Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Scientists, Farmers, Pesticide industry , Extension Field workers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One postdoctoral fellow and two students are involved in conducting the objectives of this reserach project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A poster was presented "titled: ENHANCING BIODEGRADATION OF HERBICIDES USING BIOBED SYSTEMS" at the 21st International Conference on Environmental Indicators" -- Windsor, Canada, August 2015. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Samples collected frombiobed experiments will be analyzed for herbicide residue and extent of microbial degradation using different biomix materials.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A simple above ground stack design biobed was built at Lincoln University's Carver farm. The main body of the biobed was a vertical stack of three 1040 L intermediate bulk containers (IBC) supported by a metal frame. The bottom of the IBCs was lined with a layer of nylon mesh and then a layer of gravel to prevent clogging in the drainage located at the bottom of each container. Each of the IBC was filled with biomix, a mixture of straw, soil and garden waste compost (2: 1: 1 mixing ratio). The designated area of filling/washing the pesticide sprayer should be adjacent to the biobed. Upon any spraying events, a thick polypropylene liner catchment will be laid on the ground to catch any spill in the sprayer filing/washing area. The liquid collected in the catchment will then be pumped to the top of the biobed. At the top of each IBC, the liquid will be evenly distributed across the entire area by using a grid of pipes with dripping holes. The liquid will slowly flow downwards to the next container due to gravity. At the bottom of the container, the treated liquid will be collected in 2 IBCs. Depending on pesticide concentration in the treated liquid, the liquid can be discharged or pumped back to the biobed to receive further treatment. Initial test included pumping a mixture of commonly used herbicides including atrazine, acetochlor, pendimethalin and triflurolin. In total, the biobed received 36g atrazine, 5 g acetochlor, 2 g pendimethalin and 18 g triflurolin. The herbicides were dissolved in 200 gallons of water and each day the pump introduced approximately 53 gallons of liquid to the biobed. Samples at the bottom of the biobed were collected to analyze. After a week of equilibration, liquid samples were taken from the containers filled with treated liquid. Due to the short resident time of the herbicide, it is likely that the treated liquid needed to be cycled back to the top of the biobed several times to ensure sufficient degradation.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers, Commercial pesticde industry, Coomercial large scale agriculture, Scientists, Students in Agriculture and Environmenal sciences, others Changes/Problems:Some of the proposed work related to determination of microbial diversity in the Biobed was not completed due to lack of funding to purchase needed instrumentaion. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One postdoctoral fellow and two undergraduate students were involved in conducting the objectives of this reserach project and were trained in conducting lab, greenhouse and field experiments related to the objectives of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The in field biobed operation was demonstrated to a wide range of audiences participated in "Lincoln University Field Day" in September 2015. An operation manual is prepared for the biobed and will be available for farmers and users of Biobed. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
to find the right compostion of the biofilter materials, laboratory and greenhouse simulation experiments were conducted. Top soil samples were randomly collected from multiple points in a hay field at the Lincoln University Carver Farm. The soil was a Wrengart silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, active, mesic Fragic Oxyaquic Hapludalfs). Soil samples, chopped wheat straw, peat and garden waste compost were mixed thoroughly to four different ratios (table 1). Twenty-five grams of soil or biomix was placed in glass jars. A mixture of commercially formulated herbicides including acetochlor, atrazine, pendimethalin, triflurolin was added to each jar according to the highest recommendation value. Soil or biomix samples were kept at 60% water holding capacity. At day 3, 10, 20, 30, 60, and 90, three samples of each treatment were taken out. Samples were dried under room temperature, mixed thoroughly and extracted with ethyl acetate. Herbicide concentrations were analyzed using GC-MS. Table 1. Biomix treatment composites and selected chemical properties of biobed materials Material Straw: Soil: Peat/Compost (%) pH Lignin content (%) C:N Ratio* Soil 0 : 100 : 0 5.76 8.5 Biomix1 12.5 : 62.5 : 25(peat) 5.59 16.94 17.1 Biomix2 25 : 50 : 25 (peat) 5.78 19.67 22.3 Biomix3 12.5 : 62.5 : 25 compost) 5.59 12.55 14.1 Biomix 4 25 : 50 : 25 (compost) 5.57 15.29 13.0 Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio In a greenhouse experiment we simulated a scenario of pesticide spillage by using 15-gallon polyethylene drums. Each system had a capped port installed at the bottom of the drum. The port opening was covered with stainless steel mesh, and a layer of quartz gravel was placed at the bottom of the drum to improve drainage. Forty liters of biomix materials were placed in each drum. The treatments were: (1) soil, (2) biomix1: straw: soil: compost = 50: 25 :25%, (3) biomix 2: straw: soil: compost 62.5: 12.5 :25%. Prior to mixing, wheat straw and garden compost were chopped to 2 cm size. A mixture of herbicides including acetochlor, atrazine, pendimethalin and triflurolin were dissolved in 10 L of water and added to each unit. The system was equilibrated for 3 days, and then the bottom port was opened to drain out excess water. Samples were taken out from each biofilter at 0, 7, 21, 49 and 84 days, and proceed for determination of herbicide residue in each treated unit. Different herbicide behaves differently in each biomixture material. Apparent recovery rate at 0 day ranged from 45% to 136%. Compare to biomix materials, soil has higher recovery rate for acetochlor and atrazine, probably due to stronger adsorption bonding in biomix materials. Half-lives of herbicides are shown in table 2. The half-lives for atrazine and pendimethalin in biomixtures were significantly shorter than in soil. The carbon to nitrogen ratios found in biomix materials were higher than that in soil, which better supported microbial growth for organic material degradation. Lignocellulosic materials such as straw and peat and compost stimulated lignin degrading enzymes such as phenol oxidase and peroxidase. Compost may be a cheaper substitute for peat in constructing biobeds. The results showed that biobed is effective in enhancing degradation for herbicides such atrazine and pendimethalin. Figure 1. Degradation data and first-order rate model fit of a) acetochlor, b) atrazine, c) pendimethalin and d) trifluralin in biobed materials. Material mixing ratios were 12.5 % straw : 62.5% soil : 25% peat for biomix1; 25 % straw : 50% soil : 25% peat for biomix2; 12.5 % straw : 62.5% soil : 25% compost for biomix3, 25 % straw : 50% soil : 25% compost for biomix4; error bars represent 95% confidence interval. Figure 2. Phenol oxidase activity in soil, biomix1, biomix2, biomix3 and biomix at different sampling time. Error bars represents 95% confidence interval.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Chu, B. and F. Eivazi. 2015ENHANCING BIODEGRADATION OF HERBICIDES USING BIOBED SYSTEMS. 21st International Conference on Environmental Indicators
University of Windsor, August 2-5, 2015, Abstract Volume
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Chu, B, and F. Eivazi. 2015. Enhanced Biodegradation of Select Hebicides in Simulated Biobed Containing Soil Amended with Peat and Compost. Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Restoration ( in review)
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Scientists, Farmers, Pesticide industry , Extension Field workers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One postdoctoral fellow and two students are involved in conducting the objectives of this reserach project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Samples collected from greenhouse experiments will be analyzed for herbicide residue and extent of microbial degradation using different biomix materials. Design of biofilter will be completed andit will be installed in Lincoln University Carver Farm for actual testing of the system. Samples from biofilter will be collected periodically and laboratory analysis will be performed.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In a greenhouse experiment we simulated a scenario of pesticide spillage by using 15-gallon polyethylene drums. Each system had a capped port installed at the bottom of the drum. The port opening was covered with stainless steel mesh, and a layer of quartz gravel was placed at the bottom of the drum to improve drainage. Forty liters of biomix materials were placed in each drum. The treatments were: (1) soil, (2) biomix1: straw: soil: compost = 50: 25 :25%, (3) biomix 2: straw: soil: compost 62.5: 12.5 :25%. Prior to mixing, wheat straw and garden compost were chopped to 2 cm size. A mixture of herbicides including acetochlor, atrazine, pendimethalin and triflurolin were dissolved in 10 L of water and added to each unit. The system was equilibrated for 3 days, and then the bottom port was opened to drain out excess water. Samples were taken out from each biofilter at 0, 7, 21, 49 and 84 days, and proceed for determination of herbicide residue in each treated unit.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Missouri Academy of Sciences Annual Meetings, April 2014
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Scientist, Farmers, Pesticide industry ,Extension Field workers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One postdoctoral fellow and two students are involved in conducting the objectives of this reserach project. A presentation was made by the postdoctoral fellow at the International Annual Meetings of Soil Science Society of America in November 2013. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? A greenhouse experiment will be conducted to simulate the "biofilter" using different biomix materials in fabricated columns. Proposed herbicideswill be applied to the biomix and watered to the extent to produce leachate. The residual concentration of herbicides in the leachate will be measured.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Pesticides and other anthropogenic pollutants once introduced into the environment are subject to biological and nonbiological transformations processes. A variety of biological, chemical, and physical methods have been used for degradation and detoxification of pesticides. Conventional clean- up methods are costly and not always effective. Agrichemical storage and handling practices have been targeted as a potential point source contamination of soil and groundwater. Use of “biofilters” to contain and biodegrade pesticides may be a cost-effective alternative. A biofilter is an in-ground treatment unit designed to contain spills of pesticides and degrade the chemicals through microbial activity. Microbial activity may be enhanced by altering conditions conducive to degradation. This objective of this study is to develop a biofilter system that adapts to the soil and environmental conditions of Missouri to treat and dispose of selected pesticide wastes on farm, and gain understanding of biofilter technology. Four biofilter mixtures consisting of top soil, straw and peat with different mixing ratios were tested in a laboratory scale experiment. Glyphosate was added into biofilter mixtures contained in glass jars. The herbicide-degrading potential of the biofilter substrate mixtures was determined by measuring residual herbicide concentration. Degradation kinetics over 3 months was analyzed. Preliminary results showed that after 3 months, glyphosate concentration and degradation half-life (DT50) was lowest in biomix containing 12.5% straw, 62.5% soil and 25% peat. Future studies include additional degradation experiments and sorption experiments of different herbicides in biofilter materials, identification of microbes in the biofilter, and eventually establishment of an on-farm biofilter
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Agronomy Abstract 2013, Tampa Florida Meetiings.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: To date, we have sampled soil from Lincoln University Carver Farm, obtained biofilter materials and purchased supplies and equipments for the study. Physical and chemical properties of soil and biofilter materials such as pH, water holding and lignin content have been measured. Several compositions of biofilter materials were designed. We have carried out a 90-day degradation experiment of two common pesticides (atrazine and glyphosate) in four different biofilter materials as well as in soil alone. Analytical methods for pesticides are being developed. Pesticides are being extracted from samples and their breakdown kinetics is being measured. Additional degradation experiments of pesticides such as acetochlor, trifluralin and pendimethalin in different biofilter materials will be performed. Degradation kinetics will be analyzed and DT50 and DT90 will be compared to determine the optimal biobed materials composition. Enzyme activities and microbial activities in the biofilter materials will be measured to further assess the biofilter's ability to degrade pesticides. Microbe species involved in the pesticide degradation processes will be identified. Eventually a model biofilter will be established at the Lincoln University Carver Farm and the effectiveness of the biofilter will be monitored over time. PARTICIPANTS: Bei Chu, Post-doctoral Reserach Associate was hired in July 2012 to assist with the conducting the experiment related to the objectives of the propoal. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
As a major agricultural state, Missouri has many farms locations that have become point-sources or non-point sources of pesticide contamination of soil and water systems. Biofilter technology utilizes soil amendments to enhance microbial degradation of agrochemicals, and have been successfully used in several European countries. The goal of this study is to develop a biofilter system that adapts to the soil and environmental conditions of Missouri to treat and dispose of selected pesticide wastes on farm, and gain understanding of biofilter technology and its potential application to prevent the accumulation of pesticide contaminants.
Publications
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