Macrofauna do solo em área de vegetação espontânea em pomar de jurubeba Solanum paniculatum L. (Solanaceae)

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are an environmentally friendly way of generating electricity, which is often accompanied by the decomposition of organic waste. A common problem for these devices is the low power generated by the electric current. In nature, the decomposition of organic waste, coupled with oxidation-reduction reactions, i.e. the transfer of electrons and protons formed during the decomposition is carried out by microbial communities, which, in their optimal state for this process, are called active sludge (AS). A mature active sludge consists of a so-called flocculium - round formations in the size from 30 to 100 and more microns, inside of which microorganisms carrying out various reactions of decomposition of organic substances are contained. It is easy to see that the MFC design is topologically similar to the active sludge flocculant. We tried to check how the presence of microorganisms in the water chamber affects the productivity of the MFC by filling the anode and cathode chambers with the same sludge mixture, and the test cells were shaken on a shaker to create favorable conditions for the formation of microbial communities. The active sludge cell in both chambers shaken on the shaker, over time, generated the highest voltage in the external circuit as compared to the control samples. The obtained data confirm the legitimacy of the assimilation of MFC flocculine AS. The evolution of the microbial community of the silt mixture in two directions - in the aerobic and anaerobic MFC chambers - apparently leads to the formation of two different communities mutually complementing each other as part of the MFC and improving the operation of the MFC, subject to additional dynamic provision (shaking). The effect of the addition of peptone to the anode chamber on the productivity of MFC was also investigated. The periodic addition of peptone significantly increased the output power of the MFC cell. Apparently, substrates of protein nature, representing a nutrient medium for electrogenic bacteria, can be used to stimulate the electrogenic activity of the microflora of late anaerobic silt.

Research Highlights: Thinning and tree species alter the forest floor microclimate by modifying canopy cover, radiation, wind, and humidity. Thus, forest management can directly influence the edaphic mesofauna responsible for decomposing coarse woody debris (CWD). Background and Objectives: This research was carried out in the Southwestern Pyrenees Mountains (Northern Spain) and aimed to determine the influence of forest thinning and canopy type (pure Pinus sylvestris L. or a mix of P. sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica L.) on CWD colonization by edaphic fauna. Materials and Methods: CWD samples were collected belonging to intermediate and advanced decomposition stages, approximately 10 cm long and 5 cm in diameter. Using a design of three thinning intensities (0%, 20%, and 40% of basal area removed), with three replications per treatment (nine plots in total), four samples were taken per plot (two per canopy type) to reach 36 samples in total. Meso- and macrofauna were extracted from CWD samples with Berlese–Tullgren funnels, and individuals were counted and identified. Results: 19 taxonomic groups were recorded, the most abundant being the mesofauna (mites and Collembola). Mixed canopy type had a significant positive influence on richness, whereas advanced decay class had a positive significant influence on total abundance and richness. In addition, there were non-significant decreasing trends in richness and abundance with increasing thinning intensity. However, interactions among thinning intensity, canopy type, and decay class significantly affected mesofauna. Furthermore, some taxonomic groups showed differential responses to canopy type. CWD water content was positively correlated with total invertebrate abundance and some taxonomic groups. Our results suggest that stand composition has the potential to directly affect invertebrate communities in CWD, whereas stand density influence is indirect and mostly realized through changes in CWD moisture. As mesofauna is related to CWD decomposition rates, these effects should be accounted for when planning forest management transition from pure to mixed forests.

Groundwater is classified as polluted if it contains sufficient chemical or biological contaminants to cause harm to living organisms. Nitrates are a common groundwater contaminant. In developing countries, a common source of nitrates in aquifers is Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills, where they are produced from the decomposition of organic wastes. Nitrate pollution may cause groundwater quality surrounding MSW landfills to deteriorate if the issue is not managed. This research aims to investigate the presence and concentration of nitrates in leachate and groundwater samples surrounding the Dangkor landfill in Phnom Penh and recommend an effective approach for effectively monitoring and controlling these levels. Nitrate levels in leachate sampled from the landfill and groundwater sampled from surrounding tube wells was analyzed to assess (i) the seasonal variation in nitrate concentrations; (ii) spatial variation in the nitrate contamination of aquifers surrounding the landfill; and (iii) compliance with WHO standards. Groundwater samples were collected from three different wells at four sampling points located 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 m from a reference point at Dangkor MSW landfill. Each sample was analyzed for the presence of nitrates before the concentration was analyzed. The results had several limitations but they suggest that there is no significant relationship between nitrate concentration in groundwater and distance from the landfill. Recorded nitrate levels were well within WHO guidelines for domestic use (50 mg/L) and as such, landfill leachate is not contributing to unsafe nitrate levels in groundwater aquifers between 500 m and 2000 m from the landfill site.

The intensification of human activities in the last few decades has brought about an accelerated increase in the production of urban solid wastes (garbage), becoming a serious problem for the public administrations and society. The disorderly increase in population and the unplanned growth of huge urban nuclei makes it difficult for the waste management actions; in addition, the use of dump areas in the major urban centers is still a common practice, what causes health and environmental problems. The decomposition of the organic matter releases biogas, which main constituents are the carbonic gas and methane, corresponding to approximately 50% and is a greenhouse gas, which emission causes global heating. In addition, it generates unpleasant odors and presents explosion risks. The sanitary landfills are currently regarded as one of the most interesting alternatives for biogas generation, as they can rely on techniques to capture the gases released, through a capturing ducts and subsequent burning in flares, where the methane -biogas main constituent -is transformed into carbonic gas which global heating potential is approximately 20 times lower than methane. Ducts are in place at these landfills to capture the leachate, a liquid deriving from the decomposition of organic wastes which, if not duly collected, pollutes the hydrological resources. Besides the opportunity to reduce the environmental damages, it is possible to use biogas as a fuel to generate electric power. Therefore, this study assesses the potential biogas generation of the Essencis Landfill -CTR Caieiras, in the city of Caieiras (SP), as well as the technical and economic feasibility for the deployment of an electric power generation project with the biogas deriving from same, by means of a case study. This study has showed that the methodology used in order to quantify the potential biogas from the landfill at issue is close to the actually captured one, and also that the CTR -Caieiras has a high potential for electric power generation. In addition, the 230 kW power generator installed at the landfill is feasible, from the economic point of view, and may present better results with the installation of greater size power generators.

The present experiment was carried out during 2022 and consisted of soil sample collection from the designated sitesand laboratory experiments which was conducted in Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj-211007(U.P.). The primary goals of this study were to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics of soil at various depths. To determine the availability of macronutrients in soil samples from Kushinagar, District, UttarPradesh, and to provide an assessment, 9 sampling locations were chosen. The depths at which soil samples were taken were 0–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm, respectively. The soil colour (dry condition) Results revealed that the soil colour in dry condition varies from Olive yellow to Olive grey and the colour in wet condition varies from Olive brown to Dark greyish. The soil texture was dominantly sandy loam in almost every site.The bulk density (Mg m⁻3) ranged from 1.35(Mg m⁻3) to 1.43(Mg m⁻3). The practical density (Mg m⁻3) ranged from 2.41 (Mg m⁻3) to 2.53(Mgm⁻3). The pore space (%) ranged from 43.87(%)to 48.87(%). The water holding capacity (%) ranged from 34.01(%) to 42.36(%). The soil pH ranged from 7.50 to 7.99 Indicating Neutral to alkalinein nature. The electrical conductivity ranged from 0.12 (dS m-1) to 0.33(dS m-1). The soil organic carbon (%) ranged from 0.23(%) to 0.39(%). The Available nitrogen (kg ha-1) ranged from 233.23(kg ha-1) to 278.24 (kg ha-1). The Available phosphorous (kg ha-1) ranged from 13.89 (kg ha-1) to 25.39 (kg ha-1). The Available potassium (kg ha-1) ranged from 187.99(kg ha-1 to 238.32 (kg ha- 1). The Exchangeable calcium [cmol (p+) kg-1] ranged from 3.03 to 4.24 [cmol (p+) kg-1]. The Exchangeable Magnesium [cmol (p+) kg -1] ranged from 1.45 to 2.21 [cmol (p+) kg-1]. It suggests that still improvement can be done by improving cropping pattern, decomposition of organic waste, mulching, tillage practices and proper irrigation by management practices with knowledge and experience gained through studies and lead farmers to achieve quality produce and high yield through soil conservation.

Digital territories focus on community transformation through sustainable development, saving resources in local governments, bridging the digital gap, and using technology to build smart infrastructure. This article presents the design and implementation of a smart system, called the Waste Treatment System (WTS), for controlling parameters of waste decomposition in the trash bins installed in Riobamba city (Ecuador). The prototype allows monitoring in real time both the amount of waste and the level of rottenness of garbage by means of the measurement of different parameters that indicate the characteristics of the leachates generated inside. The motivation of this work was to yield an efficient solution to urban waste treatment that optimizes resources in the collection process by providing real-time information to improve collection frequency vehicles and also reduce emissions by the decomposition of organic waste. The tests allowed assessing technical aspects such as the maximum coverage of wireless communication, the transmission channel capacity for each prototype, the data-processing requirements, and other more particular parameters such as the production of leachates due to the frequency of collection and the environmental conditions, which will be useful in future work on environmental impact.

Composting is an aerob process. Aerob microorganismens need at least an oxygen-concentration of 3 Vol.–% to take part on the degradation of organic matter. If the oxygen-concentration is getting too low, anaerobic organismens become dominant. They produce oder and greenhouse gases. To avoid this effect all instruments must be used to increae the O2–concentration in the plant.

Landfill gas (LFG) is a methane-rich gas produced by the decomposition of organic waste in landfills. It has the potential to be a greenhouse gas, but it can also be a valuable source of energy. LFG can be used to generate electricity, heat, or fuel. Renewable natural gas, abundant in methane derived from organic matter or waste streams, can undergo processing to align with established specifications for conventional fossil natural gas pipelines and vehicle use. This article assesses the present state of understanding concerning the transformation of landfill gas into a valuable fuel resource. This study shows the methods for LFG collection and conversion into usable fuels, along with the environmental benefits and challenges associated with its utilization and usage. In this study, a thorough examination was conducted concerning the waste generated in residential communities, specifically within the rural districts of Adana, known as the Yedigoze region. This research focused on assessing the gas potential derived from these waste materials and their potential environmental implications when employed as a fuel source for municipal buses. The transitioning analysis of 50 diesel buses to compressed natural gas (CNG) buses resulted in a remarkable reduction of 950,625 kg of CO2 emissions in one year.

Landfills are a significant source of atmospheric emissions associated with the decomposition of organic waste; however, conventional monitoring methods typically have limited spatial coverage. This study evaluates the use of an UAV-based system for the spatial characterization of gases associated with biogas emissions at a municipal landfill. A DJI Matrice 350 RTK platform equipped with a Sniffer4D Mini2 multi-gas station and a Zenmuse H20T thermal camera were used. Four flight campaigns were conducted at an altitude of 20 m, with an acquisition frequency of approximately 1 Hz, recording total hydrocarbons (CxHy) as an indirect indicator of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxygen (O2), temperature, and relative humidity. The results showed a marked transition around 13:10 h, characterized by a simultaneous increase in CH4 equivalent and CO2, along with a decrease in NO2, O3, and SO2. Furthermore, CH4 equivalent and CO2 showed the highest positive correlation among the variables (r = 0.96). Spatial maps generated using ordinary kriging revealed more heterogeneous patterns, while the qualitative thermal orthophoto confirmed the site’s surface variability. Overall, the results demonstrate that the integration of multi-gas sensors and aerial thermography on UAVs is viable for the spatial monitoring of landfills.

Mangroves of the Indus Delta are the world’s fifth largest assemblage, and the largest in the arid zone. Mangroves of Indus delta (PQA) provide immense benefits, products and unrecognized regulatory services. Products of Direct Economic Value: Fish, Minerals and food. There are Products of Natural System (intangible) supplies of rich nutrients to support productivity. Coastal communities benefit in a multitude of ways from Mangrove ecosystems. Collectively, these benefits are known as ecosystem services. The ecological role of mangrove ecosystems in the Indus Deltaic area of Port Qasim Authority (PQA) is, economically and socially significant. The Mangroves are well known for their high biological productivity and their consequent importance provided to the coastal community in terms of services and products of direct and indirect value to the adjacent coastal waters. Mangrove Ecosystem services are regularly involved in the provisioning of food and services and the decomposition of organic wastes. They export organic matter, mainly in detritus form of leaf litter to the marine environment, thus providing a highly nutritious food source for themselves and for the Benthic and terrestrial animals found in the mangrove areas, as well as for those in neighboring estuarine and marine ecosystems. Apart from nutrient export, mangroves also contribute to offshore fisheries by acting as nurseries and shelters for many species of commercially important finfish and crustaceans. Degradation of Indus Deltaic mangrove in PQA would destabilize the economic potential and the livelihood of communities’ which include services and benefits offered by the mangrove ecosystem. Rehabilitation and conservation of mangroves ecosystem in PQA is essential for sustained biological productivity in the region.

The decomposition of organic waste by Black Soldier Fly (BSF) plays a potential role in plant growth promotion and soil nutrient enrichment. This study investigated the effect of different compost from food waste, vegetable & fruit waste, cow manure, pig manure, poultry manure, TNPL (Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited) bio sludge and combinations of these materials induced varied growth promotion on groundnut. A pot culture experiment evaluated shoot length, root length, germination percentage, plant biomass and vigour index. The best results were observed in the treatment combining hostel food waste and vegetable waste (50 %) with poultry manure (50 %) (T7), showing a shoot length of 20.34 cm, vigour index of 3629, plant biomass of 24.3 g, and germination percentage of 93.33%. Other treatments, such as food waste (T1) and vegetable and fruit waste (T2), showed vigour indices of 2561.6 and 2692.9, respectively, while the untreated control had the lowest vigour index of 900.4. Nutrient analysis of T7 compost revealed high levels of nitrogen (462 kg/ha), phosphorus (375 kg/ha), potassium (320 kg/ha) and micronutrients like iron (29.04 ppm) and zinc (7.58 ppm). GC-MS analysis identified growth-promoting compounds like Cyclohexanol (64.3 %), Glycerol (3.9 %) and Dibutyl phthalate (1.49 %). Metabolite set enrichment analysis (MSEA) highlighted pathways like fatty acid biosynthesis and glycerolipid metabolism, which support root development and stress tolerance. The results indicated that BSF compost, especially from food and vegetable waste with poultry manure, significantly enhances soil fertility and plant growth, providing a sustainable solution for organic waste management.

This community service was carried out to address water and environmental management issues in Kromong Village, Ngusikan District, Jombang Regency, which often faces flooding during the rainy season and drought in the dry season. This issue is exacerbated by the low level of public awareness regarding organic waste management and degradation of soil quality. The main focus of this service is to introduce biopori as a solution to increase water absorption, reduce puddles, and improve soil quality through organic waste management. The aim of this activity is to provide understanding to the community about the importance of the biopori technique and how its application can help overcome environmental problems faced by villages. The approach used is the service learning (SL) method, where the community is actively involved in socialization and training on the practice of making biopores. This research strategy includes several steps, such as problem identification, outreach, training, and monitoring the program's impact on the environment. The results of the service show success in increasing rainwater absorption, reducing the risk of flooding, and improving soil fertility through the decomposition of organic waste. In addition, there has been an increase in public awareness regarding the importance of sustainable environmental management. This program has also succeeded in reducing the amount of organic waste produced by households, while providing long-term benefits for groundwater security in the village. With positive results, it is hoped that this program can be replicated in other regions that face similar issues.

For the depletion of fossil fuels, the world is facing an energy crisis. Therefore, a major concern for stakeholders around the world is the need to search for renewable alternative energy. Biogas is a type of bio-fuel that is naturally produced from the decomposition of organic waste. The main objective of this study is to design a biogas generator for utilization of cow dung, kitchen waste, rice waste, paper waste, tissue waste to generate biogas. This produced biogas can be used for generation of electricity for fulfilling the electricity demand of IUBAT—a private organization. Biogas plant is a new source of energy and is suitable for the future needs. This paper reflects the modeling, different types of wastes’ pH measurement and finds out the best waste materials of biogas production digestion process from organic waste and high moisture food processing waste. In Bangladesh, the waste amount is increasing day by day. It is harmful for both our environment and life. So this waste can be a good potential, if it can be used for some valuable purposes. From this view, it can be said that working on Biogas is very important issue for understanding the potentiality of waste.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de restos culturais de abacaxizeiro (Ananas comosus L.) 'Smooth Cayenne' na fauna de artrópodes,em cultivos em campo. As mudas, do tipo filhote, foram plantadas no mês de junho, em um Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo, que recebeu 0, 30 e 60t/ha de restos de abacaxizeiro, aplicados superficialmente e incorporados a 10cm de profundidade, com e sem a adição do biofertilizante-Agrobio10% (v/v). Foram coletadas amostras a 05 cm de profundidade aos 90, 210, 330 e 450 dias após a aplicação dos resíduos. Identificou-se, durante os 15 meses de avaliações, o predomínio de Acari e Collembola. A maior densidade de animais foi observada na primeira amostragem, aos 90 dias após a adição dos restos. No entanto, diferenças na abundância da fauna de solo só foram observadas, 330 dias após a adição dos resíduos.

Role of earthworms' mucus in vermicomposting system: Biodegradation tests based on humification and microbial activity