Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Amendments'

This research project stems from a single puzzle: how can constitutional amendments be unconstitutional? Adopting a combination of theoretical and comparative enquiries, this thesis establishes the nature and scope of constitutional amendment powers by focusing on the question of substantive limitations on the amendment power, looking at both their prevalence in practice and the conceptual coherence of the very idea of limitations to amendment powers. The thesis is composed of three parts. The first part is comparative. It examines substantive explicit and implicit limitations on constitutional amendment powers through manifold descriptions of a similar constitutional phenomenon across countries, demonstrating a comprehensive pattern of a constitutional behaviour. This process is theory-driven, and the second part of the thesis constructs a general theory of unamendability, which explains the nature and scope of amendment powers. The third part explains how judicial review of amendments is to be conceived in light of the theory of unamendability, and further assesses the possible objections to the theory of unamendability. The theory of unamendability identifies and develops a middle ground between constituent power and pure constituted power, a middle ground that is suggested by the French literature on ‘derived constituent power’. Undergirding the discussion, therefore, is a simple yet fundamental distinction between primary constituent (constitution-making) power and secondary constituent (constitution-amending) power. This distinction, understood in terms of an act of delegation of powers, enables the construction of a theory of the limited (explicitly or implicitly) scope of secondary constituent powers. This distinction is supplemented by a further one, between various shades of secondary constituent powers along a ‘spectrum’, a theoretical construct that links amendment procedures to limitations on amendment powers. The theory of unamendability explicates the limited nature of amendment powers and the practice of judicial review of amendments, thus clarifying the puzzle of unconstitutional constitutional amendments.

The application of animal manures to agricultural land as a soil organic amendment has been identified as an important route by which foodborne pathogens can enter the human food chain. Knowledge of the presence and incidence of key foodborne pathogens in manure is a vital first step in the establishment of sound and effective guidelines for management and prevention of contamination by manure. The work described in this thesis attempts to determine the persistence of pathogens when raw manures are directly applied to agricultural soils, and treated under thermophilic composting conditions. Results from this study indicated that the current conditions suggested by typical food safety guidelines are sufficient to reduce the population of enteric bacteria to levels that minimise risks associated with culturable cells in raw manure and finished compost. However, E. coli cells have the potential to enter a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state and are undetected by culture-based monitoring methods, thus providing a false impression of the innate risk of the product. Prc, bamB and tolA, which are responsible for stabilising the cell membrane, were found to be essential genes required for surviving heat treatment at 55°C. In addition, the presence of relA and oxyR suggested that E. coli may use the VBNC state as an adaptive strategy for long-term survival to withstand multiple stresses, including heat stress. Entering the VBNC state with a strengthen cell envelope may help E. coli to survive prolonged heating during standard composting conditions. Successful resuscitation from the VBNC state was achieved in the presence of cell-free supernatant from actively growing E. coli MG1655. These results underline the importance of considering VBNC cells when evaluating the sanitary effect of the composting process. VBNC cells in composts could facilitate the persistence of pathogens in manure-amended soil and thus pose a risk of microbial contamination of fresh produce.

From time to time, firms do repurchase their shares. An open market repurchase or a general tender offer does not have the effect of transfering wealth from one group of shareholders to another. This is in contrast to a privately negotiated premium repurchase from a single block holder where the remaining shareholders are excluded from participating in the offer. This type of targeted share repurchasing has been observed before - or in connection with - a takeover attempt and often has the effect of terminating the takeover attempt. Such a targeted share repurchase is commonly referred to as "greenmail". The price is usually at a premium over the prevailing market price and the seller will typically agree to abstain from acquiring any more of the company's voting stock. The non-participating shareholders stand to lose from both the premium paid out of corporate assets and the loss of a potential takeover offer premium. Recently, firms have been proposing to institute antigreenmail charter amendments that would prevent management from engaging in greenmail. Such a proposal may or may not be in the best interest of shareholders. This paper attempts to measure the economic significance of an antigreenmail proposal. The methodology chosen is that of an event-time study. The magnitude of abnormal returns is used to gauge its significance in relation to the day that the market learns of the antigreenmail charter amendment. The "stockholder interest hypothesis" predicts that the proposal is undertaken with the interest of shareholders in mind and thus stock prices should react positively to the announcement. However, the results obtained do not support that hypothesis. Stockholders seem to suffer a statistically significant decline in the value of their shares around the day when news of such proposals reach the market. This result is also inconsistent with previous empirical evidence on targeted repurchases and standstill agreements.
Business, Sauder School of
Graduate

Gaseous movement in soil varies with soil's physicochemical properties and biochemical oxygen demand. Diffusivity patterns of four different types of soil (sand, silt, sandy silt, and clay) were examined and sand have shown the highest rate of diffusivity increase with the decreasing soil moisture content. Raw cow manure was then added to the sandy soil at four different rates 0, 20,40, and 80 Mg/ha. Depletion of soil oxygen and changes of carbon dioxide and ammonia for different concentrations were compared against the control. The oxygen depletion or carbon dioxide and ammonia accumulation reached the highest level at initial 16 hour followed by gradual reversal to a steady state. A significant amount of oxygen depletion was noticed with the different concentration levels. Oxygen depletion had shown an oscillatory behavior towards zero. Among different concentrations that of 40 Mg/ha showed the highest oscillatory behavior, but the shortest time was required to recover its original oxygen level. Thus the 40 Mg/ha application of organic matter is seems to be the optimum level for sandy soil.

In two pot experiments using two different crop ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and two flax (Linum usitatissimum) varieties Viola and Elise, ryegrass decreased in the pool of heavy metals compared with bare soil using EDTA as extractant. NH4+ decreased the soil pH, increased EDTA-extractable Zn and increased the Zn uptake. Lime addition increased the pH and depressed Zn uptake. The pool of extractable EDTA was not changed by growing both of the flax varieties. Lime increased EDTA-extractable Cu and Pb significantly, but decreased the Zn, and pH increased in this order NH4+NH4++lime>NH4+>NO3-. Ammonium decreased the pH more than other treatments. In agar using Bromocresol purple indicator NH4+ increased the pH in the rhizosphere of different plants. With two different initial pH treatments (7 and 3.2) the NH4_ decreased the pH in the rhizosphere at high initial pH 7 and maintained the low pH at initial pH 3.2 to 4 against the buffer capacity. At different initial pH 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the ammonium decreased the high pH and maintained the low pH, but NO3- had no effect on the pH. Ammonium increased the toxicity of Zn due to pH decreases. There was no effect of both nitrogen sources NH4+ or NO3- on rhizosphere pH when applied as a foliar application. These indicated that the NH4+ can decrease the pH in the rhizosphere of plants and could play an important role in manipulation of the rhizosphere bioavailability of heavy metals. Toxicity of the three metals is Cu>Pb>Zn in this order and the crops tolerance is following this order pea>flax>barley. An agar-Hoagland nutrient solution contaminated with two soils, sewage treated soil (SBS) and galena soil (G), was used with flax as a test crop. The ammonium treatment lowered the pH in both soils, but with galena treated greater than SBS soil, this is attributed to the buffering capacity of the SBS soil. Averaged over all the concentrations the NF4+ treatments resulted in higher Zn shoot content that NO3- treatment, while in Cu shoot content nitrate was more than ammonium. The transfer factor of lead with ammonium treatment was greater than nitrate treatments at the 0.1 and 0.25% galena and the transfer factor of the Zn and Pb more than Cu in all treatments. At high initial pH 8 and high concentration of Zn and Cu barley grew well and this is attributed to immobilisation of Zn and Cu compared with low pH 5 and 6.5 where the barley plant did not survive. Ammonium lowered the high pH 8 and caused lower biomass production of barley than nitrate.

Cotton was grown in the fourth year of a soil amendment trial that evaluated 4 different soil amendments in 12 treatments on the Safford Agricultural Center. Yields varied from 1,659 to 1,392 pounds of lint per acre but none of the treatments yielded statistically different from the check. The higher yields were seen in the treatments with high and medium rates of soil sulfur, Boligrow, or gypsum, the lower yields were seen in the treatments with low rates of those amendments or with a biological amendment, but the conclusion of the study is that soil amendments did not significantly increase yields on that soil with its EC value of 2.3 dS/m. Crop and fiber quality measurements are reported here.

The effects of sulfur-containing amendments (H₂SO₄,Al₂(SO₄)₃ and gypsum) or crust formation, soil chemical properties, seedling emergence and yields of onions (Allium cepa), tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) and chili peppers (Capsicum sp.) were studied on a Pima clay loam soil. Treatments were surface applied on a strip above the seeds. The chemicals influenced the penetrometer index, soil-pH, electrical conductivity, DPTA-extractable soil Fe, Cu, Zn, Mu and seedling emergence in two greenhouse experiments. Gypsum and H₂SO₄ increased seedling emergence while Al₂(SO₄)₃ reduced the soil-pH and EC more than H₂SO₄ and gypsum. Based upon penetrometer readings, H₂SO₄ was the best anti-crusting agent tested followed by gypsum and Al₂(SO₄)₃. At the end of the study, all soil samples were very low in KCl extractable Al, showing that Al toxicity was not responsible for seedling damage. Gypsum decreased levels of Mn and Zn but did not affect Fe and Cu. Al₂(SO₄)₃ increased Fe and Zn, decreased Cu but did not affect Mn. H₂SO₄ did not affect extractable Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe levels. In a field study using two water qualities at Safford, gypsum produced the most tomato seedlings whereas Al₂(SO₄)₃ and H₂SO₄ produced the least. Onion stand counts were not affected by the chemicals with either water. Gypsum, H₂SO₄ and Al₂(SO₄)₃ polymer produced the highest pepper stand counts with the saltier water but there were no differences with lower salt water. Tomatoes produced the highest yield with gypsum and lowest with H₂SO₄ and Al₂(SO₄)₃ with saltier water. With lower salt water, gypsum produced highest yield, followed by the H₂SO₄. Both H₂SO₄ treatments produce low yields. Onions showed no treatment response under lower salt water, while with saltier water, gypsum and H₂SO₄ produced the highest yields. Pepper yields were not affected by amendments with the lower salt water. Al₂(SO₄)₃ polymer, H₂SO₄ and gypsum increased yields with the saltier water. Varieties of peppers and tomatoes produced different yields in response to water quality in a supplementary field study.

Employee share incentive schemes have become a common phenomenon in companies world-wide and are an established method of allowing the employee to hold equity in the company which in turn allows the employee to personally benefit from the growth and profitability of the company. In light of the fact that employees receive remuneration by virtue of their employment and through their participation in these employee share schemes, the tax treatment of this remuneration should be considered in terms of the South African taxation laws. The Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 has been amended over time so as to introduce various anti-avoidance rules aimed at preventing employee participants in these schemes from classifying income received by virtue of employment as either dividends or capital gains. These anti-avoidance provisions, contained in sections 8C and 10(1)(k)(i) and the Eighth Schedule to the ITA, have evolved since their introduction, so as to: 1. address any anomalies and to close perceived loopholes identified in terms of these provisions; and 2. to clarify the circumstances in which these provisions will find application. This study highlights the evolution of these anti-avoidance provisions and discusses (a) whether the amendments succeeded in addressing the anomalies and closing loopholes as intended; and (b) whether the amendments inadvertently created any additional anomalies. An analysis of the current wording of the anti-avoidance provisions is conducted and the impact these provisions on the most prevalent employee share schemes operating through trusts is explored, whereafter suggestions for further amendments to the ITA are proposed.

[Truncated abstract] Weeds are a major limitation to agricultural and horticultural production and the main method of control is the use of herbicides. In addition to the resulting chemical pollution of the environment, the wide spread and continues use of herbicides have resulted in many weeds developing resistance to commonly used herbicides. This study investigated the potential of using green manures as a cultural method of control of weed invasion in agricultural fields. To understand the general mechanisms involved in the suppression of seed germination in green manure amended soils, seeds of crop species with little or no dormancy requirements were used in certain studies. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and cress (Lepidium sativum) seeds were sown to a sandy soil amended with green manures of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), Brassica juncea, or oats (Avena sativa) to determine if the amendments affected seed germination and/or decay. It was hypothesised that the addition of plant material would increase the microbial activity of the soil thereby increasing seed decay, under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Initial experiments used lettuce, cress and lupin seeds. Lettuce and cress are commonly used as standard test species for seed viability studies. Subsequent experiments used seeds of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), silver grass (Vulpia bromoides), wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and wild oat (Avena fatua) as these weed species are commonly found throughout agricultural regions in Western Australia. Amending the soil with lupin or Brassica green manure was established as treatments capable of developing environments suppressive to seed germination. Lupin residues as green manure showed the strongest inhibition of seed germination and seed decay. The decay of certain seeds was enhanced with changes to soil microbial activity, dissolved organic carbon and carbon and nitrogen amounts in lupin amended soil. Seeds of weed species were decayed in lupin amended soil, but showed varied degree of decay. Annual ryegrass and silver grass were severely decayed and wild oat and wild radish were less decayed, in lupin amended soil.

Two field studies were conducted during the 1993-1994 season to evaluate the response of lettuce to soil applied amendments. Treatments included gypsum, polymaleic acid (Spersal), and two acid products (N-phuric and Phos-phuric). Gypsum rates (0, 2240, and 4480 kg /ha) were the main plots and other soil amendments were subplot randomized within the mainplots. Overall, gypsum reduced early growth and vigor of lettuce. Gypsum had no effects on marketable yield and quality parameters in experiment 1, but the highest gypsum rate (4448 kg /ha) decreased marketable yield in experiment 2. There were no differences in plant stands due to subplot treatments. However, there were differences in earlygrowth and vigor. In experiment 1, both "N-phuric" and "Phos-phuric" increased early lettuce growth compared to the control. In experiment 2, Phos-phuric was superior to N-phuric. In experiment 1, the benefits of early growth and vigor to the "N-phuric" and "Phos-phuric" carried to harvest where marketable yield and quality were significantly increased. Spersal did not significantly effect yield and quality of lettuce in either experiment.

In 1990, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) was enacted to support disabled Americans as they sought to procure equality in society and the workplace. Despite these intentions, full implementation of the ADA has been fraught with court challenges and legislative amendments. As it currently stands, it is unclear as to how the judicial system is collectively interpreting a qualified disability. Using Clark and Connolly's interpretation of legal textualism as the theoretical foundation, the purpose of this case study of the Americans with Disabilities Act was to better understand and explore how the judiciary is currently interpreting qualified disability post-ADA amendments. Data for this study included court interpretations and post-ADA amendment cases among the 12 United States Circuit Courts. These data were coded through a multi-stage coding procedure that included evaluating coding, cycle coding, hand coding, and subcoding. Coded data were analyzed using a thematic analysis procedure. The key theme emerging from this study indicated that the ADA amendments still do not promote congressional intent in the judiciary. This study has implications for positive social change by informing Congress, legal practitioners, legal scholars, social scientists, and the disability community on the ways in which the judiciary is interpreting ADA amendments collectively among the 12 federal circuit courts.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2000.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 38 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 34-36).

There is interest in reducing chemical fertiliser in favour of organic amendments. Vermicompost leachate is the liquid resulting from organic waste breakdown by earthworms. Little is known about effects of different organic substrates on leachate properties. Various substrates were tested for their effect on earthworms, leachate chemical and microbial composition, and benefits to plants. Effect of 18 substrates on earthworm population and mass was measured over 8 weeks. Earthworm growth and survival varied with substrate. T-RFLP analysis from 6 substrates at 4 and 8 weeks showed differences in leachate bacteria and fungi. Banana(B), green bean(G) and rockmelon(R) were used, alone and in mixes. Earthworm population, mass, life cycle stage and cocoon number were measured over 16 weeks. ARISA analysis at 10 weeks showed differences in leachate bacteria. Leachates were stored for a year at 4°C and 24°C. Most leachate chemical and microbial properties changed with storage. Leachates from substrate mixes B/R or G/R were unchanged at 4°C. Leachates were applied to soybean, serradella and wheat. Unsterile G leachate increased soybean nodulation at 8 weeks and serradella nodulation at 10 weeks, but not at 5. Plant mass increased in chemically fertilised wheat at 5 and 10 weeks, and 5 for serradella. At 10 weeks there was no difference in serradella mass. G leachate effect on nodulation was tested on serradella. G leachate was compared with substrate mix of B/G/R leachate, synthetic G leachate, and chemicals (CRS). Microbes extracted from G leachate were applied. CRS produced the highest plant height and dry weight. Inoculation with G leachate microbes increased nodule mass in plants treated with CRS. Vermicompost recycles organic waste into a product that improves legume nodulation through microbial action and may increase biologically fixed nitrogen.

Third party compliant reporting standards govern how mining companies must disclose technical information concerning their mineral assets. These reporting standards apply to any public issuer. Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (MRMR) are critical in the determination of the mineral asset base as well as the market value of a mining company. Moreover, companies must present a qualifying technical report in accordance with existing reporting standards as a necessary step, required by lenders and financial institutions. This is a required step prior to finalizing any financial deal publicly or, in some cases, privately. This research examines issues with public reporting specifically as it involves industrial minerals and the challenges this sector faces getting the same recognition as other mineral commodities by the approving institutions. Different perspectives with regard to main elements of the reporting standards are presented. The efficiency of reporting standards is reviewed based on the findings of the interviews. These findings prepare the ground for further discussion on what needs to be improved, and how these changes could be achieved. Industrial mineral companies are facing serious challenges in terms of gaining capital. They have to compete not only with other mining companies working with other mineral commodities, but also with all public companies in other industries that are seeking investment dollars. A better understanding of the investment community’s decision making process and improvements to communication with investors increases the probability of gaining investment capital. This research examines the main indicators that investors review to evaluate an industrial mineral project. These indicators include MRMR that are the principal basis for the value of any mining company, the reputation of the management team which is built over time in a succession of achievements, and finally cost structure and future cost of development which are crucial to the future prosperity of company. This research further provides insight into the invisible link between public reporting of industrial minerals and investor confidence. The analysis presented here is based on 34 interviews conducted with experts from Canada, Australia, the UK, South Africa, and the USA.

Considerable amounts of N can be lost from manure through NH$ sb3$ volatilization. Four laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of organic amendments on reducing NH$ sb3$ loss from liquid hog manure (LHM). The organic amendments used in these studies were sugar, sawdust and paper products including filter paper (FP), paper bag (PB), newsprint (NP) and pulp sludge (PS). Generally, organic amendments had significant effects on reducing NH$ sb3$ loss from LHM and their effectiveness increased with increasing addition rates. Sugar addition of 3% or higher could eliminate the NH$ sb3$ loss, depending on LHM properties and incubation conditions. The effectiveness of sugar, especially lower rates, decrease with time. The unrecovered NH$ sb4$ loss increased and manure pH decreased with the increase in sugar rates, indicating that the reduction in NH$ sb3$ loss due to sugar addition may have been caused by N immobilization and pH reduction. Sawdust addition reduced the NH$ sb3$ loss by as much as 20% compared to the control. The mixture of 5.5% sugar and 5% sawdust was more effective in reducing NH$ sb3$ loss than 5.5% sugar alone but, lower sugar rates were not similarly affected by sawdust addition. Addition of 5% FP, PB, NP and PS resulted in the decrease in NH$ sb3$ loss by as much as 40, 47, 37 and 29% in comparison to the non-amended manure. The unrecovered NH$ sb4 sp+$ loss and the loss of added C increased with increasing C addition, indicating that N immobilization may be the cause of the decrease in NH$ sb3$ due to paper product additions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

This thesis aims to investigate the use of two materials: rockdust and greenwaste compost for use as soil fertility amendments. A field trial was conducted over three years to investigate the impact these materials had on plant yield, plant nutrient content, soil chemistry and soil microbial communities in direct comparison with chemical fertilizer and farmyard manure. There were annual applications of compost, manure and chemical fertilizer in spring with one rockdust application in the autumn prior to the first year of the trial. Two harvests were carried out each year in summer and autumn to determine differences in plant yield. The soil was analysed prior to applications to determine the baseline chemical status then was analysed at two more points through the trial. Results from the field trial showed clear effects of organic amendments on plant yield that were attributed to nitrogen addition by compost and manure. NPK chemical fertilizer produced a yield effect at an earlier point in the trial compared to manure and compost. This, and the chemical analysis of the materials showed that the organic materials required a period of mineralization of organic-N in order to replenish soil available nitrogen. The results from the field trial also showed differences in plant nutrient content (as a measure of plant quality). The organic treatments were shown to generally produce higher plant nutrient content than the NPK fertilizer showing that the increased yields of the inorganic fertilizer treatment impacted negatively on the nutrient content. No yield effects due to rockdust addition were apparent after 3 years of the field trial. In addition, rockdust did not impact on plant nutrient content nor did it affect the soil chemistry despite 3 years of weathering that was considered sufficient time to release nutrients to the soil. Samples of soil were taken in the summer after the final year of the field trial to determine long-term changes in the soil microbial communities between the treatments. Results showed that there were fewer long-term changes than were initially expected in soil microbial communites at the end of a 3 year trial of these materials. Short-term greenhouse pot trials were also conducted using 3 different test crops to investigate the use of greenwaste compost and various types of rockdust for use as growth media in comparison with a peat based control. Results showed that while greenwaste compost supported plant growth as well as the peat based media, no rockdust type increased plant growth beyond the yield in a greenwaste compost control. The short-term supply of nitrogen in greenwaste compost was as good as that of the peat based control and while the phosphate supplied by the peat based control was shown to give excessively high plant P content. Results from the pot trials showed that greenwaste compost could wholly or partially replace peat in plant growth media without negatively impacting on plant yield or quality. The likely effects of various types of rockdust on soil chemistry were investigated by carrying out nutrient extractions using increasing extractant ‘strength’. Nutrient extractions showed that a high degree of rock weathering was required to release small quantities of trace elements from rockdust samples. Sodium, calcium and to a lesser degree potassium, magnesium, iron and phosphate were supplied in greatest quantities from most rockdust samples with basic rocktypes releasing highest quantities of nutrients. As a result of the work carried out in this thesis, it is concluded that composted greenwaste could be a valuable addition to agricultural soil and that it could replace peat in some plant growth media. There are some implications to the use of composted materials – transport and application costs and the potential addition of potentially toxic elements to soil; however the potential nutrient addition and improved plant quality could make it an attractive fertility amendment in some organic farming techniques. It was concluded that rockdust was not shown to influence plant yield or quality in the agricultural setting of the field trial, nor was it shown to be a useful addition to plant growth media. Therefore rockdust could not be proven to be a useful soil fertility amendment.

Research was conducted to evaluate the potential of chitosan, a fishery waste-based material, and its derivative cross-linked chitosans, as soil amendments for the remediation of metal contaminated land. This research comprised modification of chitosan followed by a characterisation study, a batch sorption study, two pot experiments and a biodegradation study. Chitosan was modified with three cross-linking reagents, namely glutaraldehyde (GLA), epichlorohydrin (ECH) and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE). The characterisation study used X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) methods to investigate the effect of cross-linking treatment on the surface and physical properties of chitosan, the effect of metal interaction on the surface properties of chitosan and cross-linked chitosans, and the binding mechanism(s) of metal ions onto the chitosans. Cross-linking treatments on chitosan enhanced its chemical stability in acidic media and increased its BET surface area. Metal interaction reduced the crystallinity and changed the surface morphology of the chitosans. FTIR analysis revealed that the complexation of metal ions was through dative covalent interaction with the amino and hydroxyl groups of the chitosans. The batch sorption study evaluated the ability of chitosan and cross-linked chitosans to bind heavy metals. The effects of contact time, initial metal concentration and background electrolyte on metal binding were assessed. The binding behaviour was described by several kinetic and isotherm models. The maximum binding capacity (Q) values, estimated using the Langmuir isotherm model for the chitosans were comparable with other low-cost sorbents reported in the literature. The sorption-desorption study showed that the chitosans were able to retain metal ions on their surfaces, even at dilution factor of x11. The pot experiments evaluated the effectiveness of chitosan and chitosan-GLA in immobilising heavy metals in the contaminated soil. Their effects on plant growth and metal accumulation in plant tissue were determined using Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) and Brassica napus (rapeseed). For perennial ryegrass, the results were dependent on the rate of addition of the chitosans. Low application rates (up to 1% w/w) resulted in an increase in metal uptake, whereas 10% (w/w) addition decreased metal uptake. For rapeseed, metal uptake was decreased at all rates of application of chitosans. The ammonium acetate extractable metals in soil decreased following application of chitosan and plant growth. The biodegradation study measured microbial breakdown of the chitosans in both non-contaminated and contaminated soils. It was estimated that a longer period is required to complete the breakdown of the cross-linked chitosans (up to approximately 100 years) than unmodified chitosan (up to approximately 10 years). The influence of biodegradation on the bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in soil was studied concurrent with the biodegradation trial. It was found that the binding behaviour of chitosan for heavy metals in soils was not affected by the biodegradation process.

Low microbial activity and associated nutrient cycling are concerns in agricultural problem soils. The objectives of this study were to investigate microbial response on problem soils to amendments, drying-wetting cycles, and the interaction of amendments and drying-wetting cycles. In this laboratory study, soil carbon dioxide (CO2) flux was measured from thermal desorption treated soils and saline soils in response to Proganics, spent lime, and composted beef manure applications. Microbial activity was measured through CO2 flux and its rate of change, permanganate oxidizable C, and residual inorganic nitrogen. Proganics had the greatest ability to elevate and sustain microbial activity on problem soils, but spent lime and compost had the greatest potential to improve microbial mediated nitrogen mineralization. In conclusion, spent lime and compost can be effective amendments for improving soil quality of saline and thermal desorption treated problem soils to increase microbial activity and associated nitrogen cycling.

During the early 1980s, concern over the poor quality of the nation's drinking water began to arise. Though the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) had been passed almost a decade earlier, many problems still existed. These problems included the inability of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate new drinking water standards and to enforce new and existing standards. To address the shortcomings of the original act, Congress passed the 1986 SDWA Amendments.

This document attempts to accomplish two main goals. The first is to summarize selectively the requirements of the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments as reflected in proposed and finalized drinking water regulations. The areas of coverage include proposed regulations for eight inorganic and thirty synthetic organic chemical contaminants, the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), and the Total Coliform Rule (TCR). In order to facilitate an understanding of the SDWA and the 1986 Amendments, a sectional analysis was provided in an appendix.

The second goal of this document is to assess the economic impact of this legislation upon Virginia water facilities. In this regard, the cost of water treatment technologies whose use will likely increase as a result of the legislation have been estimated, compiled, and documented.

These technologies include granular activated carbon (GAC); reverse osmosis; ion exchange; and various aeration, filtration, and disinfection technologies. Several case studies that assess and highlight the direct impacts of the 1986 SDWA Amendments upon Virginia water facilities are presented.
Master of Science

Improving productivity of sodic soils has become a concern in North Dakota because of the desire for more land for producing crops. Field and incubation studies were conducted to determine the impacts of different amendments (flue-gas desulfurization gypsum, sugar beet processing by-product lime, and langbeinite) on the chemical and biological properties of two sodic soils. The field study evaluated the amendment effects on the chemical conditions of the soil and the impact on alfalfa yield and quality. Differences were not observed in percent sodium (%Na) in the first 17 months and alfalfa yield was not impacted by the treatments except for the high rate of langbeinite. The incubation study investigated the effects of amendments on both the chemical and biological properties of the soil. Spent lime increased the cumulative respiration but was not impacted by gypsum or langbeinite. Labile carbon (C) was negatively correlated with %Na and electrical conductivity (EC).
North Dakota Soybean Council

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited
This thesis explores international and domestic factors that constitute continuities in U.S. foreign and security policy regarding trans-Atlantic relations. Since the founding of the Atlantic Alliance burden sharing has been one of the major sources of conflict between the United States and its European NATO allies. Despite the reluctance to spend more than minimal amounts on military capabilities in most European NATO countries the issue did not become a major concern in the U.S. Congress between 1951 and 1966. It was only in the late 1960s and early 1970s that proposals - including the Mansfield Resolutions and Amendments - were introduced in the Senate calling for a substantial reduction in the number of U.S. troops in Europe. The debates provoked by these proposals threw light on the various determinants of U.S. policy towards Europe. The contemporary relevance of the issue resides in the fact that most of the elements responsible for the emergence of the Mansfield Amendments are still influential in U.S. foreign and security policy. This circumstance might lead to comparable proposals and debates in the near future.
Civilian, Hungarian Ministry of Defense

Phytomanagement refers to a group of techniques which use plants to reduce content or toxicity of heavy metals in soils. This thesis focuses on metal phytostabilization, which aims at reducing metal bioavailability in soil. Phytostabilization can occur either in roots or in soils. The first requires the uptake of pollutants and their stable accumulation in root tissues (in-planta phytostabilization), the second insolubilization of metals in soil to prevent plant uptake (ex-planta phytostabilization). For this thesis both these aspects were explored. In-planta phytostabilization experiments aimed at evaluating the potential accumulation of heavy metals in rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) and the time span within metals are retained in degrading taproots before being released into the soil. The effect of increasing sowing density (22, 44, 63 plant m-2) and genotype selection (CHH normal-sized hybrids, semi-dwarf hybrid, and free-impollination variety) on the dynamics of taproot degradation were evaluated (first year) along with the effect of level of soil metal pollution (second year). The results indicated that degradation of root biomass was relatively fast (-83% within 12 months), but after 18 months still 10% of organic matter was available for metal retention. This indicates that the annual supply of root biomass by cultivation can improve metal retention. Metals are mainly retained in the inner cortex, which also owns a higher rate of cellulose and is more recalcitrant to degradation, thus allowing a greater concentration of pollutants to be observable over time in degrading tissues. Nevertheless, after 18 months metal contents was reduced compared with the initial stock, with concentrations depending on the specific metal. The dynamics of root degradation was independent on genotype choice and plant density, but more vigorous cultivars (CHH hybrids) and elevated plant densities should be preferred if the taproots are meant to stabilize metals, because of the higher biomass production (up to 1700 kg ha-1 in Taurus at 63 plant m-2). High level of soil pollution (Cd, Co, Cu, Zn) slowed down root degradation due to a reduction in the microbial activity. In addition, the consequent high metal bioavailability was associated to significant increases in root metal contents (and concentrations) despite the degradation process progressed. Overall, despite the degradation of roots cannot be stopped, metal stabilization in taproots is feasible in the long-term and it would be more effective in polluted soils where it is of paramount importance to reduce metal mobility and accumulation along the food chain. Ex-planta phytostabilization trials aimed at evaluating the possible risks of soil metal pollution and plant uptake with waste-derived organic amendments. The effects of organic amendments on soil and plants was greatly affected by chemical characteristics of the amendment and its maturation degree. When the amount of organic carbon added to the soil was the same, better productivity and root growth of forage sorghum were obtained with matured compost which is richer in both N and humic substances. None of the tested amendments, i.e., compost from organic urban wastes, anaerobic digestate from plant biomasses, and pig slurry (separated solid fraction) had hazardous contents of heavy metals. Therefore, when the amendments do not derive from polluted feedstock they do not increase the content of heavy metals in the soil or their concentration in plants. However attention should be paid to metal bioavailability, in the middle term some metals (e.g., Ni, Zn) increased significantly increased their mobility, irrespective of the amendment, although generally higher values were found for the animal-derived amendment (pig slurry) which is richer in dissolved organic matter (DOM). Metal mobility in the amended soils therefore may depend on the presence of soluble species in the amendments themselves and probably on the interaction soil-amendment. Compost appeared as the best amendment among those tested for meeting both the agronomic (productivity) and environmental (carbon stock restoration, metal total and bioavailable contents) demands. Biochar is also an organic stabilized amendment, but it was not found to have relevant effects in the middle term on plant productivity of barley and bean . The effect of biochar on soil properties (pH increases) was also short lived, while the effects on soil physical properties (aeration and bulk density) and metal partitioning in different soil phases appeared longer-lived. Biochar increased Cu and Zn retention, but also the water-soluble Pb, with differences depending on biochar age and application rate. In fact, the oxidation of biochar aromatic rings changes its chemical properties and the interaction with metals. However, when it is produced from unpolluted feedstock, biochar does not increase soil metal contents or plant uptake, probably because soluble metals are distributed to deeper soil horizons, limiting the accumulation in the rhizosphere. Overall, the real value of biochar lies in the addition of carbon to the soil, rather than in its effect on plants productivity. On the contrary, when soil amendments are produced from contaminated feedstock, there is a real potential for soil and food-chain contamination. Amendments like biochar and liming agent (e.g. wood ash) concentrate the heavy metals contained in the feedstock material during pyrolysis and incineration respectively. The biochar and wood ash produced from Cu-treated wood in fact were rich in Cu which was available for uptake by plants. The concentration of Cu in sunflower leaves and taproot grown in soil amended with such biochar were greater than those in unpolluted reference soil, while polluted wood-ash severely compromised plant growth (dead of plants) due to the high Cu bioavailability. The increase in soil pH after the addition of amendments was too weak to limit Cu bioavailability when Cu itself was highly concentrated, and this may happen for other metals (e.g., As, Cr) if concentrated in the waste-wood. Above-ground biomass of sunflower was reduced (-40%) in polluted-biochar amended soil, despite plant height was unaffected. Overall, polluted biochar and ash should not be used in agriculture, and alternative uses should be found for polluted wastes.
L’argomento di questa tesi si colloca nell’ambito del “phytomanagement”, cioè di quell’insieme di tecniche che vengono utilizzate per ridurre il contenuto o la mobilità dei metalli pesanti nei terreni grazie a processi mediati da piante superiori. Il “phytomanagement” comprende numerose tecniche che sono classificate in base al tipo di processo utilizzato e all’obbiettivo perseguito. In questo lavoro sono state approfondite le tecniche di fitostabilizzazione dei metalli pesanti, prendendone in considerazione entrambi gli aspetti di fitostabilizzazione in-planta, attraverso l’accumulo degli inquinanti nei tessuti radicali di specie da biomassa, e fitostabilizzazione ex-planta, attraverso l’impiego di ammendanti organici. Entrambe le tecniche hanno come obiettivo la riduzione della mobilità dei metalli tramite insolubilizzazione allo scopo di ridurne la disponibilità per gli organismi viventi, ma si distinguono per la localizzazione dei processi, rispettivamente nei tessuti della radice e nel suolo. La sperimentazione sulla fitostabilizzazione in-planta è stata condotta con l’obiettivo di valutare la capacità di accumulo di metalli pesanti nelle radici fittonanti di una pianta modello (colza) e di definirne la dinamica di rilascio attraverso il processo di degradazione radicale. Sono stati valutati anche l’effetto di investimenti crescenti (22, 44 e 63 piante m-2), del tipo varietale (due ibridi CHH a taglia convenzionale, un ibrido seminano e una varietà a impollinazione libera) (primo anno) e di un diverso livello di inquinamento da metalli nel terreno (secondo anno) sulla dinamica degradativa dei fittoni. I risultati indicano che, in un terreno non inquinato, la degradazione della biomassa radicale avviene abbastanza velocemente (-83% in un anno), anche se ~10% di materiale vegetale rimane indegradato dopo 18 mesi e in grado quindi di mantenere immobilizzati i metalli al suo interno; a questa sostanza organica recalcitrante, può tuttavia essere aggiunta annualmente o con il ciclo di coltivazione successivo nuova biomassa incrementando il pool organico per la ritenzione degli inquinanti. È stato evidenziato che i metalli vengono accumulati maggiormente nei tessuti radicali fibrosi (cortex interno) e il loro rilascio può risultare, in funzione dello specifico metallo, più lento della degradazione delle sostanza organica, con concentrazioni finali che variano a seconda dell’elemento. Il ritmo degradativo dei fittoni è risultato indipendente dal genotipo e dalla densità di semina, ma sarebbero comunque da preferire cultivar più vigorose (ibridi CHH) e semine fitte in quanto garantirebbero una maggiore biomassa in campo (e.g., 1200 kg ha-1per Taurus, che aumenta a 1700 kg ha-1 per investimenti di 63 piante m-2) e un maggiore accumulo di metalli. L’inquinamento da metalli pesanti ha rallentato notevolmente la dinamica degradativa, a causa della minore attività microbica proteolitica (fasi iniziali) e cellulosolitica (fasi successive). La presenza di alte concentrazioni di metalli nel suolo ed elevati livelli di biodisponibilità (Cd, Co, Cu, Zn) può significativamente favorire l’adsorbimento degli stessi sul materiale organico in degradazione, determinando una dinamica temporale di accumulo nei fittoni in via di degradazione. Complessivamente, nonostante la degradazione della sostanza organica sia inevitabile, le radici fittonanti di una pianta annuale effettivamente consentono di stabilizzare i metalli nel lungo periodo, con livelli di efficienza maggiori nei terreni inquinati ai quali si rivolge questo tipo di tecnica. Le prove di fitostabilizzazione ex-planta avevano come obbiettivo la valutazione del potenziale apporto di metalli pesanti ai suoli e sulla loro biodisponibilità in seguito a fertilizzazione con ammendanti organici derivati da materiali di scarto. È stato valutato anche il potenziale trasferimento di inquinanti alle piante coltivate. Sono stati confrontate diverse tipologie di ammendanti, evidenziando importanti effetti sul suolo e su sorgo da foraggio in funzione dalle caratteristiche dell’ammendante stesso, e in particolare dal suo grado di maturazione. A parità di C organico apportato, infatti, ammendanti che hanno subito processi di stabilizzazione (compostaggio) e che sono quindi più ricchi di nutrienti, e di azoto in particolare, ma anche di sostanze umiche, hanno fornito risultati produttivi migliori, favorendo nello stesso tempo l’accrescimento radicale. Nella sperimentazione sono stati confrontati compost da RSU, frazione solida di digestato da scarti vegetali e separato solido di liquame suino, ma in tutti i casi l’apporto di metalli pesanti al suolo è stato trascurabile così come l’accumulo nel foraggio del sorgo, indicando che per ammendanti prodotti a partire da materiali di qualità il rischio nella catena alimentare sembra limitato. Tuttavia, nel medio periodo, l’apporto di ammendanti organici può aumentare la biodisponibilità di alcuni elementi come Ni e Zn, indipendentemente dalla qualità della sostanza organica, anche se generalmente i rischi maggiori sono stati riscontrati per ammendanti di origine animale (liquame suino). La mobilità dei metalli pesanti deve quindi dipendere dalla presenza di metalli in forme solubili negli ammendanti stessi, ma potrebbe anche essere influenzata dall’interazione specifica con il suolo. In generale, il compost è risultato l’alternativa migliore sia dal punto di vista strettamente agronomico (performance produttiva) che ambientale (apporto di metalli e biodisponibilità, stabilità della sostanza organica). Ammendanti stabilizzati come il biochar, che sono più inerti dal punto di vista biologico, nel medio periodo hanno invece esercitato scarsi effetti sulla produttività delle colture in sperimentazione (orzo, fagiolo). Anche gli effetti sul pH (aumento) sono risultati transitori, mentre sembrano più stabili gli effetti sulle proprietà fisiche del terreno (aerazione, densità) e sulla ripartizione dei metalli tra le diverse fasi del suolo. Il biochar infatti, ha favorito la ritenzione di Cu e Zn, mentre potrebbe aumentare la solubilità del Pb, con effetti che possono variare in funzione oltre che della dose anche dell’età del biochar. Infatti, l’ossidazione a carico dei gruppi aromatici del biochar ne modifica le caratteristiche chimiche e quindi le interazioni con i metalli e gli altri componenti del suolo. Anche il biochar comunque, se prodotto a partire da materiali non inquinati, non determina significativi aumenti delle concentrazioni di metalli totali nel suolo e nelle colture, e può quindi essere utilizzato, anche su una scala temporale relativamente ampia, per aumentare lo stock di carbonio dei suoli più che per aumentare la resa produttiva delle colture. I rischi di contaminazione del suolo sembrano scarsi dal momento che gli elementi, che divengono più solubili, sarebbero ridistribuiti verso orizzonti del suolo più profondi e quindi verrebbero diluiti. Quando invece negli ecosistemi agrari vengono introdotti ammendanti derivati da materiale inquinato, il rischio di contaminazione del suolo e della catena alimentare è concreto. Ammendanti come il biochar o correttivi come la cenere, infatti, a seguito dei processi rispettivamente di pirolisi e incenerimento si arricchiscono di metalli pesanti rispetto al materiale di partenza. In particolare, biochar e cenere prodotti a partire da legno trattato con conservanti a base di rame sono molto ricchi di questo elemento e hanno determinano un forte aumento delle concentrazioni di rame fogliare e nelle radici di girasole. L’aumento di pH conseguente all’aggiunta di biochar e cenere non è quindi in grado di limitare la biodisponibilità e l’accumulo del Cu nella pianta quando questo metallo è presente nell’ammendante in alte concentrazioni. È possibile inoltre che effetti simili siano riscontrabili anche in altre specie e per altri elementi (Cr, As), in caso questi fossero presenti nel biochar o nella cenere in concentrazioni anomale. La presenza di rame nei tessuti vegetali ha fortemente compromesso la crescita vegetale soprattutto nel caso della cenere derivante dallo stesso legno di partenza, probabilmente perché il Cu era più prontamente solubile, mentre per il biochar la biomassa epigea si è ridotta significativamente (-40%) senza causare moria di plantule. L’utilizzo di biochar e cenere contenenti alte concentrazioni di metalli è quindi da evitare in agricoltura, mentre sarebbe opportuno individuare impieghi alternativi che ne consentano l’utilizzo senza però determinare rischi per l’ambiente o la salute.

This thesis studied the viability of recycling filter substrates as soil amendments after being used in on-site systems for phosphorus (P) removal from wastewater. Focus was put on the materials Filtra P and Polonite, which are commercial products used in compact filters in Sweden. A prerequisite for this choice was to review filter materials and P sorption capacity. The filter substrates (Filtra P, Polonite and wollastonite tailings) were recycled from laboratory infiltration columns as soil amendments to a neutral agricultural soil and to an acid meadow soil to study their impacts on soil properties and yield of barley and ryegrass. The amendments tended to improve the yield and showed a liming effect, significantly increasing soil pH and the availability of P. In another experiment, samples of Filtra P and Polonite were equilibrated in batch experiments with the two soils in order to study the P dynamics in the soil-substrate system.  Batch equilibrations confirmed the liming potential of Filtra P and Polonite and showed that improved P availability in soils was strongly dependent on substrate P concentration, phase of sorbed P, and soil type. Finally, samples of Polonite used for household wastewater treatment were recycled as soil amendments to a mountain meadow and to an agricultural field for wheat cropping. The liming effect of Polonite was confirmed under field conditions and the results were similar to those of lime for the mountain meadow soil. However, the results were quite different for the agricultural field, where Polonite did not affect soil pH or any other chemical and physical soil properties investigated and had no impact on wheat yield and quality. The results from field experiments suggested that Polonite can be safely recycled to meadows and cropping fields at rates of 5-10 ton ha-1 but long-term studies are needed to forecast the effects of accumulation.
QC 20100708

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007.
The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on December 12, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

For economical and ecological reasons, efficiency and profitability ofswine production relies heavily on the way pigs utilize key nutrients such as P,which is considered a potential pollutant of water ecosystems. Although cerealgrains and oilseed meals contain enough P to fulfill the biological needs of pigs,most of this P is tightly bound as phytate. As pigs do not have enough phytase(PHY) to cleave P from phytate, it is excreted in the feces. To prevent adeficiency, diets have traditionally been supplemented with highly availableinorganic sources of P. Today, an environmentally-friendly alternative is tosupplement diets with PHY.Growth promoting antibiotics are also used to enhance the utilization ofdietary components such as energy and N. It has been suggested that theantibiotic virginiamycin (VIR) could also improve phytate-P utilization by pigs.Eight experiments evaluated the effects of VIR and/or PHY amendmentson digestibility, retention, excretion, growth, bone characteristics, meat traits, andileal microflora populations of growing pigs fed corn–soybean meal (SBM) diets(seven experiments) or corn-SBM-rice bran diets (one experiment). Additionally,a comparison between two digestibility procedures was conducted for two of theexperiments.On average, VIR improved P digestibility and total P excretion by 5.0%,and P retention as a percent of absorption by 1.0%. Phytase amendmentsimproved P digestibility between 14 and 27%, and P retention (as a % ofabsorption) between 0.7 and 2.5%. In the growth trial, VIR supplementation wasassociated with numerical differences favoring bone mineralization and ilealphytate-utilizing bacteria populations. These observations demonstrate additionalresearch is warranted with this antibiotic under conditions of higher stress andbacterial load in the environment.According to the comparisons between digestibility methods, a single grabfecal collection was not reliable. Further, a cumulative grab collection for fivedays was not as good an option as the total collection method.It is concluded that VIR does improve P utilization in pigs fed corn-SBMdiets not supplemented with inorganic P. Similar effects, but of greatermagnitude, were confirmed for PHY-amended diets with either normal or highlevels of phytate P.

Phytoextraction is an innovative method that can be implemented to remove lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) from contaminated soil. A two-year field and growth chamber study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of several soil amendments in the phytoextraction or stabilization of Pb, Cd and Zn. Field plots were established at the Memorial Drive Dump site (Muncie, IN). Amendments included composted municipal solid waste (MSW) (25 Mg/ha), dried sewage sludge (SS) (25 Mg/ha), citric acid (2 mmol/kg soil), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (2 mmol/kg soil), and a control. A mixed grass crop was capable of survival and growth in the contaminated soil; in contrast, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) and Ambrosia artemisiifolia (ragweed) failed to become established. Soil Pb and Zn occurred primarily in the carbonate, organic-bound and residual forms (23.1%, 31.8%, and 44.4%, Pb, respectively and 11.4%, 26.5%, and 60.2% Zn, respectively). Soil Cd occurred primarily in the soluble, carbonate, and residual forms (21.8%, 21.3%, and 27.4%, respectively). In a growth chamber leaching study, soil Pb was most rapidly leached from the 0.1 M EDTA treatment (51.7 mg Pb over 200 pore volumes); the 0.001M resulted in the lowest leaching. Soil Pb was most rapidly leached using 0.1 M HEDTA (52.1 mg Pb over 200 pore volumes). The 0.001 M HEDTA rate resulted in lowest Pb leaching. Addition of an NPK solution resulted in minimal Pb leached. The MSW and dried sludge treatments resulted in the greatest dry matter production on the plots. Dry matter production was significantly (p >0.05) higher in the MSW (1.09 MT/ha) and SS (95 MT/ha) treatments. Addition of EDTA, citric acid and MSW significantly (p < 0.05) increased the amount of Cd uptake into plant tissue. The study also demonstrated the ability of vegetation to establish and grow on toxic soil and to uptake Pb, Cd, and Zn.
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Soil-borne pests and pathogens, such as Verticillium dahliae, can devastate a wide range of annual and perennial crops. Current management options for organic production are limited and sustainable management of pathogens, weeds, and arthropods is important for staying profitable and reducing the use of harmful chemicals. Organic soil amendments play an important role in supplying some of the nutritional needs of vegetable crops and improving soil structure, while also contributing to pest control. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of grape and olive-based composts on soil pathogen load, arthropod communities, and weed biomass and diversity. Field experiments were conducted in both organic and conventionally grown bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) systems during the summer growing season of 2018 on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, California. Four different organic amendment treatments were tested including: olive based compost, grape based compost, dairy manure compost, and plant waste compost. Abundance of the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae was assessed from composite soil samples collected at several time points throughout the growing season. Olive, grape, and plant waste composts all displayed significant reduction of V. dahliae abundance between two to eight weeks post application of treatment when compared to the control. Insufficient evidence was found correlating farm management type with V. dahliae abundance after adjusting for treatment and time. Total dry weed biomass was assessed after one month of unhindered growth. The organic amendments tested appeared to alter weed species composition but not overall biomass though no significant differences were found. The soil arthropods symphylans and collembolans were sampled throughout the growing season, significant trends in population were found over time but not across treatments. This research demonstrates how agricultural waste-based compost amendments have potential as tools in pest management.