sapropel

[′sap·rə‚pel]

(geology)

A mud, slime, or ooze deposited in more or less open water.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Sapropel

freshwater silt deposits containing large amounts of organic matter—for example, lignin and humus complexes, carbohydrates, and bitumens—in a colloidal state. Sapropels are used in medicine (physical therapy) for applications and diluted baths.

In agriculture sapropel is used after aeration as a fertilizer, especially on acid and light sandy soil and sandy loam; 30–40 tons/hectare are used for grain crops, and 60–70 tons/hectare are used for vegetable, potato, and root crops. Sapropel is also used in the preparation of composts. Sapropels, which are rich in salts of calcium, iron, and phosphorus, contain no sand and are poor in clay. They are added to the rations given agricultural animals as a mineral supplement; daily sapropel supplements reach 2 kg for hogs, 3 kg for cows, and 10–15 g for hens.

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References in periodicals archive

Accumulation of metals in Sapropel, Material Science and Applied Chemistry.

Use of sapropel for removal of heavy metals from solution/Silicinio sapropelio naudojimas sunkiesiems metalams salinti is tirpalo

(1999) The role of mat-forming diatoms in the formation of Mediterranean sapropels. Nature 398, 57-61.

The origin of Cretaceous black shales: a change in the surface ocean ecosystem and its triggers

For instance, field experiments (since 1984) using calcareous sapropels in Eastern Lithuania demonstrate their long-term effect on luvisol pH that is evident for > 20 years (Baksiene, Janusiene 2005; Baksiene et al.

Geochemistry of freshwater calcareous sediments and longevity impacts of their application to acidic soils of eastern Lithuania/Geochemine gelavandeniu kalkinguju nuosedu sudeties variacija ir ju naudojimo palikimas rugstiems ryty lietuvos dirvozemiams

According to the oceanologists, the sapropel sediments accumulated at the sea floor are a product of the mass dying of plankton biomass as a result of the Flood.

Sapropel Fertilizers to Revolutionize Bulgarian Organic Farming

(2005): Surface water dynamics and phytoplankton communities during deposition of cyclic late Messinian sapropel sequences in the western Mediterranean.

Comparison of benthic foraminifera and geochemical proxies in shelf deposits from the Upper Jurassic of the Prebetic (southern Spain)/Comparacion entre foraminiferos bentonicos e indicadores geoquimicos en depositos de plataforma del Jurasico superior del Prebetico (Sur de Espana)

The substrate comprised clay, sapropel and detritus.

Freshwater molluscs of the Eastern Congo: notes on taxonomy, biogeography and conservation

Redistribution and geochemical behaviour of redox-sensitive elements around S1, the most recent eastern Mediterranean sapropel. Geochim.

Diagenetic influences on iron-bearing minerals in Devonian carbonate and siliciclastic rocks of Estonia / Diageneetiliste muutuste moju rauamineraalidele Eesti Devoni karbonaatsetes ja terrigeensetes kivimites

Under the turf and at the bottom of Lake Cedasas, there occurs a sapropel layer approximately 1.8 m thick.

Prediction of change in wetland habitats by groundwater: case study in Northeast Lithuania/Margala keskkonna muutumise prognoos pohjavee dunaamika modelleerimise alusel: uuringu tulemused Kirde-Leedust

removal of lake sapropel. Used properly, sapropel could cover some dredging costs.

Dredging of lake and application of sapropel for improvement of light soil properties/Ezero valymas ir sapropelio naudojimas dirvozemio savybems gerinti

There is need for other possibilities of using other natural resources of materials (peat, sapropel, etc.).

The possibilities of using sapropel for briquette production/Sapropelio panaudojimo galimybes briketams gaminti

But the Humate Sapropel (organic swamp deposits) is less known [7].

Application of potassium humate for production of wheat seed under after anthesis drought condition

The "gold reserve" of the center is its own therapeutic mud--peat and sapropel mud, 3 wells of mineral water - hydrogen sulfide, sodium chloride and bromide water.

The magic of juices in Jaunkemeri