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Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon Solid Wastes Principles and Prospects
Published in Gunjan Mukherjee, Sunny Dhiman, Waste Management, 2023
Elijah Adegoke Adebayo, Micheal Bukola Alao, Amatul Mujeeb Nayyar
Soil contamination by hydrocarbons remains the most important form of hydrocarbon solid wastes as soil is the topmost layer of the earth that comes in contact first with the hydrocarbon upon spillage. However, soil pollution is generally known as the addition or persistent build-up in soil of chemicals, toxic compounds, disease causative agents, radioactive, salts, etc., in a concentration detrimental to plant growth and the ecosystem at large (Anon 2008). Soil is the rocky surface of the earth containing thin layer of organic and inorganic substance. The organic part of the soil is the dark uppermost topsoil rich in decayed plant and animal matter while the inorganic part is the rocky proportion from weathering thousands of years ago. Naturally, soil is vital to agriculture in food security and its pollution is life threatening. Soil can be polluted through diverse means like solid waste or landfill seepage, water waste percolation, industrial waste discharge, excessive use of agricultural chemicals and, most importantly, spillage of hydrocarbons, heavy metals and pesticides.
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture
Published in P. Kaliraj, T. Devi, Artificial Intelligence Theory, Models, and Applications, 2021
Agriculture is one of the important and oldest professions in the world. There are main factors to be considered in growing crops such as, the crop to be cultivated is chosen based on the type of soil, availability of water in the agriculture land, the climatic condition of the place and season which we initiate the cultivation process and seed availability. These factors are very important since certain crops will grow only in a particular type of soil and climate. There are different types of soil such as red soil, black soil, alluvial soil, loamy soil, etc., and each soil has its characteristics. The next factor to be considered is the quality of the soil. A crop needs enough nutrients, water content, sunlight, and good weather conditions for its growth [1]. The soil quality varies based mainly on weather condition. Certain factors need to be considered in agriculture. It is depicted in Figure 10.2.
Erosion: Soil Quality
Published in Brian D. Fath, Sven E. Jørgensen, Megan Cole, Managing Soils and Terrestrial Systems, 2020
Soil erosion is a natural process by which soil particles are detached and moved by water, wind, gravity, or ice. All soils have an inherent erodibility, or natural susceptibility to erosion, based on soil features, topography, and climate. However, human activities, such as logging, livestock grazing, tillage, removal of vegetation, and urban development, can greatly accelerate natural rates of erosion. Cleared and managed as they are for crop and livestock production, agricultural soils are particularly susceptible to wind and water erosion (Figures 1 and 2), and also to a recently recognized process known as tillage erosion—the loosening of soil by tillage equipment and its downslope movement under gravity.[1]
Heavy Metal Pollution in Soil and Surface Sediments of Meycauayan River, Philippines and Their Relationship to Environmental Indicators
Published in Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, 2023
Reymar R. Diwa, Custer C. Deocaris, Aileen H. Orbecido, Arnel B. Beltran, Edgar A. Vallar, Maria Cecilia D Galvez, Lawrence P. Belo
Soil plays a vital role in an ecosystem by supporting the biogeochemical cycles (i.e. hydrologic, carbon, nutrients) as well as by providing food and raw materials (Ulmanu et al. 2011). Unfortunately, degradation and contamination of soils are accelerated due to anthropogenic activities. For developing countries like the Philippines, rapid urbanization and industrialization, expanding population, intensified agriculture, and irresponsible disposal of wastes add to the degrading soil quality (He et al. 2015). Soil pollution by heavy metals is one of the most common and persistent problems worldwide (Evanko and Dzombak 1997; Hu et al. 2013; Ulmanu et al. 2011). Heavy metals are defined as elements with metallic properties and have atomic masses greater than 20 (> 20 amu) (Chua et al. 2019; He et al. 2015). The most common heavy metals are arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) (Chen et al. 2003; Go et al. 2021; He et al. 2015; Hu et al. 2013). These heavy metals could originate from a wide variety of sources which include airborne emissions, process solid wastes (e.g. fly ash, slags, ion exchange resins, spent catalysts, dumpsite waste), sludges, and spills (Evanko and Dzombak 1997).
Countermeasures against coal spontaneous combustion: a review
Published in International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization, 2022
Coal fires alter the soil’s physico-chemical properties. In general, soil consists of mineral and organic matter, microorganisms, soil air, and moisture (Kuenzer et al. 2007; Pone et al. 2008). The essential indicators of soil fertility include mineral and organic matter. Microorganisms feed on organic residues in the soil; they supply plants with nitrogen and nutrients. Soil moisture and air have a significant effect on the growth of plants. In coal-fire areas such as Wuda, yellow-burned soil is omnipresent. With a very low organic matter constituent and only a small number of microorganisms, it is fragile and liable to crumbling. Hence, the recycling of nutrients is practically inhibited and fertility decreases, making it harder for plants to grow. In addition, the by-products of the combustion process such as sulfur, mirabilite, and coal tar, are concentrated in and on the soil and their pollution is aggravated (Kuenzer et al. 2007).
Compaction delay and its effect on the geotechnical properties of lime treated semi-arid soils
Published in Road Materials and Pavement Design, 2021
Arif Ali Baig Moghal, Mohammed Ashfaq, Ali Abdul Kareem Hamood Al-Obaid, Mohammad Farid Abbas, Ahmed Mohammed Al-Mahbashi, Abdullah Ali Shaker
Expansive soils are prone to rapid volume changes due to their expanding lattice structures with seasonal changes in moisture content. Stabilisation through chemical and mechanical techniques are widely adopted to mitigate the problems posed by expansive soils. Soil compaction is the process by which soil is mechanically compacted by pressing the soil particles together in a close state of contact thereby enhancing the soil properties (Lai et al., 2011; Prashanth et al., 1998). Compaction decreases compressibility, hydraulic conductivity and increases the strength properties of soil (Mitchell & Soga, 2005). In chemical stabilisation, the problematic soils are treated with suitable chemicals to induce mineralogical changes which enhance its geotechnical properties (Lees et al., 1982; Ola, 1978; Tonoz et al., 2004). In attempting chemical stabilisation, the soil is mixed thoroughly with stabilisers prior to compaction. Among the various additives, due to its ability to reduce the plasticity and the maximum dry density (MDD) of expansive soils, lime has been extensively used in various Civil Engineering works like the construction of embankments, highways and buildings (Al-Mahbashi et al., 2020; Bell, 1998; Croft, 1964; Cuisinier et al., 2011; Efsahani, 2020; Hussain & Dash, 2016; Ismeik & Shaqour, 2020; Lees et al., 1982; Moghal et al., 2018; Ola, 1978; Thompson, 1966; Tonoz et al., 2004).