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Riparian zones are essential to preserve water quality of rivers adjacent to large areas of irrigated agriculture. We used HYDRUS (2D/3D) to quantify the long-term (8 years) influence of crops (almonds, wine grapes and potato-carrot) irrigated with recycled water on water and solute exchange at the Gawler River interface in relation to vegetation buffer widths from 10 to 110 m. We found that under almond and annual horticulture the likely average annual water flow from the irrigated area to the river was nearly twice as much (2.1 and 1.8, respectively) that under wine grapes. The hydraulic exchange at river interface for different irrigated crops was found to be sensitive to the buffer widths. For wine grapes, almonds and annual horticulture, the average annual hydraulic balance reached an equilibrium at 20, 65 and 55 m buffer widths, respectively. Furthermore, for wine grapes, with a 20 m buffer width, the average annual load of salts became negligible. This study shows that buffer widths of 20, 60, and 40 m for irrigated wine grapes, almond, and annual horticulture, respectively, are needed to restrict the migration of salts to the river. Further refinements are possible by incorporating the influence of preferential flow paths, improved water stress response functions, and addressing the data limitations for calibration of the model for solute dynamics.

A survey was conducted in eight secondary schools located in two watersheds in Gujarat and Rajasthan (semi-arid region of India) to assess students' perceptions about groundwater scarcity issues and the impact of the scarcity on their educational opportunities. Survey responses to a detailed questionnaire by a cohort of students in both watersheds; school attendance records of year 8 class students (13-14 years old) and responses gathered via a socio-economic survey involving 500 families in the study area were used in the study. In both watersheds, >90% students identified groundwater scarcity as a major issue. Required to work at home or farm, about 65% students in Gujarat and 60% in Rajasthan missed school for up to 2 days/month; and a smaller proportion (~ 30%) missed schools for 4 or more days/month. School absenteeism was found to be linked with gender; female students missed schools more frequently than their male counterpart. The school attendance records in Rajasthan showed that the frequency of female students missing schools for 5 or more days/month was on an average 2-10 times greater than that for males. The gender difference in absenteeism in all schools was statistically significant (P < 0.018**). The study highlighted that groundwater scarcity in the study area, and consequent demand on their time for household work including fetching drinking water are contributing factors towards limiting their educational and economic opportunities. Groundwater scarcity can be one of the key factors that can limit inclusiveness and empowerment of women and need to be considered in policy-making.

The abiotic protection of low molecular weight organic compounds (LMWOC) in soils may be an important regulator of C cycling. The study of the protection of LMWOC through sorption typically employs soils shaken in solution, which may be compromised by biological activity. We used [sup.14]C-labelled glucose as a LMWOC in batch assays of four different soils with contrasting physico-chemical properties (Arenosol, Luvisol, Ferralsol and Andisol). The commonly used biocides Na[N.sub.3] and Hg[Cl.sub.2] were employed alone or in concert across a range of concentrations to assess their efficacy in inhibiting microbial degradation. For short ( Additional keywords: abiotic process, LMWOCs, mercuric chloride, radiolabelled compounds, sodium azide, soil organic matter., Introduction The presence of low molecular weight organic compounds (LMWOCs), such as amino acids and carbohydrates, in soil is attributed to root exudation and turnover (Farrar et al. 2003; Boddy [...]

The application of biochar technology for soil amendment is largely based on evidence about soil fertility and crop productivity gains made in the Amazonian Black Earth (term preta). However, the uncertainty of production gains at realistic application rates of biochars and lack of knowledge about other benefits and other concerns may have resulted in poor uptake of biochar technology in Australia so far. In this review, we identify important opportunities as well as challenges in the adoption of biochar technology for broadacre farming and other sectors in Australia. The paper highlights that for biochar technology to be cost-effective and successful, we need to look beyond carbon sequestration and explore other opportunities to value-add to biochar. Therefore, some emerging and novel applications of biochar are identified. We also suggest some priority research areas that need immediate attention in order to realise the full potential of biochar technology in agriculture and other sectors in Australia. Additional keywords: biochar characterisation, contaminants, herbicide efficacy, heavy metals, nitrous oxide, plant growth media, regulations., Introduction Biochar is a carbon (C)-rich, solid material produced by thermal decomposition of organic material or biomass in the absence, or under limited supply, of oxygen (Lehmann and Joseph 2009). [...]