Environment and Natural Resources Research最新文献

{"title":"Modeling Unsaturated Zone Water Movement in the Floodplain Wetlands of the Volta Basin","authors":"B. Nyarko","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v10n3p1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v10n3p1","url":null,"abstract":"The unsaturated zone of floodplain wetlands in the White Volta River basin provides an inextricable link between basin hydrology and the sustenance of plant growth. The HYDRUS-1D model was used to derive water budgets and to estimate fluxes to understand the hydrological complexities of these wetland systems. The model result indicates Spatio-temporal variation in the volume of vertical fluxes. In 2005, the estimate for average simulated flux was 0.29 cm/month in June and 1.23 cm/month in July. Consequently, the hydraulic head increased from 138.94 m to 139.30 m for the period from June to July 2005. For all sample sites, the increase in hydraulic head occurs within July and October, coinciding with high surface water fluxes. From the calculated water balance, the average monthly estimate of bottom flux was 0.01 cm/month for 2004 and 1.1 cm/month for 2005. The flow through the unsaturated zone and discharging into the subsurface water system has a high dependency on both the soil structure and the volume of water infiltrating through the surface; the highest discharge is within the period of highest water input.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83505267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environment and Natural Resources Research, Vol. 10, No. 2","authors":"Emily S. Lin","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v10n2p54","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v10n2p54","url":null,"abstract":"Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environment and Natural Resources Research, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2020","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89095409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Water Absorption by Hydrogel Using Fertilizers","authors":"J. F. Sobrinho, F.E.L. Barbosa","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v10n2p26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v10n2p26","url":null,"abstract":"It was sought, in this research, to evaluate the effects of fertilizer solutions on water retention by hydrogel as well as if the application methods and fertilizers affect water retention when the hydrogel is added to the soil. In laboratory works (experiment 1), the completely randomized design was used taking into account four treatments: distilled water; Urea (UR – 2.0 g L-1 ) and Magnesium Sulfate + Monoammonium Phosphate (MS + MAP – 2.0 g L-1  each). Regarding the experiment 2, considering soil columns, a 2x3x2 factorial was used, corresponding to two hydrogel application methods: dry and mixed to the soil or diluted in water and concentrated in the center of the column; three fertilizer solutions: distilled water, UR (2.0 g L-1 ) and MS + MAP (2.0 g L-1  each) with two cycles and three repetitions. An additional witness (hydrogel free) was also added. Total water volume absorbed by hydrogel, volume stored in the soil after each cycle, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of leached solutions were all analyzed. The MS solution was the one who impacted the most the water absorption by the hydrogel, principally when the hydrogel was not present in the soil. The pH and EC of leached solutions evidenced the fertilizer solutions salinity.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91209929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community Tourism Development in Viet Hai Commune (Cat Ba, Hai Phong City, Viet Nam) Under the Green Economy Model","authors":"T. V. Phuong, L. X. Sinh, Le Duc Cuong, Dang Cong Xuong, B. M. Hà","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v10n2p43","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v10n2p43","url":null,"abstract":"The study of community tourism development based on green economy model is the focus of this paper. The research is implemented in Viet Hai - a commune of Cat Hai island district, Hai Phong city, Vietnam. In order to evaluate, select and develop this model in the locality, a number of research methods have been applied such as: Method of seminars, expert consult, group system of sampling methods, fertilizer analyzing laboratories and methods of interviewing and collecting socio-economic data. The research outcome is given that, the community tourism based on green economy is a type of economic model that contributes not only on the local socio-economic development, but also surmounting the seasonal tourism situation, and maximizing the region's potential and strengths. The model chosen was the communitys based tourism model, with the participation of 1/3 of households in Viet Hai commune. The model has a management board with applicable rules and regulations to objects such as households, tourism operators and Viet Hai visitors. The model has been oriented towards exploiting the landscape values associated with environmental protection programs, especially towards the point-based community tourism model of Cat Ba district – which say “no” to single-use plastic products. This tourism model has created the tourism products that are different from the existing models in Cat Ba (Hai Phong), creating channels to link with tourists to attract more visitors to Viet Hai increasingly to the year.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88862386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Catalytic Abatement of VOCs: Aerobic Combustion of Methane or Ethane over Alumina-Supported Metal Oxides Recovered from Spent Catalysts","authors":"S. Tahir, H. Askari","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v10n2p33","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v10n2p33","url":null,"abstract":"γ-Al2O3 supported Cu, Cu-Zn and Cu-Ni-Fe-Zn oxide catalysts were prepared using leachate transition metal nitrate and sulfate aqueous solutions from commercial spent catalysts. A bench-scale rig was used to investigate the combustion activity of these catalysts toward methane or ethane in the air stream (1000 ppmv) at a space velocity of 20,000 h-1. The Cu-Ni-Fe-Zn oxides/γ-Al2O3 catalyst proved to be the most active catalyst for the combustion of methane in the temperature range 290-575°C and of ethane in the lower temperature range of 275-525oC as compared to Cu and Cu-Zn oxide loaded catalysts. X-ray powder diffractograms indicated that the metal oxide species were highly dispersed or amorphous on the alumina surface in all the catalysts except for the detection of a minority phase of monoclinic CuO on the Cu-containing mono-metallic catalysts. The co-existence of ZnO in the CuO catalysts suppresses the activity of the copper oxide species and, therefore, the conversion of methane or ethane was reduced. The present research endeavor provides proof-of-concept that relatively inexpensive metal oxide-based heterogeneous catalysts for VOCs abatement can be recovered from spent catalysts. Hence, environmental and health threats of improper handling of VOCs or spent catalysts may be alleviated.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89215519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Climatic Variability and Non-Climatic Factors on Mopane Worms’ (Gonimbrasia Belina) Distribution and Livelihood Options in North Central Namibia","authors":"C. Togarepi, E. Nashidengo, N. Siyambango","doi":"10.5539/ENRR.V10N2P14","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/ENRR.V10N2P14","url":null,"abstract":"Mopane worms (Gonimbrasia belina) are an important source of food and income for households in Northern Namibia. However, their access and availability in many areas have declined, mainly due to climate change and human activities. This has affected many households’ livelihoods, making them vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity. With these factors in mind, this study sought to identify the extent to which the availability and distribution of mopane worms are influenced in the Tsandi and Okahao constituencies. The study used structured questionnaires to collect information from households in the study area, to interview key informants, and to carry out group discussions. A total of 70 households and 6 key informants were interviewed, along with 4 focus group discussions that were carried out to elicit perceptions, and to obtain views on the availability of mopane worms, and possible causes of the decline in the study area. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while GIS was used to determine trends in vegetation cover, temperature and rainfall in the area. The rainfall trend indicates variability, with a generally declining trend. A slight increase in temperature has been observed too. Vegetation showed a browning trend in the study area, indicating declining habitats of mopane worms. The results have indicated that more women depend on mopane worms for survival, mainly as a source of income. Thus the decline in their availability greatly affects their food sources and their income diversification opportunities. Trading was found to be an important form of employment for the unemployed rural people, but with the potential to generate higher income levels that can improve their livelihoods. Moreover, despite the climatic factors, human activities seemed to indicate a greater influence on the availability of mopane worms, due to activities such as overharvesting, land clearing for agriculture and household use/fencing. Thus, there is a greater need to control the harvesting of mopane worms and to control tree cutting activities in order to reduce the impacts of climatic and non-climatic factors on their availability.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84304783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short-Duration Characterization of Source Emissions for Use in Predictive Software Models to Assess Worker Exposure: A Note of Caution","authors":"T. McManus, A. Haddad","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v10n2p1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v10n2p1","url":null,"abstract":"This article reports on use of advanced Near-Field—Far-Field software for assessing short- versus long-duration data obtained minute-by-minute at two distances from a small source of an evaporating solvent located in an isolated subsurface structure (a type of confined space) accessed through a manhole containing one or two opening(s). The software uses this data to predict worker exposure to airborne chemical substances. Initial flash-off of volatile components was readily visible in graphs prepared from some tests and especially so in initial output from the calibration utility contained in the modelling software. The calibration utility orients the mathematics of the software to measured data. The calibration utility indicated constant magnitude from longer-duration emissions consistent with constant composition. Source characterization of emissions from solvents containing multiple ingredients and constant initial mass deserves careful consideration because initial emissions may not represent overall behavior. This situation indicates the potential to bias predictions of worker and other types of exposure utilizing the same mathematics. This is especially the case during source characterization using measurements of short duration. This study advocates for further investigation to develop guidelines for source characterization during use of modelling software that minimize the potential for error in exposure assessment.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77559704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environment and Natural Resources Research, Vol. 10, No. 1","authors":"Emily S. Lin","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v10n1p71","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v10n1p71","url":null,"abstract":"Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environment and Natural Resources Research, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2020","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-02-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84274577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated Application of Organic and Blended Mineral Fertilizers Improves Potato Productivity and Income for Smallholder Farmers in Acidic Soils","authors":"T. Girma, B. Biazin, S. Beyene, B. Lemaga","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v10n1p61","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v10n1p61","url":null,"abstract":"Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is the world’s third most important food crop. However, potato productivity is very low in acidic soils that cover about 50% of the arable land in the world. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sole and integrated farmyard manure (FYM) and different types mineral fertilizers on yield, yield components and economic returns of potato in acidic soil of Ethiopia. Six treatments: 1) Control (without fertilizer), 2) sole application of the recommended NP (RNP) fertilizer (11 kg/ha N and 40 kg/ha P), 3) sole FYM (28.8 t/ha FYM), 4) half dose of recommended NP fertilizer and half dose of the FYM, 5) blended fertilizer formulated as 17.3 kg N, 34.7 kg P2O5, 7.41 kg S, 2.23 kg Zn, 0.3 kg B + 100 kg/ha), and 6) half blended and half FYM, were arranged in a randomized complete block design. The results revealed that potato plants amended with sole blended fertilizer, and integrated FYM and mineral fertilizers doubled fresh tuber yield as compared to the control. The RNP fertilizer gave the lowest (α < 0.05) marketable potato yields of all the fertilizer treatments. Applications of sole blended or integrated FYM and mineral fertilizers resulted in the highest net benefit with acceptable marginal rate of return. Integrated use of FYM and mineral fertilizers is crucial for improved and sustained smallholder potato production in acidic soils. Further studies are required to examine the long-term effects of blended fertilizers on soil properties.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73541935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical Particulate Contaminant(s) Generated during Arc Welding on Aluminum Alloys","authors":"T. McManus, A. Haddad","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v10n1p43","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v10n1p43","url":null,"abstract":"Assessing exposure to particulate emissions during arc welding is an important consideration in assuring compliance with regulatory requirements. This study examined welding emissions during argon-shielded GMAW (MIG welding) processes involving aluminum alloys in a shipbuilding environment using traditional methods of air sampling (portable pumps and closed-face cassettes containing PVC filters.) Current requirements for exposure determination (inhalable, respirable and total particulates) necessitate three simultaneous samples, a very onerous imposition on worker safety and comfort. Application of a conversion factor published in the literature can considerably simplify this situation through use of a single sampler, the conventional closed face cassette. This approach provides a first-level means of evaluation and is especially useful where exposure levels are low compared to regulatory Exposure Limits. Assessment of exposure to chromium, magnesium and manganese may require additional consideration because of the necessity for simultaneous evaluation against TLVs for inhalable and respirable particulates and different oxidation states. Results strongly suggest that beryllium and/or chromium VI and possibly manganese dominate consideration about exposure and control measures (Critical Particulate Contaminant). This results from the difficulty of analysis created by the combination of extremely small Exposure Limits, presence of these elements in the alloy in trace to very small quantities and uncertainty associated with detectability in standard air samples. Resolving this question requires collection and analysis of bulk quantities of welding fume to improve the mathematics associated with detectability. Determination of the Critical Particulate Contaminant considerably simplifies future evaluation and focuses follow-up action in the appropriate direction.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77571105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}