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To investigate the effect of infrastructure traits on resilience after an exploration, a blast case (West Fertilizer Plant in West, Texas, 2013) was studied, in which all the buildings' damage data (damage pictures, damage scales, and building locations) and resilience information (recovery decision, recovery time, and recovery cost) were collected by authors through site visits, interviews, and appraisal data collections. The novel analysis methods and machine learning algorithms (logistical/linear regression, neural networks, k-nearest neighbor, support vector machine, and gradient boosting) were applied to analyze the West Fertilizer Plant explosion resilience. This study is unique because it implements a resilience analysis for an explosion hazard, although there are some reports discussing the resilience after natural hazards, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and tornados. Additionally, using machine learning for resilience analysis is also unique. The results can assist decision-makers, civil engineers, and building designers in designing the most resilient structures and/or materials for buildings. The findings in this study can help to develop the most resilient buildings, communities, and cities by considering the impact of explosion hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient in the production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Field studies on N use efficiency usually focus on recovery efficiency of added N fertilizer or agronomic N use efficiency. The internal N use efficiency of N (iNUE; lint yield divided by plant N uptake) is less studied but is a key component of N fertilizer recommendations. The objective of this study was to identify the optimum iNUE for irrigated cotton in West Texas and Arizona. Eighteen site‐years of data from N fertilizer management studies from Lubbock, TX, and Maricopa, AZ, from 2000 to 2018 were used. Lint yields with N‐fertilized plots averaged 1,535 and 1,790 kg ha–1 for West Texas and Arizona, respectively. Corresponding N uptake averaged 128 and 177 kg N ha–1 for West Texas and Arizona, reflecting average N fertilizer rates of 91 and 133 kg N ha–1. An optimum iNUE of 12.3 ± 0.5 kg lint kg plant N–1 was estimated by a linear‐plateau model of lint yields vs. total N uptake. Optimum iNUE corresponded to 1,800 kg lint ha–1 yield and 146 ± 5 kg N ha–1 plant uptake. Nitrogen uptake by cotton plants greater than this was theoretically luxury uptake. Updated data on optimum iNUE can feed directly into improving current N fertilizer recommendations based on pre‐plant soil NO3 tests. In turn, this can translate to greater profits for cotton producers in the southwestern United States and the reduction in export of N from irrigated cotton fields. Core Ideas: Internal N use efficiency (iNUE) in cotton is lint yield divided by plant N uptake.Internal N use efficiency is under‐studied compared to recovery efficiency N use efficiency.Eighteen site‐years of data from N studies were used to identify the optimum iNUE.Cotton lint yields responsed more to added N fertilizer in Arizona than in West Texas.The optimum iNUE was estimated at 12.3 ± 0.5 kg lint kg plant N−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have highlighted the agronomic and environmental importance of phosphorus (P) movement through the soil profile. Thus, faced with challenges such as high‐profile cases of P enrichment of surface water, better understanding of nutrient movement through soil is needed to better manage agricultural fertilizers and manures and their contribution to water quality degradation. In particular, field‐scale research is especially needed in soils with preferential flow transport pathways. Thus, we collected nitrogen (N) and P transport data in run‐off and seepage (lateral subsurface return flow) from 13 field‐ and farm‐scale watersheds on Vertisols in Central Texas for a 14‐year period. For 2004–2017, seepage accounted for ~20% of the total surface flow, and nutrient concentrations were generally similar in run‐off and seepage. As surface run‐off contributed ~80% of the flow, it follows that median annual N and P loads in run‐off were significantly greater than in seepage for every watershed. N loads in both run‐off and seepage flow from cultivated land were an order of magnitude greater than in native prairie and improved pasture, and the highest run‐off and seepage P loads both occurred on cultivated land with organic fertilizer sources. Increasing watershed scale (size) did not to produce consistent patterns in N or P loss in run‐off or seepage. Land use and watershed scale produced significant differences in seepage volume but did not affect run‐off volumes or total surface flow/rainfall. Although less significant in terms of total offsite flux, nutrient movement in vadose zones has important agronomic and environmental implications as considerable N and P are transported through and within the root zone and eventually offsite. And in terms of P, this contradicts the traditionally held scientific viewpoint that P movement through the vadose zone is unimportant agronomically and environmentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological hazards threaten public safety, and related risk cuts across jurisdictional boundaries, requiring a multiorganizational effort to mitigate. Yet, for those involved, ineffective risk recognition inhibits appropriate action. Using an embedded single-case study design, this article examines the 2013 West, Texas, fertilizer plant explosion and the networks of organizations responsible for disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response. Aspects of risk detection, communication, and interpretation and a series of self and collective mobilization efforts were analyzed. Findings demonstrate that information gaps between key actors, ie, information -asymmetry--particularly the company, regulators, and local -officials-hindered effective decision making. The case reveals the limitations of contemporary bureaucratic structures for the collective management of risk and the need for network governance that takes a more flexible and adaptive approach. The discussion section concludes with an outline of essential steps to improve the management of similar systems.

In West, Texas on April 17, 2013, a chemical storage and distribution facility caught fire followed by the explosion of around 30 tons of ammonium nitrate while the emergency responders were trying to extinguish the fire, leading to 15 fatalities and numerous buildings, businesses and homes destroyed or damaged. This incident resulted in devastating consequences for the community around the facility, and shed light on a need to improve the safety management of local small businesses similar to the West facility. As no official report on the findings of the incident has been released yet, this article first investigates the root causes of the incident, and presents a simplified consequence analysis. The article reviews the regulations applicable to this type of facility and recommended emergency response procedures to identify gaps between what happened in West and the current regulations, and discusses how the current regulations could be modified to prevent or minimize future losses. Finally, the federal response that followed the incident until the publication of this paper is summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The sources of SO4 along a ~550km stretch of the Rio Grande in New Mexico and western Texas were investigated using stable S isotopes. During 2007 and 2008, the δ34S of dissolved SO4 in the Rio Grande surface water varied over a narrow range from −1.6 to +0.9‰, which was consistent with the δ34S of local fertilizers (−2.1 to +1.6‰) and was not consistent with Paleozoic evaporite sources of SO4 in regional bedrock (+7.6 to +12.9‰). This is likely due the fact that SO4 is the major component of N–P–K fertilizers used in the Rio Grande Valley, constituting about half of the total fertilizers by mass. The SO4/Cl ratios of the groundwater system are relatively low (0.06 to 3) compared to the fertilizer source, suggesting that more Cl is added to the Rio Grande from geological sources as compared to SO4. In the Mesilla Basin in southern New Mexico, we identified zones of mixing between recharging irrigation water with groundwater within the depth range of ~50–200m below the ground surface. For this aquifer, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that Na–K–Cl concentrations were largely attributable to geological sources and SO4–Mg–Ca concentrations to anthropogenic sources. Here, an additional anthropogenic source of SO4 (with a δ34S of −2.7‰) was linked to anaerobic decomposition of manure on a horse farm. In this case SO4 concentrations (800mg/L) increased by about three times compared to background SO4 concentrations in groundwater (<300mg/L). Because of the common application of H2SO4 in fertilizer manufacturing, anthropogenic SO4 fluxes to rivers and shallow aquifers from irrigation waters can be significant worldwide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nitrogen fertilizer management in subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) can be very efficient when N is injected with the irrigation water (fertigated) on a daily basis. However, the daily rates and total amounts of N fertigation are uncertain. Normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), calculated from weekly canopy reflectance measurements can guide N management in SDI cotton. The objective of this 3-yr study (2007-2009) on an Acuff sandy clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Aridic Paleustolls) near Lubbock, TX, was to test two canopy reflectance-based strategies for estimating and adjusting injection rates of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer between first square and early mid-bloom. We also evaluated three N rates; 50, 100, and 150% of the soil test-based N recommendation for a 1400 kg lint ha-1 yield goal. In the reflectance-based N strategy-i (RN1), UAN was injected starting at first square at 50% of the soil test N rate. When NDVI in RN1 fell significantly below NDVI of plots with 100% soil test N, the N injection rate was increased to match the injection rate of the 100% soil test plots. The reflectance-based N strategy-2 (RN2) had an initial N injection rate equal to that of the 100% soil test N, and was raised to match the 150% soil test N based on NDVI. Nitrogen rates for the RNI averaged across 3 yr were 22 kg N ha-1 less, or 31% less than the soil test treatment, without hurting lint or seed yields. In 2007, N rates with RN2 were 11 kg N ha-1 higher than the soil test N rate, without any yield benefit. Economic optimum N rates for lint production ranged from 23kg N ha-1 in 2009 to 75kg N ha-1 in 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the use of regression methodology to approximate constituent loads on three ephemeral watersheds with different land uses in Texas. Constituent loads include nitric oxide (NO&sub3;), total phosphorus (P) and sediment. Four-low sampling strategies which include random and rise and fall, were utilized to collect water quality data. According to the study, estimates of nutrient and sediment loads improved for the combined 3-year period of the study. Results of the estimates vary depending on various factors including fertilizer inputs.

Dairy manure compost mixed with wood chips (designated as erosion control compost, ECC) was examined as an erosion control material for stabilization of steep slopes on highway construction sites. Eight 0.9 x 1.8 x 0.2 m plots were prepared with a clay loam soil on a custom-made steel bed. Paired plots were randomly assigned one of two treatments: ECC or inorganic fertilizer (IF). For ECC plots, the blend of dairy manure compost and woodchips was applied on top of the soil as a 50 mm layer (according to TxDOT specs) at a rate of 283 mt ha-1, which resulted in nutrient application rates of 2002 kg N ha-1, 1426 kg P2O5 ha-1, and 3002 kg K2O ha-1. For the IF plots, granular fertilizer was hand broadcast at TxDOT and Texas AgriLife Extension specified rates of 112 kg N ha-1 as ammonium nitrate, 112 kg P20s ha-1 as triple superphosphate, and 112 kg K2O ha-1 as potassium chloride. Treatments were established 6 days prior to the first rainfall event, and all plots were seeded on the same day. The steel bed was set at a 3:1 slope, and treatments were subjected to simulated rainfall (88.9 mm h-1 under non-vegetated and vegetated conditions from start of the rainfall until a period of 30 min after initiation of runoff Results showed that time to initiate runoff was greater for ECC-treated plots than IF plots under both non-vegetated and vegetated conditions. Prior to establishment of vegetation, the ECC treatment substantially reduced loss of solids and provided greater erosion control during simulated runoff However, ECC produced 4 to 10 fold greater TKN, ortho P, and total P and K mass losses under both vegetated treatments due to longer rainfall exposure time and greater total volume of runoff compared to IF. High levels of nutrients in the runoff from organic materials used for erosion control may potentially impact water resources and thus counteract erosion control benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this paper, we aimed to investigate the potential impacts of a fire accident in a fertilizer warehouse on chromosomal anomalies, including Trisomy 21 (T21) and Trisomy (T18) among pregnancies in Brazos County, Texas. We conducted an observational study in Brazos County, TX, with all patients of T18 and T21 cases in the live births in Brazos County between 2005-2014. The prevalence of T18 and T21 before, during, and after the accident in Brazos County were calculated and compared. The Standardized Morbidity Ratio (SMR) was applied to compare the prevalence of T18 and T21 in Brazos County to the statewide prevalence in Texas after adjusting for maternal race and age. Compared with statewide risk, the risk of T18 during the impacted years in Brazos county was found to be significantly higher (SMR = 5.0, 95% Confidence Interval(CI): 2.19-9.89), while there was no significant difference before (SMR = 0.77, 0.13-2.54) and after the accident (SMR = 0.71, 0.12-2.36). However, the prevalence of T21 during the impacted years was not significantly different from those before or after the accident. This study conclusively suggests that this fertilizer fire may be related to the increased prevalence of T18 in Brazos County, though the findings warrant further investigation.

Agricultural runoff is an important contributor to water quality impairment. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential role of field-scale management on carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry in soils and runoff from agricultural fields. Cultivated and pasture fields at the Riesel watersheds in central Texas were used for this analysis, and nutrients were transformed to evaluate relative to the Redfield ratio (106 C/16 N/1 P). Using the Redfield ratio, all soil samples were P depleted relative to C and N. The majority of stormflow and baseflow runoff samples contained 9 to 19% Redfield N relative to C and P. Shifting from inorganic fertilizer application to poultry litter as a fertilizer source resulted in increased absolute C, N, and P concentrations in stormflow and baseflow runoff. Increasing rates of poultry litter application increased the Redfield P relative to Redfield C, whereas Redfield N remained relatively constant at roughly 9 to 11% in stormflow runoff from cultivated fields. This study shows how land use and management can affect C/N/P stoichiometry in stormflow and baseflow runoff., (© 2019 The Authors.)

The article reports about a study conducted by Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. Analytical chemist Purnendu Dasgupta and colleagues set out to quantify historical perchlorate production figures and asses their likely contribution to the food chain. Results of the researchers' investigation led them to the conclusion that the contribution of chilean nitrate fertilizer (CNF) perchlorate to the food chain has likely been comparable to that from oxidizer perchlorate, with natural production a lesser source. Furthermore, they also found out that perchlorate, being an anion, would not be retained by soils, which generally have a net negative charge, and would rapidly be leached from the root zone with irrigation water once the application of CNF was discontinued.

Nine small (2.5 ha) and four large (70-135 ha) watersheds were instrumented in 1999 to evaluate the effects of silvicultural practices with application of best management practices (BMPs) on stream water quality in East Texas, USA. Two management regimes were implemented in 2002: (i) conventional, with clearcutting, herbicide site preparation, and BMPs and (ii) intensive, which added subsoiling, aerial broadcast fertilization, and an additional herbicide application. Watershed effects were compared with results from a study on the same small watersheds in 1981, in which two combinations of harvesting and mechanical site preparation without BMPs or fertilization were evaluated. Clearcutting with conventional site preparation resulted in increased nitrogen losses on the small watersheds by about 1 additional kg ha(-1) each of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO(3)-N) in 2003. First-year losses were not significantly increased on the large watershed with a conventional site preparation with BMPs. Fertilization resulted in increased runoff losses in 2003 on the intensive small watersheds by an additional 0.77, 2.33, and 0.36 kg ha(-1) for NO(3)-N, TKN, and total phosphorus, respectively. Total loss rates of ammonia nitrogen (NH(4)-N) and NO(3)-N were low overall and accounted for only approximately 7% of the applied N. Mean loss rates from treated watersheds were much lower than rainfall inputs of about 5 kg ha(-1) TKN and NO(3)-N in 2003. Aerial fertilization of the 5-yr-old stand on another large watershed did not increase nutrient losses. Intensive silvicultural practices with BMPs did not significantly impair surface water quality with N and P.

The disposal of manure on agricultural land has caused water quality concerns in many rural watersheds, sometimes requiring state environmental agencies to conduct total maximum daily load (TMDL) assessments of stream nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). A best management practice (BMP) has been developed in response to a TMDL that mandates a 50% reduction of annual P load to the North Bosque River (NBR) in central Texas. This BMP exports composted dairy manure P through turfgrass sod from the NBR watershed to urban watersheds. The manure-grown sod releases P slowly and would not require additional P fertilizer for up to 20 years in the receiving watershed. This would eliminate P application to the sod and improve the water quality of urban streams. The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) was used to model a typical suburban watershed that would receive the sod grown with composted dairy manure to assess water quality changes due to this BMP. The SWAT model was calibrated to simulate historical flow and estimated sediment and nutrient loading to Mary's Creek near Fort Worth, Texas. The total P stream loading to Mary's Creek was lower when manure-grown sod was transplanted instead of sod grown with inorganic fertilizers. Flow, sediment and total N yield were the same for both cases at the watershed outlet. The SWAT simulations indicated that the turfgrass BMP can be used effectively to import manure P into an urban watershed and reduce in-stream P levels when compared to sod grown with inorganic fertilizers.