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This study focused on the gradual effect of repeated applications of sewage sludge or composted sewage sludge, and continuous irrigation with reclaimed wastewater on the H2O and CO2 effluxes from soils over a 3-year period. The net H2O and CO2 effluxes were measured at the surface of nine beds with two different soils (Cambisol and Arenosol). Both biosolids were added into the Cambisol beds every year before plants’ planting or sowing. One bed was enriched with sewage sludge and two beds with composted sewage sludge. The other two Cambisol and one Arenosol beds were irrigated with reclaimed wastewater. The remaining two Cambisol and one Arenosol beds were irrigated with tap water. In 2021, all three beds with biosolids were irrigated with tap water. In 2022 and 2023, sludge-bed and both compost-beds were irrigated with tap water and wastewater, respectively. Both biosolids positively affected the CO2 emission. While the positive effect of compost increased over time, the effect of sludge was similar every year. The higher CO2 efflux values ​​were mostly recorded for the beds irrigated with wastewater than for the beds irrigated with tap water in 2022 and 2023. However, the datapoints expressing the relationship between these treatments were more scattered than those for the biosolids versus tap water treatments. Therefore, the trendlines could not clearly demonstrate this effect. Different treatments had negligible effect on the H2O efflux except values measured in 2022 when mostly greater values were measured for beds irrigated with tap water than those for other beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to elucidate the influence of long-term ecological farming on selected soil properties by comparing results obtained in the field with continuous conventional farming (CT) and those obtained in the field where the original CT was converted into ecological farming system with no-till practice (NT) twelve years earlier. Soil water retention curves were obtained for 100 cm3 undisturbed soil samples using a pressure plate apparatus. Hydraulic conductivity and the repellency index were assessed directly in the field using a mini disk infiltrometer. The examined soil properties showed that NT mostly had a positive influence on the soil quality. The soil water retention capacity represented by the saturated soil water content of 0.32 and 0.40 cm3 cm−3 and the reciprocal of the air-entry pressure head of 0.0227 and 0.0187 cm for CT and NT, respectively, was higher in the NT field than in the CT field. The soil physical quality, represented by the slope of the soil water retention curve at the inflection point of 0.033 (CT) and 0.047 (NT), was better under NT than CT. The hydraulic conductivity at the pressure head of –2 cm was higher in the NT field (0.97 cm hr.−1) than in the CT field (0.17 cm hr.−1). On the other hand, ecological farming increased water repellency (repellency index of 6.73 and 18.91 for CT and NT, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leakage of pharmaceuticals present in soils towards groundwater is largely controlled by sorption of those compounds in soils. In some soils, soil aggregates are covered by coatings, which may have considerably different composition in comparison to that in an inner part of the aggregates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sorption of three pharmaceuticals, which were applied in single or all compounds solutions, onto soil samples taken from the Bt horizon of a Haplic Luvisol. Analyses were performed on three types of disturbed soil samples: (1) entire aggregates, (2) aggregates from which coatings were removed, and (3) clay-organic coatings. Sorption of atenolol onto material from coatings was slightly higher than that onto material from the inner parts of the aggregates. On the other hand, sorption of sulfamethoxazole onto material from the coatings was lower than that from the aggregate interior. Both associates with a dominant fraction of clay particles (that are mostly negatively charged) in the coatings in comparison to soil composition in interiors and thus larger cation exchange capacity, which increased sorption of the positively charged atenolol and decreased sorption of the negatively charged sulfamethoxazole. Sorption of carbamazepine, which was in neutral form, did not substantially differ. The sorption of all three compounds did not decrease due to the competition between these compounds for the same sorption sites when applied simultaneously. Atenolol sorption was similar for both applications. Sorption of sulfamethoxazole increased when applied in solution with the other two compounds in comparison to its negligible sorption measured for the single compound solution likely due to sorption of the positively charged molecules of atenolol onto the negatively charged surface of soil components and reduction of repulsion between the soil components and the negatively charged molecules of sulfamethoxazole. Carbamazepine sorption also increased probably due to ionization of molecules due to dipole - induced dipole interaction between non-polar and polar molecules in solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Different soil covers influence water and thermal regimes in soils within urban areas. Knowledge of these regimes is needed, particularly when assessing effectiveness of energy gathering from soils using horizontal ground heat exchangers. The goal of this study was to calibrate the model HYDRUS-1D for simulating coupled water and thermal regime in Technosol type soils with grass cover, and to use this model for predicting water and thermal regimes under different materials covering the soil surface. For this purpose soil water contents were measured at depths of 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 and 100 cm at 4 locations and temperatures were measured at depths of 20, 40, 80, 120, 150 and 180 cm at three locations (all covered by grass) from June 2011 to December 2012. In addition sensors for simultaneous measuring soil water contents and temperatures were installed under different soil covers (grass, bark chips, sand, basalt gravel and concrete paving) at a depth of 7. The parameters of soil hydraulic properties were obtained on the 100-cm 3 undisturbed soil samples using the multi-step outflow experiment and numerical inversion of the measured transient flow data using HYDRUS-1D. HYDRUS-1D was then used to simulated the water regime within the soil profile under the grass cover using climatic data from June 2011 to December 2012 and some of the soil hydraulic parameters were additionally numerically optimized using soil water contents measured at all depths. Water flow and heat transport were then simulated using these parameters, measured thermal properties and temperatures measured close to the surface applied as a top boundary condition. Simulated temperatures at all depths successfully approximated the measured data. Next, water and thermal regimes under another 4 different surface covers were simulated. Soil hydraulic properties of different materials were partly measured and partly optimized when simulating soil water regime from June 2011 to December 2012 using the soil water contents measured at the depth of 7 cm (sand, bark chips, and concrete paving) or set (basalt gravel). The greatest soil water content variability was obtained (measured at the depth of 7 cm and simulated at different depths) for grass and gradually decreased for sand, basalt gravel, bark chips and concrete paving. However, in the case of concrete paving the measured soil water contents at the depth of 7 cm could not be successfully approximated using HYDRUS-1D due to the fact that measured soil water contents reflected 3D character of water flow below the paving. The largest temperature oscillations during each day at the depth of 7 cm were measured for concrete paving (due to this large daily data oscillation measured values could not be influence by surrounding area) and decreased as follows: basalt gravel, sand, grass and bark chips. As result also temperature oscillations simulated at different depths using measured temperatures as top boundary conditions followed the same trends. The highest temperatures at different depths during the warm periods were simulated for concrete paving and decreased as daily temperature oscillations. The highest temperatures during the cold period were simulated for basalt gravel and decreased for grass, bark chips, sand and concrete paving. Thus the basalt gravel scenario appeared to be the most efficient for increasing heating systems effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Soil aggregates are in some soils and their horizons covered by organomineral coatings, which may significantly influence water and solute transfer into the aggregates. Knowledge of a coating occurrence, their structure and hydraulic properties is required for a more precise description of water flow and contaminant transport in soils. The aim of this study was to describe hydraulic properties of clay and organic matter coatings in the iluvial (Bt2) horizon of Haplic Luvisol. Sets of 30 unsorted aggregates, 24 aggregates with mostly clay coatings and 24 aggregates with clay-organic coatings, respectively, were studied to evaluate an impact of various coating composition. The coatings were removed from a half of the aggregates of each set. First, the wetting soil–water retention curve was measured on all soil aggregates. Then the capillary rise from the saturation pan into the multiple aggregates (set of 14 or 15 aggregates) without and with coatings was measured. Numerical inversion of the measured cumulative capillary rise data using the HYDRUS-1D program were applied to estimate the saturated hydraulic conductivities of the aggregates, Ks,aggr , and their coatings, Ks,coat . Results were compared with saturated hydraulic conductivities evaluated analytically using the sorptivity method, which was proposed previously. Data of the soil–water retention curves, measured on aggregates with and without coatings, did not allow distinguishing between retention curve parameters of the soil aggregates and their coatings. Therefore the same parameters were evaluated for both. Capillary rise into the soil aggregates without coatings was always faster than into the aggregates with coatings. As result the optimized saturated hydraulic conductivities, Ks,coat , of the clay and the organic matter coatings (the average values for unsorted, mostly clay and clay-organic coatings were 3.69×10−7, 2.76×10−7 and 1.81×10−7 cmmin−1, respectively) were one to two order of magnitude lower than the saturated hydraulic conductivities, Ks,aggr , of the aggregates (the average values for corresponding aggregates were 3.87×10−6, 6.52×10−6 and 1.11×10−5 cmmin−1, respectively). Slightly variable Ks,aggr (or Ks,coat ) values were obtained for different bottom pressure heads, and the lower Ks,aggr (or Ks,coat ) values were estimated from the second run of the tests compare to the first run of tests for each set of aggregates. No statistically significant differences between Ks,coat values obtained for coatings of various compositions were found. Resulting Ks,aggr values were in the range of the values obtained analytically. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Temporal changes in hydraulic properties were larger than their spatial variability. • The silt loam soil spatial variability could be explained by the sampling position. • The scaled hydraulic properties for the Chernozem area match most well. • Matching increased with increasing average n value and its decreasing variability. • Uneven wetting fronts were modeled using HYDRUS-2D with interpolated scaling factors. Extensive agricultural use of land coupled with intensive water erosion at geomorphologically diverse areas with uniform soil substrate and originally similar soils can lead to high diversity in soil types and, correspondingly, to a high spatial and temporal variability of soil properties (including soil hydraulic properties). Therefore, this study aimed to propose a procedure to characterize the variability of soil hydraulic properties of topsoils and the soil–water regime. Soil hydraulic properties were measured after sowing and harvesting at 5 sampling points of 1 elevation transect at 5 experimental areas with diverse soil types. The reference soil hydraulic properties and 3 scaling factors (related to the pressure head, α h , water content, α θ , and hydraulic conductivity, α K) were used to characterize the spatial and temporal variability of soil hydraulic properties. The best correspondence between scaled soil hydraulic curves was observed for the Chernozem area, followed by the two Haplic Cambisols areas, Leptosol area and Luvisol area. In general, matching of the scaled curves increased with a decreasing variability of n values (i.e., increasing similarity of a soil pore space geometry) and increasing average n values (e.g., for pronounced S-shape soil water retention curves). The sampling day significantly affected α h , α K , and α θ in the Chernozem area; α h and α K in the Cambisol (developed on shale) area; and α h and α θ in the Leptosol area. While values for the Chernozem area indicated an improvement in soil hydrological conditions during the vegetation period, the values for the Luvisol, Leptosol, and Cambisol (developed on shale) areas indicated aggravation. No considerable changes were observed for the Cambisol (developed on granodiorite and shale) areas. The sampling position significantly affected α θ in both the Cambisol areas. At some locations (e.g., Chernozem area), the spatial variability reflected different erosion-accumulation processes within the transect. To illustrate a practical application of the scaling factors at such locations, the scaling factors obtained for the Chernozem area were linearly interpolated within the surface layer of the theoretical vertical two-layer soil transect, and HYDRUS-2D program was used to simulate water flow in the surface 50 cm layer. The results showed a more gradual wetting front after sowing than after harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Temporal changes in hydraulic properties were slower than in chemical properties. • Organic mulches increased soil organic matter content and aggregate stability. • Physical quality of soils under organic mulches was lower than for other scenarios. • Readily available water under organic mulches was lower than for other scenarios. A long-term application of various mulch materials may lead to changes in certain soil properties, which mostly remain unreviewed. Therefore, our study focused on the mulch effect on a larger group of Haplic Fluvisol properties. The experiment was performed on 27 perennial patches covered by eight different mulch materials (bark chips, wood chips, wheat straw, cardboard, paper foil, decomposable matting, nonwoven fabric covered by bark chips, and crushed basalt) and control patches without any mulch during the 4 year period. The highest daily ranges of soil temperature were found in control patches without mulch, lower temperature ranges below foils mulches, and the lowest below organic mulches. Mulches preserved water storage in soil mainly during spring before vegetation integration and after perennials' cutting. Organic carbon content (C ox), aggregate stability, and pH mostly did not show any trends over time, except for C ox and aggregate stability from patches with bark or wood chips and wheat straw. In these cases, decomposed organic matter significantly increased both properties. On the other hand, the soil hydraulic properties (mostly due to no-till practice) considerably changed in all patches. The saturated and residual water contents, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and reciprocal of the air-entry pressure head increased. Correspondingly, the bulk density decreased. Soil water retention curves from the patches with bark or wood chips were more gradual than those from other patches, which indicates higher water retention capacity for lower pressure heads. However, the physical quality of soils under organic mulches expressed by the slope at the retention curve inflection point was lower than that for other scenarios. Readily available water under organic mulches was also lower than that for other setups. This suggests that organic mulches have largest impacts on soil conditions, which can be either favourable or adverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissipation kinetics and half-lives of selected organic micropollutants, including pharmaceuticals and others, were systematically investigated and compared among different soil types. While some pollutants (e.g., atorvastatin, valsartan, and bisphenol S) disappeared rapidly in all the tested soils, many of them (e.g., telmisartan, memantine, venlafaxine, and azithromycin) remained persistent. Irrespective of the soil characteristics, venlafaxine showed the lowest dissipation kinetics and the longest half-lives (250 to approximately 500 days) among the stable compounds. The highest first and second-order kinetics were, however, recorded for valsartan (k 1 ; 0.262 day−1) and atorvastatin (k 2 ; 33.8 g μg−1 day−1) respectively. Nevertheless, more than 90% (i.e., DT 90) of all the rapidly dissipated compounds (i.e., atorvastatin, bisphenol S, and valsartan) disappeared from the tested soils within a short timescale (i.e., 5–36 days). Dissipation of pollutants that are more susceptible to microbial degradation (e.g., atorvastatin, bisphenol S, and valsartan) seems to be slower for soils possessing the lowest microbial biomass C (C mic) and total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA total), which also found statistically significant. Our results revealing the persistence of several organic pollutants in agricultural soils, which might impact the quality of these soils, the groundwater, and eventually on the related biota, is of high environmental significance. [Display omitted] • Dissipation of 12 organic micropollutants were investigated in 3 agricultural soils. • Dissipation trends of half of them in soils has not been studied well before. • While ATO, VAL, and BPS disappeared rapidly, MEM, VEN, and AZI remained persistent. • Dissipation of 5 compounds increased with increasing microbial abundance. • Dissipation of 3 of them decreased with increasing their sorption in soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sorption of 3 pharmaceuticals, which may exist in 4 different forms depending on the solution pH (irbesartan in cationic, neutral and anionic, fexofenadine in cationic, zwitter-ionic and anionic, and citalopram cationic and neutral), in seven different soils was studied. The measured sorption isotherms were described by Freundlich equations, and the sorption coefficients, K F (for the fixed n exponent for each compound), were related to the soil properties to derive relationships for estimating the sorption coefficients from the soil properties (i.e., pedotransfer rules). The largest sorption was obtained for citalopram (average K F value for n  = 1 was 1838 cm 3  g −1 ) followed by fexofenadine ( K F  = 35.1 cm 3/n μg 1−1/n g −1 , n  = 1.19) and irbesartan ( K F  = 3.96 cm 3/n μg 1−1/n g −1 , n  = 1.10). The behavior of citalopram (CIT) in soils was different than the behaviors of irbesartan (IRB) and fexofenadine (FEX). Different trends were documented according to the correlation coefficients between the K F values for different compounds (R IRB,FEX  = 0.895, p-value<0.01; R IRB,CIT  = −0.835, p-value<0.05; R FEX,CIT  = −0.759, p-value<0.05) and by the reverse relationships between the K F values and soil properties in the pedotransfer functions. While the K F value for citalopram was positively related to base cation saturation (BCS) or sorption complex saturation (SCS) and negatively correlated to the organic carbon content (Cox), the K F values of irbesartan and fexofenadine were negatively related to BCS, SCS or the clay content and positively related to Cox. The best estimates were obtained by combining BCS and Cox for citalopram (R 2  = 93.4), SCS and Cox for irbesartan (R 2  = 96.3), and clay content and Cox for fexofenadine (R 2  = 82.9). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adequate hydrological description of water flow in permeable pavement systems relies heavily on the knowledge of the unsaturated hydraulic properties of the construction materials. Although several modeling tools and many laboratory methods already exist in the literature to determine the hydraulic properties of soils, the importance of an accurate materials hydraulic description of the permeable pavement system, is increasingly recognized in the fields of urban hydrology. Thus, the aim of this study is to propose techniques/procedures on how to interpret water flow through the construction system using the HYDRUS model. The overall analysis includes experimental and mathematical procedures for model calibration and validation to assess the suitability of the HYDRUS-2D model to interpret the hydraulic behaviour of a lab-scale permeable pavement system. The system consists of three porous materials: a wear layer of porous concrete blocks, a bedding layers of fine gravel, and a sub-base layer of coarse gravel. The water regime in this system, i.e. outflow at the bottom and water contents in the middle of the bedding layer, was monitored during ten irrigation events of various durations and intensities. The hydraulic properties of porous concrete blocks and fine gravel described by the van Genuchten functions were measured using the clay tank and the multistep outflow experiments, respectively. Coarse gravel properties were set at literature values. In addition, some of the parameters (K s of the concrete blocks layer, and α, n and K s of the bedding layer) were optimized with the HYDRUS-2D model from water fluxes and soil water contents measured during irrigation events. The measured and modeled hydrographs were compared using the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) index (varied between 0.95 and 0.99) while the coefficient of determination R 2 was used to assess the measured water content versus the modelled water content in the bedding layer ( R 2 = 0.81 ÷ 0.87 ) . The parameters were validated using the remaining sets of measurements resulting in NSE values greater than 0.90 ( 0.91 ÷ 0.99 ) and R 2 between 0.63 and 0.91. Results have confirmed the applicability of HYDRUS-2D to describe correctly the hydraulic behaviour of the lab-scale system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Peaks in colluviation dated to High and Late Middle Ages and last 70 years. • Pre-Neolithic colluviation identified at both study plots. • High energy deposition in toe-slopes, slow gradual sedimentation in side valleys. • Effective combination of luminescence dating and anthropogenic substances activity. Colluvisols represent a significant part of the erosional catena in undulating landscapes, often changed by long-term agricultural management. The present study provides a detailed description of the stratigraphy, properties and development of colluvial profiles in two geologically, climatically and historically different areas of Czechia, situated in the loess region of South Moravia and Central Bohemian Upland, built on plutonic rocks. For the first time in Czechia, colluvial profiles were dated and interpreted in terms of the history of human impact on the landscape and Holocene climatic fluctuations. Four profiles were excavated in the toe-slope and side valley areas. A multidisciplinary approach combining absolute dating by optically stimulated luminescence, assessing 137Cs activity and micromorphological, mineralogical and geochemical analysis was applied to identify the period and mode of deposition of each layer. In both areas, a predominantly rapid, event-based sedimentation with thick recently deposited layers was identified in the toe-slopes, while the side-valleys are characterized by gradual, slower and older sedimentation. Peaks of erosion activity at both plots were distinguished in the High and Late Middle Ages and the recent period since 1950. In both periods, significant changes in anthropogenic pressure on the landscape, whether due to increased population density or agricultural intensification, were identified as the main trigger. Nevertheless, significant associations were also found with climatic events in the periods in question. In both areas, colluvial layers corresponding to the pre-Neolithic period were also found, probably exclusively associated with the influence of contemporary climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on developing a method for estimating topsoil organic carbon content from measured massspecific magnetic susceptibility in Chernozems heavily affected by water erosion. The study was performed on a 100 ha area, whereby 202 soil samples were taken. A set of soil samples was divided into 3 subsets: A (32 samples), B (67 samples), and C (103 samples). The mass-specific magnetic susceptibility using low (χlf) and high (χhf) frequency, and organic carbon content were measured at all soil samples. The contents of iron and manganese, extracted with a dithionite-citrate solution (Fed, Mnd) and ammonium oxalate (Feo, Mno), were quantified in A and B samples. Models for predicting organic carbon content from magnetic susceptibilities were designed as follows: (1) subset A was used as the training set for calibration, and subsets B and C were used as the test sets for model validation, either separately (subset B only), or together (merged subsets B and C); (2) merged subsets A and B were used as the training set and subset C was used as the test set. Results showed very close correlations between organic carbon content and all measured soil properties. Obtained models relating organic carbon content to mass-specific magnetic susceptibility successfully predicted soil organic carbon contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals in the environment is recognized as a potential threat. Pharmaceuticals have the potential to contaminate soils and consequently surface and groundwater. Knowledge of contaminant behavior (e.g., sorption onto soil particles and degradation) is essential when assessing contaminant migration in the soil and groundwater environment. We evaluated the dissipation half-lives of 7 pharmaceuticals in 13 soils. The data were evaluated relative to the soil properties and the Freundlich sorption coefficients reported in our previous study. Of the tested pharmaceuticals, carbamazepine had the greatest persistence (which was mostly stable), followed by clarithromycin, trimethoprim, metoprolol, clindamycin, sulfamethoxazole and atenolol. Pharmaceutical persistence in soils was mostly dependent on the soil-type conditions. In general, lower average dissipation half-lives and variability (i.e., trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, metoprolol and atenolol) were found in soils of better quality (well-developed structure, high nutrition content etc.), and thus, probably better microbial conditions (i.e., Chernozems), than in lower quality soil (Cambisols). The impact of the compound sorption affinity onto soil particles on their dissipation rate was mostly negligible. Although there was a positive correlation between compound dissipation half-life and Freundlich sorption coefficient for clindamycin (R = 0.604, p < 0.05) and sulfamethoxazole (R = 0.822, p < 0.01), the half-life of sulfamethoxazole also decreased under better soil-type conditions. Based on the calculated dissipation and sorption data, carbamazepine would be expected to have the greatest potential to migrate in the soil water environment, followed by sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and metoprolol. The transport of clindamycin, clarithromycin and atenolol through the vadose zone seems less probable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of soil structure is crucial for providing most of the essential functions of soil. In our previous research in a region of Chernozem soil, multiple linear regression analysis showed that soil aggregate stability within this morphologically diverse study area could be predicted using the soil organic matter content and one of the terrain attributes. Therefore, this present study aims to determine if a similar procedure can be applied to areas of different soil types, namely a Haplic Luvisol, two Haplic Cambisols, and a Calcaric Leptosol. Basic soil properties such as the organic carbon (C ox) content, Fe content, Mn content, CaCO 3 content, pH, magnetic susceptibility, bulk density (ρ z), electrical conductivity, and water-stable aggregate (WSA) index were measured, and terrain attributes were derived using a system for automated geoscientific analyses and a digital elevation model. It was found that it was not possible to propose similar predictive models for all locations. The models included different combinations of the C ox content, CaCO 3 content, Fe content, ρ z , and various terrain attributes. The C ox content was the main parameter that positively affected the WSA index values in the areas of Luvisol and Leptosol soils. Magnetic susceptibility was the main parameter that positively correlated with the WSA index in the two areas of Cambisols, and in one Cambisol area, the WSA index was also positively correlated with the ratio between amorphous and crystalline Fe forms. Negative impacts were observed for ρ z (Luvisol and one Cambisol) and the CaCO 3 content (Leptosol). From the terrain attributes, slope was mostly included in the predictive models. The other attributes were the catchment slope and profile curvature. The best model prediction assessed based on the coefficient of determination was found for the Leptosol area (R2 =0.69), followed by the Luvisol are (R2 =0.60) and both Cambisol areas (R2 =0.52, respectively 0.33). [Display omitted] • Aggregate stability was affected by C and Fe distributions and terrain. • Organic matter mainly controlled aggregate stability in Luvisol and Leptosol soils. • Magnetic susceptibility was an indicator of aggregate stability in Cambisols. • Slope was the main terrain attribute correlated with WSA (aggregate stability). • It was not possible to find similar WSA predictive models for all soil types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals in soils and consequent ground-water contamination are influenced by many factors, including compound sorption on soil particles. Here we evaluate the sorption isotherms for 7 pharmaceuticals on 13 soils, described by Freundlich equations, and assess the impact of soil properties on various pharmaceuticals' sorption on soils. Sorption of ionizable pharmaceuticals was, in many cases, highly affected by soil pH. The sorption coefficient of sulfamethoxazole was negatively correlated to soil pH, and thus positively related to hydrolytic acidity and exchangeable acidity. Sorption coefficients for clindamycin and clarithromycin were positively related to soil pH and thus negatively related to hydrolytic acidity and exchangeable acidity, and positively related to base cation saturation. The sorption coefficients for the remaining pharmaceuticals (trimethoprim, metoprolol, atenolol, and carbamazepine) were also positively correlated with the base cation saturation and cation exchange capacity. Positive correlations between sorption coefficients and clay content were found for clindamycin, clarithromycin, atenolol, and metoprolol. Positive correlations between sorption coefficients and organic carbon content were obtained for trimethoprim and carbamazepine. Pedotransfer rules for predicting sorption coefficients of various pharmaceuticals included hydrolytic acidity (sulfamethoxazole), organic carbon content (trimethoprimand carbamazepine), base cation saturation (atenolol and metoprolol), exchangeable acidity and clay content (clindamycin), and soil active pH and clay content (clarithromycin). Pedotransfer rules, predicting the Freundlich sorption coefficients, could be applied for prediction of pharmaceutical mobility in soils with similar soil properties. Predicted sorption coefficients together with pharmaceutical half-lives and other imputes (e.g., soil-hydraulic, geological, hydro-geological, climatic) may be used for assessing potential ground-water contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil pollution from emerging contaminants poses a significant threat to water resources management and food production. The development of numerical models to describe the reactive transport of chemicals in both soil and plant is of paramount importance to elaborate mitigation strategies. To this aim, in the present study, a multiscale biophysical model is developed to predict the fate of ionizable compound in the soil-plant continuum. The modeling framework connects a multi-organelles model to describe processes at the cell level with a semi-mechanistic soil-plant model, which includes the widely used Richards-based solver, HYDRUS. A Bayesian probabilistic framework is used to calibrate and assess the capability of the model in reproducing the observations from an experiment on the translocation of five pharmaceuticals in green pea plants. Results show satisfactory fitting performance and limited predictive uncertainty. The subsequent validation with the cell model indicates that the estimated soil-plant parameters preserve a physically realistic meaning, and their calibrated values are comparable with the existing literature values, thus confirming the overall reliability of the analysis. Model results further suggest that pH conditions in both soil and xylem play a crucial role in the uptake and translocation of ionizable compounds. [Display omitted] • A multi-scale soil-plant model for ionizable compounds is developed. • Model performance are assessed against observations from five pharmaceuticals. • Model predictions in soil and plants are satisfactory. • Estimated parameters conserve a mechanistic meaning. • Soil and xylem pH play a crucial role in chemicals' uptake and transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine in greenhouse experiments seed emergence of 14 lucerne varieties (mostly of the Czech origin) under different soil conditions (Luvisol, Chernozem and Cambisol). Soil conditions significantly influenced seed emergence in seven varieties. Their seed emergence was lower in Cambisol (72%) than in Chernozem (80%) and Luvisol (91%). In other varieties the soil effect was not significant. The effect of variety could not be separated from the effect of seed lot in our experiment. However, germination, occurrence of hard seeds, germinative energy and thousand-seed weight were not significantly different between the groups of varieties that could be classified as sensitive and tolerant to the examined soil conditions. The obtained results indicated that the selection of suitable lucerne variety or seed lot could be a tool for improving emergence in deteriorated soil conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals may enter soils due to the application of treated wastewater or biosolids. Their leakage from soils towards the groundwater, and their uptake by plants is largely controlled by sorption and degradation of those compounds in soils. Standard laboratory batch degradation and sorption experiments were performed using soil samples obtained from the top horizons of seven different soil types and 6 pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, irbesartan, fexofenadine, clindamycin and sulfamethoxazole), which were applied either as single-solute solutions or as mixtures (not for sorption). The highest dissipation half-lives were observed for citalopram (average DT 50,S for a single compound of 152 ± 53.5 days) followed by carbamazepine (106.0 ± 17.5 days), irbesartan (24.4 ± 3.5 days), fexofenadine (23.5 ± 20.9 days), clindamycin (10.8 ± 4.2 days) and sulfamethoxazole (9.6 ± 2.0 days). The simultaneous application of all compounds increased the half-lives (DT 50,M) of all compounds (particularly carbamazepine, citalopram, fexofenadine and irbesartan), which is likely explained by the negative impact of antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole and clindamycin) on soil microbial community. However, this trend was not consistent in all soils. In several cases, the DT 50,S values were even higher than the DT 50,M values. Principal component analyses showed that while knowledge of basic soil properties determines grouping of soils according sorption behavior, knowledge of the microbial community structure could be used to group soils according to the dissipation behavior of tested compounds in these soils. The derived multiple linear regression models for estimating dissipation half-lives (DT 50,S) for citalopram, clindamycin, fexofenadine, irbesartan and sulfamethoxazole always included at least one microbial factor (either amount of phosphorus in microbial biomass or microbial biomarkers derived from phospholipid fatty acids) that deceased half-lives (i.e., enhanced dissipations). Equations for citalopram, clindamycin, fexofenadine and sulfamethoxazole included the Freundlich sorption coefficient, which likely increased half-lives (i.e., prolonged dissipations). Unlabelled Image • Soils groups according to basic soils properties and sorption of compounds matched. • Soils groups according to microbial community structure and half-lives corresponded. • Half-lives could be predicted using one microbial criterion and sorption coefficient. • Simultaneous application of all compounds mostly reduced their dissipation in soils. • The average increase in multiple-solute half-lives varied between 7 and 39%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorption of pharmaceuticals, which can occur in soils, may differ when present in a soil solution as a single compound or in a solution with other pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the sorption isotherms described by the Freundlich equations were evaluated for 6 compounds, which were applied in solutions of a single pharmaceutical, two pharmaceuticals or all pharmaceuticals to seven soils. Study mainly focused on a behavior of fexofenadine and irbesartan that occurred in soils in 3 forms (cationic, zwitter-ionic or neutral, anionic). Sorption of both compounds slightly increased (in some soils) when applied together, largely increased when applied with carbamazepine (neutral), and extremely increased when applied in solutions with citalopram (strongly sorbed cation), which could be explained by a cooperative multilayer sorption on soil constituents. On the other hand, sorption of both compounds moderately decreased when applied with clindamycin (cation and neutral) or sulfamethoxazole (neutral or anion). The magnitude of an increase or decrease in the Freundlich sorption coefficient (K F) for a particular compound depended on soil conditions, a form of compound's molecule and its interaction with molecules of other compounds. Despite sorption being influenced by other compound(s) in solution, the K F coefficients evaluated for a particular compound under the different conditions were mostly correlated with the same soil properties: K F,CAR with an organic carbon content, K F,CIT and K F,CLI with a base cation saturation, K F,SUL with hydrolytic acidity, and K F,FEX and K F,IRB with sorption complex saturation. • Changes of Freudlich sorption coefficient K F depended on combination of compounds. • K F for fexofenadine or irbesartan decreased by adding clindamycin or sulfamethoxazole. • K F for both increased when applied together or with carbamazepine or citalopram. • Similar trends in changes of K F were observed for soils of the similar substrates. • K F of a specific compound from all scenarios correlated always with the same property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants, which may contain various contaminants including pharmaceuticals, is often used as a soil amendment. These contaminants may subsequently be taken up by plants. In the present study we examined uptake of select pharmaceuticals from sewage sludge applied to soils by spinach plants. Seven soils were amended with sewage sludge from two wastewater treatment plants (A and B). Concentrations of compounds in plant tissues (roots and leaves) of spinach planted 45 days in these soils under greenhouse conditions were evaluated after harvest. The largest bioaccumulation in the roots and leaves was observed for sertraline (bioaccumulation factors (BAF) of 3.3–37.9 and 1–13.4, respectively), tramadol (1.3–10.0 and 4.8–30.0), and carbamazepine (2.2–17.2 and 6.1–48.8) and its metabolite carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide (not-quantified to 7.3 and 9.3–96.7). Elevated bioaccumulation in spinach roots was also identified for telmisartan (3.0–20.3) and miconazole (4.3–15.1), and leaves for metoprolol acid (not-quantified to 24.3). BAF values resulting from application of sludge B were similar to or moderately higher than BAFs from sludge A. The BAF values of carbamazepine and carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide in all tissues were negatively correlated with soil cation exchange capacity (CEC). This negative correlation between BAF and CEC was also observed for tramadol (A-roots and B-leaves), citalopram (B-roots), and telmisartan (B-roots) or between BAF and clay content for metoprolol acid (A-leaves and B-roots), tramadol (B-roots and A-leaves) and venlafaxine (B-roots). However, in the case of some other compounds (i.e. sertraline, amitriptyline, mirtazapine, metoprolol), uptake and the subsequent translocation and transformation from 3 soils of a higher pH and base cation saturation (Stagnic Chernozem Siltic, Haplic Chernozem and Greyic Phaeozem) significantly differed from 4 soils with a lower pH and base cation saturation (Haplic Luvisol, Haplic Cambisol, Dystric Cambisol and Arenosol Epieutric). Such observations proved strong compound dependent influences of soil conditions on various compounds bioaccumulations in plants and necessity of studying these processes always in diverse soils. Image 1 • Carbamazepine and its metabolites were greatly accumulated in spinach leaves. • Dominant fraction of sertraline was found in leaves from soils of high pH and BCS. • Fractions of telmisartan and sertraline prevailed in spinach roots. • The bioaccumulation factors of some compounds were negatively related to CEC. • Greater BAF was observed for sludge with higher compound load and lower salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]