd, bitter gourd, sponge gourd and farashbeans yielded 77.0, 13.6, 18.4 and 39.4 kg/plot respectively as compared to the vegetables in open field with the production 54.5, 5.85, 4.55 and 34.9 kg/plot. (author)

[en] Soil structural and soil organic matter decline is a worldwide problem and the return of plant residues is being used in many areas to attempt to increase soil C, which can lead to an improvement in structure. Studying the impact of residue incorporation on soil C can be difficult because of the large background of residual C. The use of isotope-labelled plant material allows the investigation of the effects of newly incorporated residue on C dynamics. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of plant residues - with differing breakdown rates, incubated at different temperatures and for various time periods - on the incorporation of C and the stability of the soil aggregates to wetting. No increase in total C within the soil aggregates was found, however, there were large increases in soil aggregate stability. The rate of incorporation of the C from the added residues differed between plant materials