19The main threats to soils outlined in the pending Soil Framework Directive (SFD) are: 20 contamination, loss of organic matter, erosion, compaction, sealing, salinisation and 21 desertification. The first four threats are pertinent to agricultural systems in Atlantic Europe, 22 but vary in their extent between countries depending on the spatial soil distribution. Loss of 23 soil biodiversity has not been included as a potential threat in the SFD due to lack of 24 information that is currently available both spatially and temporally to facilitate any 25 legislation to protect it. This paper gives emphasis to the four main threats outlined above 26 associated with Agricultural systems in Atlantic Europe. Each soil threat is discussed in 27 relation to the agricultural management calendar for cultivated and grazed grassland soils. 28The paper discusses current soil protection policies and possible changes to such legislation 29 with the adoption of the SFD by member states. 30

The aim of this study was to compare the nutrient and sediment releases from five Irish tillage soils, inclined at 10- and 15-degree slopes, under a simulated rainfall intensity of 30 mm h(-1) in a controlled laboratory study. Using the relationship between soil test phosphorus (STP) in the five soils and the dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) released in surface runoff, a runoff dissolved phosphorus risk indicator (RDPRI) was developed to identify the STP level for Irish tillage soils above which there may be a potential threat to surface water quality. The results of this study indicated that tillage soils may produce surface runoff P concentrations in excess of 30 microg L(-1) (the value above which eutrophication of rivers is likely to occur and the maximum allowable concentration of DRP in rivers under the EU Water Framework Directive, WFD) if their Morgan's phosphorus (P(m)), Mehlich 3 phosphorus (M3-P), and water extractable phosphorus (WEP) concentrations exceed 9.5 mg L(-1), 67.2 mg kg(-1), and 4.4 mg kg(-1), respectively. This work reinforces the statutory agronomic based requirements of the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2009 (S.I. no. 101 of 2009). A statistical analysis showed that WEP gave the best prediction for runoff DRP.

We assess crop-livestock integration beyond the farm scale based on farm surveys and assessment • Cooperating farms gain access to normally underutilised local resources • Resources accessed via cooperation are mostly used to increase farm production intensity • Recoupling crops and livestock via cooperation between farms generates few environmental benefits • Cooperating farms are better equipped to grow in period after milk quota abolition

organic) and returned to pre-clearfelling levels, or below, within 6 months of the 33 commencement of clearfelling. Exports of TP and DRP from the study site were 0.9 and 0.4 34 2 kg ha -1 yr -1 , which were greater than the study control (0.6 and 0.2 kg ha -1 yr -1 , respectively). 35This indicated that the mitigation practices employed on site were not effective in phosphorus 36 retention. 37 38

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Aqueous hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), is rapidly reduced to trivalent chromium, Cr(III), by exposure to (polystyrylmethyl)trimethylammonium borohydride and with Amberlite-supported mild bases in a heterogeneous environment. Post-reaction removal of the insoluble reagents leaves no remediation-based chemical footprint in the source water. Time dependence with stirred and static conditions is discussed.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of toxic organic molecules containing multiple fused aromatic rings, are found in air, soil and water as a by-product from the incomplete combustion of organic matter. We report on the modification of silica gel using lipophilic molecules containing carboxylic acids, for anchoring to the surface via hydrogen bonds. The lipophilic component captures aqueous PAH, specifically phenanthrene, through the agency of π-π and π-sp 3 interactions. The structure-sorption-relationships suggest optimum phenanthrene adsorption is achieved with unsaturated bonds in linear chains or two phenyl rings. Examples include linoleic acid or 2,3-diphenylpropionic acid with removal values of 281 and 283 ng PAH per gram of silica gel, respectively. Saturation adsorption is achieved within four hours. Proposed modes of binding of the new reverse phase silica gels with phenanthrene are described. Recycling of the silica gel is accomplished by washing with organic solvents to remove PAH. ARTICLE HISTORY

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