Land Application

Centralized, off-farm compost facilities were evaluated as a disposal option for poultry litter. Disposal fees to growers were required to develop an economically feasible facility for a private investor, The potential for a compost facility to compete with current litter alternatives depends upon development of compost markets comparable to urban areas along with a depressed market price for litter. Given disposal fees and uncertainty associated with market development, further expansion of land application and cattle feeding disposal alternatives is recommended. Comporting is defined as the biological stabiliza- tion of organic wastes under controlled conditions of oxygen, moisture, and temperature (Diaz, Sav- age, and Golueke). Organic materials are decom- posed in an accelerated aerobic process through oxidation of carbon by microbial activity. This process converts nitrogen from a soluble into an organic form, The end result is a stable organic product which improves soil ferti...

Cultivating algae on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in animal manure effluents presents an alternative to the current practice of land application. The objective of this study was to determine how algal productivity, nutrient removal efficiency, and elemental composition of turf algae change in response to different loading rates of raw swine manure effluent. Algal biomass was harvested weekly from laboratory scale algal turf scrubber units using four manure effluent loading rates (0.24, 0.40, 0.62 and 1.2 L m -2 d -1 ) corresponding to daily loading rates of 0.3-1.4 g total N and 0.08-0.42 g total P. Mean algal productivity values increased from 7.1 g DW m -2 d -1 at the lowest loading rate (0.24 L m -2 d -1 ) to 9.4 g DW m -2 d -1 at the second loading rate (0.40 L m -2 d -1 ). At these loading rates, algal N and P accounted for > 90% of input N and 68-76% of input P, respectively. However, at higher loading rates algal productivity did not increase and was unstable at the highest loading rate. Mean N and P contents in the dried biomass increased 1.5 to 2.0-fold with increasing loading rate up to maximums of 5.7% N and 1.8% P at 1.2 L m -2 d -1 . Biomass concentrations of Al, Ca, Cd, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Si, and Zn increased 1.2 to 2.6-fold over the 5-fold range of loading rate. Biomass concentrations of Cd, K, Pb, and Si did not increase significantly with loading rate. At the loading rate of 0.40 L m -2 d -1 (corresponding to peak productivity) the mean concentrations of individual components in the algal biomass were (in mg kg -1 ): 250 (Al), 4900 (Ca), 0.30 (Cd), 1050 (Fe), 3.4 (Pb), 2500 (Mg), 105 (Mn), 6.0 (Mo), 7,500 (K), and 510 (Zn). At these concentrations, heavy metals in the algal biomass would not be expected to reduce its value as a soil or feed amendment.

The surface carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) fluxes together with the soil microbial biomass and activity in undisturbed soil columns were studied in three growing seasons. Soil columns had six treatments: (1) control without plants; (2) mineral fertilized without plants; (3) no fertilizer and maize plants; (4) mineral fertilized and maize plants; (5) manure and maize plants; (6) mineral fertilized plus manure and maize plants. Soil microbial biomass was measured by substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and microbial activity as fluorescein-diacetate hydrolysing activity (FDA). Treatments had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on CO 2 fluxes, SIR and FDA. The presence of maize increased CO 2 efflux, SIR and FDA compared to unplanted column. Fertilizer + manure treatment resulted in the greatest plant biomass and the greatest CO 2 efflux. Significant correlation (r = 0.680; r = 0.586 in two consecutive years) between SIR and FDA was found.

This article proposes statutory and regulatory amendments to the Solid Waste Management Act (SWMA) of Pennsylvania to compel and incentivize residual waste recycling as a means of addressing climate change and fulfilling the state’s constitutional environmental obligations. It begins by contextualizing the climate crisis as an existential threat and highlights the shortcomings of Pennsylvania’s current recycling regime, particularly its narrow residual waste recycling exception and lack of economic incentives. The article argues that while municipal waste recycling benefits from structured incentives and planning mandates under the Municipal Waste Planning Act, residual waste remains largely unaddressed. Through detailed comparative analysis, the article recommends empowering the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) via legislative amendment to broaden the definition of recyclable residual waste, establish a robust permitting and planning framework, enforce compliance through inspections and penalties, and create a financial incentive structure modeled after the Municipal Waste Planning Act. Ultimately, this proposal aims to advance Pennsylvania’s environmental sustainability efforts and align its waste management policies with the environmental rights guaranteed under Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Wastewater management at coal-fired power plants is becoming a more prominent issue as additional emissions reduction equipment is used and regulations become more stringent. Wastewater derived from the flue-gas desulfurization process (FGD WW) is typically high in halides and has few cost-effective options for treatment and disposal. New regulatory limitations on FGD WW discharge may require water treatment facilities at many electrical generating units. The need to investigate alternative approaches for disposal of FGD WW has therefore acquired new urgency. Solid-phase wastewater sequestration has been proposed as a potential breakthrough approach to FGD WW management. Sequestration is achieved by wastewater encapsulation within a cementitious, thixotropic paste consisting of concentrated wastewater, coal combustion by-products (fly ash), and binders that sets into a monolithic solid after emplacement within a landfill cell. To assist in analysis of ongoing encapsulation studies, ...

Large areas in Jordan are planted with olive trees, resulting in the production of large amounts of olive cake (OC) and annually imposing a disposal and pollution burden. This research examined the use of OC compost as a soil amendment and its effect on soil physical properties such as soil water retention and infiltration in terms of depth of penetration and accumulated intake on two soil types: clay (S1) and silt loam (S2). Composting was intended to reduce the harmful effects of untreated OC. Olive cake was added to soil at three levels: 2%, 4%, and 8% by weight. Compared with control (untreated soil), adding composted OC caused significant improvements in soil physical properties considered. The changes in soil properties were, in general, proportional to the levels of compost added. For S2 at the 8% level, the depth of penetration and accumulated intake of water in soil were increased by 36.5% and 34.3%, respectively. For S1, the corresponding increases in the depth of penetration and accumulated intake were 27.1% and 35%, respectively. Furthermore the increase in soil water-holding capacity for S2 and S1 at the 8% level of compost addition was up to 10.3% and 16.5%, respectively.

Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) help to create user-friendly interactions between a complicated mathematical model application and an inexperienced user. The GUI helps to package the various software components that are essential for effective user interactions, while the mathematical model helps to simulate the fate and transport of water and solute in subsurface soil environments. For a successful GUI deployment, integration of the following various components is essential: 1) an input component comprised of graphical units such as graphics editor, menu bars, tool bars, and dialog boxes allows the user to generate useful site-specific data; 2) a database component retrieves or updates information about specific soil properties, solute properties, plant properties, and climatic conditions of a site; 3) the mathematical model component, developed in FOR-TRAN, executes the input generated by the input component; and 4) the output component of the GUI displays to the user the model predictions in a graphical format. A friendly graphical manner of model predictions helps the user to quickly comprehend and make effective management-related decisions such as irrigation and fertilization requirements. This GUI is also a useful tool for practicing environmental professionals who are training to make decisions with regards to vegetation-based treatment systems and amount of time needed for producing a viable design.

The application of sewage sludge (SS) to agricultural soil can help meet crop nutrient requirements and enhance soil properties, while reusing an organic by-product. However, SS can be a source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), resulting in an increased risk of antibiotic resistance dissemination. We studied the effect of the application of thermally-dried anaerobically-digested SS on (i) soil physicochemical and microbial properties, and (ii) the relative abundance of 85 ARGs and 10 MGE-genes in soil. Soil samples were taken from a variety of SS-amended agricultural fields differing in three factors: dose of application, dosage of application, and elapsed time after the last application. The relative abundance of both ARGs and MGE-genes was higher in SS-amended soils, compared to non-amended soils, particularly in those with a more recent SS application. Some physicochemical parameters (i.e., cation exchange capacity, copper concentration, ph...

Concerns about surface water pollution with phosphorus (P) from biosolids and manures are prompting land application guidelines that limit residual application rates to those based on crop-P removals (typically, no more than 2 Mg ha 21 ). Such rates are so low that the beneficial recycling of residuals is seriously threatened. Greater application rates [i.e., nitrogen (N) based] require judicious selection of residuals (low soluble P contents) and/or soil amendments, such as drinking-water treatment residuals (WTRs) to control soluble P concentration. Although in the short term, WTR is effective in reducing soluble P levels, field studies to evaluate the stability of WTR-immobilized P are scarce. The initial objective of this study was to determine the effects of WTR on P losses to surface and groundwater from Florida sand amended with different P sources (biosolids, manure, and inorganic fertilizer) applied at P-and N-based rates. However, this objective could not be pursued to its logical conclusion because of severe flooding of the field 17 months after amendment application. The flooding appears to have compromised the treatments (moved soil and associated amendments across plots), which forced early termination of the experiment. Measurements taken after the flooding, however, provided a unique opportunity to assess the usefulness of WTR in controlling P solubility following severe flooding of WTR-amended plots. Soluble P values measured from WTRamended A horizon plots were significantly lower than the plots without WTR

Land application of drinking-water treatment residuals (WTR) has been shown to control excess soil soluble P and can reduce off -site P losses to surface and ground water. To our knowledge, no fi eld study has directly evaluated the impacts of land application of WTRs on ground water quality. We monitored the eff ects of three organic sources of P (poultry manure, Boca Raton biosolids, Pompano biosolids) or triple superphosphate co-applied with an aluminum-based WTR (Al-WTR) on soil and ground water P and Al concentrations under natural fi eld conditions for 20 mo in a soil with limited P sorption capacity. Th e P sources were applied at two rates (based on P or nitrogen [N] requirement of bahiagrass) with or without Al-WTR amendment and replicated three times. Without WTR application, applied P sources increased surface soil soluble P concentrations regardless of the P source or application rate. Co-applying the P sources with Al-WTR prevented increases in surface soil soluble P concentrations and reduced P losses to shallow ground water. Total dissolved P and orthophosphate concentrations of shallow well ground water of the N-based treatments were greater (>0.9 and 0.3 mg L -1 , respectively) in the absence than in the presence (?0.6 and 0.2 mg L -1 , respectively) of Al-WTR. Th e P-based application rate did not increase ground water P concentrations relative to background concentrations. Notwithstanding, Al-WTR amendment decreased ground water P concentrations from soil receiving treatments with P-based application rates. Ground water total dissolved Al concentrations were unaff ected by soil Al-WTR application. We conclude that, at least for the study period, Al-WTR can be safely used to reduce P leaching into ground water without increasing the Al concentration of ground water.

Concerns about surface water pollution with phosphorus (P) from biosolids and manures are prompting land application guidelines that limit residual application rates to those based on crop-P removals (typically, no more than 2 Mg ha 21 ). Such rates are so low that the beneficial recycling of residuals is seriously threatened. Greater application rates [i.e., nitrogen (N) based] require judicious selection of residuals (low soluble P contents) and/or soil amendments, such as drinking-water treatment residuals (WTRs) to control soluble P concentration. Although in the short term, WTR is effective in reducing soluble P levels, field studies to evaluate the stability of WTR-immobilized P are scarce. The initial objective of this study was to determine the effects of WTR on P losses to surface and groundwater from Florida sand amended with different P sources (biosolids, manure, and inorganic fertilizer) applied at P-and N-based rates. However, this objective could not be pursued to its logical conclusion because of severe flooding of the field 17 months after amendment application. The flooding appears to have compromised the treatments (moved soil and associated amendments across plots), which forced early termination of the experiment. Measurements taken after the flooding, however, provided a unique opportunity to assess the usefulness of WTR in controlling P solubility following severe flooding of WTR-amended plots. Soluble P values measured from WTRamended A horizon plots were significantly lower than the plots without WTR

The presence of heavy metals in the sludges produced in wastewater treatment plants restricts their use for agricultural purposes. This study looks at different types of sludges (aerobic, anaerobic, unstabilised and sludge from a waste stabilisation pond) and compares the distribution of the heavy metals they contain according to the treatment that they have undergone. The sewage sludges were subjected to chemical characterisation and phytotoxicity testing, in absence of substrate, to provide a preliminary assessment of their suitability for land application. In addition, the total quantity of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ca, K, Fe, Mg, Ni, Na, Pb and Zn) was determined. The BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) method for heavy metal speciation was followed. It was confirmed that the total concentration of heavy metals did not exceed the limits set out by European legislation and that the stabilisation treatment undergone by the sludges strongly influenced the heavy metal distribution and the phases to which they were associated. The sludge extracts did not exert any significant adverse effect on the relative seed germination (RSG) of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) or cress (Lepidium sativum L.), although the reduction in germination index (GI) indicates that some characteristics existed did have an adverse effect on root growth.

This study aims to analyze the water quality of the Ancar and Babakan rivers, and to formulate strategies for their control. The analyzed water quality is pH, DO (Dissolved oxygen), BOD (Biologycal Oxygen Demand), color, odor, and temperature. Samples were taken at 3 points in each river. The results of the analysis show that the Babakan and Ancar rivers are not suitable for use because they are turbid brown and turbid yellow. The smell of water is like the smell of dirt mixed with soil and the smell of mud. The results of Ancar river acidity measurements show that the pH value of water in normal conditions with an average of 6 (still within the limits of class II water quality standards) and in the Babakan river the average pH value is 8, still within the class II river water quality standards. This means that river water can still be used as a means of recreation, a place for raising freshwater fish, livestock, and agriculture. The measurement results of DO values in the Babakan river were obtained 15 mg/l and in the Ancar river 32 mg/l. A large DO value indicates that the water has good quality. Measurement of BOD value in the Babakan river obtained 16 mg / l and in the Ancar river 3 mg / l. The water quality of the Ancar and Babakan rivers is physically polluted. Chemically, the quality of the Ancar river is categorized as mildly polluted and the river Babakan is categorized as moderately polluted, so that the control strategy can be carried out by reaeriasi.

A research trial was conducted in the ARS, Pakhribas to study the effect of legume nodulation on yield and productivity of maize in the year 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Maize was grown without tilling in pea harvested plots and with tilling in potato harvested plots. There were eight different treatments and maize was grown without fertilizer application in sequence with potato and pea. The highest yield of potato was observed in a treatment with application of 13.5t per ha FYM + 50:50:25 Kg N:P:K per ha. In contrast the highest yield of pea was recorded with application of 9 t FYM per ha. Moreover in maize the cob weight and biomass was the highest in the year 2014/2015 with application of 13.5t per ha FYM + 50:50:25 Kg N:P:K per ha in potato grown plot. Similarly in maize the highest biomass was observed with the application of 9 t FYM per ha pea grown plots.

In this study, the presence, composition, and concentrations of organic wastewater contaminants (OWCs) were determined in solid materials produced during wastewater treatment. This study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of these solids, collectively referred to as biosolids, as a source of OWCs to soil and water in contact with soil. Nine different biosolid products, produced by municipal wastewater treatment plants in seven different states, were analyzed for 87 different OWCs. Fifty-five of the OWCs were detected in at least one biosolid product. The 87 different OWCs represent a diverse cross section of emerging organic contaminants that enter wastewater treatment plants and may be discharged without being completely metabolized or degraded. A minimum of 30 and a maximum of 45 OWCs were detected in any one biosolid. The biosolids used in this study are produced by several production methods, and the plants they originate from have differing population demographics, yet the percent composition of total OWC content, and of the most common OWCs, typically did not vary greatly between the biosolids tested. The summed OWC content ranged from 64 to 1811 mg/kg dry weight. Six biosolids were collected twice, 3-18 months apart, and the total OWC content of each biosolid varied by less than a factor of 2. These results indicate that the biosolids investigated in this study have OWC compositions and concentrations that are more similar than different and that biosolids are highly enriched in OWCs (as mass-normalized concentrations) when compared to effluents or effluent-impacted water. These results demonstrate the need to better describe the composition and fate of OWCs in biosolids since about 50% of biosolids are land applied and thus become a potentially ubiquitous nonpoint source of OWCs into the environment.

The soils in index 4 have relatively high soil P concentrations. Such concentrations are not of economic benefit to the farmer. These sites are also likely to be more at risk of P loss from soil to water compared to sites in the lower index categories (Sharpley and Rekolainen, 1997). Discussion The linear relationship between CaCl 2 P and Morgan P indicates that both of these tests provide comparable results for the soil types examined in this experiment. In the UK, Williams and Cooke (1962) found that the Morgan and CaCl 2 tests tended to be closely correlated. The absence of a linear relationship between Morgan or C a C l 2 tests with the Olsen P test indicates that the Olsen test provided a comparatively low estimation of soil P levels at the higher soil P concentrations included in this study. The relationship between the CaCl 2 test and the Olsen test, presented in this study, is similar to that demonstrated by Johnston and Poulton (1993).

Organic materials are the most important sources of nutrients for agricultural production in farming systems of semi-arid West Africa. However, reliance on locally available organic nutrient sources for both crop and livestock production is rapidly becoming unsustainable. A series of feeding and agronomic trials have been conducted to address the role of livestock in sustainable nutrient cycling. This paper reports results of a greenhouse study that evaluated the effects of applying crop residue and browse leaves, or feces derived from these feeds, at equal organic-N application rates (150 kg ha-1), alone or with fertilizer-N (60 kg ha-1), on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R.Br.) dry matter (DM) yield, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake, on soil nutrients, and on total, labile and recalcitrant fractions of soil organic matter (SOM). Millet DM and cumulative N uptake were most affected by fertilizer-N, followed by plant species and amendment type, although various interact...

UNSAFE SEWAGE SLUDGE OR BENEFICIAL BIOSOLIDS?: LIABILITY, PLANNING, AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES REGARDING THE LAND APPLICATION OF SEWAGE TREATMENT RESIDUALS William Goldfarb* Uta Krogmann** Christopher Hopkins*** Commentators have identified fear of ...

Environmental Issues are a separate category of reviewed papers. They include discussion of contemporary environmental issues from a combination of scientific, political, legislative, and/or regulatory perspectives. These papers are intended to encourage greater philosophical consideration of such issues than is usually possible in the Technical Reports or Short Communications categories of JEQ. It is intended that Environmental Issues papers be timely and current treatments, and those found acceptable through an expedited review process will therefore be published within a relatively short time of their receipt.

TheUnited States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has recently (February 6, 1989) proposed the 40 CFR Part 503 regulations which govern sludge use and disposal. The numerical limits on cumulative soil metal loading rates in these regulations were generated through risk assessment analysis based on modeling metal flux through several terrestrial pathways. Field data from a 6300 ha dedicated land application site operated by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) since 1972 indicate that these pathway models do a poor job of predicting bioaccumulation of Cd, Cu, and Zn in corn leaf and grain and wheat grain tissue. The USEPA pathway model does not take soil pH into account and predicts that plant tissue concentration will be linearly related to metal loading rates in soil. District field data indicate that crop tissue metal concentrations are dependent on soil pH and increase at low metal loadings but then become independent of total metal loading rate. No phytotoxicity was observed in corn or wheat despite soil loading rates for Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn that were 13, 28, 3, and 16 times higher than their respective phytotoxic thresholds predicted by the USEPA pathway model.

Soil sequestration of atmospheric CO 2 through land application of inorganic N fertilizer along with organic residues may have beneficial effects as a strategy to offset the increase in the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere. A field study was conducted to assess the effect of application of N fertilizer and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) straw in a paddy field. To understand rice-, rhizosphere-and N-induced CO 2 flux, CO 2 flux was measured during the growth stages of rice (Oryza sativa L.) from row, inter-row and bare soil at the experimental station of Heshengqiao at Xianning, Hubei, China. The study included seven treatments: (CK) control, (N0) fertilizer PK, (N1) fertilizer NPK (50% N), (N2) fertilizer NPK (100% N), (N3) fertilizer NPK (200% N), (N0 + S) fertilizer NP + traw, (N2 + S) fertilizer NPK (100% N) + straw. There was a distinct variation in soil CO 2 fluxes, with the higher values being observed during the reproductive stage of crop growth while the lower fluxes were observed during the maturity stage. Soil CO 2 fluxes from row (797-1214 g C m À2 season À1) were significantly higher than from interrow (289-403 g C m À2 season À1) and bare soil (148-241 g C m À2 season À1), due to the contribution of rhizosphere respiration. Among different treatments, N fertilization significantly increased the CO 2 flux from row with the highest being observed from N2 + S and lowest from N0 + S treatment. No significant differences among different treatments were observed from inter-row and bare soil. From bare soil, soil CO 2 flux was decreased in response to N fertilizer application; this suggested suppression in microbial activity in response to increased N fertilizer application. Soil temperature accounted for 68 and 38% of CO 2 flux variability from row and inter-row, respectively, while no significant correlation was found from bare soil. Soil temperature explained 69% of N-induced CO 2 flux variability from row, while no effect was observed from inter-row and bare soil. Soil temperature was also significantly correlated with rice-and rhizosphere-induced CO 2 flux accounting for 42 and 31% of CO 2 flux variability, respectively. The amount of soil carbon sequestration was estimated by taking the difference between net primary production (NPP) and the amount of carbon in harvested rice. The values ranged from À176 to À89 g C m À2 season À1 with the highest value observed from N2 + S treatment; this suggested that N fertilizer application with straw has the potential to mitigate the global carbon budget. The current findings indicate that N addition increases the CO 2 flux. However, integrated use of N fertilizer along with rapeseed straw may be a preferred strategy in sequestering C in red soil.

Spaceborne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a well established technique useful in many land applications, such as tectonic movements, landslide monitoring and digital elevation model extraction. One of its major limitation is the atmospheric effect, and in particular the high water vapour spatial and temporal variability which introduces an unknown delay in the signal propagation. This paper describes the approach and some results achieved in the framework of an ESA funded project devoted to the mapping of the water vapour with the aim to mitigate its effect in InSAR applications. Ground based (microwave radiometers, radiosoundings, GPS) and spaceborne observations (AMSR-E, MERIS, MODIS) of columnar water vapour were compared with Numerical Weather Prediction model runs in Central Italy during a 15-day experiment. The acquired experimental data and their comparison give a first idea of what can be done to gather valuable information on water vapour, which play a fundamental role in weather prediction and radio propagation studies.

Growing rural communItlcs face pressure to provide services to their populations. Wastewater treatment represents one of the many services in which communities must invest. The choice of an appropriate treatment facility represents a major decision and hinges on such factors as technical feasibility, cost, and treatment effectiveness so that the community complies with the water quality standards embodied in the Clean Water Act. This study focuses on one particular treatment method, that of applying sewage effluent to land for purposes of agricultural production. The study area selected is the Southern High Plains region of Texas. Several scenarios involving two farm sizes, two storage capacities. irrigation with varying amounts of effluent, and irrigation under a combined effluent and groundwater regime were established and net returns maximized for each. To derive net benefits from effluent use, the net returns from irrigating with effluent were compared to those of dryland and groundwater irrigated farms. The results demonstrated increases in net returns of up to 200% using only effluent over a dryland scenario and up to 78% over one for groundwater irrigation. When net returns for scenarios using a mixture of both effluent and groundwater are compared to dryland and groundwater irrigated farms, the respective increases in returns are 170% and 65%.

In this paper, a new method to estimate polarimetric coherency matrices and derive associated parameters is presented. For each pixel of the data set, an adaptive neighborhood is computed by a region growing technique driven exclusively by the intensity images. The three intensity images of the POLSAR acquisition are fused in the region growing process to ensure the stationarity hypothesis of the derived statistical population. Then, all pixels within the obtained adaptive neighborhood are, either complex averaged or estimated by the locally linear minimum mean-squared error (LLMMSE), to yield a feature preserving reliable estimate of the polarimetric coherency matrix. The target entropy-alpha-anisotropy decomposition is applied on the derived polarimetric coherency matrix. Using this decomposition, unsupervised classification for land applications by an iterative algorithm based on a complex Wishart density function is employed. The method has been tested on airborne polarimetric synthetic aperture radar images (Northumberland Strait costal area -Canadian Space Agency).

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Retrieving aerosol properties from satellite remote sensing over a bright surface is a challenging problem in the research of atmospheric and land applications. In this paper we propose a new approach to retrieve aerosol properties over surfaces such as arid, semiarid, and urban areas, where the surface reflectance is usually very bright in the red part of visible spectrum and in the near infrared, but is much darker in the blue spectral region (i.e., wavelength 500 nm). In order to infer atmospheric properties from these data, a global surface reflectance database of 0.1 latitude by 0.1 longitude resolution was constructed over bright surfaces for visible wavelengths using the minimum reflectivity technique (e.g., finding the clearest scene during each season for a given location). The aerosol optical thickness and aerosol type are then determined simultaneously in the algorithm using lookup tables to match the satellite observed spectral radiances. Examples of aerosol optical thickness derived using this algorithm over the Sahara Desert and Arabian Peninsula reveal various dust sources, which are important contributors to airborne dust transported over long distances. Comparisons of the satellite inferred aerosol optical thickness and the values from ground-based Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sun/sky radiometer measurements indicate good agreement (i.e., within 30%) over the sites in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. This new algorithm, when applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS), and Global Imager (GLI) satellite data, will provide high spatial resolution (1 km) global information of aerosol optical thickness over bright surfaces on a daily basis.

The land application of sewage effluent and sludge is escalating in many parts of the world for irrigation and disposal purposes. We tested the hypothesis that reduced leaching and prolonged residence time in the soil profile will enhance the uptake of nutrients, the biodegradation of OM and the die-off of enteric bacteria introduced by effluent irrigation. A lysimeter simulation study was conducted where Eucalyptus trees were planted in tree soils and either fertigated or irrigated with oxidation ponds effluent (OPE). Irrigation was three times daily, every day. The trees were very resistant to increasing salinization of the soil solution, caused by low leaching fraction. Data from the 2 nd year of the experiment is presented. Applied nitrogen was nearly completely intercepted in the soil-tree system, which was yet less efficient with respect to phosphorus (except in the more calcareous clay soil). Trace elements barely leached from the sludge-compost amended sand despite the heavy dosing (up to 625 kg/ha in the upper 20-cm layer). Salinity buildup in the soil solution elevated the SAR of the soil solution, and increased the ESP of the non-calcareous clayey soil. In addition, recalcitrant DOM accumulated in the soil solution. Hence, the simulation study showed that inasmuch as the trees withstood elevated salinity levels and the soil-plant effectively intercepted organic and inorganic pollutants, the long term quality of the soil was endangered.

The integration of inertial sensors is a widel y-adopted method for coverin g GPS outa g es. However, the p osition accurac y in vertical direction is often challen g ed in com p arison with the one in the horizontal p lane. This paper explores the p ossibilit y of usin g MEMS barometer as an au gmentation in the GPS/INS inte g ration in land a pp lication. A p rotot yp e s y stem, com p osed of a commercial GPS receiver with low-cost MEMS IMU and barometer on a DSP p latform, is im p lemented and described. In addition, the initial investi g ation of the MEMS barometer is addressed. With the field ex p eriment data collected from a car-drivin g test in a hill y re g ion, the benefit of barometer aidin g is demonstrated.

New flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scmbbing technologies create a dry, solid by-product material consisting of excess sorbent, reaction product that contains sulfate and sulfite, and coal fly ash. Generally, dry FGD by-products are treated as solid wastes and disposed in Iandfll]s. However, landfill sites are becoming scarce and tipping fees m constantly increasing. Provided the environmental impacts are socially and scientifically acceptable, beneficial us& via recycling can provide economic benefits to both the producer and the end user of the FGD. A study titled "LandApplication Usesfor Dry Flue Gas DesulfurizationBy-Products"was initiated in December, 1990 to develop and demonstrate large volume, beneficial uses of FGD by-products. Phase 1 and Phase 2 reports have been published by the

a third party that spilled small quantities after obtaining ownership and control. Respondents distort the statutory text by rejecting any intent requirement and equating mere knowledge of a third-party's spills with arrangement for disposal. And they distort the record [*2] by greatly exaggerating Shell's knowledge of spills and involvement in the unloading process. These assertions are in error and lend no support for the decision below. A. Mere Knowledge Of Spills Is Insufficient To Trigger Arranger Liability Respondents suggest that arranger liability may be premised on mere knowledge of leaks and spills by a third party at a contaminated site rather [**5] than intent to dispose of hazardous waste. See U.S. Br. 17-19; Cal. Br. 26-27. This suggestion contravenes the plain meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(3), for the terms "arrange for ... disposal" require intentional action to discard hazardous waste. See Shell Br. 18-21 (discussing dictionary and case law definitions); see also Amcast Indus. Corp. v. Detrex Corp., 2 F.3d 746, 751 (7th Cir. 1993) (the phrase "arranged for" contains "critical words" that "imply intentional action"). n1 Respondents offer four rationales for abandoning the well-accepted intent requirement, each of which is unavailing. n1 Respondents attempt to distinguish Amcast on the ground that the manufacturer there did not exercise control over the deliveries "other than hiring the carrier...." U.S. Br. 25 n.9; see also Cal. Br. 31. But this case is indistinguishable since Shell likewise delivered its product by common carrier F.O.B. Destination. In any case, consistent with the language in § 9607(a)(3), denial of liability in Amcast turned on the seller's lack of intent to dispose of hazardous waste, not control over the delivery process. [**6] 1. Respondents first cite CERCLA's definition of "disposal," which by cross-reference to 42 U.S.C. § 6903(3) includes what the United States labels the "unintentional acts of spilling and leaking." U.S. Br. 17; see also Cal. Br. 34. But the word "disposal" in 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(3) [*3] may not be severed from the words "arranged for" that immediately precede it and that unmistakably convey purposeful action. See Shell Br. 18-19, 21; U.S. Br. 17 ("The dictionary defines 'arrange' as 'to prepare or plan.'"). Contrary to Respondents' suggestion, retaining an intent requirement for arranger liability would not read "spilling" and "leaking" out of the statute. Both 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(2) (operator liability) and § 9607(a)(4) (transporter liability) also use the term "disposal." As Judge Posner stated in Amcast, "the same word can mean different things in different sentences," and while "[i]n the context of the operator of a hazardous-waste dump, 'disposal' includes accidental spillage," it does not "in the context of the shipper who is arranging for the transportation of a product." 2 F.3d at 751. [**7] 2. The United States next suggests that any intent requirement is undermined by the terms "'by contract, agreement or otherwise arranged for.'" U.S. Br. 18. But the fact that that arrangement may be informal does not mean that it need not be purposeful, and nothing in this language supports arranger liability based on mere knowledge. 3. The United States cites an operator liability case, United States v. Bestfoods, 524 U.S. 51, 63 (1998), for the proposition that "common-law principles are to apply unless CERCLA 'speak[s] directly to the question.'" U.S. Br. 18. But nothing in Bestfoods suggested that common law principles apply in the face of clear statutory language. To the contrary, Bestfoods applied common law principles to decide whether the corporate veil could be pierced, see 524 U.S. at 62-63, a question to which CERCLA does not speak, but interpreted the term "operator" under 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(2), [*4] according to the "plain language of the statute," not the common law, Bestfoods, 524 U.S. at 65 (emphasis added). The United States' reliance on miscellaneous Restatement [**8] provisions to suggest that knowledge is sufficient for arranger liability (see U.S. Br. 18 (citing RESTATEMENT (2D) OF TORTS § § 413, 416, 427, 427A, 427B)) is thus misplaced. 4. Finally, in an effort to justify its "knowledge" test, the United States incorrectly paraphrases the Eleventh

RADAR SAIL (see /6/,/7/) is a CNES SAR satellite concept 1 based on a short (<5m, along speed vector) vertical antenna placed in the orbit plane. This surprising vertical geometry has been proven to work properly for RADAR while enabling a cascade of other innovations converging into a radically new design of the whole satellite for an ultimate goal of simplification and cost reduction. This paper focuses on the short and vertical antenna geometry and describes new findings which generalize the utilization range and reinforce the merits of the SAIL concept and which also justify the implementation of such antenna on a standard bus, at least for an antenna of moderate size (X band). We show that, for a "swath/azimuth resolution" ratio not exceeding 10 4 (the case for missions designed and imagined thus far), it is possible, due to new imaging modes based on timing diagram saturation, to halve the length of a SAR antenna under equivalent performance, antenna area, onboard data volume, energy and spectral occupancy conditions. Such a short antenna approach reduces by two the required spotlight factor and most of the time eliminates the need for spotlight. In addition to the reduction or the elimination of operational constraints induced by spotlight, it enables a very simplified antenna architecture (a single or a small number of antenna control points lengthwise) and high antenna cost reductions. However, this simplification is fully available only in association with the vertical configuration, which, moreover, brings its own unique capabilities and simplification factors. Indeed, with a short antenna, the nadir echo has to be rejected other than in the temporal domain, which is made too saturated. The vertical antenna allows the nadir echo to be physically blocked (by the bus for instance), and there is no need to preserve a minimum number of antenna control points for the only purpose of clean beam nulling toward nadir. In spite of a slight height increase (24%) the vertical configuration contributes to further simplification by the heightwise reduction of antenna control points on account of the tolerance to elevation grating lobes. Moreover, a single pencil beam allows all incidences and modes to be achieved, which simplifies the characterisation, calibration and operation of the radar. Lastly the vertical antenna enables the viewing on both sides of the satellite track. The merits and related cost savings of short vertical antenna are illustrated with a 1-meter resolution X band mission using standard satellite architecture. Finally, the merits of the SAIL, which is the full exploitation of the short vertical antenna, are discussed.

Recently, a joint Swiss/Belgian initiative started a project to build a new generation airborne imaging spectrometer, namely APEX (Airborne Prism Experiment) under the ESA funding scheme named PRODEX. APEX is a dispersive pushbroom imaging spectrometer operating in the spectral range between 380-2500 nm. The spectral resolution will be better then 10 nm in the SWIR and < 5 nm in the VNIR range of the solar reflected range of the spectrum. The total FOV will be ± 14 deg, recording 1000 pixels across track with max. 300 spectral bands simultaneously. APEX is subdivided into an industrial team responsible for the optical instrument, the calibration homebase, and the detectors, and a science and operational team, responsible for the processing and archiving of the imaging spectrometer data, as well as for its operation. APEX is in its design phase and the instrument will be operationally available to the user community in the year 2006.

The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act have spurred the development of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) processes, several of which produce a dry, solid by-product material consisting of excess sorbent, reaction products containing sulfates and sulfites, and coal fly ash. Presently FGD by-product materials are treated as solid wastes and must be landfilled. However, landfill sites are becoming more scarce and tipping fees are constantly increasing, lt is, therefore, highly desirable to find beneficial reuses for these materials provided the environmental impacts are minimal and socially acceptable. Phase 1 results of a 4 and 1/2 year study to demonstrate large volume beneficial uses of FGD by-products are reported. The purpose of the Phase 1 portion of the project was to characterize the chemical, physical, mineralogical and engineering properties of the FGD by-product materials obtained from various FGD technologies being developed in the state of Ohio. Phase 1 also involved the collection of baseline economic data related to the beneficial reuse of these FGD materials. A total of 58 samples were collected and analyzed. Our results indicated the chemical composition of the FGD by-product materials were dominated by Ca, S, AI, and Si although the specific composition varies from one sample to another. Many of the elements regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reside primarily in the fly ash. The presence of excess sorbent and reaction products causes a dilution of the concentrations of these elements in the FGD by-product materials as compared to the fly ash alone. Concentrations of the eight metals (Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se) regulated _)ythe Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA)were below drinking water standards when measured by either the ASTM or TCLP leachate tests. Engineering tests revealed that samples made from the compacted FGD by-product materials were generally higher in strength and had greater stiffnessthan natural soils typically used in the construction of a highway embankment. Compacted densities were also lower than typical compacted soil densities. These data suggest that FGD by-product materials, used in construction of a highway embankment, would be lighter and require less right-of-way due to the possibility of constructing steeper slopes. Dry FGD by-products can react with with water to form ettringite, an expansive calcium sulfoaluminate hydrate mineral. This expansiion may affect how dry FGD byproduct is stockpiled and used by professional engineers and construction contractors. Based on analyses of the agricultural lime and supply demand relationships it was concluded that FGD by-product material, used as an agricultural lime substitute, would be entering a very competitive market. This substitution will be sensitive to transport distances and the FGD producer's willingness to subsidize its use in agricultural. In summary, Phase 1 results revealed that FGD by-product materials are essentially coal fly ash materials diluted with unreacted sorbent and reaction products. High volume beneficial reuses will depend on the economics of their substituting for existing materials for various types of applications (e.g. as an agricultural liming material, soil borrow for highway embankment construction, and reclamation of active and abandoned surface coal mines). Environmental constraints to the beneficial reuse of dry FGD byproduct materials, based on laboratory and leachate studies, seem to be less than for coal fly ash.

The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act have spurred the development of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) processes, several of which produce a dry, solid by-product material consisting of excess sorbent, reaction products containing sulfates and sulfites, and coal fly ash. Presently FGD by-product materials are treated as solid wastes and must be landfilled. However, landfill sites are becoming more scarce and tipping fees are constantly increasing. It is, therefore, highly desirable to find beneficial reuses for these materials provided the environmental impacts are minimal and socially acceptable. Phase 1 results of a 4 and 1/2 year study to demonstrate large volume beneficial uses of FGD by-products are reported. The purpose of the Phase 1 portion of the project was to characterize the chemical, physical, mineralogical and engineering properties of the FGD by-product materials obtained from various FGD technologies being developed in the state of Ohio. Phase 1 also involved the collection of baseline economic data related to the beneficial reuse of these FGD materials. A total of 58 samples were collected and analyzed. Our results indicated the chemical composition of the FGD by-product materials were dominated by Ca, S, AI, and Si although the specific composition varies from one sample to another. Many of the elements regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reside primarily in the fly ash. The presence of excess sorbent and reaction products causes a dilution of the concentrations of these elements in the FGD by-product materials as compared to the fly ash alone. Concentrations of the eight metals (Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se) regulated by the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) were below drinking water standards when measured by either the ASTM or TCLP leachate tests. Engineering tests revealed that samples made from the compacted FGD by-product materials were generally higher in strength and had greater stiffness than natural soils typically used in the construction of a highway embankment. Compacted densities were also lower than typical compacted soil densities. These data suggest that FGD by-product materials, used in construction of a highway embankment, would be lighter and require less right-of-way due to the possibility of constructing steeper slopes. Dry FGD by-products can react with with water to form ettringite, an expansive calcium sulfoaluminate hydrate mineral. This expansiion may affect how dry FGD byproduct is stockpiled and used by professional engineers and construction contractors. Based on analyses of the agricultural lime and supply demand relationships it was concluded that FGD by-product material, used as an agricultural lime substitute, would be entering a very competitive market. This substitution will be sensitive to transport distances and the FGD producer's willingness to subsidize its use in agricultural. In summary, Phase 1 results revealed that FGD by-product materials are essentially coal fly ash materials diluted with unreacted sorbent and reaction products. High volume beneficial reuses will depend on the economics of their substituting for existing materials for various types of applications (e.g. as an agricultural liming material, soil borrow for highway embankment construction, and reclamation of active and abandoned surface coal mines). Environmental constraints to the beneficial reuse of dry FGD byproduct materials, based on laboratory and leachate studies, seem to be less than for coal fly ash.

The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act have spurred the development of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) processes, several of which produce a dry, solid by-product material consisting of excess sorbent, reaction products containing sulfates and sulfites, and coal fly ash. Presently FGD by-product materials are treated as solid wastes and must be landfilled. However, landfill sites are becoming more scarce and tipping fees are constantly increasing, lt is, therefore, highly desirable to find beneficial reuses for these materials provided the environmental impacts are minimal and socially acceptable. Phase 1 results of a 4 and 1/2 year study to demonstrate large volume beneficial uses of FGD by-products are reported. The purpose of the Phase 1 portion of the project was to characterize the chemical, physical, mineralogical and engineering properties of the FGD by-product materials obtained from various FGD technologies being developed in the state of Ohio. Phase 1 also involved the collection of baseline economic data related to the beneficial reuse of these FGD materials. A total of 58 samples were collected and analyzed. Our results indicated the chemical composition of the FGD by-product materials were dominated by Ca, S, AI, and Si although the specific composition varies from one sample to another. Many of the elements regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reside primarily in the fly ash. The presence of excess sorbent and reaction products causes a dilution of the concentrations of these elements in the FGD by-product materials as compared to the fly ash alone. Concentrations of the eight metals (Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se) regulated _)ythe Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA)were below drinking water standards when measured by either the ASTM or TCLP leachate tests. Engineering tests revealed that samples made from the compacted FGD by-product materials were generally higher in strength and had greater stiffnessthan natural soils typically used in the construction of a highway embankment. Compacted densities were also lower than typical compacted soil densities. These data suggest that FGD by-product materials, used in construction of a highway embankment, would be lighter and require less right-of-way due to the possibility of constructing steeper slopes. Dry FGD by-products can react with with water to form ettringite, an expansive calcium sulfoaluminate hydrate mineral. This expansiion may affect how dry FGD byproduct is stockpiled and used by professional engineers and construction contractors. Based on analyses of the agricultural lime and supply demand relationships it was concluded that FGD by-product material, used as an agricultural lime substitute, would be entering a very competitive market. This substitution will be sensitive to transport distances and the FGD producer's willingness to subsidize its use in agricultural. In summary, Phase 1 results revealed that FGD by-product materials are essentially coal fly ash materials diluted with unreacted sorbent and reaction products. High volume beneficial reuses will depend on the economics of their substituting for existing materials for various types of applications (e.g. as an agricultural liming material, soil borrow for highway embankment construction, and reclamation of active and abandoned surface coal mines). Environmental constraints to the beneficial reuse of dry FGD byproduct materials, based on laboratory and leachate studies, seem to be less than for coal fly ash.

In this paper, the design of the low cost INS/GPS integration system is addressed with good accuracy. The Strapdown INS (SINS) and Cascade Kalman filter have been tested to ensure that the system can be operated flexibly between feed forward and feedback modes due to various GPS conditions. The vehicle motion constraints are also utilized to reduce the INS error degradation during the periods of GPS unavailability. The experiment results shown that the INS/GPS system can be applied to land applications in challenging GPS environments.

I would like to thank Professor Gary Schwartz for his extensive assistance in reading and critiquing drafts of this article. 1. See generally SAsa.L EPSmmiN, ET AL, HAZARDOUS VASm iN AbmwcA (1982). It is estimated that America's chemical industry was producing more than 170 million pounds of synthetic-organic chemicals by 1938. CHRSoPHER HARRIS,

ABSTRACTThe potential excessive nutrient and/or microbial loading from mismanaged land application of organic fertilizers is forcing changes in animal waste management. Currently, it is not clear to what extent different rates of poultry litter impact soil microbial communities, which control nutrient availability, organic matter quality and quantity, and soil degradation potential. From 2002 to 2004, we investigated the microbial community and several enzyme activities in a Vertisol soil (fine, smectitic, thermic, Udic Haplustert) at 0 to 15 cm as affected by different rates of poultry litter application to pasture (0, 6.7, and 13.4 Mg ha−1) and cultivated sites (0, 4.5, 6.7, 9.0, 11.2, and 13.4 Mg ha−1) in Texas, USA. No differences in soil pH (average: 7.9), total N (pasture: 2.01–3.53, cultivated: 1.09–1.98 g kg−1 soil) or organic C (pasture average: 25–26.7, cultivated average: 13.9–16.1 g kg−1 soil) were observed following the first four years of litter application. Microbial ...

Irrigation with wastewaters from agri-industry processes such as milk factories, piggeries, wineries and abattoirs is commonplace. These wastewaters all have high levels of potassium (K). Potassium concentration in effluents from domestic wastewater sources are relatively low, reported to vary between 10 and 30 mg L −1. Higher levels of potassium are reported for effluents from olive oil mills, 10,000-20,000 mg K L −1 , wool scouring, 4200-13,000 mg K L −1 , cheese and lactic whey and potato processing, ∼1800 mg K L −1 , piggery effluent, 500-1000 mg K L −1 and winery wastewaters, up to 1000 mg K L −1. Application of wastewaters with these high potassium levels has been found to increase the overall level of soil fertility, with the exception of alkaline effluents which can dissolve soil organic carbon. Long-term application of such wastewater may cause the build-up of soil potassium and decrease the hydraulic conductivity of the receiving soils. These potential impacts are uncertain and have been inadequately researched. Regulatory limits for potassium in drinking water have been set only by the European Union with no toxicological or physiological justification. The literature shows that grasses and legume herbages accumulate high levels of potassium, up to 5% dry weight, and some grasses, such as turfgrass are particularly tolerant to high levels of potassium, even under saline conditions. This adaptation is considered useful for increasing potassium immobilization and sustainable practices of land wastewater disposal. Potassium availability is significantly affected by the cation ratios of the wastewater, the existing soil water solution and of soil exchange sites.

The first Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument is planned for launch by NASA in 1998. This instrument will provide a new and improved capability for terrestrial satellite remote sensing aimed at meeting the needs of global change research. The MODIS standard products will provide new and improved tools for moderate resolution land surface monitoring. These higher order data products have been designed to remove the burden of certain common types of data processing from the user community and meet the more general needs of global-to-regional monitoring, modeling, and assessment. The near-daily coverage of moderate resolution data from MODIS, coupled with the planned increase in high-resolution sampling from Landsat 7, will provide a powerful combination of observations. The full potential of MODIS will be realized once a stable and well-calibrated time-series of multispectral data has been established. In this paper the proposed MODIS standard products for land applications are described along with the current plans for data quality assessment and product validation.

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In the presented study, potential use of treatment plant sludge in agriculture is investigated. Sludge generated from an agroindustry (vegetable processing) is applied to pots at different loadings (0-100% sludge mixtures) for iceberg lettuce cultivation and the impacts of the sludge on plant growth are assessed by counting growing plants and leaves and weighing roots green and main parts of the plants. The least significant difference (LSD) method is used to test the significance of sludge loadings on plant growth. The conducted experimental data have shown that plant growth patterns have been influenced from the sludge loadings to a certain extent. In general, 25 and 50% of the sludge treatments have yielded lower plant growth due to nitrogen deficiency in raw sludge. On the other hand, high phosphorus content of sludge is replaced with nitrogen at high sludge loadings, thus maximum plant growth (both in green part and root weights) is obtained for the 75% sludge treatment (corresponding to 496 t/h sludge application). In addition, heavy metal concentrations have been measured in both leaves and roots and compared with the acceptable limits given for lettuce plant. Application of sludge did not significantly increase nickel, lead, cadmium, and manganese contents of lettuce plants. Consequently, results from pot experiments demonstrate that sludge taken from an agro-industry (vegetable processing factory) can be used as a partial substitute of chemical fertilizer and as a soil conditioner.

Sludge generation as an organic by-product of wastewater treatment has seen a consistent increase worldwide due to population growth and industrial activities. This poses a chronic challenge regarding management options and environmental concerns. The agricultural valorization of unconventional organic materials has become inevitable, especially in semi-arid and arid countries that suffer from depleted soils and shortages in farm manure supply. High-income countries have also been interested in this recycling practice to mitigate landfilling or incineration issues. Sewage and some industrial sludges contain a complex mixture of beneficial and harmful substances, which varies with the origin of effluents. Therefore, sludge land application should be well managed in order to achieve sustainable agro-environmental goals. This review paper focuses on different aspects related to sludge reuse in agriculture, starting by investigating the diversity of sludge types and composition. In addi...

Land application of biosolids from processed sewage sludge may deteriorate soil, water, and plants. We investigated the impact of the N-Viro biosolids land-application on the quality of the soil water that moved through Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols soil of Nova Scotia (NS) at the Wild Blueberry Research Institute, Debert, NS Canada. In addition, the response of major soilproperties and crop yield was also studied. Wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium. Ait) was grown under irrigated and rainfed conditions in 2008 and 2009. Four experimental treatments including (i) NI: N-Viro irrigated, (ii) NR: N-Viro rainfed, (iii) FI: inorganic fertilizer irrigated, and (iv) FR: inorganic fertilizer rainfed (control) were replicated 4 times under randomized complete block design. Soil samples were collected at the end of each year and analyzed for changes in cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic matter (SOM), and pH.Soil water samples were collected four times during the study period from the suction cup lysimeters installed within and below crop root zone at 20 and 40 cm depths, respectively. The samples were analyzed for a range of water quality parameters including conductance, hardness, pH, macro-and micronutrients, and the infectious pathogens Escherichia coli (E. coli) and salmonella. Berries were harvested for fruit yield estimates. Irrigation significantly increased CEC during 2008 and the soil pH decreased from 4.93 (2008) to 4.79 (2009). There were significant influences of irrigation, fertilizer, and their interaction, in some cases, on most of the soil water quality parameters except on the infectious bacteria. No presence of E. coli or salmonella were observed in soil and water samples, reflecting the absence of these bacteria in biosolids used in this experiment. Nutrient concentration in the soil water samples collected from the four treatments were higher in the sequence NI > NR > FI > FR. The irrigation treatment had significant effect on the unripe fruit yield. We conclude that the comparable performance of N-Viro biosolids and the increasing prices of inorganic fertilizers would compel farmers to use economically available N-Viro biosolids that, coupled with the supplemental irrigation, did not deteriorate the studied soil properties, soil water quality, and the wild blueberry yield during this experiment.

Recently, a joint Swiss/Belgian initiative started a project to build a new generation airborne imaging spectrometer, namely APEX (Airborne Prism Experiment) under the ESA funding scheme named PRODEX. APEX is a dispersive pushbroom imaging spectrometer operating in the spectral range between 380-2500 nm. The spectral resolution will be better then 10 nm in the SWIR and < 5 nm in the VNIR range of the solar reflected range of the spectrum. The total FOV will be ± 14 deg, recording 1000 pixels across track with max. 300 spectral bands simultaneously. APEX is subdivided into an industrial team responsible for the optical instrument, the calibration homebase, and the detectors, and a science and operational team, responsible for the processing and archiving of the imaging spectrometer data, as well as for its operation. APEX is in its design phase and the instrument will be operationally available to the user community in the year 2006.