Pascal Boeckx

Methane emission from a landfill and the methane oxidising capacity of its covering soil

Methane emission from a small covered landfill site showed, seasonally varying fluxes, ranging from −5.9 to 914.3 mg CH4 m−2 d−1. The moisture content of the CH4-oxidising cover soil was thought to cause this variation. Comparing gross and net CH4 emission rates, it was found that the cover soil, due to its CH4 oxidising capacity, had a large mitigating effect on the CH4 emission. In laboratory experiments the effects of soil moisture, temperature and different ammonium amendments on CH4 oxidation were investigated. When the moisture content and temperature were combined, CH4 oxidation rates between 0.88 and 10.86 ng CH4 g−1 h−1 were observed. The optimum moisture content ranged between 15.6 and 18.8% w/w (±12 WHC). The optimum incubation temperature (30-20°C) decreased with increasing moisture contents. For the oxidation rates at 10 and 20°C, we found an average Q10 value of 1.88 ± 0.14. The activation energy for moisture contents between 5 and 25% was 83.0 ± 4.4 kJ mol−1. Increased ammonium additions reduced the CH4-oxidising capacity. This reduction decreased with increasing moisture contents. A high correlation (R2 > 0.98) was found between the moisture content and the reduction of the CH4 uptake rate mg−1 NH4+ −N kg−1 added. Because the nitrification rate was also lower at higher moisture contents, it was thought that the CH4 oxidation rate was more closely connected with the NH4+ turnover rate than with its actual concentration. Multiple linear regression analysis of the CH4 oxidation rates under the different incubation conditions showed the following decreasing effect on the CH4-oxidising capacity of the soil: amount of NH4+ added > moisture content > incubation temperature.

Floc-based sequential partial nitritation and anammox at full scale with contrasting N2O emissions

New Activated Sludge (NAS(®)) is a hybrid, floc-based nitrogen removal process without carbon addition, based on the control of sludge retention times (SRT) and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. The aim of this study was to examine the performance of a retrofitted four-stage NAS(®) plant, including on-line measurements of greenhouse gas emissions (N(2)O and CH(4)). The plant treated anaerobically digested industrial wastewater, containing 264 mg N L(-1), 1154 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD) L(-1) and an inorganic carbon alkalinity of 34 meq L(-1). The batch-fed partial nitritation step received an overall nitrogen loading rate of 0.18-0.22 kg N m(-3) d(-1), thereby oxidized nitrogen to nitrite (45-47%) and some nitrate (13-15%), but also to N(2)O (5.1-6.6%). This was achieved at a SRT of 1.7 d and DO around 1.0 mg O(2) L(-1). Subsequently, anammox, denitrification and nitrification compartments were followed by a final settler, at an overall SRT of 46 d. None of the latter three reactors emitted N(2)O. In the anammox step, 0.26 kg N m(-3) d(-1) was removed, with an estimated contribution of 71% by the genus Kuenenia, which constituted 3.1% of the biomass. Overall, a nitrogen removal efficiency of 95% was obtained, yielding a dischargeable effluent. Retrofitting floc-based nitrification/denitrification with carbon addition to NAS(®) allowed to save 40% of the operational wastewater treatment costs. Yet, a decrease of the N(2)O emissions by about 50% is necessary in order to obtain a CO(2) neutral footprint. The impact of emitted CH(4) was 20 times lower.

An estimate of the number of tropical tree species

Significance People are fascinated by the amazing diversity of tropical forests and will be surprised to learn that robust estimates of the number of tropical tree species are lacking. We show that there are at least 40,000, but possibly more than 53,000, tree species in the tropics, in contrast to only 124 across temperate Europe. Almost all tropical tree species are restricted to their respective continents, and the Indo-Pacific region appears to be as species-rich as tropical America, with each of these two regions being almost five times as rich in tree species as African tropical forests. Our study shows that most tree species are extremely rare, meaning that they may be under serious risk of extinction at current deforestation rates. The high species richness of tropical forests has long been recognized, yet there remains substantial uncertainty regarding the actual number of tropical tree species. Using a pantropical tree inventory database from closed canopy forests, consisting of 657,630 trees belonging to 11,371 species, we use a fitted value of Fisher’s alpha and an approximate pantropical stem total to estimate the minimum number of tropical forest tree species to fall between ∼40,000 and ∼53,000, i.e., at the high end of previous estimates. Contrary to common assumption, the Indo-Pacific region was found to be as species-rich as the Neotropics, with both regions having a minimum of ∼19,000–25,000 tree species. Continental Africa is relatively depauperate with a minimum of ∼4,500–6,000 tree species. Very few species are shared among the African, American, and the Indo-Pacific regions. We provide a methodological framework for estimating species richness in trees that may help refine species richness estimates of tree-dependent taxa.

Nitrogen processes in terrestrial ecosystems

Executive summary Nature of the problem Nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems is complex and includes microbial processes such as mineralization, nitrification and denitrification, plant physiological processes (e.g. nitrogen uptake and assimilation) and physicochemical processes (leaching, volatilization). In order to understand the challenges nitrogen puts to the environment, a thorough understanding of all these processes is needed. Approaches This chapter provides an overview about processes relating to ecosystem nitrogen input and output and turnover. On the basis of examples and literature reviews, current knowledge on the effects of nitrogen on ecosystem functions is summarized, including plant and microbial processes, nitrate leaching and trace gas emissions. Key findings/state of knowledge Nitrogen cycling and nitrogen stocks in terrestrial ecosystems significantly differ between different ecosystem types (arable, grassland, shrubland, forests). Nitrogen stocks of managed systems are increased by fertilization and N retention processes are negatively affected. It is also obvious that nitrogen processes in natural and semi-natural ecosystems have already been affected by atmospheric N r input. Following perturbations of the N cycle, terrestrial ecosystems are increasingly losing N via nitrate leaching and gaseous losses (N 2 O, NO, N 2 and in agricultural systems also NH 3 ) to the environment.

Estimates of N2O and CH4 fluxes from agricultural lands in various regions in Europe.

According to the revised 1996 IPCC guidelines, several emission factors are needed to calculate national inventories of N2O emissions from agriculture. To estimate the direct N2O emissions from mineral soils, an emission factor of 0.0125 kg N2O-N per kg N applied is currently being used. From recent literature data it was clearly shown that real N2O emissions could differ substantially from this value. Based on the IPCC methodology an inventory of N2O emission from agriculture in Europe (EU-15) has been made. In 1996, the N2O emission was estimated at 672 Gg N2O-N. The N2O emission per country varied between 10 and 177 Gg N2O-N. The N2O emission per ha agricultural land in the various countries varied between 1.7 and 14.2 kg N2O-N ha−1. Highest N2O emissions per ha were found in countries with a high agricultural intensity, such as the Netherlands, Belgium-Luxembourg, Denmark and Germany. Agricultural soils are a sink for atmospheric methane. An oxidation capacity of 2.5 and 1.5 kg CH4 ha−1 yr−1 was put forward for grasslands and arable land, respectively. Based on land use data of 1993, the CH4 sink of agricultural lands in EU-15 was estimated at 303.5 Gg CH4. In general, it could be concluded that N2O emissions from soils (327 Tg CO2 equivalents) are far more important than its sink function for CH4 (6.3 Tg CO2 equivalents).

Outlook for benefits of sediment microbial fuel cells with two bio‐electrodes

The benefits of sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) go beyond energy generation for low‐power applications. Aside from producing electrical energy, SMFCs can enhance the oxidation of reduced compounds at the anode, thus bringing about the removal of excessive or unwanted reducing equivalents from submerged soils. Moreover, an SMFC could be applied to control redox‐dependent processes in sediment layers. Several cathodic reactions that may drive these sediment oxidation reactions are examined. Special attention is given to two biologically mediated cathodic reactions, respectively employing an oxygen reduction and a manganese cycle. Both reactions imply a low cost and a high electrode potential and are of interest for reactor‐type MFCs as well as for SMFCs.

Two-year field study on the emission of N2O from coarse and middle-textured Belgian soils with different land use

In the following study N2O emissions from 3 different grasslands and from 3 different arable lands, representing major agriculture areas with different soil textures and normal agricultural practices in Belgium, have been monitored for 1 to 2 years. One undisturbed soil under deciduous forest was also included in the study. Nitrous oxide emission was measured directly in the field from vented closed chambers through photo-acoustic infrared detection. Annual N2O emissions from the arable lands ranged from 0.3 to 1.5 kg N ha−1 y−1 and represent 0.3 to 1.0% of the fertilizer N applied. Annual N2O emissions from the intensively managed grasslands and an arable land sown with grass were significantly larger than those from the cropped arable lands. Emissions ranged from 14 to 32 kg N ha−1 y−1, representing fertilizer N losses between 3 and 11%. At the forest soil a net N2O uptake of 1.3 kg N2O-N ha−1 was recorded over a 2-year period. It seems that the N2O-N loss per unit of fertilizer N applied is larger for intensively managed and heavily fertilized (up to 500 kg N ha−1) grasslands than for arable lands and is substantially larger than the 1.25% figure used for the global emission inventory. Comparison of the annual emission fluxes from the different soils also indicated that land use rather than soil properties influenced the N2O emission. Our results also show once again the importance of year-round measurements for a correct estimate of N2O losses from agricultural soils: 7 to 76% of the total annual N2O was emitted during the winter period (October–February). Disregarding the emission during the off-season period can lead to serious underestimation of the actual annual N2O flux.

Isotopes for improved management of nitrate pollution in aqueous resources: review of surface water field studies

BackgroundEnvironmental agencies have to take measures to either reduce discharges and emissions of nitrate or to remediate nitrate-polluted water bodies where the nitrate concentrations exceed threshold values. Isotope data can support the identification of nitrate pollution sources and natural attenuation processes of nitrate.ReviewThis review article gives an overview of the information available to date regarding nitrate source apportionment in surface waters with the ambition to help improving future studies. Different isotope approaches in combination with physicochemical and hydrological data can successfully be used in source apportionment studies. A sampling strategy needs to be developed based on possible nitrate sources, hydrology and land use. Transformations, transport and mixing processes should also be considered as they can change the isotope composition of the original nitrate source.ConclusionNitrate isotope data interpreted in combination with hydrological and chemical data provide valuable information on the nitrate pollution sources and on the processes nitrate has undergone during its retention and transport in the watershed. This information is useful for the development of an appropriate water management policy.

Methane oxidation in soils with different textures and land use

Intact core samples from soils with different textures and land use were tested for their capacity to oxidise methane. The soil cores were taken from arable land, grassland and forest. It was found that coarse textured soils (6.74–16.38 µg CH4 m-2 h-1) showed a higher methane uptake rate than fine textured soils (4.66–5.34 µg CH4 m-2 h-1). Increasing soil tortuosity was thought to reduce the methane oxidation rate in fine textured soils. The oxidation rate of forest soils (16.32–16.38 µg CH4 m-2 h-1), even with a pH below 4.5, was very pronounced and higher than arable land (11.40–14.47 µg CH4 m-2 h-1) and grassland (6.74–9.30 µg CH4 m-2 h-1). Within the same textural class arable land showed a faster methane uptake rate than grassland. In grassland with a fine texture, even methane production was observed. Nitrogen availability and turnover in these land use systems were thought to cause the different oxidation rates. Decreasing the moisture content slowed down the oxidation rate in all soils. This could be caused by an increased N turnover and a starvation of the methanotrophic bacteria.

Accumulation and fractionation of trace metals in a Tunisian calcareous soil amended with farmyard manure and municipal solid waste compost

A field plots experiment was carried out to assess the effects of repeated application of municipal solid waste compost in comparison to farmyard manure on the accumulation and distribution of trace metals, as well as organic carbon and nitrogen in Tunisian calcareous soil. Compared with untreated soil, the application of the two organic amendments significantly increased the organic carbon and nitrogen contents of the soil. Particle-size fractionations showed that carbon and nitrogen were mainly found to occur in the macro-organic matter fraction (80%). The two organic amendments significantly increased organic carbon in the macro-organic and mineral >150 microm fraction and the 150-50 microm fraction, as well as the organic nitrogen in 150-50 microm and macro-organic fraction. Compared with farmyard manure, municipal solid waste compost significantly increased total Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn contents in the topsoil. These trace metals were mainly present in the macro-organic matter fraction. Significant increases of Cu, Zn and Pb were detected in the 150-50 microm, <50 microm and macro-organic fractions after application of municipal solid waste compost. A significant increase of Cd content was only observed in the 150-50 microm fraction. The trace metals also showed different fractionation patterns when the BCR sequential extraction scheme was applied on untreated and compost-treated soil. The residual fraction was found to be the major fraction, especially for Cu, Cr, Ni and Zn. In contrast, Cd was mainly present in the acid-extractable and reducible fraction, whereas Pb was mainly associated with the reducible fraction.