ALBERT

Description: Authors: Ma, Xian-Li / Li, Fang-Yao / Duan, Wen-Gui / Liao, Jing-Ni / Lin, Zhi-duo / Lin, Gui-Shan / Cen, Bo / Lei, Fu-Hou

Description: Authors: Kangas, Heli / Liitiä, Tiina / Rovio, Stella / Ohra-aho, Taina / Heikkinen, Harri / Tamminen, Tarja / Poppius-Levlin, Kristiina

Description: Authors: Xue, Wei / Kennepohl, Pierre / Ruddick, John N.R.

Description: Authors: Ho, Shang-Tse / Tung, Yu-Tang / Wu, Yu-Jung / Lin, Chi-Chen / Wu, Jyh-Horng

Description: Authors: Huang, Kuan-Feng / Lee, Yi-Ru / Tseng, Yen-Hsueh / Wang, Sheng-Yang / Chu, Fang-Hua

Description: Authors: Gellerstedt, Göran

Description: The objective of the study was the estimation of decade variation of water content in layers with thickness of 0–10, 0–20, 0–40 and 0–60 cm of a bare light brown soil in the summer half-year (May–October) in the 10-year period of 2003–2012 against the background of agro-meteorological conditions. The study was based on results of measurement of the moisture of a bare soil with the use of the TDR method, sums of atmospheric precipitations and ground water levels, conducted in the area of the Agro- and Hydrometeorology Observatory of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, situated in Wrocław-Swojec. The analyses revealed slight variation of mean decade values of water content in the bare soil in the summer half-year during the ten-year period under analysis. Irrespective of the thickness of the soil layer, precipitation in the 10-year period of 2003–2012 had a highly significant effect on the water content in the 2nd decade of July. In the case of soil layers with thickness down to 0–20 cm a statistically significant relation between soil water content and ground water levels was noted for the 3rd decade of May, July, and in the 3rd decade of September. In the layer with thickness of 0–60 cm the relations were statistically significant almost throughout the summer half-year, with the exception of the 1st and 2nd decades of May. Analysis of trends of mean water content of the bare soil over the 10-year period of 2003–2012 indicated their statistically significant increase in the case of most of the decades of the summer half-year only in soil layers with thickness of 0–10 and 0–20 cm.

Description: Applying models to interpret soil, water and plant relationships under different conditions enable us to study different management scenarios and then to determine the optimum option. The aim of this study was using Water and Agrochemicals in the soil, crop and Vadose Environment (WAVE) model to predict water content, nitrogen balance and its components over a corn crop season under both conventional tillage (CT) and direct seeding into mulch (DSM). In this study a corn crop was cultivated at the Irstea experimental station in Montpellier, France under both CT and DSM. Model input data were weather data, nitrogen content in both the soil and mulch at the beginning of the season, the amounts and the dates of irrigation and nitrogen application. The results show an appropriate agreement between measured and model simulations (nRMSE 〈 10%). Using model outputs, nitrogen balance and its components were compared with measured data in both systems. The amount of N leaching in validation period were 10 and 8 kgha–1 in CT and DSM plots, respectively; therefore, these results showed better performance of DSM in comparison with CT. Simulated nitrogen leaching from CT and DSM can help us to assess groundwater pollution risk caused by these two systems.

Description: The water pollution in areas with intensive agriculture is growing rapidly. Computer model is a tool which can help in finding solutions for water pollution reduction and help in creation of catchment management plans. In this research the SWAT model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) was used to test the influence of introduction of permanent grasslands into the catchment on nitrate nitrogen load in surface water. Small catchment of upper Zgłowi?czka River in central Poland with intensive agriculture was chosen as a test site. Model was fed with data about land use, soils, weather, elevation and management practices and calibrated and validated using flow data and nitrate nitrogen loads data. Then 2 scenarios with land use change were tested. A part of arable land was changed into permanent grasslands. The results show that permanent grasslands are effective in reducing nitrate nitrogen load. The load was reduced by 19% when permanent grasslands constituted 10% of arable land and by 38% with permanent grasslands taking up 20% of arable land.

Description: Bearing capacity of cohesive soils was calculated based on PN-B-03020:1981P and Eurocode 7. Strength parameters of cohesive soil modified by the authors: shear strength in undrained conditions cu, effective cohesion c' and effective friction angle φ' were adopted for calculations acc. to Eurocode 7. Values of these parameters depend on a leading parameter - liquidity index IL. Bearing capacity was calculated for two pad foundations of a size B × L = 2.0 × 3.0 m and 1.5 × 2.0 m and for one 2.0 × 14.0 m strip foundation. The capacity calculated acc. to EC 7 was reduced by multiplying by a factor α = 0.87 to account for different bearing capacity coefficients in Polish Norms and Eurocodes. Performed calculations showed comparable bearing capacity of substratum irrespective of adopted norms EC 7 and PN for foundation pads. In all analysed cases, however, the bearing capacity of foundation strips calculated acc. to Eurocode 7 was higher than those calculated acc. to PN-B-03020:1981P. The reason is in the values and ways of accounting partial security coefficients and in differences in the values of shape coefficients used in the equation for ultimate bearing resistance of soil substratum.

Description: The paper presents the evaluation of the relation between meteorological elements and air pollutants’ concentrations. The analysis includes daily concentrations of pollutants and variation of meteorological elements such as wind speed, air temperature and relative humidity, precipitation and total radiation at four monitoring stations located in the province of Lower Silesia in individual months of the winter half-year (November–April, according to hydrological year classification) of 2005–2009. Data on air quality and meteorological elements came from the results of research conducted in the automatic net of air pollution monitoring conducted in the range of the State Environment Monitoring. The effect of meteorological elements on analysed pollutant concentration was determined using the correlation and regression analysis at significance level α 〈 0.05. The occurrence of maximum concentration of NO, NO2, NOX, SO2 and PM10 occurred in the coldest months during winter season (January, February and December) confirmed the strong influence of “low emission” on air quality. Among the meteorological factors assessed wind speed was most often selected component in step wise regression procedure, then air temperature, less air relative humidity and solar radiation. In the case of a larger number of variables describing the pollution in the atmosphere, in all analyzed winter seasons the most common set of meteorological elements were wind speed and air temperature.

Description: The paper presents results of studies on seasonal variability of ground water tables recorded in long-term observations of water levels in the Puszcza Zielonka forest complex. The Puszcza Zielonka Forest is located in the middle part of the Warta basin in the central part of the Wielkopolska region. Its western boundary is located approx. 6 km north-east of Poznań. The area is situated in the western part of the Wielkopolska-Mazovian climatic region. The natural landscape is of young glacial type of Pleistocene and Holocene formation. For this reason parent materials for soils in this area were mainly postglacial drifts, deposits coming from the Poznań stage of the Würm glaciation. In terms of granulometric composition these were mainly low clayey sands deposited on loose sands with an admixture of gravel and eroded sandy clay. Scots pine is the dominant species. Oaks, alders, larches and scarce spruces are also found in this area. Predominant sites include fresh mixed forest, fresh mixed coniferous forest, fresh broadleaved forest and alder swamp forest. Seasonal variability in groundwater levels depends mainly on abiotic factors. Characteristics of stands have only a modifying effect on the dynamics of changes in groundwaters. Slightly greater fluctuations in water levels were recorded in the fresh broadleaved forest site in comparison to the alder swamp forest. There are no marked dependencies of fluctuations in groundwater tables on age classes of the tree stands. Generally a negative correlation was found between variability in groundwater levels and the depth of its table below ground surface (b.g.s.). However, in the conducted studies the hypothesis on the marked delay in the variability of groundwater levels between sites, tree species, age of tree stands or depth of ground water tables was not confirmed.

Description: The paper discusses seepage flow under a damming structure (a weir) in view of mechanical clogging in a thin layer at the upstream site. It was assumed that in this layer flow may be treated as one-dimensional (perpendicular to the layer), while elsewhere flow was modelled as two-dimensional. The solution in both zones was obtained in the discrete form using the finite element method and the Euler method. The effect of the clogging layer on seepage flow was modelled using the third kind boundary condition. Seepage parameters in the clogging layer were estimated based on laboratory tests conducted by Skolasińska [2006]. Typical problem was taken to provide simulation and indicate how clogging affects the seepage rate and other parameters of the flow. Results showed that clogging at the upstream site has a significant effect on the distribution of seepage velocity and hydraulic gradients. The flow underneath the structure decreases with time, but these changes are relatively slow.

Description: The aim of this study was to assess the degree of silting and pollution of bottom sediments in a small water reservoir Lubianka situated in Starachowice, Świętokrzyskie Province, with selected heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mn, Hg). Catchment basin of the reservoir is forested in 92%. Other parts are covered by estates of detached houses, barren lands and green areas. Bathymetric measurements and analyses of trace elements in bottom sediments were made in 2012. After 28 years of exploitation, reservoir's basin accumulated 43 thousand cubic metres of sediments i.e. 4.7% of its initial volume. Mean annual silting rate was 0.17%. Due to the content of copper and chromium, bottom sediments were classified to the II category (sediments of average pollution) according to geochemical standards. Concentrations of Pb, Cd and Hg in all analysed samples were below geochemical background. In a sample collected at the inlet to the reservoir, the TEL index for chromium was exceeded by 25.6%. In other samples the threshold values of the TEL and PEL indices were not exceeded.

Description: Since 1960`s in Poland a phrase „small retention” has been used although it has been unknown in other countries. “Small retention” means various forms of human activity aiming towards limiting the fast water runoff after snow melting and heavy rains. It is believed that water that has been retained in periods of its excess can supply water courses during summer. It can also be used for agricultural purposes as it increases water availability for crops and improves biodiversity of rural areas. Many different methods of water retention have been defined. Among others, increase of potential retention of surface waters can be achieved by construction of reservoirs or damming on rivers and lakes. Ground water retention capacity can be improved by increasing recharge of aquifers and improvement of soil structure in the aeration zone. Due to the form and way of implementation of small retention measures they can be divided into technical and non-technical measures. In other words, small retention can be defined as a set of measures aiming towards reconstruction of natural retention in the catchment that has been modified or destroyed by human activity. In this paper, it has been stressed that activities and tasks undertaken in Europe in recent years under phrase “increase of natural retention” can be covered by the definition of small retention.

Description: The study was carried out to determine the floristic diversity in the Sajna River valley, in the region of direct and indirect impact of the hydroelectric power station planned to be built in the village of Sarkajmy. Phytosociological diversity of plant communities and floristic diversity were analysed taking into account the predicted influence of the planned power station on the Sajna River. The study was performed in 2010 using field methods and GIS localisation of analysed sites. 73 phytosociological surveys were made and particular floristic patches were identified. Global Positioning System (GPS) surveys were used to delimit the different plant communities and spot the sites of protected plant species. Thirteen plant communities were identified in the study area, five of which are of European importance that require protection within Natura 2000 sites. This group of plant communities comprises four forest plant communities (Salicetum albo-fragilis, Ficario-Ulmetum, Tilio-Carpinetum, Acer platanoides-Tilia cordata) and one herbaceous community (Urtico-Calystegietum). One species under strict protection (Daphne mezereum L.) and five species under partial protection (Viburnum opulus L., Ribes nigrum L., Asarum europaeum L., Eurhynchium angustirete (Broth.) T.J.Kop., Eurhynchium striatum (Schreb. ex Hedw.) Schimp.) were noted. The presence of valuable natural habitats and protected species in the Sajna River valley indicates the natural potential of the area and illustrates its biological diversity. The studied area is threatened by negative impact of the hydroelectric power station planned to be built on the Sajna River, since water damming will flood the river terrace that will lead to the formation of a 7.25 ha pond of.

Description: The paper presents the prediction of rainfall shortage and excess in Bydgoszcz region in the growing seasons (April-September) in 2011-2050 in the perspective of climate change. Based on the predicted monthly sum of precipitations for the percentile 50%, calculated by the regional climate model RM5.1 for Poland with boundary values taken from global model ARPEGE, a decrease in the amount of rainfall during the growing season by approximately 55 mm is predicted, compared to 1971-2000 taken as a reference period. The qualification of rainfall shortage and excess was made using the standardised precipitation index (SPI). According to the predicted values of SPI, the occurrence of 38 months of rainfall excess and 40 months of rainfall deficit in the period 2011-2050 is predicted. Dry months will constitute 16% of all months, wet months - 13%, and normal months - 71%. The occurrence of 13 several-month long periods of rainfall excess and 14 such periods of drought are predicted. The longest periods of both wet and dry weather will last 5 months. So long wet periods are expected in 2020, 2022 and 2031, and drought periods in 2017-2018, 2023-2024 and from 2046 to 2049.

Description: Mulches have extraordinary potential in reducing surface runoff, increasing infiltration of water into the soil and decreasing soil erosion. The straw mulches as a biological material, has the ability to be a significant physical barrier against the impact of raindrops and reduce the detachment of soil aggregates. The present study is an attempt to determine the efficiency of straw mulch as conservation treatment in changes in the splash erosion, time-to-runoff, runoff coefficient, infiltration coefficient, time-to-drainage, drainage coefficient, sediment concentration and soil loss. The laboratory experiments have been conducted for sandy-loam soil taken from deforested area, about 15 km of Warsaw west, Poland under lab conditions with simulated rainfall intensities of 60 and 120 mmh–1, in 4 soil moistures of 12, 25, 33 and 40% and the slope of 9%. Compared with bare treatments, results of straw mulch application showed the significant conservation effects on splash erosion, runoff coefficient, sediment concentration and soil loss and significant enhancement effects on infiltration and drainage. The results of Spearman-Rho correlation showed the significant (p 〈 0.05) correlation with r = –0.873, 0.873, 0.878 and 0.764 between rainfall intensity and drainage coefficient, downstream splash, sediment concentration and soil loss and with r = –0.976, 0.927 and –0.927 between initial soil moisture content and time-to-runoff, runoff coefficient and infiltration coefficient, respectively.

Description: The sediment transport in rivers in Algeria is very high. However, it is poorly quantified in some wadis because of the absence and the shortage of data especially the concentration of fine particles and also the unavailability of gauging stations. To fill this gap, a technique for estimating sediment yield, based on data recorded at the gauging station has been developed. The estimation of suspended sediment yield was conducted by a statistical analysis with double correlation on average daily flow and solid concentrations. The results obtained by applying this model to the watershed Chellif are very encouraging because the correlation coefficients of the found models are between 61% and 91% for the first correlation and between 86% and 97% for the second correlation. The estimated quantity of suspended sediment load is between 2.35 and 4.12 million tonnes per year, it appears important; This is due to the vulnerability of the Chellif basin facing erosion, the importance of its area and the importance of fluid flows in wadi Cheliff and its torrential regime. Mention here some of the results and their significance to the study.

Description: In our country the data related to the flow volume in the watercourses is recorded in three database systems: water-gauge, limnigraph and telemetric (digital) one. In each of those systems the flow value is presented in a different way. The aim of this publication is to present how the non-compliance of the meaning and substantive difference of water-gauge data and limnigraph data influences on the example of 7 hypothetical floods determined by the Cracow method. Cracow method was initially known as Cracow Technical University Method. The received results show that the limnigraph data does not effect significantly the parameters of the hypothetical floods. In absence of the data from the telemetric system, such analysis has not be done.

Description: Small, astatic ponds are important features of post-glacial landscape, which support heterogeneity and biodiversity of agricultural areas. In the presented research we explored differences in hydrochemistry and plant cover of 20 small ponds located in Northeastern Poland, characterized by diverse age and developed in differently managed areas. According to our research, though changes in water level are under direct influence of water balance in the catchment, to which belonged the ponds, their hydrochemistry seemed to be shaped by processes at the level lower than the catchment scale. Age of the ponds appeared to be an important factor influencing density and species composition of vegetation developed on the studied ponds.

Description: The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of selected small water retention measures on surface and groundwater level in river basins. The study was limited to the analysis of measures like small water reservoirs, restoration of bogs and reconstruction of drainage systems in the river valleys. A few study cases were described. Dutch SIMGRO numerical model describing the regional surface water and groundwater flow has been used for simulation modelling of different cases. The result of the study has shown that small retention measures are a good and effective method to increase the ability to retain water in the small river basins. Construction of small water reservoirs and weirs on ditches and creeks and restoration of drained bogs can limit the fast outflow of precipitation and melting water from the catchment. The study has proved that the small water retention measures can be helpful for flood protection and in decreasing of drought threats in small river basins.

Description: The paper presents the results of using two models: a conceptual model of Wackermann and a NRCS-UH synthetic unit hydrograph, for flow calculation in uncontrolled catchment of the Słonka, Poland. These models were chosen because of simplicity of models’ parameters evaluation, what is important from engineering calculation point of view. Flows with the probability of exceed amounting to 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 50% and for different levels of the catchment moisture were evaluated. The flood waves generated in the Wackermann model were characterized by a short duration (over 2 hours), shorter concentration time (about 1 hour), and by about 70% higher peak flow values than those generated using the NRCS-UH method. A common feature of both methods were higher values of peak flows for the third level of the catchment moisture, as compared to the second level. It is also worth noticing that in both methods no flood wave was generated for the probabilities of 10, 20 and 50% and for the second level of the catchment moisture. It was assumed that hydrographs made with use Wackermann model better describe flood wave in mountain river, which Słonka is.

Description: Mountainous regions in Iran are important sources of surface water supply and groundwater recharge. Therefore, accurate simulation of hydrologic processes in mountains at large scales is important for water resource management and for watershed management planning. Snow hydrology is the more important hydrologic process in mountainous watersheds. Therefore, streamflow simulation in mountainous watersheds is often challenging because of irregular topography and complex hydrological processes. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model daily runoff in the Taleghan mountainous watershed (800.5 km2) in west of Tehran, Iran. Most of the precipitation in the study area takes place as snow, therefore, modeling daily streamflow in this river is very complex and with large uncertainty. Model calibration was performed with Particle Swarm Optimization. The main input data for simulation of SWAT including Digital Elevation Model (DEM), land use, soil type and soil properties, and hydro-climatological data, were appropriately collected. Model performance was evaluated both visually and statistically where a good relation between observed and simulated discharge was found. The results showed that the coefficient of determination R2 and the Nash- Sutcliffe coefficient NS values were 0.80 and 0.78, respectively. The calibrated model was most sensitive to snowmelt parameters and CN2 (Curve Number). Results indicated that SWAT can provide reasonable predictions daily streamflow from Taleghan watersheds.

Description: Electrical conductivity and pH are the basic indices of rainfall pollution, constituting the basis for evaluation of the general nature of rainwater. This article presents an analysis of these two parameters in samples of rainfall collected in the years 2008-2010 (in the heating season and outside it) in three measurement sites P1, P2 and P3, located in the city and commune Strzelin (Lower Silesian Voivodeship). Preliminary results show a high variation of pH and electrical conductivity of rainfall occurring in the analysed area. Approximately 30% of the samples were characterised by a pH that allowed to qualify them, according to JANSEN et al. [1988], as normal rainfall. A similar share in all the collected samples represented rainfall of pH 〈 5.1 that was classified as slightly, considerably and highly acidic. The problem of acid rain occurred in the analysed area mainly during the heating season, when rainfall of pH 〈 5.1 accounted for a considerable share in all rainfall samples collected in the said period. The electrical conductivity of most samples fell below 60 μS·cm-1, which allowed us to classify them as slightly polluted rainfall (site P2), considerably polluted (site P3) and highly polluted (site P1).

Description: The study analyses possibilities of PHA (Preliminary Hazard Analysis) usage in ecological risk assessment conducted within technical risk assessment. The analysis was performed based on results obtained in a study performed between 2007 and 2013 in natural and modified lowland Lower Silesian watercourses. The object of the study was communities of hydromacrophytes being good indicators of the water ecosystem quality. The research constituted a base for the determination of ecological risk factors i.e. the probability of hazard occurrence and its effects. It allowed for the acquisition of the risk classification matrix which included three levels - low, medium and high.

Description: The study was aimed at assessing the role of Lake Symsar in the reduction of phosphorus delivered mainly by the Symsarna River. Studies were carried out since March 2011 till October 2013 in the catchment basin of Lake Symsar situated in north-eastern Poland. Every month surface water samples representative for the catchment were taken for phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P) and total phosphorus (TP) analyses. Obtained results were analysed with the distinction of vegetative and non-vegetative season. Lake Symsar is the last water body in the Symsarna River system. The river divides the lake into main basin and a bay part. Concentrations of PO4-P were higher by 17% in the former than in the latter part, TP concentrations showed reverse proportions. The highest concentrations of TP were noted in a forest stream and the highest concentrations of PO4-P in the Tolknicka Struga. Reduced concentrations of both P forms were found in waters of the Symsarna River downstream its outflow from the lake. With respect to the concentrations of PO4-P and TP, waters of the Symsarna River up- and downstream the lake were ascribed to the 1st class of water quality. Through-flow Lake Symsar improves the quality of waters (the Symsarna River and smaller streams) draining agricultural catchment by the reduction of concentrations of phosphorus compounds.

Description: The objective of this work was to analyse and establish the criteria for the course of the elevation boundaries applied in delimiting of less favoured areas (LFA) under mountain and foothill conditions. This aim was achieved by verifying of the structural data on land use in relation to an altitude a.s.l. Based on the information collected on the areas in the particular land categories, and in order to assess land use, a database was created for 99 mountain communes (NUTS-5). The regulation by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (2009) distinguishes the areas of less favourable farming (LFA, mountain), where over 50% of the agricultural land (AL) is located above an altitude of 500 m a.s.l. Previous studies have shown that the adopted limit of the average elevation for mountain LFA is too restrictive for the Polish conditions and needs correction. This is particularly clear in the case of agricultural land elevated above sea level. Support for rural development is necessary because the economic importance of agriculture in the Polish mountain and foothill regions is decreasing, and these areas are characterized by a considerably limited land use, under conditions of higher production costs. This is to do with terrain elevation a.s.l. and with the presence of large areas of significant land slopes, making it too to use normal equipment.

Description: The finalisation of the construction of the Malczyce barrage is planned for 2015. Damming of the river will cause a change in the water and ground conditions in the adjoining areas. The paper analyses the influence of the water level in the Oder River dammed by the barrage on groundwater table level in the left bank valley. A model which allows the prediction of groundwater levels depending on the assumed water level in the Oder was constructed. The analysis was conducted for three different variants: for the initial stage before damming the Oder River and for the conditions after damming the water up with and without the drainage devices included in the project. The calculations were done in several chosen transects across the river valley. The mathematical model of flow in the aquifer based on the Richards equation was applied. The results of calculations were presented as the spatial distribution of piezometric pressures which were used to determine the groundwater table for each of the transects. The calculation results from the vertical models were transposed into a horizontal model. The comparison of appropriate results allowed to positively verify the designed model and to analyse the effectiveness of the realised project solutions.

Description: The paper presents results of a study on changes of water resources under the common osier (Salix vimina-lis L.) crop in relation to local weather conditions. Field studies were carried out since April till October of the years 2008 and 2010 in a productive field of energetic osier situated in north-eastern part of Bydgoszcz County. The study involved measurements of moisture in 100 cm soil profiles in the osier field of annual regrowth every ten days. The common osier was grown on mineral soil where atmospheric precipitation was the only water source and ground waters were unavailable for plants. Performed studies showed that changes in water reserves in both the main root zone (0–50 cm) and in the whole soil profile were similar in the vegetation period of the same year. In a very dry vegetation season (2008), soil moisture remained at a level of hardly available water. In an average season (2010) soil moisture was at a level of field water capacity for plants.

Description: The article presents the results of research into the transformation of series of hydro-meteorological data for determining dry periods with the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardised Discharge Index (SDI). Time series from eight precipitation stations and five series of river discharge data in Eastern Kujawy (central Poland) were analysed for 1951–2010. The frequency distribution of the series for their convergence with the normal distribution was tested with the Shapiro–Wilk test and homogeneity with the Bartlett's test. The transformation of the series was done with the Box–Cox technique, which made it possible to homogenise the series in terms of variance. In Poland, the technique has never been used to determine the SPI. After the transformation the distributions of virtually all series complied with the normal distribution and were homogeneous. Moreover, a statistically significant correlation between the δ transformation parameter and the skewness of the series of monthly precipitation was observed. It was similar for the series of mean monthly discharges in the winter half-year and the hydrological year. The analysis indicates an alternate occurrence of dry and wet periods both in case of precipitation and run-offs. Drought periods coincided with low flow periods. Thus, the fluctuations tend to affect the development of agriculture more than long-term ones.

Description: The paper analyses the amount of water flowing into the drainage canal in comparison to the levels of the Odra waters in the Brzeg Dolny – Wały cross section (upper water in the barrage). The results of the measurement of the flow intensity in the canal in 1971–2009 provided the basis for the evaluation. The analysis led to the conclusion that with the same ordinate of damming in the barrage the average yearly flow in the canal in the Warzyna section decreased from 196 m3s–1 to about 80 dm3s–1 as the Odra's riverbed and the area between the embankments became tighter. The flow into the canal changes in time and depends on the difference between water levels in the Odra and in the canal. The paper presents the dynamics of changes in the water flow into the canal in relation to 1 m of difference between the level of water in the Odra and the drainage canal. It was shown that in a similar location, ground and water conditions as well as similar damming levels, the value of the drained water can be estimated to be about 35–40 dm3s–1km–1 for 1 meter of difference of the water level in the river and the canal.

Description: The research methodology for determining the sources of nutrients responsible for the eutrophication of rivers and seas, as well as the extent of their load in particular drainage basins, has for many years been at the centre of vigorous discussion. In the Oder and Vistula river basin, apart from the calculation of monthly and annual loads of nitrogen and phosphorus, based on the discharge and chemical monitoring data of waters, the MONERIS (Modeling Nutrient Emissions in River Systems) model has also been applied in determining nutrient sources. This article, on the basis of a comprehensive review of the professional literature, shall cast a critical eye over six issues that have been at the centre of past robust discussion: 1) determining the balance of N and P in agriculture, 2) the effects of a significant improvement in sewage treatment, 3) impact of technology on agriculture, 4) determination of nutrient retention in drainage basins, 5) impact of tile drainage practices on the leaching of nutrients, 6) as well as the accuracy of calculations made according to the MONERIS model. It would appear that for practical purposes it is sufficient to determine given loads of N and P from the drainage basins of particular rivers, as well as to adjust the above mentioned model, or indeed - resign from the unproven methodology of determining nutrient sources in rivers.

Description: Along the paper the size of peak runoff was assessed affected by the influence of changes in water catchment area by land use due to future planned agricultural changes. The investigations were conducted in the Winna Góra catchment area located in Mściwojów, Lower Silesian voivodship at the Mściwojów water reservoir. At present, the catchment is used as arable land, forest and meadows. In the future the area of sealed surfaces such as: roofs, roads and car parks will increase. This can contribute in the change of water balance components. Analyses has shown, that changes in the use of a catchment area lead to reduction of surface flow time from the catchment (less resistance to motion) - in effect it causes increase of the runoff volume at about 28%. The increase of the water runoff volume may have significant influence on the Winna Góra development and functions as well as volume of water run into the Mściwojów water reservoir. To counteract the results of adverse changes caused by the catchment sealing - it is recommended for the investigated area to apply a balanced approach. This would consist of retaining precipitation water in its place of origin.

Description: Listing of watershed management goals/targets is one of the integral parts of the management plan for a watershed. In this paper, we have listed 18 watershed management targets for which the Malaysian watersheds could possibly be managed in future. Based on the listed watershed management targets, the priority ranking of 18 targets is developed from the relative importance weights obtained from a survey conducted from 29 stakeholders. Three weighting methods (SWING, SMART, and SMARTER) were applied to elicit weights. We found that the SMART (Simple Multi-Attribute Rating Technique) weighting method was a favorable method for eliciting stable sets of weights for the watershed management targets. The SWING weighting method produces better weights than the SMARTER method. The listed watershed management targets will assist watershed managers and decision makers in decision making to use available resources (e.g. water quality, land-use, groundwater, and many other resources) in a more efficient and sustainable manner. The efficient utilization of all resources within a watershed will ultimately save watersheds (more specifically the urbanized watersheds) from further deterioration caused by unchecked infrastructure development activities

Description: The paper presents an analyse of the scenario of expected changes in monthly mean air temperature of months in the growing season (April-September) and growing seasons of 2011-2050 in Bydgoszcz Region. Prediction of thermal conditions is made using regional climate model RM5.1 with boundary values taken from global model ARPEGE. When compared with the reference period 1971-2000, an increase of mean air temperature should be expected in most months and growing seasons of the years 2011-2050. The biggest positive change in the mean monthly temperature is predicted for July (1.5°C) and August (1.2°C). In 2011-2050 significant increase trends of air temperature change can be expected in April, June and August. According to the thermal classification proposed by Lorenc, normal, slightly warm and slightly cool months and growing periods will dominate. The frequency of normal and slightly cool growing periods will decrease and the frequency of slightly warm growing periods will increase.

Description: The changes of the concentration of Cu and Zn in the soil solution and the percentage of particular forms of these elements in the soil solution were investigated in the long-term fertilization experiment. The soil solution was obtained following the vacuum displacement method. Speciation of copper and zinc ions was determined with MINTEQA2 for Windows software. The results of the investigation indicated that exclusive mineral fertilization (NPK) caused an increase of Cu and Zn concentration in the soil solution. Organic fertilization (FYM) resulted in a decrease of Cu and an increase of Zn concentration in the soil solution. Liming limited mobility of both analysed elements. The results of speciation analysis showed that regardless of the fertilization mode, the organo-mineral complexes are the main form of Cu occurring in soil solution. The percentage of Cu-DOC complexes ranges from 76.5 to 85.2% of the total concentration of Cu in the soil solution. The particular forms of copper can be sorted depending on the percentage in the soil solution as follows: Cu-DOC〉Cu2+〉Cu-CO3. The main form of Zn in the soil solution are active Zn2+ ions. The share of Zn2+ in total zinc concentration in the soil solution ranged from 76.9% to 86.4%. Forms of zinc in the soil solution can be arranged with regard to their percentage as follows: Zn2+〉Zn-DOC〉ZnCl+〉ZnHCO3+.

Description: StreszczeniePiąte wydanie Systematyki gleb Polski umacnia zasadę klasyfikacji gleb w oparciu o ilościowo zdefiniowane poziomy i właściwości diagnostyczne. Nowe kryteria klasyfikacji bazują na podziałach międzynarodowych, jednak jednoczesne stosowanie rozwiązań zaczerpniętych z FAO-WRB i US Soil Taxonomy albo niekonsekwentne stosowanie ustalonych definicji jest powodem wewnętrznej niespójności klasyfikacji. Dalsze doskonalenie systematyki gleb Polski powinno objąć: wybórjednego międzynarodowego systemu referencyjnego dla poziomów i właściwości diagnostycznych, ustalenie hierarchii priorytetów klasyfikacyjnych i klucza do klasyfikacji gleb, doprecyzowanie definicji unikalnych poziomów diagnostycznych, opracowanie uniwersalnych zasad wyróżniania podtypów oraz doprecyzowanie kryteriów ilościowych na styku j ednostek. Należy również podj ąć próbę zmniej -szenia liczby typów i podtypów gleb, co może ułatwić odbiór, zrozumienie oraz nauczanie systematyki.

Description: The subsoil conditions of Surfers Paradise in Southeast Queensland of Australia have been examined in terms of soil stiffness by using geographic information system (GIS). Peat is a highly organic and compressible material. Surfers Paradise (as a study area) has problematic peat layer due to its high water content, high compressibility, and low shear strength. This layer has various thicknesses at different locations ranging between R.L. . 10 to R.L. -19.6 m. Buildings in Surfers Paradise are using piled foundations to avoid the high compressibility and low shear strength peat layer. Spatial Analyst extension in the GIS ArcMap10 has been utilised to develop zonation maps for different depths in the study area. Each depth has been interpolated as a surface to create Standard Penetration Test SPT-N value GIS-based zonation maps for each depth. In addition, 8 interpolation techniques have been examined to evaluate which technique gives better representation for the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) data. Inverse Distance weighing (IDW) method in Spatial Analyst extension gives better representation for the utilised data with certain parameters. Two different cross sections have been performed in the core of the study area to determine the extent and the depth of the peat layer underneath already erected buildings. Physical and engineering properties of the Surfers Paradise peat have been obtained and showed that this peat falls within the category of tropical peat.

Description: The atmospheric fallout over the Rzeszów town was investigated. Intensity of dustfall (quarterly periods, 2011.2012) and its physicochemical properties (acid-base character, solubility and sequential solubility, mobile fractions) were investigated. The intensity of dustfall was variable from 25 to 83 g·m.2 and depended on the season. Contents of metals in precipitation were diverse with quantities exceeding 1%: Fe, K, Ca, Na, in 0.1.1%: Mg, Zn, Na, Ca, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, and less than 0.1%: Cu, Bi, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb. It was found that the dustfall is a possible source of metals. The atmospheric fallout can enlarge a pool of metals in soils from 0.18% up to 80%.

Description: Phosphorus content and balance in granulometric fractions of old alluvial soil developed from alluvial deposits od Vistula River in middle Poland was studied. The distribution of phosphorus in particular granulometric fractions of the studied soil showed high quantitative variability vertically in the profile. This resulted from the layered structure of the Vistulian old alluvial formation developed throughout the Holocene. The contribution of grain fractions in phosphorus accumulation increased with a decrease in their diameter, and in certain fractions with a decrease in their quantitative state. Eluviation of phosphorus down the soil profile concerned in particular grain fraction

Description: This paper provides the verification of coefficients for the calculation of particle density, bulk density, and total porosity based on the texture of soils proposed by Brogowski (1990). The verified and supplemented coefficients for the calculation of particle density, bulk density, and total porosity permit obtaining credible results within the range of analytical errors. The proposed calculations of density and total porosity of soils can be used for the general description of soils. They cannot, however, replace exact scientific research on the physical state of soils.

Description: The aim of this research was to assess the use of biomass ash for fertilisation of mineral soil. The study involves the analysis of the effects of biomass ash applied to soil on the changes of pH and the content of the available forms of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium as well as on total content of zinc, copper, manganese, nickel, cadmium and lead. The field experiment was conducted in 2013 in Duninowo near Ustka. In experiment grown two plants spring: Spring barley - var. Sebastian, and wheat - var. Bombona. The use of ash from biomass and Biotop compost as fertilisers did not result in any significant changes of soilpH. The use of ash from biomass and Biotop compost caused a significant increase in the contents of available phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in soil. The threshold values of the analysed trace elements in soil, as specified by the Regulation of the Minister of Environment, were not exceeded in any of the fertilising variants in the experiment.

Description: The aim of work was to characterize the water retention in the silt-textured Luvisols with lamellic illuvial horizon (argic) that occur in the loess covered northern part of the Silesian Lowland. Soil pits were localized on the Trzebnica Hills near the villages: Machnice (profile 1), Skarszyn (profile 2) and Zaprężyn (profile 3 and 4). Profiles Machnice 1 and Skarszyn 2 were situated in the upper parts of the hills covered with beech stands with an admixture of oak, linden and maple. Profiles Zaprężyn 3 and 4 were situated in the central and lower parts of the arable slope. During the field work conducted in April 2011, 29 soil samples were collected for texture, bulk density and water properties analysis. The soils under study were characterized by texture of silt loam with lower clay content in humus horizons (.loamy silt. according to Polish classification), and higher clay content (.clayey silt.) in the illuvial and subsoil horizons. The texture of all examined profiles was dominated by the „loess“ fractions. Variable abundance of the massive lamellae causes variations in water properties of the illuvial (sub-)horizons. It was found that lamellic illuvial horizons in the loess-derived Luvisols have higher field water capacity than the homogenous illuvial horizons, apart of the clay content. There was no apparent effect of the horizon kind (homogeneous versus lamellic) on the soil bulk density. These properties mainly depended on the total clay content in a particular horizon (sub-horizon).

Description: Streszczenie W pracy przedstawiono sprostowania nieścisłości, jakie znalazły się w artykule Stanisława Brożka pt. „Czy sys- tematyka gleb Polski, wydanie 5. dotyczy wszystkich gleb naszego kraju" opublikowanym w Rocznikach Gleboznawczych vol. 63, nr 3, 2012: 49-56. Praca ta jednak nie jest artykułem dyskusyjnym, lecz zbiorem uwag, najczęściej nieprofesjonalnych, na temat „Systematy ki gleb Polski” wyd. 5, 2011 (SgP5). Ponieważ w arty kule ty m znalazło się wiele błędów i nieścisłości wynikają- cych z niezrozumienia przez Autora istoty systematy ki gleb, a także tekstu ocenianej ..Systematyki...’', dlatego w niniejszym opraco- waniu nie podjęto szerszej dyskusji merytorycznej, jedynie przedstawiono sprostowania do błędnych wypowiedzi Autora, które dotyczą SgP5. Tym bardziej jest to konieczne, że Autor nie jest specjalistą z zakresu systematyki gleb, a Jego artykuł został opubli- kowany w gleboznawczym czasopiśmie naukowym.

Description: The article presents several aspects of computer simulations and models of heavy metals speciation in environmental samples. The methods can be effectively used in environmental sciences, soil science, and assessment of mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in contaminated areas. The article presents all of the methods based on examples, and with interpretation of results. The effect depends on the reliability of data used in models. The results are essential for predicting the fate and behaviour of elements in the environment, and can also be used to develop solubility curves.

Description: The objective of the study was to determine properties of soils located within a city, and to assess the effect of anthropopressure on the accumulation of carbon and nitrogen in soils of Pruszków . a medium sized town in central Poland. Surface soil layers (0.20 cm) were collected at 36 sites. A total of 12 samples from lawns, 11 from allotment gardens, 9 from fields and 4 from fallow lands were subject to analysis. Lawns and allotment gardens were treated as central zone I . under strong pressure of anthropogenic factors, fields and fallow lands were treated as zone II . with potentially low level of anthropogenic influence. The statistical analysis showed significantly higher (p=0.008) amount of organic carbon (Corg) in lawns (mean 20.5 g·kg-1) and allotment gardens (21.7 g·kg-1) . zone I, than on fallow lands (10.4 g·kg-1) and fields (1.27 g·kg-1) . zone II. The surface layer of soil from allotment gardens also contained significantly higher amount of total nitrogen (mean content 1.1 g·kg-1) than others. The amounts of Corg not depending on the soil texture and very high C/N ratio, suggests the anthropogenic origin of the carbon. The C/N ratio was the highest in the soils of lawns (mean value 26.2) and significantly differed (p=0.04) from C/N ratios in soils of fields and allotment gardens. This suggests low intensity of humus transformation. Other chemical characteristics as hydrolytic acidity (Ha), cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable base cations (EBC) and EBC share in CEC were also higher in central part of Pruszków town (zone I), indicating the effect of urbanization on soil properties.

Description: The objective of the article was to determine the effectiveness of lime of different origin for chemical amelioration of soils and examine its impact on soil functions such as productivity, habitat, regulation of water quality, and the protective buffer biogeocenotic screen. Limy ameliorants were applied in small local field experiment on Luvic Chernozem, and experiment with lysimeter columns was carried out on Albic Luvisol. The number of the main groups of microflora and enzymatic activity of soil was determined in soil samples taken for the analysis from the root zone. Research concerning the influence of natural and industrial origin ameliorants on soil as habitat showed the correlation of sugar beets productivity with soil biogenic. The increase of biomultiplicity of soil microbiota after addition of a cement dust and negative influence of red sludge on soil as habitat for living organisms was observed. Research involving the influence of ameliorants on soil by lime as the protective buffer biogeocenotic screen was carried out using lysimeter columns. It was stated that the addition of limy ameliorants reduces mobility of heavy metals.

Description: Streszczenie Gleba jest jednym z elementów środowiska przyrodniczego, który często bywa narażony na zanieczyszczenia i degradację. Jednym z głównych źródeł zanieczyszczeń są obiekty gospodarki odpadami, wśród których dominują składowiska odpadów. W Polsce obiekty gospodarki odpadami są zaliczane do przedsięwzięć mogących potencjalnie znacząco oddziaływać na środowisko. Dla większości takich obiektów przeprowadzana jest ocena oddziaływania na środowisko, w ramach której sporządzany jest raport o oddziaływaniu na środowisko. Problematyka ochrony gleb jest jednak często w nim marginalizowana. Celem pracy była analiza jakości wybranych raportów o oddziaływaniu na środowisko obiektów gospodarki odpadami, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem przeprowadzonej w nich analizy stanu gleb, a także przedstawienie propozycji zakresu prac, niezbędnych do rzetelnej analizy oddziaływania obiektów gospodarki odpadami na gleby. Wyniki przeprowadzonej oceny wskazują na zróżnicowany poziom wykonania w zakresie przedstawienia oddziaływania inwestycji na gleby. Przeważają opracowania ocenione negatywnie jako niezadowalające.

Description: The aim of this study was to evaluate the enzymatic soil and the number of selected microorganisms in urban soil, which are located in the lane of the reconstructed road and compare it with a soil cultivated for agricultural purposes. The conducted analysis showed significant differences between the results of the soil taken from the roadway and the soil cultivated from agricultural purposes. The C:N ratio in soils of the roadway (from 24 to 31) indicated that they were degraded and heavily degraded soils. Urban soils had a neutral pH. The activity of dehydrogenase (1.93–6.95 μg TPF g−1·h−1), acid phosphatase (2.42–4.92 mM pNP·g−1·h−1) and alkaline phosphatase (2.34–4.80 mM pNP·g−1·h−1) in urban soils were low. In agricultural soils the acid phosphatase enzyme levels ranged 6.32–8.04 mM pNP·g−1·h−1, and alkaline phosphatase were 7.26–9.16 mM pNP·g−1·h−1. In urban soil samples collected along the roadway, a significant correlation between potassium and dehydrogenase activity, and between the C:N ratio and the activity of acid phosphatase was found.

Description: Streszczenie Czarne ziemie, w randze osobnej j ednostki, wyodrębnione zostały przez Miklaszewskiego ze względu na ich poba-giennągenezę, podmokłość oraz specyficzny typ „kwaśnej” próchnicy. Z czasem zaczęto określać tym mianem także inne podmokłe gleby z głębokim poziomem próchnicznym o różnej genezie: (1) czarne ziemie pojeziorne (pobagienne), (2) czarne ziemie błotne (z przeobrażenia gleb torfowo- i torfiastoglej owych), (3) czarne ziemie deluwialne, (4) czarne ziemie ukształtowane w procesie werty-lizacji, (5) czarne ziemie powstałe w efekcie zwiększenia wilgotności czarnoziemów łąkowo-leśnych, (6) poligenetyczne czarne ziemie z poziomem iluwiacji iłu. Klasyfikacja gleb o tak zróżnicowanej genezie musi opierać się na wspólnych kryteriach morfologicznych, to j est zgodnie z trendem wyznaczonym przez systematyki gleb Polski z lat 1989 i 2011. Jednak przynależność do czarnych ziem nie zawsze jest jednoznaczna, ze względu na nieprecyzyjne rozgraniczenie w punktach stycznych z pokrewnymi glebami, w tym z czarnoziemami (intensywność oglejenia), madami i glebami deluwialnymi (stratyfikacja materiału macierzystego i/lub poziomu mollic), vertisolami (obecność poziomów mollic i vertic) oraz glebami murszastymi (brak różnic w kryteriach diagnostycznych). Ponadto, uzupełnienia wymagają charakterystyki czarnych ziem pod kątem rodzaju oglejenia (gruntowego oraz opadowego), rodzaju węglanów (wtórnych i pierwotnych) oraz obecności poziomu diagnostycznego anthric.

Description: A leaching experiment was conducted using column techniques assessing efficiency of electrochemical process to reclaim saline-sodic soils. Soil material was collected from Sahl El-Tina plain, which located in North West coast of Sinai, Egypt. The experiment was designed as factorial randomized complete block and all treatments were replicated three times. Two 2.5 cm diameterx30 cm height mild stainless steel tubes were inserted into the soil matrix to serve as electrodes (i.e. cathode and anode). Distance between cathode and anode was 10 cm. Electrodes were supplied by a direct current (DC) power supply; Volt ages of 0.3 or 9 Volt. Leaching was done using the intermittent method so as to add portions to the already saturated soil columns, and obtain leachates equal to the added portions. Pore volume 0.1 PV was used in the leaching processes which are equal 498.4 cm3, i.e. PV being volume of pores per column, thus 1 PV equals volume of pores (cm3) expressed as water quantity. Electric remediation increased ionic mobility and separated salts from soil. All treatments decreased soil EC and soil sodicity expressed as SAR and ESP. Results showed that 9 Volt treatment was more effective in decreasing the soil EC and soil sodicity than the other treatments. Efficiency of treatments were 9-Volt 〉 3-Volt 〉 leaching alone (non-DC treatment). This study suggests that leaching using direct current (DC) led to improvement of the chemical properties of saline sodic soils and required a short time to reclaim saline-sodic soils compared with leaching alone.

Description: The aim of the research was to compare the results of texture analyses of glaciolimnic sediments deposited in the basins of ice-dammed lakes origin in north eastern Poland. The study was carried out using aerometric method, pipette method and laser diffraction method. The studied soils were classified as Haplic and Mollic Vertisol, Vertic Cambisol, and Gleyic Chernozem. The soils were formed from clayey (clay, heavy clay), loamy (loam, clay loam, sand clay loam) and silty (silt loam, clay loam) deposits. The studied soils did not contain fractions 〉 2.0 mm. The amounts of clay fraction (〈 0.002 mm) measured by areometric and pipette methods were similar and strongly correlated. In comparison to laser diffraction method, these amounts were 3-4-fold higher. The sub-fraction of fine silt (0.02-0.002 mm) predominated in soil formations analyzed by laser diffraction method. In comparison to areometric or pipette method, the amounts of fine silt were 2-4 fold higher. Basing on the calculated sedimentological indices, it was stated that the examined soils were well sorted and the mean grain diameter (GSS) was very low and did not exceed 0.005 mm in areometric and pipette methods, and 0.011 mm in laser diffraction method for clay sediments.

Description: The effect of addition of different materials, i.e. sludge, ash and peat, as well as different doses of mixtures of ash and sludge and ash peat, on the total content of heavy metals (Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni) and their fractions was studied. Application of municipal sewage sludge, ash-sludge and ash-peat mixtures in the experiment caused a gradual increase in the content of studied heavy metals in soil. The ash was characterized by a low content of heavy metals as compared to municipal sewage sludge. After application of peat and its mixtures with ash a decrease of content of heavy metals was observed, and when the peat was used alone the greatest increase in the organic C content in the substrate could be seen. Distribution of heavy metals in the fractions separated in different combinations shows large variations, depending on the tested metal and the studied variant. Chromium, zinc, lead, and cadmium have been accumulated mainly in the residual fraction (FV), and most of the copper and nickel have been specifically bound with organic matter (FIV). It has been found that the alkaline materials application to the soil decreased the solubility of most heavy metals, which results in a limitation of their uptake by plants. Chromium and copper were an exception, since their solubility increased with the alkalinity of the substrate. An exception was chromium and copper, which solubility increased with the alkalinity of the substrate.

Description: Large-scale river regulation, drainage and intense farming in the Barycz valley initiated in 17th century activated a transformation of the initial alluvial and swamp-alluvial soils. Soils on the Holocene flooded terraces have deep, acid humus horizons (umbric) and gleyic properties at shallow depth, but have no stratification of parent material to a depth of 100 cm. Despite the location in the floodplain, soils cannot be classified as black-earth alluvial soils (mady czarnoziemne) using the criteria of Polish soil classification (2011). The soils on the Pleistocene non-flooded terraces have a deep, base-saturated humus horizon (mollic) and gleyic properties in the lower part of soil profile, which allows to classify them as the black earths (czarne ziemie). Prominent stratification of the parent material well preserved in these soils has no influence on their classification (due to the age sediments). Almost all humus horizons of these soils meet the definition of anthric characteristics, and more than half of the studied soils can be classified as culturozemic soils - rigosols - which emphasises the important role of man in the transformation and gaining of morphological features of these soils. The lack of precise criteria for identifying soil types in the chernozemic order of the Polish soil classification (2011) causes difficulties in the classification of soils on the river terraces, in particular, in distinguishing between black-earth alluvial soils and black earths.

Description: The fine-grained mosaic of natural and human-modified patches that characterizes the Mediterranean region has created a multifaceted system that is difficult to investigate using traditional ecological techniques. In this context, sounds have been found to be the optimum model to provide indirect and timely information about the state of ecosystems. The sonic nature of the environment (the soundscape) represents an important component of the landscape, and the new discipline of soundscape ecology has recently been shown to have appropriate tools for investigating the complexity of the environment. In the last decade, technological advances in the acoustic field have led researchers to carry out wide-scale and long-term ecological research using new and efficient tools, such as digital low cost sound recorders, and autonomous software and metrics. Particularly in the Mediterranean region, where land transformation occurs at a very rapid rate, soundscape analysis may represent an efficient tool with which to:1) track transformations in the community balance, 2) indicate the most acoustically complex parts (bioacoustic hotspots) of the land mosaic, 3) prevent environmental degradation, and 4) decide whether protection or restoration actions are most appropriate. Conserving the quality of Mediterranean sounds means preserving the natural dynamics of its animal populations and also involves maintaining the cultural heritage, human identity, and the spiritual values of the area.

Description: The road network in Cyprus has seen an 88% increase in the last 20 years. This expansion has not been followed by any kind of assessment on the effects of the network on nature conservation. This is the first island-wide quantitative assessment of the size, character (surface types), pervasiveness and distribution of the road system with particular reference to Natura 2000 network on the island. We mapped roadless areas (i.e. areas at least one km away from nearest road) for the whole island and examined the spatial distribution with respect to Natura 2000. We tested the relationship between overall road density and road density of different road categories within terrestrial Natura 2000 sites to four zones which were defined on the basis of landform, principal land use and ownership. We employed three indices i.e. effective mesh size, splitting and division to measure fragmentation caused by the road network within Natura 2000 and investigated the relationship between road density and the above fragmentation metrics. Mean road density in Cyprus is 2.3 km/km2 which is comparable to road density values recorded in other Mediterranean countries such as France, Spain and Italy, which have much larger area and population. Roadless areas cover 4.5% of the island, and despite being scattered 80% is found within Natura 2000, which demonstrates the added value of the network for nature conservation. Road expansion has taken place throughout the island with the same intensity irrespectively of the zones examined. Fragmentation has been lower in sites on mountainous areas where sites are larger and under state ownership. Road density is negatively correlated (r = - 0.383, p = 0.05) with effective mesh size and positively correlated with both landscape division (r = 0.376, p = 0.05) and splitting index (r = 0.376, p = 0.05). Results corroborate that spatial configuration is an important property of the road network in addition to traffic load, length and density.With the shift from site based conservation to landscape level there is a challenge for integrating technical, human and ecological requirements into infrastructure planning.

Description: In the design process of open spaces within residential apartments, little attention is paid to children and their attitude to the environment is often ignored. Children, especially those who live in high-rise apartments, were found to have less connection with nature. Children supposedly need to engage in physical activities within outdoor areas, but urban planners, with the approval of managers or parents, must adequately design the open space for children. This paper initially reviews different research in this area. It consequently attempts to evaluate parental satisfaction regarding children's connectivity to open spaces as a dependent variable, and their preferences and perception of safety as independent variables. The research method is based on a questionnaire survey addressed to 261 parents and adults, in two localities in Tehran, Iran. The result of this research shows that parental attitude to open space has an effect on children's outdoor activities. Moreover, parents with young children express lower satisfaction to open spaces than those adults without young children. Families with children need open spaces in residential high-rise apartments for their siblings’ physical activities, and the designers should consider such an important need.

Description: This study examined the extent of resource use and the level of degradation consequent upon land use. Three distinctive trends were observed in terms of forest and land cover dynamics. These are forest degradation, deforestation and regeneration. The paper integrated both, topographical map of 1969 and satellite imageries from Landsat MSS 1972, and Landsat TM 1991 and 2000 with ground truthing and socio-economic surveys to assess changes in forest resource use and land cover in South-western Nigeria. The satellite images were analysed using ILWIS software version 3.4. Based on ground truth data and remotely sensed data, the study area was classified into five categories using the supervised maximum likelihood classification technique. The accuracy assessment was carried out on the remotely sensed data. A total of 30 points for each dataset were selected for this operation and the overall accuracy of 90%, 86.7% and 85% respectively was obtained from the three image datasets. Results showed three dominant ecological communities in Oluwa Forest Reserve while two effects of changes on species were identified. The first was the replacement of what could be considered as the original species by other species tolerant to the ‘new’ ecosystem. The other was the reduction in the range of the original species that could be found. This was an indication that the area had been fragmented comparing to its original status. Results suggest that resource utilization and land cover change dynamically over time. The study also revealed that the creation of forest reserve to restrict local access and resource use would have been an effective tool for regulating encroachment and logging activities if there was an effective enforcement of regulation. It is therefore obvious that the main aim of environmental management should be the protection of the natural living space of humankind and integration of environmental scarcity in making decision on all economic issues and activities.

Description: The geographic location of Israel and the Palestinian Authorityon the border between Mediterranean and desert climate, and the strong topographic and geomorphological variation resulting from its position on the Great African Rift Valley, combine to sustain a great diversity of landscapes in a very small country. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the protected areas in Israel and the Palestinian Authority adequately represent the range of landscapes and ecosystems in the region. Altogether, we defined 23 natural ecosystem-units in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, of which 17 are terrestrial landscapes and 6 are aquatic systems. In considering the adequacy of coverage in protected areas, we mapped Israel and the Palestinian Authority landscapes according to a set of environmental factors (climatic, geomorphological, geological and botanical) that we believe most effectively distinguish landscape types in this region. When the separation between adjacent units relies on sharp topographic or edaphic change in the landscape, the mapped units can be separated by a clear and sharp line. When adjacent units are actually a gradient of continuous environmental conditions the separation lines relied mostly on botanic characteristics. The main land use categories in this analysis were urban areas, agricultural areas, nature reserves, national parks and forest reserves. For the first time in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, we quantified the different landscape types under the different categories of land use. This process, known as systematic conservation planning, allowed us to detect natural landscapes that are underrepresented in protected areas, and can guide decision makers to establish or improve management for the better representation of biodiversity.

Description: This paper examines changes in Israel's landscape by comparing two time periods, 1881 and 2011. For this purpose we compared land cover derived from the Palestine Exploration Fund historical map to a present land cover map that was compiled from 38 different present-day GIS layers. The research aims were (1) to quantitatively examine what were the changes in Israel's landscape between 1881 and 2011; (2) to identify and explain spatial patterns in these landscape changes. Landscape transformation was categorized into five classes: 'residual bare' (no change in natural vegetation, mostly in desert areas); 'residual' (i.e. remnant; no change in natural vegetation class); 'transformed' (changes between different natural vegetation areas); 'replaced' (area which became managed); 'removed' (no or minimal natural vegetation). We found that only 21% of the area retained similar landscape classes as in the past, with the largest changes taking place in ecoregions that were favorable for developing agriculture - Jezreel Valley and the Sharon Plain. Two physical factors had a strong effect on the type of change in the landscape: (1) most of the agricultural areas and human settlements were found in areas ranging between 400-600 mm/year (2) natural land cover features were more common in areas with steeper slopes. We found that the majority of protected areas, 54.6%, are comprised of remnant vegetation classes (i.e. residual transformation class) however more than half of protected areas are located in desert areas and are thus biased in their representation of land cover classes.

Description: In the present study, an attempt has been made to discover the impacts of various developmental activities on the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong wildlife corridor of Assam, India, using geospatial technology; as well as to predict the future status of the wildlife corridor by using the Cellular Automata Markov Model. Due to various anthropogenic activities the condition of the natural corridor has deteriorated, and in recent years many wild animals have been killed by road traffic accidents; in particular, greater one-horned (Indian) rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) are killed indiscriminately by the poachers, having been deviated from their regular routes. Changes were evident during the two decades between 1990 and 2010, when a large number of dense forest areas were converted to open forest, combined with losses of areas of scrub and marshy land. The area under agriculture and plantation crop increased along with the grassland during the decades. It has been found that the forests in Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong corridor are fragmented, and the area within the corridor is shrinking. There is considerable increase in patchiness, proportion of edge, and a perforated reduction of core areas within the corridor. The predicted land use/cover map of Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong corridor shows expansion of agricultural land, as well as plantation areas. It is estimated that only 25.66 percent of the present dense forest and 20.72 percent of open forest will remain by 2030, while areas under agriculture and plantation will increase by 33.91 and 5.33 percent, respectively.

Description: The Mediterranean landscape has been rapidly changing over the past decades. Many regions saw a population decline, which resulted in changing land use, abandonment of marginal lands and colonisation by shrubs and tree species. Typical features like farming terraces, olive yards, and upland grasslands have been decreasing over the past 50 years. This results in a declining biodiversity and loss of traditional Mediterranean landscapes. In this paper we assess the landscape changes that took place in two areas, in Portofino, on the Italian Riviera, and Lesvos, a Greek island near the Turkish coast. We compared land use maps and aerial photographs over the past decades to quantify the land use changes in these two areas. Additional information was acquired from farmers’ interviews and literature. We found that changes are related to societal changes in the appraisal of agricultural land uses, and to the urban expansion, tourism and recreation. These diffuse processes are a result of policy measures and autonomous societal transformations. This is confirmed by the results of two interview surveys: between 1999 and 2012 agricultural land use in Portofino regional Park and buffer zone further marginalised, and the associated landscape changes are perceived as a substantial loss of character and identity. This problem is emblematic for large parts of the Mediterranean. Comparing different landscapes reveal similar processes of landscape change, which can be related to similar driving forces. Based on such comparisons, we learn about possible trajectories of change, and ask for a comprehensive approach to land use management.

Description: European rural landscapes face today several changes, which might indicate that an ongoing transition process is taking place. While these transition processes have been mainly addressed for Western Europe and landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture, they remain to be understood in Southern Europe, where large areas are occupied by extensive farming systems, maintaining a distinctive landscape character. However in Mediterranean areas, new ways of managing the land arise, no longer by the conventional farmers alone but also by a multiplicity of other land managers. Nevertheless, the dominant discourse in the farm sector, both in politics and in individuals, is still focused on production. Therefore to better assess the potential of land managers to adapt to changes and to meet the expectations that society articulates towards the farming sector, a description of the land managers’ diversity deserves a renewed attention. A number of questions remain unanswered or only partially answered. Which land managers are contributing more to the changes happening? Which are the drivers that encourage or prevent innovation and changes in the holdings? Do all farmers behave in the same way? Does the attitudes-thoughts get translated into actual behavior-actions? In order to answer these questions a land managers’ typology anchored on the multifunctional transition framework is proposed. It aims to understand which land manager type contributes more to the multifunctional transition bounded by non-productivist and productivist strategies in place. This typology exploits the combination between the behaviors-action in the holding and the expressed attitudes-thoughts. To achieve this typology, 373 questionnaires were completed by land managers in South Portugal. Results reveal in some cases inconsistencies between land managers attitudes and their action, in an opposite sense to what has been earlier identified in Northwestern Europe, and reflecting the heterogeneity of Mediterranean agriculture and land ownership. Thus, an understanding of the land managers types will lead us to a better understanding of what are land managers looking for in the landscape they use. This knowledge can support better oriented policies and management decision, certainly more easily accepted by land managers since their views, behaviors, attitudes and opinions are taken in consideration.

Description: The majority of forest cover in the British Uplands had been lost by the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, because of felling followed by overgrazing by sheep and deer. The situation remained unchanged until a government policy of afforestation, mainly by exotic conifers, after the First World War up to the present day. This paper analyses the distribution of these predominantly coniferous plantations, and shows how they occupy specific parts of upland landscapes in different zones throughout Britain Whilst some landscapes are dominated by these new forests, elsewhere the blocks of trees are more localised. Although these forests virtually eliminate native ground vegetation, except in rides and unplanted land, the major negative impacts are at the landscape level. For example, drainage systems are altered and ancient cultural landscape patterns are destroyed. These impacts are summarised and possible ways of amelioration are discussed. By contrast, in recent years, a series of projects have been set up to restore native forest cover, as opposed to the extensive plantations of exotic species. Accordingly, the paper then provides three examples of such initiatives designed to restore native forests to otherwise bare landscapes, as well as setting them into a policy context. Whilst such projects cover a limited proportion of the British Uplands they nevertheless restore forest to landscapes at a local level.

Description: The research question is the relationship between the local community and globalization tendencies and transformation or maintenance of local traditions. The research area is a specific locality of a Czech village in Romanian Banat. The local community has evolved in a relative isolation. Agriculture was the most important activity despite the fact that a mining factory was opened there. Agriculture was and in many features still is traditional, self-supplying, and hard-work. The life-style has always been environmentally friendly as it has been without modern technologies. Nevertheless, modernization exploded dramatically in these villages after 1989, when the communist policies collapsed along with Romania's isolation. People from the Czech Republic have rediscovered Romanian Banat and a rather busy (agro) tourism has developed there. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports development projects for making living conditions in the village better. Simultaneously, strong migration from Banat to the Czech Republic has started. People find living conditions in the Czech Republic easier and leave hard work, poverty and unemployment. It brings huge land cover changes because people who remain cannot use all arable land, which is thus abandoned and left for the natural process. One of the distinct manifestations of globalization tendencies is the build-up of wind power plants.

Description: Soil profiles of the city centre of Debrecen were investigated in order to examine their properties and investigate the vertical distribution of heavy metals as a measure the anthropogenic activity. During the laboratory work the basic soil features were identified (texture, artefact content, pH, CaCO3, and amounts of organic matter). Furthermore, contents of Pb, Zn, Cu and Co in the soils were measured. Most of the metals showed a strong positive correlation with the humus content and the silt fraction. The soils of the city centre are exposed to a significant anthropogenic effect, therefore the original soil morphologies are usually difficult to identify. The soil profiles are greatly disturbed, which is traceable in the vertical distribution of certain soil features and metal contents.

Description: Streszczenie Celem przeprowadzonych badań było wskazanie najważniejszych problemów związanych z gleboznawczą klasyfikacją gruntów rolnych w rejonie Kopalni Węgla Brunatnego „Bełchatów”. Analiza polegała na porównaniu danych dla wsi Łękińsko zawartych na mapach i w operatach klasyfikacyjnych z 1959 roku (okres przed otwarciem KWB „Bełchatów”) z mapami i operatami zaktualizowanymi w 1998 roku, tj. około 20 lat po rozpoczęciu działalności przez kopalnię. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że jedynie 14% obszaru obrębu Łękińsko niezajętego przez kopalnię zostało objęte ponowną klasyfikacją gruntów. Odkrywki glebowe zostały zlokalizowane wyłącznie na terenach, których użytkowanie zmieniło się w stosunku do stanu z 1959 roku z tym, że nie wszystkie nowo wyróżnione kontury glebowe były reprezentowane przez nowe odkrywki glebowe. Liczba odkrywek w stosunku do liczby nowo wydzielonych konturów klasyfikacyjnych wydaje się być niewystarczająca. Zmiany klas bonitacyjnych po aktualizacji w 1998 roku dotyczyły tylko tych działek, na których w stosunku do roku 1959 zmieniło się użytkowanie, najczęściej z gruntów ornych na użytki zielone. W ocenie autorów, zamiana klasy gruntu ornego (np. IIIa) na analogiczną klasę użytku zielonego (np. III) stosowana w trakcie aktualizacji mapy klasyfikacyjnej nie zawsze jest prawidłowa, ze względu na zróżnicowaną rangę czynników decydujących o wyborze klasy bonitacyjnej dla gruntów ornych i użytków zielonych. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników autorzy sugerują, aby aktualizacji map klasyfikacyjnych dla obszarów objętych silnym odwodnieniem spowodowanym np. przez działalność kopalń odkrywkowych lub głęboką meliorację, nie ograniczać tylko do działek o zmienionym użytkowaniu, a wykonywać na całym obszarze przeznaczonym do aktualizacji. Aktualizacja każdego nowego konturu klasyfikacyjnego powinna być dokonywana w oparciu o odpowiednią liczbę odkrywek glebowych położonych, w miarę możliwości, w niedalekim sąsiedztwie w stosunku do odkrywek z pierwszej mapy klasyfikacyjnej, co umożliwiłoby porównywanie ich właściwości oraz analizę zmian jakie zaszły w glebach w wyniku głębokiego odwodnienia.

Description: Spruce was submitted to high-temperature (150°C–170°C) refining for 2 or 5 min to produce thermomechanical pulp (TMP) fibers with decreased electrical energy consumption. The pulp was characterized in terms of specific energy consumption as well as tensile and surface properties. The fibers from high-temperature TMP contained more surface lignin even if all sample types usually broke at the S1–S2 cell wall region. They also produced significantly weaker paper sheets, whereas their dry zero-span strength did not suffer substantial losses, indicating decreased fiber-fiber bonding. Tensile strength properties were also determined of a bisphenol-A-epichlorohydrin-based epoxy resin mixed with 5% fiber as a test for fiber-matrix compatibility in composite applications. Based on these preliminary results, high-temperature TMP shows potential for composite reinforcement due to its lower tendency to aggregate and its better compatibility with the tested matrix material.

Description: A combination of compression and heat treatment is a modification method that has great potential for improving the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of wood materials in industrial application. The objective of this project was to track changes in the microstructure, chemical composition, cellulose crystallinity, and mechanical properties of the treated poplar cell wall to investigate the mechanism of modification. Poplar boards were compressed at 100°C and subsequently treated in the hot press at 200°C. The results indicated that the treatment contributed to a reduction in porosity without obvious mechanical compression and damage to the cell wall. Hemicellulose degraded, however, and the relative lignin content and cellulose crystallinity increased during the process. The observed increase in relative lignin content and crystallinity may contribute to the improvement of mechanical properties. The longitudinal elastic modulus and hardness of poplar cell walls increased significantly from 12.5 and 0.39 GPa for the control to a maximum of 15.7 and 0.51 GPa for compressed wood with HT, respectively.

Description: A low-molecular lignin fraction (L) was extracted for the preparation of bio-based epoxy resins. Various compositions with the “green” 1,3-glycerol diglycidyl ether (1) and the co-component pyrogallol (2) were tested. In a first series of experiments, thermosets consisting of 1 and L, were studied with respect to variable lignin contents between 20 and 50%. The best thermoset has a tensile strength of 37 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 2.2 GPa at 40% lignin input. Secondly, lignin-free compositions of 1 and 2 were prepared. For a molar fraction of the functional groups (nOH nEpoxy-1) of 130%, the tensile strength could be enhanced to 93 MPa and the modulus reached 3.7 GPa. Finally, systems with all three components were examined. The best mechanical performance of the corresponding neat thermosets was reached at nOH nEpoxy-1 of 130%. Tensile strength decreases slightly to 86 MPa and Young’s modulus remains nearly unchanged at 3.2 GPa. Two resin compositions, L+1 and L+1+2, were tested for the preparation of unidirectional composites reinforced with man-made cellulosic fibers (50% by vol.). The bending strength was 208 MPa in combination with a bending modulus of 12.5 GPa.

Description: Some of the most important indoor wood-decay basidiomycetes were investigated in Erlenmeyer flask experiments, in which 50 Pinus sylvestris sapwood samples with moisture content (MC) of 16% were piled, in view of the parallel influence of wood moisture and temperature on decay in buildings. In the piles, the moisture flow from the liquid at the bottom was interrupted by a metal ring at layer 7. Laboratory incubations with Antrodia xantha, Coniophora puteana, Donkioporia expansa, and Gloeophyllum abietinum over the temperature range of 10°C–25°C showed that fungi are able to colonize, moisten, and thereafter degrade wood samples below fiber saturation, if a moisture source nearby is available. In extreme cases, mycelium grew on wood with 17.4% final MC, and wood mass loss of more than 2% occurred at 24.6% moisture.

Description: Southern pine (Pinus spp.) wood was impregnated sequentially with sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT; in concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 4%) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (in a concentration of 2%) in a two-step method to form organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) inside the wood. The impregnated samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses. Moreover, the water absorption, anti-swelling efficiency, compression strength, and surface hardness of the modified samples were investigated. In the first step, wood is impregnated with Na-MMT, and in the second step, Na-MMT is transformed to OMMT by in situ synthesis and the silicate layers of the clay are intercalated into the cell wall. As a result, the dimensional stability of the modified wood was improved as a function of increased clay concentration. The compression strength and surface hardness of OMMT-modified wood were also improved greatly compared with the untreated control.

Description: A fiber bundle composed of hollow fibrils is secreted from protoplasts of white birch (Betula phatyphylla Sukatcher var. japonica Kan No. 8) leaves callus and the secretion is more efficient in an acidic medium containing high concentration of Ca2+. The influence of the Ca2+ concentration and pH has been investigated concerning the number of cells secreted. The secreted hollow fibers were very thin. The 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra indicated that the fibers are composed of linear (1→3)-β-glucan without branches (callose). The potential utilization of such unique callose fibers and their optimized production needs more investigation.

Description: Wood physical and mechanical properties in seven tropical hardwood species viz., Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth., Artocarpus hirsutus Lamk., Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk., Swietenia macrophylla King, Xylia dolabriformis Benth., Hevea braziliensis (H.B.K.) M. A.), and Tectona grandis L.f. have been studied by means of destructive and non-destructive techniques (NDT). Mechanical strength properties and specific gravity were evaluated by conventional methods. NDT was carried out by a Pilodyn and Treesonic Microsecond Timer (TMT) to measure a steel pin penetration depth into wood and dynamic MOE, respectively. In focus was the question, whether NDT data are suitable predictors for physical and mechanical properties of the indicated hardwood species. Dynamic MOE obtained by TMT correlated strongly positive with all the strength properties studied, except shearing stress. TMT data also correlated very well to static bending MOE and MOR. A linear relationship was found between Pilodyn steel pin penetration depth and oven dry specific gravity in all the species. Both Pilodyn and TMT proved to be useful predictors of timber properties, and these instruments have a high potential for timber grading.

Description: Oxalic acid (OA), formed as an oxidation product in alkaline peroxide bleaching (P) of mechanical pulps, can form a sparingly soluble salt with calcium and cause severe scale deposit problems. The focus of this work was the question how much OA is formed from the different components of spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), i.e., from cellulose, lignin, hemicelluloses, extractives, and bark, during the P-stage of bleaching. Isolated wood components and monosaccharides typical for spruce hemicelluloses and pectins were treated with chemicals of P-stage for 90 min at 73°C, and the released OA was analyzed by ion chromatography. Most OA was formed from galacturonic and glucuronic acids, xylans, and lignin. Taking into account the content of these substances in spruce wood, lignin can be regarded as the major source of oxalate. Untreated spruce bark was found to contain substantial amounts of oxalate, and an additional amount of oxalate was formed in the P-stage. It is evident that effective debarking is essential, not only for pulp brightness, but also for the control of calcium oxalate formation.

Description: Wood basic density (BD) is related to other wood characteristics and its determination is important in forest inventory, though BD must be differentiated from the apparent density (AD), which relates to the moisture content (MC) of wood. The aim of this study is to demonstrate a reliable conversion from BD to AD for any MC of Eucalyptus grandis wood based on two exponential and linear models that relate volumetric shrinkage to MC. To this end, wood specimens were submitted to drying and the volumetric shrinkage was determined as a function of MC. The two models proved to be efficient in the conversion of BD to AD and vice versa.

Description: Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) lumber was tested in terms of off-axis modulus of elasticity (MOEoff-axis) and off-axis logarithmic decrement (λoff-axis) by longitudinal and flexural vibration (VTlong and VTflex) methods. Similar to the results obtained in a previous study, these results indicate that the values of MOEoff-axis are dependent on the length-to-width ratio of specimens when the value of off-axis angle (θ) is approximately 15°. Although the λoff-axis values are also dependent on the length-to-width ratio, the dependence is not pronounced over a specific range of θ. To measure the λoff-axis value accurately, as well as the MOEoff-axis value, the specimen should be sufficiently slender.

Description: Bending properties have been determined by mechanical testing [modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR)] and by means of longitudinal (L) and transverse (T) vibration nondestructive methods on 150 sawn timber pieces of Pinus radiata D. Don, with the dimensions of 80×120 mm cross-section and 2500 mm long, from Catalonia, Spain. The fundamental vibration frequency was measured by recording the sound produced by hitting the piece in L and T directions, and this signal was analyzed by fast Fourier transform sound analyzer. The dynamic MOE was obtained for both procedures and compared with static MOE and MOR. The notion of concentrated knot diameter ratio (CKDR) was introduced to improve the prediction of MOR. CKDR gives better results when this parameter is referred to the central portion of piece length. Both methods (L and T frequencies) have similar accuracy in prediction of mechanical properties, but the first one is simpler and has some practical advantages. The timber graded with this nondestructive method offers better results than the visual grading rules for the same output.

Description: Twelve monolignol (coniferyl alcohol, sinapyl alcohol and p-coumaryl alcohol) β-glycosides (β-glucosides, β-galactosides, β-xylosides and β-mannosides) were synthesised to obtain fundamental NMR data for the analysis of phenyl glycoside type lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs). That is, the 1,2-trans glycosides (the β-glucosides, β-galactosides and β-xylosides) and the 1,2-cis glycosides (the β-mannosides) were synthesized by means of Koenig-Knorr glycosylation and β-selective Mitsunobu glycosylation strategies, respectively. In addition, dihydromonolignol and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde derivative β-glycosides were also prepared from the corresponding monolignol glycosides and their intermediates, respectively. The correlation observed for the C1β-H1β bonds of the sugar moieties in the HSQC spectra of the all β-glycosides varied and were in the range of δC/δH 96–104/4.7–5.4 ppm. Especially, it was found that the correlations derived from the C1β-H1β bonds of the guaiacyl and p-hydroxyphenyl β-mannosides were close to those derived from the C1α-H1α bonds of the 4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronic acid moieties described in the literature.

Description: Various lignin determination methods have been applied to hemicellulose-rich wood extracts obtained after pressurized hot-water extraction (PHWE) and membrane ultrafiltration (UF). In focus were the chlorine number (Cl no.) method, the acetyl bromide method, and the four modifications of the Klason lignin determination, such as the KCL, TAPPI, LAP, and Goldschmid methods. The furfural (F) and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) concentrations in the acid hydrolysates were also determined. The mass balances of the fraction were calculated with respect to the contents of dry solids and lignin, including the acid-soluble lignin. The reliability of the methods was evaluated based on the lignin mass balances and the gross chemical composition of the extracts. Although the results were dependent on the method applied, the lignin mass balance calculations yielded similar results in general.

Description: The lignification of ray parenchyma cells in the sapwood (sW) and heartwood (hW) of Pinus densiflora was investigated by thioacidolysis and the subsequent Raney nickel desulfuration. The samples rich and less rich in ray parenchyma cells were prepared by laser microdissection (LMD). The whole sections burned randomly by the laser served as the controls. Guaiacyl (G) monomers were detected in all the samples, and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) monomers were detectable only in trace amounts, while syringyl (S) units were absent, as expected in softwood. In sW samples rich in ray parenchyma cells, the yields of G monomers are significantly lower than in the other samples. The various types of G-G and one G-H dimers were detected, and the β-1′, β-5′, and 5-5′ dimers were dominant. The relative distributions of lignin interunit linkages were very similar in all the samples regardless of the abundance of the ray parenchyma cells in the sW or hW tissues.

Description: The results of a 2D simulation model have been validated by experimental data to check the possibility of infrared (IR) heating of rotating green logs in the course of veneer production. The assumption that the experimental situation can be described by simplified analytical solutions has been confirmed. In the knowledge of the thermal and physical characteristics of green wood, two methods are now available to calculate rapidly the temperature within the wood log and the maximum surface temperature reached by a green log rotating under an IR heating source: (1) by numerical simulation and (2) by analytical equations, which are simpler than the computationally intensive finite element method. Experimental results, validated by both methods, show that an IR heating system as part of an industrial peeling machine would not warm-up green wood to the required peeling temperature at current peeling speeds.