The article presents the application of isotope methods in the study of groundwater transport processes in the unsaturated zone of Selniška Dobrava coarse gravel aquifer. Emphasis is given to the use of environmental isotopes as natural tracers in the study of groundwater dynamics in the unsaturated zone. Estimation of groundwater flow characteristics was based on experimental work in lysimeter. Based on long-time isotope investigations with the use of lumped parameter models some water flow parameters (mean residence time, mean matrix flow velocity) in the unsaturated zone were calculated.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1597269
Four irrigation and fertilization treatments used in production of lettuce in groundwater protection area (Ljubljansko polje) were applied and tested for their potential for nitrate leaching. 15N labelled fertilizer was used to trace the movement of N. Environmentally sustainable practices (split vs. broadcast fertilisation) were tested. Fertigation and improved irrigation scheduling efficiently minimized nitrate leaching, and should be considered for vegetable production in or close to groundwater protection zones.
COBISS.SI-ID: 6820217
In the study the main geogenic geochemical trends as well as an anomaly of high concentrations of heavy metals were established. It was found that the concentrations of heavy metals in the vicinity of lead smelter and the urban area of Veles for a couple of times officially exceeded certain critical values. At the same time the critical area of soil contamination with heavy metals, especially cadmium, lead and zinc is limited. Critical area of contaminated land in relation to our results is 6.6 km2. The research is one of the guiding principles for future remedial actions in the area of Veles.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1696341
The aim of this study to test the new sampling media – earthworm casts in a highly contaminated area. The investigation was carried out at the ancient Hg ore roasting site Pšenk in the surroundings of Idrija, where extremely high Hg contents in soils and SOM were determined in previous investigations. 32 earthworm cast samples were collected in the research grid 30 x 30 m in order to compare the Hg contents and spatial distribution in earthworm casts to the values and distributions in SOM and soil (0–15 cm). Extremely elevated Hg concentrations were determined in earthworm casts from the studied area ranging from 5.4 to 4,330 mg/kg with the median of 31 mg/kg. The Hg values in casts are somewhat lower than in soil (6.3–8600 mg/kg) and slightly higher compared to soil organic matter (SOM) (1.5–4200 mg/kg). Strong correlation (r²=0.75) between Hg contents in casts and soil was found, while correlation between casts and SOM was positive but weaker (r²=0.35). Spatial distribution of Hg in earthworm casts show the highest concentrations in the central part of investigated area, similar to the distribution in soil. Hg contents rapidly decrease from the centre towards the margins of the studied area, where they reach values of less than 50 mg/kg. It was shown that Hg contents and dispersion in casts are comparable to those in soil, which indicates that at investigated area soil contamination is strongly reflected in contamination of earthworm casts.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2030933
The solid airborne particles in snow deposits from mining and ore processing area Žerjav, Slovenia have been investigated using SEM/EDS. Pb-, Sb- and Sn-bearing oxides and sulphides are the most important anthropogenic metal-bearing particles. Their morphologies indicate that they formed at high temperatures above their melting-points and their quantity decrease with increasing distance from the Pb-processing plant, which indicates that nowadays Pb processing is the predominant source of metal-bearing phases in the investigated area. Geogenic-anthropogenic Zn- and Pb-bearing ore minerals are present in subordinate quantities. SEM/EDS analysis also showed that contents of Sb and Sn are much higher and more variable in these anthropogenic phases than in naturally occurring Pb-bearing ore minerals in the area. Presented study demonstrated the importance of single particle analysis using electron microscopy and microanalysis techniques for the assessment of sources of potentially toxic elements in the environment.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2193237