17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), an endocrine disruptor (ED) excreted by women and is found in contraceptive and hormone replacement pills used at menopause. An increase in EDs requires alternative means of water and sewage treatment, since these compounds threaten human health and the environment, even at trace levels. Phytotechnology stands out from other processes because it is sustainable, given that plants are used to recover the contaminated environment. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate rice grass performance in the removal of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and determine the effect of this hormone on the root anatomy and chlorophyll content of the species. A completely randomized design was used with 4 replications: EE2 concentration composed of 4 study treatments (420, 300, 180 and 60 μg L-1 EE2) and 2 control treatments (positive and negative). The effect of the treatments was evaluated over time (1, 7 and 15 days). EE2 removal from the solution was analyzed by HPLC. Chlorophyll was analyzed by UVvis spectrophotometry, showing that EE2 does not interfere with the photosynthetic activity of rice grass. Aerenchyma was analyzed by microphotographs of root sections, revealing a higher proportion in plants exposed to the hormone, indicating morpho-anatomical adaptations to survive in this medium. Thus, it can be concluded that rice grass has significant phytoremediation potential after 7 days’ exposure, surviving and adapting to the contaminated environment, and can be used to complement water and sewage treatments. = O 17α-etinilestradiol (EE2) é um interferente endócrino (IE) liberado pelo organismo feminino e encontrado em remédios contraceptivos e de reposição hormonal na menopausa. A ascensão dos IEs requer meios alternativos de tratamento de água e esgoto, pois esses compostos ameaçam a saúde humana e o meio ambiente, mesmo em nível traço. A fitotecnologia vem se distinguindo dos demais processos por ser sustentável, tendo em vista que a recuperação do meio contaminado é feita através de plantas. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o capim arroz na remoção do 17α-etinilestradiol (EE2), bem como verificar o efeito desse hormônio na anatomia radicular e no teor de clorofila dessa espécie. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 4 repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram das concentrações de EE2 (420, 300, 180 e 60 μg L-1), mais dois controles (positivo e negativo). O efeito dos tratamentos foi avaliado no tempo, sendo: 1, 7 e 15 dias (tempo de remediação). A análise da remoção do EE2 da solução foi feita por HPLC. A análise da clorofila foi feita por espectrofotômetro UV-vis e mostrou que o EE2 não interfere na atividade fotossintética de capim arroz. A análise dos aerênquimas foi executada por microfotografias de secções das raízes, revelando maior proporção de aerênquimas nas plantas que tiveram contato com o hormônio, indicando adaptações morfoanatômicas para sobreviverem nesse meio. Sendo assim, a espécie tem alto potencial fitorremediador com 7 dias de exposição, sobrevivendo e se adaptando no ambiente contaminado, podendo ser empregada como complemento em tratamentos de água e esgoto.

Con el fin de determinar bajo condiciones de campo la cantidad de agua lluvia que se mueve verticalmente a varias profundidades en la Altillanura, se seleccionó un suelo Tipyc Haplustox isohipertérmico caolinítico del municipio de Puerto López (Meta), trabajado durante varios años (2,4 y 6 pases de rastra por año para un total acumulado al momento de las pruebas de 8, 16 y 32 pases) y diferentes condiciones de manejo (Sabana nativa; Arroz (con 8 y 16 pases de rastra) y Pasto (B. Dictyoneura con 16 y 32 pases de rastra)). Se evaluó in situ la cantidad de agua lluvia que pasa a través de diferentes profundidades del suelo utilizando microlisímetros de embudo instalados a las siguientes profundidades: 3 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm y 30 cm. A cada profundidad se midió el volumen de agua que pasaba por cada lámina de suelo y se determinaron los componentes solubles (NO3, Ca, K, P), pH y Conductividad eléctrica. Adicionalmente se determinó la cantidad de lluvia semanal caída en el área de trabajo, para establecer la relación existente entre la precipitación y la cantidad de agua que pasaba por cada profundidad.
Se encontró una alta variabilidad en la forma en
que el agua se mueve dentro del suelo, en lo cual se
destaca el flujo preferencial; también, que la cantidad
de componentes solubles que se mueve de una profun
didad a otra en función de Ja cantidad de agua que
pasa. Para los suelos de la Altillanura se encontró que
los pastos permiten una mejor distribución de agua y
nutrientes puesto que ellos crean y mantienen macro-
poros mejorando el estado físico del suelo. = With the purpose of determining under field conditions the quantity of rainfall that moves vertically to several depths in the Altillanura, a soil Tipyc Haplustox isohipertérmico caolinítico of the municipality of Port López (Meta) was selected, worked during several years (2, 4 and 6 trail passes per year for a total accumulated to the moment of the tests of 8, 16 and 32 passes) and different handling conditions (native Savanna; Rice (with 8 and 16 trail passes) and I Pasture (B. Dictyoneura with 16 and 32 trail passes)). It was evaluated in situ the quantity of rain that passes through different depths of the soil using funnel microlisímetros installed to the following depths: 3 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm. To each depth the volume of water was measured that it went by each soil sheet and the soluble components were determined (NO3, Ca, K, P), pH and electric Conductivity. Additionally the quantity of rain weekly fall was determined in the work area, to establish the existent relationship between the precipitation and the quantity of water that it went by each depth.
There was high variability in the form which water moves inside the soil, in which is affected by the preferential flow. The quantity of soluble components that move from a layer to another being function of the quantity of water that passes. For the soils of the Altillanura it was found that the grasses allow a better distribution of water and nutritious since they create and they maintain macroporos improving the physical state of the soil | IG Valenzuela, G Perea, Edgar Amézquita Collazos, 'Evaluación del agua gravitacional a través del perfil de un suelo de la altillanura', Suelos Ecuatoriales, 2014

Abstract: The objective was to determine the mineral profile in samples of water, soil, forage, feed concentrate, mineral salts and blood of 170 sheep in nine ranches in the State of Tlaxcala, México. The minerals analyzed were Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na, K and P. The statistical model included the effect of the ranch on all variables. For the blood the effect of physiological State was determined. There were differences (p < 0.05) between ranches in the concentrations of Mg, Na, K and P in the water. The soils of the ranches have different concentrations (p < 0.05) of Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na, K and P. The contents of Zn, Mn, Ca, Na and Ca:P ratio were higher (p < 0.05) in legumes than in grasses. Serum concentrations of Zn, Ca and P were higher (p < 0.05) in lambs than in sheep. | Resumen: El objetivo fue determinar el perfil mineral en muestras de agua, suelo, forraje, alimento concentrado, sales minerales y sangre de 170 ovinos en nueve ranchos del estado de Tlaxcala, México. Los minerales analizados fueron Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na, K y P. El modelo estadístico incluyó el efecto del rancho en todas las variables, para la sangre se determinó el efecto de estado fisiológico. Hubo diferencias (p < 0.05) entre ranchos en las concentraciones de Mg, Na, K y P en el agua. Los suelos de los ranchos tienen concentraciones diferentes (p ≤ 0.05) de Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na, K y P. Los contenidos de Zn, Mn, Ca, Na y la relación Ca:P fueron mayores (p < 0.05) en las leguminosas que en las gramíneas. Las concentraciones séricas de Zn, Ca y P fueron mayores (p < 0.05) en los corderos que en las ovejas.

Groundwater-level fluctuations at a large scale have a significant effect on the preservation and restoration of vegetation. This study determined suitable groundwater depth within which natural vegetation grows well, and analysed the effect of groundwater regulation on vegetation restoration in Tianjin City, northern China. Normal and lognormal distributions were used to fit the curve of the relation between vegetation and groundwater depth. The groundwater depth range corresponding to the higher frequency of vegetation distribution was regarded as the ‘suitable water depth’ range for vegetation growth. The suitable groundwater depth for shrub growth was 3–5 m and for grass growth 1–3 m. A groundwater flow model predicted the future changes of groundwater depths in the vegetation distribution area under the condition that the current levels of groundwater extraction are maintained. The results showed that there is potential for the extraction of groundwater in shrubland areas, but for grassland areas the water-table elevation showed a downward trend, meaning that water shortages in some areas may be more severe in the future. Finally, based on the current groundwater extraction regime, two regulation schemes were developed: (1) for shrubland, groundwater extraction was reduced by 10% in the ecological water deficit areas, and extraction was increased by 10% in the ecological water surplus and suitable areas, and (2) for grassland, groundwater recharge was increased by the restoration of the wetland areas. In conclusion, the groundwater depths in most of the area would be more suitable for vegetation growth under the regulation schemes.

The creation of artificial dunes for coastal protection may have important consequences for freshwater lenses in coastal aquifers. The objective of this study was to compare the recharge processes below such a young dune with scant vegetation to an older dune covered by grass and herbaceous vegetation. To this aim, soil and water samples were collected from the unsaturated zone at two sites on Langeoog Island in northern Germany, and the soil water was analysed for stable water isotopes and chloride. Recharge rates were calculated by using a new version of HYDRUS-1D, which was modified to simulate isotope fractionation during evaporation. Both the model outcomes and the data highlight the importance of fractionation, which is slightly more pronounced at the older, more vegetated dune. At the newly constructed dune, vegetation dieback seemingly reduces the importance of transpiration during summer. Recharge occurs year-round, albeit predominantly during the winter months. Calculated recharge rates are consistent with lysimeter measurements, but are significantly higher than previously reported rates based on groundwater age data, which is primarily attributed to the absence of dune shrub at the sites investigated here. More data are needed to establish the importance of soil-water repellency and overland flow. Based on the results, it is proposed that repeated isotope sampling can yield important insights into the dynamics of recharge processes, including their response to climate change.