El aporte al Lago de Maracaibo de nutrimentos como el nitrógeno y el fósforo a través de las aguas residuales no tratadas, efluentes industriales y de camaroneras y de fuentes no puntuales como las de escorrentía en la cuenca han contribuido con el masivo crecimiento de la lenteja de agua (Lemna sp.). Esta gran cantidad de biomasa producida pudiera transformarse en un material de alto valor agronómico como abono y/o enmienda al suelo. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el compostaje de lenteja de agua colectada en el Lago de Maracaibo (LA) y estiércol de ovino (EO) mediante la caracterización química de los materiales antes y después del compostaje. El compostaje se realizó en la granja Ana María Campos de la Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad del Zulia, ubicada en el km 7 de la carretera vía La Cañada, Maracaibo, Venezuela (10º 33´ N 71º 43´ O) , en un diseño totalmente al azar, con cuatro repeticiones, en pilas de aproximadamente 0,85 m de diámetro y 0,5 m de altura, en las siguientes proporciones en volumen: 100% LA, 75% LA-25% EO, 50% LA-50% EO, 25% LA-75% EO y 100% EO. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el proceso de compostaje mejoró la calidad de los materiales originales y que los compost producidos poseen un alto potencial como abono y/o enmienda de suelo

Many environmental problems are rooted in human behavior. This study aimed to explore the causal effect of cultural environmental bias on ‘sustainable behavior’ among agricultural groundwater users in Fars province, Iran, according to Klockner’s comprehensive model. A survey-based research project was conducted to gathering data on the paradigm of environmental psychology. The sample included agricultural groundwater users (n = 296) who were selected at random within a structured sampling regime involving study areas that represent three (higher, medium and lower) bounds of the agricultural-groundwater-vulnerability spectrum. Results showed that the “environment as ductile (EnAD)” variable was a strong determinant of sustainable behavior as it related to groundwater use, and that EnAE had the highest causal effect on the behavior of agricultural groundwater users. The adjusted model explained 41% variance of “groundwater sustainable behavior”. Based on the results, the groundwater sustainable behaviors of agricultural groundwater users were found to be affected by personal and subjective norm variables and that they are influenced by casual effects of the “environment as ductile (EnAD)” variable. The conclusions reflect the Fars agricultural groundwater users’ attitude or worldview on groundwater as an unrecoverable resource; thus, it is necessary that scientific disciplines like hydrogeology and psycho-sociology be considered together in a comprehensive approach for every groundwater study.

Dissolved methane concentrations in shallow groundwater are known to vary both spatially and temporally. The extent of these variations is poorly documented although this knowledge is critical for distinguishing natural fluctuations from anthropogenic impacts stemming from oil and gas activities. This issue was addressed as part of a groundwater research project aiming to assess the risk of shale gas development for groundwater quality over a 500-km² area in the St. Lawrence Lowlands (Quebec, Canada). A specific study was carried out to define the natural variability of methane concentrations and carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios in groundwater, as dissolved methane is naturally ubiquitous in aquifers of this area. Monitoring was carried out over a period of up to 2.5 years in seven monitoring wells. Results showed that for a given well, using the same sampling depth and technique, methane concentrations can vary over time from 2.5 to 6 times relative to the lowest recorded value. Methane isotopic composition, which is a useful tool to distinguish gas origin, was found to be stable for most wells, but varied significantly over time in the two wells where methane concentrations are the lowest. The use of concentration ratios, as well as isotopic composition of methane and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), helped unravel the processes responsible for these variations. This study indicates that both methane concentrations and isotopic composition, as well as DIC isotopes, should be regularly monitored over at least 1 year to establish their potential natural variations prior to hydrocarbon development.