Soil Salinity and Sodicity in Drylands: A Review of Causes, Effects, Monitoring, and Restoration Measures

Soil salinization and sodification are common processes that particularly characterize drylands. These processes can be attributed either to natural conditions or anthropogenic activities. While natural causes include factors such as climate, lithology, topography, and pedology, human causes are mostly related to agricultural land-use, and specifically, to irrigated agriculture. The objective of this study was to thoroughly review this topic, while highlighting the major challenges and related opportunities. Over time, the extent of saline, sodic, and saline-sodic croplands has increased, resulting in accelerated land degradation and desertification, decreased agricultural productivity, and consequently jeopardizing environmental and food security. Mapping and monitoring saline soils is an important management tool, aimed at determining the extent and severity of salinization processes. Recent developments in advanced remote sensing methods have improved the efficacy of mapping and monitoring saline soils. Knowledge on prevention, mitigation, and recovery of soil salinity and sodicity has substantially grown over time. This knowledge includes advanced measures for salt flushing and leaching, water-saving irrigation technologies, precision fertilizer systems, chemical restoration, organic and microbial remediation, and phytoremediation of affected lands. Of a particular interest is the development of forestry-related means, with afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry, and silvopasture practices for the recovery of salt-affected soils. The forecasted expansion of drylands and aggravated drying of existing drylands due to climatic change emphasize the importance of this topic.

RESTORATION OF MURALS

Murals are an integral part of our heritage and culture. So there is a need to preserve them for coming generations. The major caused for its deterioration can be odd weather conditions, dust, smoke etc. It can be affected as cracks or decolourisation. Due to the irreversibility of chemical restoration of murals, we can go for digital restoration of murals. In this paper, we reviewed about the techniques of digital restoration of murals including crack detection and filling, colour restoration.

Changes in Chara hispida L. morphology in response to phosphate aluminium coagulant application

Progressing eutrophication of waterbodies requires measures to be undertaken that aim at halting or reversing negative changes in the environment. Chemical restoration is one of the most common methods used for lake treatment, where iron or aluminium phosphate coagulants are applied. However, their chemical qualities pose the risk of acidification and aluminium ion release, which become toxic in acidic conditions. The influence of coagulants on aquatic plants, including charophytes that are very valuable from the ecological perspective, is little recognised. For this reason, the aim of the research was to define changes in the growth pattern of the charophyte Chara hispida under the influence of an aluminium coagulant. The research was carried out in mesocosms (0.8 m3) located in situ in a lake. Polyaluminium chloride was applied once to each chamber in doses of 50.0, 100.0 and 200.0 ml m−3. Coagulant concentrations reflected aggressive restoration aimed at precipitation of phosphates, suspension and water colour at the same time. It was proved that the coagulant had inhibited the growth and slightly reduced the length of branchlets, and simultaneously elongated internode cells. Changes in the total length as well as the length of branchlets were caused by a strong pH decrease of the environment which simultaneously induced higher aluminium solubility and toxicity. Elongation of internode cells was caused by reduced light availability, resulting from high water turbidity in the first stage of coagulant’s application, and then from the charophytes’ thallus being covered by a coagulated suspension precipitated from water.

Application of Bismuth Nanoparticles for Textile Materials Protection Against Microwave Radiation

Synthesis of metal nanoparticles which consisted in chemical restoration of solution of bismuth nitrate is carried out. Optimum parameters of bismuth restoration to a zero-valent metal state and its drawing on fabric are developed. Parameters are calculated and the design of the equipment for impact on the metallized textile materials microwave ovens by radiation is developed for the operating laboratory semi-plant. Processing of samples of natural textile fabrics is carried out by bismuth nanoparticles and researches of distribution of nanoparticles in volume of fabric, forms of particles, their size, a way of fixing in volume of material are conducted. Impact on a sample was carried out by the microwave oven in the camera with a standing wave of modular conveyor installation. It is shown that the modified fabric subjected to radiation allows to lower a radiation dose. After the microwave influence strength properties of cellulose materials were defined. Fabrics were exposed to washings by domestic laundry powder after which such physicomechanical properties as change of the linear sizes after wet processings, the explosive and tearing apart loading, rigidity were defined at a bend, air permeability, hygroscopicity, electric resistance, coefficient of weakening of electromagnetic radiation. Material can be used in radio protective clothes with the strengthened partial protection which includes overalls, a helmet, gloves and boot covers made from the radio reflecting materials.

Water Quality Status of Some Urban Ponds of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

This study aims to investigate the physico-chemical properties of some urban ponds in the ecological system of Lucknow which is called as the city of Nawabs in U.P. But owing to the unplanned development and urbanization, the ponds of this city are struggling for their existence. Inspite of the global alarm for restoration of the water bodies, the ponds in the city are facing neglectance. For the study period ten ponds were selected. The physico-chemical parameters of the water sampled in June 2008 from ten ponds such as PH ranged from 6.55 to 7.93; Turbidity, 6.06 NTU to 8.59 NTU; Conductivity, 12.32 ms/cm to 16.84 ms/cm; D.O., 3.72 mg/l to 6.81 mg/l; B.O.D., 3.77 mg/l to 6.40 mg/l. Residual chlorine was detected only in pond A (1.09 mg/l), pond C (1.13 mg/l), pond E (1.04 mg/l) and in pond F (1.03 mg/l). Free CO2 was found between 8.7 mg/l to 19.68 mg/l. TS, TDS, and Chlorides were found much beyond the permissible levels. Alkalinity ranges between 202.55 mg/l to 310.05 mg/l; Acidity between 10.75 mg/l to 15.48 mg/l; Total Hardness between 244.49 mg/l to 254.78 mg/l. Prominent sources of pollution are the domestic sewage, kitchen flow and street runoff etc. In addition, solid waste and garbage tied in polythene bags are recorded along the banks and also floating on the water surface. Key words: Lucknow; physico-chemical; restoration; sewage; Urban pondsDOI: 10.3126/jowe.v2i1.1866 Journal of Wetlands Ecology, (2009) vol. 2, pp 67-73

CHEMICAL RESTORATION IN NITELLA

Leaching in distilled water may remove irritability and the potassium effect in Nitella but both of these may be restored by appropriate treatment with guanidine.