We determined redox-induced (im)mobilization of geogenic nickel (Ni) as well as binding forms of Ni in a Fluvisol at the River Velika Morava valley (Serbia), enriched with serpentine minerals. The ...selected site is representative for intensive agricultural land use in the area and susceptible to dynamic redox conditions due to periodical flooding. A seven-step sequential extraction, grain-size and light-liquid separation as well as mineralogical analyses were used, first, to assess binding forms of Ni and second, to determine relationships between grain-size fractions, abundance of heavy density minerals, and Ni concentration in the bulk soil. The sequential extraction revealed that the majority of Ni was in the residual fraction, followed by organic matter and Fe oxides. Fine grain-size fraction (<63μm) was the major location of accumulation of Ni in the soil. Minerals which are characteristic for serpentine soils such as serpentine, spinels, hematite, and magnetite were found in silt and in the heavy density fraction (>2.9gml−1) of the medium and fine sand. However, the light minerals quartz, chlorite, micas, and secondary clay minerals dominate the soil mineral composition. Thus, total Ni concentration in the soil is derived from the content of Ni-bearing minerals and diluted by the minerals which are low in Ni.
We simulated flooding using an automated biogeochemical microcosm system and determined the release dynamics of Ni at controlled redox potentials (EH) in soil slurries. Pre-defined redox-windows were systematically created in steps of approximately 100mV from reducing to oxidizing conditions while EH and pH were continuously monitored. In parallel, the release dynamics of soluble nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and sulfate (SO42−) were measured at each EH-window. Our results highlighted that geogenic Ni can be mobilized to a considerable amount during low EH, while elevating EH from reducing to oxidizing conditions generated an immobilization Ni. We suggested that mobilization of Ni has been primarily affected by formation of Ni–DOC complexes at low EH, whereas Ni seems to be immobilized as a result of formation of Fe/Mn (hydro)oxides and the linked co-precipitation of Ni during oxidation. Factor analysis (FA) as multivariate statistical method explained 85.08% of the variance (67.89% and 17.19% component Nos. 1 and 2, respectively). The FA reveals that soluble Ni, Fe, DOC, Mn, and Mg were clustered in one group which indicate that the combined effect of DOC together with the chemistry of Fe, Mn, and Mg might be linked to the redox-induced release dynamics of Ni. The practical perspective of the study was to draw attention to dynamics of soluble Ni in fluctuating conditions for a better ecological risk assessment of floodplain sites under agricultural use. Nevertheless, similar studies should be conducted with further serpentine soils from various sites world-wide to verify the detected dynamics and processes.
•Serpentine enriched Fluvisol was flooded in an automated biogeochemical microcosm.•Majority of Ni was in residual fraction, followed by organic matter and Fe oxides.•Heavy density minerals (e.g. serpentine, hematite) were abundant in sand and silt.•Ni mobilization at low EH seems to be governed by formation of Ni–DOC complexes.•Ni immobilization at high EH was linked to formation of Fe/Mn (hydr)oxides.
In recent times, the Blue Berets have become markers of peace and security around the globe. Yet, the iconoclastic symbol of both the Blue Beret and the Blue Helmet continue to engage the ...international political imagination in ways that downplay the inconsistent effects of peacekeeping missions on the security of local people. In this book, Paul Higate and Marsha Henry develop critical perspectives on UN and NATO peacekeeping, arguing that these forms of international intervention are framed by the exercise of power. Their analysis of peacekeeping, based on fieldwork conducted in Haiti, Liberia and Kosovo, suggests that peacekeeping reconfigures former conflict zones in ways that shape perceptions of security. This reconfiguration of space is enacted by peacekeeping personnel who 'perform' security through their daily professional and personal practices, sometimes with unanticipated effects. Insecure Spaces' interdisciplinary analysis sheds great light on the contradictory mix of security and insecurity that peace operations create.
Phototropic microorganisms in thermal mats had not attracted enough attention in Serbia in the past. The research presented in this paper is the first to address biofilms at selected occurrences of ...mineral water in Serbia (Bogatić, Metković and Belotić in the Mačva District as well as Radaljska Banja, Lukovska Banja and Vranjska Banja) (in Serbian, banja denotes a spa town). The study period is from 2014 to 2016. The temperatures of the studied occurrences are in the 30-93.9 °C range and the chemical composition corresponds to the HCO- - Na++K+ and SO^-, HCO- - Na++K+ types of mineral water. One of the objectives was to examine the condition of wellheads (incrustation, biofouling and corrosion), focusing on the presence of phototrophic microorganisms whose metabolites may lead to changes in mineral water quality, yield and chemistry. Analysis by light and scanning electron microscopy provides insight into the diversity of phototrophic microorganisms that populate biofilms near the points of emergence and on wellhead. The research reveals the presence of representatives of three groups of phototrophic microorganisms: Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta. Cyanobacteria were the most numerous, dominated by the order Oscillatoriales with ten recorded genera, of which Leptolynbgya and Phormidium feature the largest numbers of species. The order Chroococcales are the second most numerous, with seven recorded genera, of which Gloeocapsa and Synechocystisare the most noteworthy. The largest numbers of representative taxa were noted at Radaljska Banja and Vranjska Banja, where mineral waters originate from lithostratigraphic units of igneous origin, followed by mineral water occurrences in karst aquifers (Bogatić and Belotić) and an intergranular aquifer (Metković). The smallest number of identified phototrophic microorganisms is noted at Lukovska Banja, where the origin is associated with a fractured aquifer formed in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, with occasional diabase interbeds. Although many representative taxa are found on only one of the studied localities, such as Synechococcus bigranulatus and Pseudanabaena thermalis, those of the genera Leptolyngbya, Phormidium and Cosmarium laeve, as well as genera of the phylum Bacillariophyta, occur at several sampling sites. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to show the relationship between documented cyanobacterial and algal taxa and environmental parameters.
The Pesticide Market in Serbia Milić, Dragan; Novaković, Tihomir; Grahovac, Mila ...
Contemporary Agriculture,
06/2022, Volume:
72, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The use of plant protection products (PPPs) has become a social concern regarding food safety and quality, and risks to human health and the environment. Accordingly, the agricultural microbials ...market is a steadily growing sector of the global agriculture industry. This paper evaluates the market of basic groups of pesticides in Serbia (namely herbicides, fungicides and insecticides), as well as other collectively presented plant protection products, with a particular emphasis on the biopesticides segment. The official data of the Serbian Plant Protection Directorate for the period 2000-2020 served as a primary source of data. The movement of PPPs and active ingredients (AIs) imports into Serbia were analyzed separately. The average values of PPP quantities imported into Serbia were computed for the period under consideration. The time series variability was evaluated using the coefficient of variation, whereas the dynamics of PPP import movements was evaluated using the rate of change. In the overall structure of the imported pesticides in Serbia, herbicides remain the dominant product type (57.0%), followed by fungicides (27.5%), insecticides (10.5%), and other PPPs (5.0%). The import of AIs for the production of herbicides claimed a share of 79.8%, whereas the share of AIs for the fungicide production approximated to 12.8% (followed by AIs for the insecticide production (6.7%) and AIs for the other groups of pesticides (0.7%). Biopesticides comprise a small share of the total crop protection market in Serbia. Bioinsecticides were found to be imported into Serbia in largest quantities (followed by biofungicides, bioacaricides, and biobactericides). No imports of bioherbicides have been recorded. According to the official data on the import of PPPs in Serbia in the period 2000–2020, it can be concluded that there is a positive growth trend, which is expected to continue in the future. Although the import of AIs shows a positive rate of change, no significant growth trends were recorded.
The loess–palaeosol sequence of Batajnica (Vojvodina region, Serbia) is considered as one of the most complete and thickest terrestrial palaeoclimate archives for the Middle and Late Pleistocene. In ...order to achieve a numerical chronology for this profile, four sets of ages were obtained on 18 individual samples. Equivalent doses were determined using the SAR protocol on fine (4–11 μm) and coarse (63–90 μm) quartz fractions, as well as on polymineral fine grains by using two elevated temperature infrared stimulation methods, pIRIR290 and pIRIR225. We show that the upper age limit of coarse quartz OSL and polymineral pIRIR290 and pIRIR225 techniques is restricted to the Last Glacial/Interglacial cycle due to the field saturation of the natural signals. Luminescence ages on coarse quartz, pIRIR225 and pIRIR290 polymineral fine grains are in general agreement. Fine quartz ages are systematically lower than the coarse quartz and pIRIR ages, the degree of underestimation increasing with age. Comparison between natural and laboratory dose response curves indicate the age range over which each protocol provides reliable ages. For fine and coarse quartz, the natural and laboratory dose response curves overlap up to ~150 and ~250 Gy, respectively, suggesting that the SAR protocol provides reliable ages up to c. 50 ka on fine quartz and c. 100 ka on coarse quartz. Using the pIRIR225 and pIRIR290 protocols, equivalent doses up to ~400 Gy can be determined, beyond which in the case of the former the natural dose response curve slightly overestimates the laboratory dose response curve. Our results suggest that the choice of the mineral and luminescence technique to be used for dating loess sediments should take into consideration the reported limited reliability.
This paper focuses on modeling rainfall-induced massive landsliding in the Western Serbia in the 2001–2014 period. The motivation for conducting the study was the rainfall-induced flooding and ...landsliding that took place across most of the Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2014, and had devastating effects, including human casualties, and destruction of natural and urban environment. In the first part of the study, the general analysis was conducted. It includes a wide area (70,000km2), wherein spatial rainfall patterns were identified using the monthly rainfall data from the 2001–2014. Areas that have higher monthly precipitation than the baseline monthly rainfall (1961–90) were outlined. One location within these zones was chosen as critical – Loznica in Western Serbia. The area of Loznica was further examined: comparison between local daily rainfall and local landslide events recorded in 2001–2014; correlation between specific rainfall conditions, i.e. cumulative rainfall for different time windows, and the landsliding events in the specified period; identification of additional non-reported rainfall events that were potentially responsible for landsliding; analyses of the rainfall thresholds and temporal rainfall distribution. The Decision Tree algorithm was used to identify rainfall conditions that triggered landslides in the specified period. It was hypothesized that short-term rainfall has less influence on massive landsliding than the mid/long-term rainfall. Unlike other black-box techniques, Decision Tree-based modeling gives a good insight into the thresholding process. Namely, it was possible to follow the Decision Tree structure and reconstruct the critical cumulative rainfall distribution and thresholds that have led to landsliding. The main findings suggest that a high-yield mid-term rainfall (2 and 3-day rainfall) are the most important for massive landsliding, while long-term cumulative rainfall (30-day) has some additional influence in the case of Loznica. The upper threshold values extracted from the original, and appended synthetic rainfall events were about 30mm for 2- and 3-day rainfall, and 140mm for 30-day rainfall, which is in agreement with the evidence of the May 2014 event. It is thereby shown how proposed approach can be used preliminarily in the case of rainfall/landslide data scarcity for rough threshold estimation and extrapolation. However, limitations regarding utilization of such data must be accounted for.
•New approach for temporal prediction of rainfall patterns•Rainfall-landsliding thresholds reconstructed•New research for the territory of Serbia
In this study, we compare two independent paleoenvironmental proxies for a loess sequence in northern Serbia, in the southern Carpathian Basin: novel n-alkane biomarkers and traditional land snail ...assemblages. Both are associated with other, more widely used proxy data for loess sections, such as environmental magnetism, grain size, and geochemical indices. Together, these paleoenvironmental proxy records provide evidence for the continued dominance of grasslands during the Late Pleistocene in the Southern Carpathian Basin. It is contrary to other European loess provinces, which are characterized by high diversity of Late Pleistocene environments (ranging from tundra-like to deciduous forest habitats). These findings highlight the southeastern part of Carpathian Basin as an important, but still insufficiently investigated, biogeographical refugium, and biodiversity preservation zone. The reason for this is a mostly stable paleoclimate for much of the Late Pleistocene.
•Comparison of two independent paleoenvironmental proxies: novel n-alkane biomarkers and traditional land snail assemblages•Evidence of continuous dominance of grasslands during the Late Pleistocene in the Southern Carpathian Basin•Much reduced diversity of Late Pleistocene environments than in other European loess provinces
The aim of the work was to study the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in waste, surface, underground, and drinking water samples collected in Serbia. A multi-residue method for the analysis of 81 ...pharmaceutical drugs from different therapeutic classes in the various types of water was applied. Twenty-five composite water samples were prepared using solid-phase extraction and the presence of 81 pharmaceutical compounds in the extracts was analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with hybrid triple quadrupole–linear ion trap (UPLC–QqLIT–MS/MS). Forty seven compounds of 81 drugs were found in four different types of analyzed water. The highest concentrations of ibuprofen of 20.1μgL−1, 10,11-epoxycarbamazepine of 16.2μgL−1, 2-hydroxycarbamazepine of 15.9μgL−1 and acetaminophen of 15.7μgL−1 were found in municipal waste water sample. Results revealed the presence of salicylic acid in 41.67% of water samples, carbamazepine in 36.11%, propranolol and irbesartan in 30.56%. The obtained results were discussed in relation to the relevant data available in literature. This is the first attempt to assess the occurrence of these 81 pharmaceutical residues in water samples in Serbia.
•Comprehensive study of 81 pharmaceuticals in different water types from Serbia was conducted.•Forty seven compounds of 81 drugs were found in analyzed water samples.•A widespread occurrence of drugs in waters was proven from ngL−1 to more than 1μgL−1.•Low levels of pharmaceuticals were found even in underground and drinking waters.•The highest concentrations of pharmaceuticals were found in municipal waste water samples.
Considering the increased presence of China and Russia at all levels, including the deepening economic cooperation between the two countries and Serbia, the main purpose of this thesis is to examine ...the dynamics and structure of trade in goods and foreign direct investment between Serbia and the Russian Federation and Serbia and China. The analysis was conducted on the basis of secondary data from the National Bank of the Republic of Serbia and the China Global Investments Tracker (the data on investments), as well as the Trade Map database of the International Trade Centre (the data on trade in goods). The period covered by this research is from 2013 to 2022 (including 2023, when data was available). The research results show that the intensification of economic relations has occurred mainly in the last five years, when investments between Serbia and China, as well as Serbia and Russia, have increased, simultaneously boosting bilateral trade development. China, however, has emerged as Serbia’s more significant economic partner than Russia. China became a leader in foreign direct investment for Serbia and remained the second-most important trading partner. Despite the growing trends, Serbia’s economic relations with both sides remain far below their potential and face particular challenges, such as severely under-diversified Serbian exports, dependence on Russian energy imports, a widening trade deficit, favouritism towards certain sectors and industries in investments, nontransparent procedures and regulations, etc.
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