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Idhirij S, Ward FA. Policy analysis for informing climate adaptation, environmental resilience, and irrigation demands in the Rio Grande Basin. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 365:121528. [PMID: 38909571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Water policymakers internationally face the challenge of adapting to climate, supporting environmental resource needs, and meeting irrigation demands for food security in the world's arid and semi-arid regions. Much recent work has assessed the economic performance of environmental river flows to support endangered species habitat protection. However, little published work to date has systematically formulated and applied methods to identify the economic performance of various policy measures that adapt to climate, support endangered species, and meet irrigation demands for water. This work's original contribution with international relevance is to address those gaps by identifying the economic performance of various water shortage sharing methods for handling climate water stress while supporting protection of critical habitat to protect the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) along with Willow tree (Salix bonplandiana) habitat in the middle part of the Rio Grande Basin in North America, a region facing a number of conflicts between commercial uses of water and protection of key ecological assets. It develops a hydroeconomic optimization model containing information on crop water use and endangered species requirements in that region to identify the economic performance of three climate adaptation policy scenarios for handling water shortages while respecting endangered species habitat protection requirements. Results show how water shortages as well as policy responses for handing those shortages affect the economic value of water in agriculture for food security both with and without critical habitat to support the endangered flycatcher. This work's international relevance comes from its capacity to inform policy debates on the costs of protecting endangered species habitat under various climate scenarios and climate policy adaptation measures. Findings provide a general framework to address existing gaps in understanding and measuring the economic performance of measures to promote environmental resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleh Idhirij
- Water Science and Management Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA.
| | - Frank A Ward
- Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business, Water Science and Management, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA.
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Flores-Saavedra M, Plazas M, Gramazio P, Vicente O, Vilanova S, Prohens J. Growth and antioxidant responses to water stress in eggplant MAGIC population parents, F 1 hybrids and a subset of recombinant inbred lines. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:560. [PMID: 38877388 PMCID: PMC11179202 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05235-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The generation of new eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivars with drought tolerance is a main challenge in the current context of climate change. In this study, the eight parents (seven of S. melongena and one of the wild relative S. incanum L.) of the first eggplant MAGIC (Multiparent Advanced Generation Intercrossing) population, together with four F1 hybrids amongst them, five S5 MAGIC recombinant inbred lines selected for their genetic diversity, and one commercial hybrid were evaluated in young plant stage under water stress conditions (30% field capacity; FC) and control conditions (100% FC). After a 21-day treatment period, growth and biomass traits, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant compounds, and proline content were evaluated. RESULTS Significant effects (p < 0.05) were observed for genotype, water treatments and their interaction in most of the traits analyzed. The eight MAGIC population parental genotypes displayed a wide variation in their responses to water stress, with some of them exhibiting enhanced root development and reduced foliar biomass. The commercial hybrid had greater aerial growth compared to root growth. The four F1 hybrids among MAGIC parents differed in their performance, with some having significant positive or negative heterosis in several traits. The subset of five MAGIC lines displayed a wide diversity in their response to water stress. CONCLUSION The results show that a large diversity for tolerance to drought is available among the eggplant MAGIC materials, which can contribute to developing drought-tolerant eggplant cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín Flores-Saavedra
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia, 46022, Spain.
| | - Mariola Plazas
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia, 46022, Spain
| | - Pietro Gramazio
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia, 46022, Spain
| | - Oscar Vicente
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia, 46022, Spain
| | - Santiago Vilanova
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia, 46022, Spain
| | - Jaime Prohens
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia, 46022, Spain
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Verma KK, Joshi A, Song XP, Singh S, Kumari A, Arora J, Singh SK, Solanki MK, Seth CS, Li YR. Synergistic interactions of nanoparticles and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria enhancing soil-plant systems: a multigenerational perspective. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1376214. [PMID: 38742215 PMCID: PMC11089215 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1376214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Sustainable food security and safety are major concerns on a global scale, especially in developed nations. Adverse agroclimatic conditions affect the largest agricultural-producing areas, which reduces the production of crops. Achieving sustainable food safety is challenging because of several factors, such as soil flooding/waterlogging, ultraviolet (UV) rays, acidic/sodic soil, hazardous ions, low and high temperatures, and nutritional imbalances. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are widely employed in in-vitro conditions because they are widely recognized as a more environmentally and sustainably friendly approach to increasing crop yield in contaminated and fertile soil. Conversely, the use of nanoparticles (NPs) as an amendment in the soil has recently been proposed as an economical way to enhance the texture of the soil and improving agricultural yields. Nowadays, various research experiments have combined or individually applied with the PGPR and NPs for balancing soil elements and crop yield in response to control and adverse situations, with the expectation that both additives might perform well together. According to several research findings, interactive applications significantly increase sustainable crop yields more than PGPR or NPs alone. The present review summarized the functional and mechanistic basis of the interactive role of PGPR and NPs. However, this article focused on the potential of the research direction to realize the possible interaction of PGPR and NPs at a large scale in the upcoming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishan K. Verma
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Abhishek Joshi
- Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Xiu-Peng Song
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shraddha Singh
- Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, MH, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, MH, India
| | - Aradhna Kumari
- College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Ganj Basoda, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Jaya Arora
- Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Singh
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Solanki
- Department of Life Sciences and Biological Sciences, IES University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Plant Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Group, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | | | - Yang-Rui Li
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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Yass R, Mohammed S, Jalal T, Hamzah H. Evaluation of physiochemical, heavy metals, and bacteriological parameters of celery and its irrigation water within Sulaymaniyah city of Iraq. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:483. [PMID: 38683410 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12650-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
This study rigorously assesses the physicochemical, heavy metal concentrations, and bacteriological parameters of celery and its irrigation water across three rural areas of Sulaymaniyah city, Iraq. The investigation revealed that irrigation water's pH ranged significantly from 6.9 to 8.9. Notably, phosphate concentrations (PO43-) exceeded permissible levels in Tanjaro and Kanaswra across all seasons, with the highest recorded concentration being 10.4 mg L-1 during autumn in Kanaswra. Conversely, sulfate (SO42-) and sodium (Na+) concentrations remained within standard limits, with SO42- peaking at 115.1 mg L-1 in Tanjaro during summer. Celery samples reflected high Na+ concentrations in some seasons, with values exceeding 570 mg·kg in Kanaswra during summer. Heavy metal analysis indicated remarkably low levels in irrigation water, yet celery samples from Tanjaro and Aziz Awa exhibited Pb concentrations above the safety threshold of 0.3 mg·kg in all seasons. Furthermore, bacterial contamination, including total aerobic count and coliform in both water and celery, surpassed standard limits, highlighting significant health risks. This study underscores the imperative need for stringent water treatment processes to mitigate contamination and safeguard agricultural productivity and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafeef Yass
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Sherko Mohammed
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Trifa Jalal
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Haider Hamzah
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
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Abdelghafar R, Abdelfattah A, Mostafa H. Effect of super absorbent hydrogel on hydro-physical properties of soil under deficit irrigation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7655. [PMID: 38561412 PMCID: PMC10985096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57786-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to water scarcity challenges, efficient management of irrigation water is becoming crucial. Water use efficiency (WUE) involves increasing crop productivity without increasing water consumption. This study was carried out to study the effect of hydrogel, deficit irrigation and soil type on WUE, soil hydro-physical properties and lettuce productivity. For this purpose, four irrigation treatments (100%, 85%, 70% and 60% of full irrigation requirements), four hydrogel concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% w/w) and three soil textural classes (clay, loamy sand, and sandy-clay soil) were conducted in pot experiment at open field during two consecutive seasons. The results revealed that crop growth parameters and soil hydro-physical properties were significantly affected by hydrogel application rates. Hydrogel addition significantly enhanced head fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll content, number of leaves and WUE. Application of hydrogel at 0.3% and 85% of irrigation requirements achieved the highest WUE without significant yield reductions. Changes in the studied hydro-physical properties of soil were more dependent on soil texture and hydrogel application rate than on the amount of irrigation water. The significant decrease in soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and bulk density confirms that super absorbent hydrogels could be recommended to improve soil water retention and enhance water use efficiency under deficit irrigation conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha Abdelghafar
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, Kalubia, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Abdelfattah
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, Kalubia, Egypt
| | - Harby Mostafa
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, Kalubia, Egypt.
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Saraswati CM, Judge MA, Weeda LJZ, Bassat Q, Prata N, Le Souëf PN, Bradshaw CJA. Net benefit of smaller human populations to environmental integrity and individual health and wellbeing. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1339933. [PMID: 38504675 PMCID: PMC10949988 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1339933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The global human population is still growing such that our collective enterprise is driving environmental catastrophe. Despite a decline in average population growth rate, we are still experiencing the highest annual increase of global human population size in the history of our species-averaging an additional 84 million people per year since 1990. No review to date has accumulated the available evidence describing the associations between increasing population and environmental decline, nor solutions for mitigating the problems arising. Methods We summarize the available evidence of the relationships between human population size and growth and environmental integrity, human prosperity and wellbeing, and climate change. We used PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science to identify all relevant peer-reviewed and gray-literature sources examining the consequences of human population size and growth on the biosphere. We reviewed papers describing and quantifying the risks associated with population growth, especially relating to climate change. Results These risks are global in scale, such as greenhouse-gas emissions, climate disruption, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and spread of disease-all potentially catastrophic for human standards of living, health, and general wellbeing. The trends increasing the risks of global population growth are country development, demographics, maternal education, access to family planning, and child and maternal health. Conclusion Support for nations still going through a demographic transition is required to ensure progress occurs within planetary boundaries and promotes equity and human rights. Ensuring the wellbeing for all under this aim itself will lower population growth and further promote environmental sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melinda A. Judge
- Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Lewis J. Z. Weeda
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Paediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ndola Prata
- Bixby Center for Population Health and Sustainability, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Peter N. Le Souëf
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Corey J. A. Bradshaw
- Global Ecology | Partuyarta Ngadluku Wardli Kuu, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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Abduljaleel Y, Amiri M, Amen EM, Salem A, Ali ZF, Awd A, Lóczy D, Ghzal M. Enhancing groundwater vulnerability assessment for improved environmental management: addressing a critical environmental concern. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:19185-19205. [PMID: 38358629 PMCID: PMC10927854 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32305-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Groundwater serves as a primary water source for various purposes. Therefore, aquifer pollution poses a critical threat to human health and the environment. Identifying the aquifer's highly vulnerable areas to pollution is necessary to implement appropriate remedial measures, thus ensuring groundwater sustainability. This paper aims to enhance groundwater vulnerability assessment (GWVA) to manage aquifer quality effectively. The study focuses on the El Orjane Aquifer in the Moulouya basin, Morocco, which is facing significant degradation due to olive mill wastewater. Groundwater vulnerability maps (GVMs) were generated using the DRASTIC, Pesticide DRASTIC, SINTACS, and SI methods. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed improvements, 24 piezometers were installed to measure nitrate concentrations, a common indicator of groundwater contamination. This study aimed to enhance GWVA by incorporating new layers, such as land use, and adjusting parameter rates based on a comprehensive sensitivity analysis. The results demonstrate a significant increase in Pearson correlation values (PCV) between the produced GVMs and measured nitrate concentrations. For instance, the PCV for the DRASTIC method improved from 0.42 to 0.75 after adding the land use layer and adjusting parameter rates using the Wilcoxon method. These findings offer valuable insights for accurately assessing groundwater vulnerability in areas with similar hazards and hydrological conditions, particularly in semi-arid and arid regions. They contribute to improving groundwater and environmental management practices, ensuring the long-term sustainability of aquifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasir Abduljaleel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Richland, WA, 99354, USA
| | - Mustapha Amiri
- Geomatics and Soil Management Laboratory, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Université Mohammed Premier Oujda, 60000, Oujda, Morocco
| | - Ehab Mohammad Amen
- Natural Resources Research Center (NRRC), Tikrit University, Tikrit, 34001, Iraq
- Departamento de Geodinámica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, 18071, Spain
- Department of Applied Geology, Collage of Science, Tikrit University, Tikrit, 34001, Iraq
| | - Ali Salem
- Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, Minia, 61111, Egypt.
- Structural Diagnostics and Analysis Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Boszorkány ut 2, 7624, Pecs, Hungary.
| | - Zana Fattah Ali
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Education, Koya University, Koysinjaq, 46011, Iraq
- Doctoral School of Earth Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ahmed Awd
- Department of Food, Agriculture and Biological Engineering (FABE), The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210, USA
- Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI), Giza, 11925, Egypt
| | - Dénes Lóczy
- Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, 7624, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Mohamed Ghzal
- Geomatics and Soil Management Laboratory, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Université Mohammed Premier Oujda, 60000, Oujda, Morocco
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She Y, Chen J, Zhou Q, Wang L, Duan K, Wang R, Qu S, Xu M, Zhao Y. Evaluating Losses from Water Scarcity and Benefits of Water Conservation Measures to Intercity Supply Chains in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1119-1130. [PMID: 38175796 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The severe water scarcity in China poses significant economic risks to its agriculture, energy, and manufacturing sectors, which can have a cascading effect through the supply chains. Current research has assessed water scarcity losses for global countries and Chinese provinces by using the water scarcity risk (WSR) method. However, this method involves subjective functions and parameter settings, and it fails to capture the adaptive behaviors of economies to water scarcity, compromising the reliability of quantified water scarcity loss. There is a pressing need for a new method to assess losses related to water scarcity. Here, we develop an agent-based complex network model to estimate the inter-regional and intersectoral impacts of water scarcity on both cities and basins. Subsequently, we evaluate the supply chain-wide economic benefits of four different water conservation measures as stipulated by the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Construction of a Water-Saving Society. These measures include increasing the utilization rate of recycled water in water-scarce cities, reducing the national water consumption per industrial value-added, and implementing agricultural and residential water conservation measures. Results show that direct losses constitute only 9% of the total losses from water scarcity. Approximately 37% of the losses can be attributed to interregional impacts. Among the water-scarce cities, Qingdao, Lanzhou, Jinan, and Zhengzhou pose a significant threat to China's supply chains. Agricultural water conservation yields the highest amount of water savings and economic benefits, while residential water conservation provides the highest economic benefit per unit of water saved. The results provide insights into managing water scarcity, promoting cross-regional cooperation, and mitigating economic impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlei She
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Energy & Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiayang Chen
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Energy & Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Energy & Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Liping Wang
- School of Economics and Management, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Kai Duan
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Ranran Wang
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, Leiden 2333 CC, The Netherlands
| | - Shen Qu
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100084, China
- Center for Energy & Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ming Xu
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100084, China
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Munir N, Javaid A, Abideen Z, Duarte B, Jarar H, El-Keblawy A, Sheteiwy MS. The potential of zeolite nanocomposites in removing microplastics, ammonia, and trace metals from wastewater and their role in phytoremediation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:1695-1718. [PMID: 38051490 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31185-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Nanocomposites are emerging as a new generation of materials that can be used to combat water pollution. Zeolite-based nanocomposites consisting of combinations of metals, metal oxides, carbon materials, and polymers are particularly effective for separating and adsorbing multiple contaminants from water. This review presents the potential of zeolite-based nanocomposites for eliminating a range of toxic organic and inorganic substances, dyes, heavy metals, microplastics, and ammonia from water. The review emphasizes that nanocomposites offer enhanced mechanical, catalytic, adsorptive, and porosity properties necessary for sustainable water purification techniques compared to individual composite materials. The adsorption potential of several zeolite-metal/metal oxide/polymer-based composites for heavy metals, anionic/cationic dyes, microplastics, ammonia, and other organic contaminants ranges between approximately 81 and over 99%. However, zeolite substrates or zeolite-amended soil have limited benefits for hyperaccumulators, which have been utilized for phytoremediation. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential of zeolite-based composites for phytoremediation. Additionally, the development of nanocomposites with enhanced adsorption capacity would be necessary for more effective removal of pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelma Munir
- Department of Biotechnology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Javaid
- Department of Biotechnology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Zainul Abideen
- Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
- Department of Applied Biology, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 2727, Sharjah, UAE.
| | - Bernardo Duarte
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET-Aquatic Research Network Associated Laboratory, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Heba Jarar
- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Research Group, Research Institute for Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ali El-Keblawy
- Department of Applied Biology, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 2727, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Mohamed S Sheteiwy
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
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Larsen JD, Langevin CD, Hughes JD, Niswonger RG. An Agricultural Package for MODFLOW 6 Using the Application Programming Interface. GROUND WATER 2024; 62:157-166. [PMID: 37882370 DOI: 10.1111/gwat.13367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
An agricultural water use package has been developed for MODFLOW 6 using the MODFLOW Application Programming Interface (API). The MODFLOW API Agricultural Water Use Package (API-Ag) was based on the approach to simulate irrigation demand in the MODFLOW-NWT and GSFLOW Agricultural Water Use (AG) Package. The API-Ag Package differs from the previous approach by implementing new features and support for additional irrigation providers. New features include representation of deficit and over-irrigation, Multi-Aquifer Well and Lake Package irrigation providers, and support for structured, vertex, and unstructured grid models. Three example problems are presented that demonstrate how the API-Ag Package improves representation of highly managed systems and are further used to validate the irrigation demand and delivery formulations. Irrigation volumes simulated in the three example problems show excellent agreement with the MODFLOW-NWT AG Package.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Larsen
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Christian D Langevin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Systems Modeling Branch, Mounds View, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joseph D Hughes
- U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Systems Modeling Branch, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Richard G Niswonger
- U.S. Geological Survey, Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division, Menlo Park, California, USA
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Abdullahi M, Stead I, Bennett S, Orozco R, Abdallah MAE, Jabbari S, Macaskie LE, Tzella A, Krause S, Al-Duri B, Lee RG, Herbert B, Thompson P, Schalkwyk M, Getahun S, Dearn KD, Orsini L. Harnessing water fleas for water reclamation: A nature-based tertiary wastewater treatment technology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167224. [PMID: 37739075 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Urbanisation, population growth, and climate change have put unprecedented pressure on water resources, leading to a global water crisis and the need for water reuse. However, water reuse is unsafe unless persistent chemical pollutants are removed from reclaimed water. State-of-the-art technologies for the reduction of persistent chemical pollutants in wastewater typically impose high operational and energy costs and potentially generate toxic by-products (e.g., bromate from ozonation). Nature-base solutions are preferred to these technologies for their lower environmental impact. However, so far, bio-based tertiary wastewater treatments have been inefficient for industrial-scale applications. Moreover, they often demand significant financial investment and large infrastructure, undermining sustainability objectives. Here, we present a scalable, low-cost, low-carbon, and retrofittable nature-inspired solution to remove persistent chemical pollutants (pharmaceutical, pesticides and industrial chemicals). We showed Daphnia's removal efficiency of individual chemicals and chemicals from wastewater at laboratory scale ranging between 50 % for PFOS and 90 % for diclofenac. We validated the removal efficiency of diclofenac at prototype scale, showing sustained performance over four weeks in outdoor seminatural conditions. A techno-commercial analysis on the Daphnia-based technology suggested several technical, commercial and sustainability advantages over established and emerging treatments at comparable removal efficiency, benchmarked on available data on individual chemicals. Further testing of the technology is underway in open flow environments holding real wastewater. The technology has the potential to improve the quality of wastewater effluent, meeting requirements to produce water appropriate for reuse in irrigation, industrial application, and household use. By preventing persistent chemicals from entering waterways, this technology has the potential to maximise the shift to clean growth, enabling water reuse, reducing resource depletion and preventing environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Abdullahi
- Environmental Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Iestyn Stead
- Environmental Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; Daphne Water Solution Limited, B168JB Birmingham, UK.
| | - Sophie Bennett
- School of Mathematics, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Rafael Orozco
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | | | - Sara Jabbari
- School of Mathematics, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Lynne E Macaskie
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | | | - Stefan Krause
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; LEHNA - Laboratoire d'ecologie des hydrosystemes naturels et anthropises, University of Lyon, Darwin C & Forel, 3-6 Rue Raphaël Dubois, 69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Bushra Al-Duri
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Robert G Lee
- Daphne Water Solution Limited, B168JB Birmingham, UK; Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Ben Herbert
- Stopford Ltd - Technology and Innovation Service Group, Mere Hall Farm Business Centre, Bucklow Hill Lane, Mere, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6LE, UK.
| | | | | | | | - Karl D Dearn
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; Daphne Water Solution Limited, B168JB Birmingham, UK.
| | - Luisa Orsini
- Environmental Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; Daphne Water Solution Limited, B168JB Birmingham, UK; The Alan Turing Institute, British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, UK.
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12
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Chrysargyris A, Hajisolomou E, Xylia P, Tzortzakis N. Ammonium to total nitrogen ratio affects the purslane ( Portulaca oleracea L.) growth, nutritional, and antioxidant status. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21644. [PMID: 38027987 PMCID: PMC10661198 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is a widespread weed, which is greatly appreciated for its high nutritional value. The present work evaluated the effect of different ammonium/total nitrogen ratios (NH4/Total N: Nr 0.01-0.15) on growth, physiological and biochemical parameters, and nutrient accumulation in different plant parts of hydroponically grown purslane, under two growing seasons, spring and autumn. Young seedlings of purslane were transferred to a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system and they were exposed to different Nr levels. The pH and the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution were kept constant at 5.8 and 2.3 mS cm-1, respectively. After the end of the cultivation periods (19 days for spring and 22 days for autumn), a series of assessments (growth parameters, mineral content in different plant organs, antioxidant status of the plant, etc.) were done. Plant height, leaf number, root fresh weight and plant biomass revealed decreased trends at the higher NH4/total N ratios, especially during the autumn growing season. Total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity appeared increased at Nr ≤ 0.10 during both seasons (autumn and spring), revealing higher nitrogen accumulation rates and increased water and nutrient use efficiency. Purslane plants grown in Nr 0.05-0.10 revealed a less intense oxidative stress, with decreased lipid peroxidation levels that was the result of the activation of both enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (ascorbic acid) antioxidant capacity of the plant. Increased Nr resulted in the accumulation of potassium, while calcium and magnesium levels in leaves were decreased. Additionally, the greater water use efficiency was measured for plants grown under Nr 0.01-0.05. Therefore, the recommended ammonium/total nitrogen ratio for purslane production of increased yield, improved nutritional value and efficient use of water and nitrogen sources is to employ Nr of 0.05, while additional care should be addressed during autumn periods as plants are subjected to greater impacts of the Nr ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios Chrysargyris
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 3603, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Efraimia Hajisolomou
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 3603, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Panayiota Xylia
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 3603, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Nikolaos Tzortzakis
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 3603, Limassol, Cyprus
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13
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Wang R, Li J, Xu C, Xu X, Tang F, Huang M. Integrating reverse osmosis and forward osmosis (RO-FO) for printing and dyeing wastewater treatment: impact of FO on water recovery. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:92495-92506. [PMID: 37491487 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28853-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Reverse osmosis (RO) alone has low water recovery efficiency because of membrane fouling and limited operating pressure. In this study, a combined reverse osmosis-forward osmosis (RO-FO) process was used for the first time to improve the water recovery efficiency of secondary effluent in printing and dyeing wastewater. The effects of operating pressure and pH on water recovery and removal efficiency of RO-FO were investigated. The results showed that the optimum conditions were an operating pressure of 1.5 MPa and a feed solution pH of 9.0. Under optimal operating conditions, most of the organic and inorganic substances in the wastewater can be removed, and the rejection of total organic carbon (TOC), Sb, Ca, and K were 98.7, 99.3, 97.0, and 92.7%, respectively. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices coupled with parallel factor (EEM-PARAFAC) analysis indicated that two components (tryptophan and tyrosine) in the influent were effectively rejected by the hybrid process. The maximum water recovery (Rw, max) could reach 95%, which was higher than the current single RO process (75%). This research provided a feasible strategy to effectively recover water from printing and dyeing wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhe Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Jun Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Chao Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Xiaoyang Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Fengchen Tang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Manhong Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China.
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14
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Musie W, Gonfa G. Fresh water resource, scarcity, water salinity challenges and possible remedies: A review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18685. [PMID: 37554830 PMCID: PMC10405016 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Water is one of the natural resource due balance if our planet and the life on it have to sustain and economic development to be expected in the future. The increase in population of the world and level of wealth of humans is expected to withdraw more freshwater. However, since water is already one of the limited resources, global per capital water available surely drops and water shortage happens. Pollution of ground and surface water by dissolved salts are increasing and exacerbating this water shortage situation. The sources of these dissolved salts (such as primary and secondary salinity-causing agents) are known to change the chemical constituent of water. Once contributing factors for water scarcity are identified, future man should work on it to overcome the challenge. This paper therefore began with global water resource information and indicated different levels of scarcity to give overall clues on the situation. Salinity description, its global status, causative factors and challenges were revised before possible recommendations were indicated as indispensable solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wondimu Musie
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, 16417, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Girma Gonfa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, 16417, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Biotechnology and Bioprocess Center of Excellence, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, 16417, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Nanotechnology Center of Excellence, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, 16417, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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15
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Adom RK, Simatele MD, Reid M. Assessing the social and economic implications on water security in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape of South Africa. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2023; 21:939-955. [PMID: 37515564 PMCID: wh_2023_078 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Access to water is a universal human right for every individual and a key instrument in meeting the United Nations' sustainable development goal SDG 6, namely, to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation for all by 2030. Water is also intrinsically linked to any society or country's social, economic and political development. Nevertheless, many communities and households, predominantly rural and underprivileged in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, continue to experience persistent water shortages. This means entrenched poverty, ill health, hunger, stress, and social and economic challenges for the population. Using data collection tools inspired by traditional methods of qualitative and quantitative approaches, this paper scrutinised the social and economic factors contributing to severe inequality in water access in the municipality. Our findings established that water shortage is portrayed as a stand-alone issue without linking it to social and economic challenges. Furthermore, both government and municipalities fail to contextualise a multidimensional problem-solving approach to the water provision challenges in the municipality. This paper, therefore, recommends a multidimensional approach to tackling the problem of accessibility, taking into consideration the social and economic needs of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Kwame Adom
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa E-mail:
| | - Mulala Danny Simatele
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; The Global Change Institute (GCI), University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Memory Reid
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
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16
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Malécange M, Sergheraert R, Teulat B, Mounier E, Lothier J, Sakr S. Biostimulant Properties of Protein Hydrolysates: Recent Advances and Future Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119714. [PMID: 37298664 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, plant biostimulants have been increasingly used in agriculture as environment-friendly tools that improve the sustainability and resilience of crop production systems under environmental stresses. Protein hydrolysates (PHs) are a main category of biostimulants produced by chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins from animal or plant sources. Mostly composed of amino acids and peptides, PHs have a beneficial effect on multiple physiological processes, including photosynthetic activity, nutrient assimilation and translocation, and also quality parameters. They also seem to have hormone-like activities. Moreover, PHs enhance tolerance to abiotic stresses, notably through the stimulation of protective processes such as cell antioxidant activity and osmotic adjustment. Knowledge on their mode of action, however, is still piecemeal. The aims of this review are as follows: (i) Giving a comprehensive overview of current findings about the hypothetical mechanisms of action of PHs; (ii) Emphasizing the knowledge gaps that deserve to be urgently addressed with a view to efficiently improve the benefits of biostimulants for different plant crops in the context of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marthe Malécange
- Institut Agro, Univ Angers, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QuaSaV, 49000 Angers, France
- BCF Life Sciences, Boisel, 56140 Pleucadeuc, France
| | | | - Béatrice Teulat
- Institut Agro, Univ Angers, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QuaSaV, 49000 Angers, France
| | | | - Jérémy Lothier
- Institut Agro, Univ Angers, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QuaSaV, 49000 Angers, France
| | - Soulaiman Sakr
- Institut Agro, Univ Angers, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QuaSaV, 49000 Angers, France
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17
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Younes K, Kharboutly Y, Antar M, Chaouk H, Obeid E, Mouhtady O, Abu-samha M, Halwani J, Murshid N. Application of Unsupervised Machine Learning for the Evaluation of Aerogels’ Efficiency towards Ion Removal—A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Approach. Gels 2023; 9:gels9040304. [PMID: 37102916 PMCID: PMC10137683 DOI: 10.3390/gels9040304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Water scarcity is a global problem affecting millions of people. It can lead to severe economic, social, and environmental consequences. It can also have several impacts on agriculture, industry, and households, leading to a decrease in human quality of life. To address water scarcity, governments, communities, and individuals must work in synergy for the sake of water resources conservation and the implementation of sustainable water management practices. Following this urge, the enhancement of water treatment processes and the development of novel ones is a must. Here, we have investigated the potential of the applicability of “Green Aerogels” in water treatment’s ion removal section. Three families of aerogels originating from nanocellulose (NC), chitosan (CS), and graphene (G) are investigated. In order to reveal the difference between aerogel samples in-hand, a “Principal Component Analysis” (PCA) has been performed on the physical/chemical properties of aerogels, from one side, and the adsorption features, from another side. Several approaches and data pre-treatments have been considered to overcome any bias of the statistical method. Following the different followed approaches, the aerogel samples were located in the center of the biplot and were surrounded by different physical/chemical and adsorption properties. This would probably indicate a similar efficiency in the ion removal of the aerogels in-hand, whether they were nanocellulose-based, chitosan-based, or even graphene-based. In brief, PCA has shown a similar efficiency of all the investigated aerogels towards ion removal. The advantage of this method is its capacity to engage and seek similarities/dissimilarities between multiple factors, with the elimination of the shortcomings for the tedious and time-consuming bidimensional data visualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Younes
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait
| | - Yahya Kharboutly
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait
| | - Mayssara Antar
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait
| | - Hamdi Chaouk
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait
| | - Emil Obeid
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait
| | - Omar Mouhtady
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait
| | - Mahmoud Abu-samha
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait
| | - Jalal Halwani
- Water and Environment Sciences Lab, Lebanese University, Tripoli 22100, Lebanon
| | - Nimer Murshid
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait
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18
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Kaur G, Upadhyaya P, Chawla P. Comparative analysis of IoT-based controlled environment and uncontrolled environment plant growth monitoring system for hydroponic indoor vertical farm. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 222:115313. [PMID: 36709025 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Agriculture is a very important economic sector that contributes to a nation's overall economic development. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, with a rising population, the cereals demand will reach 3 billion tons by 2050. Also, the mission of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to provide zero hunger and sustainable agriculture by 2030. With a simultaneous decline in cultivable land and water scarcity, food production has to increase in order to achieve the above mission. Vertical farming is a current state of art agriculture technology to increase crop yield per unit area. This work focuses on designing and constructing an IoT-enabled smart vertical farming system with a controlled environment for plant growth. This system uses the hydroponic Deep Flow Technique (DFT), various sensors, and an auto pH and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) balancing system. This paper provides a comparative analysis of IoT-based controlled environment vertical farming setup with the uncontrolled setup for Romaine lettuce in terms of plant growth parameters like plant height, maximum leaf length, maximum leaf width, and fresh and dry weight of the plant. The observed fresh weight of the aerial part for automated and unautomated setup is found to be 58.66 g and 48.81 g respectively. Also, the chemical analysis showed the plants possess the required optimum range of micro and macronutrients for both setups. The macronutrient results obtained for the controlled/automated (A setup), and uncontrolled/unautomated setup (U setup for Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) are (PA, PU) (5.91 g/Kg, 6.06 g/Kg), and (KA, KU) (67.03 g/Kg, 74.01 g/Kg) respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaganjot Kaur
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh-Ludhiana Highway, Mohali, Punjab, India.
| | - Prashant Upadhyaya
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh-Ludhiana Highway, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Paras Chawla
- Zonal Head- IT Academics, Ajeenkya D Y Patil University, Pune, Maharashtra, (iNurture Education Solution, Bangalore), India
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19
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Khezraqa H, Etemadi H, Salami-Kalajahi M, Shokri E. The effect of modified silica nanoparticles on the polycarbonate thin-film nanocomposite membranes in a submerged membrane system for the treatment of surface-contaminated water. Polym Bull (Berl) 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s00289-023-04769-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
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20
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Mutoti MI, Edokpayi J, Mutileni N, Durowoju O, Munyai FL. Cyanotoxins in groundwater; occurrence, potential sources, health impacts and knowledge gap for public health. Toxicon 2023; 226:107077. [PMID: 36893989 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater is a significant source of water across the world and constitutes about 30% of the earth's freshwater. This water source is likely to be contaminated by cyanobacteria that produce secondary metabolites called cyanotoxins. Studies on contamination of groundwater by cyanobacteria have been sketchy with limited information. There is a need for better evidence regarding groundwater contamination by cyanobacteria as their presence in surface water bodies could cause contamination of groundwater via infiltration and percolation during rainfall events or during groundwater-surface water interaction, bank infiltration or water quality exchange. Therefore, this review is aimed at exploring the occurrences and potential sources of cyanotoxins in groundwater. This was achieved by summarising the existing data on the occurrence of cyanobacteria in groundwater and their potential sources across the world. Groundwater cyanobacteria contamination can possibly pose threat to water quality because many of the cyanotoxins produced by cyanobacteria pose a severe threat to human health, animals and the environment. Concentrations of microcystins (MCs) in groundwater have been recorded in China (Chaohu), Saudi Arabia, and China (Huai River Basin), with concentrations of 1.446 μg/L, 1.8 μg/L and 1.07 μg/L, respectively. In humans, exposure to these cyanotoxins can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation, to mention a few. This work highlights the importance of providing information or knowledge regarding public health implications of exposure to groundwater contaminated with cyanotoxins and the need to undertake risk management actions through national and international regulation. This review also points out current knowledge gaps, which could lead to future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mulalo Isaih Mutoti
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, University Road, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa.
| | - Joshua Edokpayi
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, University Road, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa
| | - Ntwanano Mutileni
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, University Road, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa
| | - Olatunde Durowoju
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, University Road, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa
| | - Fhatuwani Linton Munyai
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, 1201, South Africa
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21
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Zuzunaga-Rosas J, González-Orenga S, Calone R, Rodríguez-Heredia R, Asaff-Torres A, Boscaiu M, Ibáñez-Asensio S, Moreno-Ramón H, Vicente O. Use of a Biostimulant to Mitigate the Effects of Excess Salinity in Soil and Irrigation Water in Tomato Plants. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1190. [PMID: 36904049 PMCID: PMC10005399 DOI: 10.3390/plants12051190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is linked to progressive soil salinisation, which reduces crop yields, especially in irrigated farmland on arid and semiarid regions. Therefore, it is necessary to apply sustainable and effective solutions that contribute to enhanced crop salt tolerance. In the present study, we tested the effects of a commercial biostimulant (BALOX®) containing glycine betaine (GB) and polyphenols on the activation of salinity defense mechanisms in tomato. The evaluation of different biometric parameters and the quantification of biochemical markers related to particular stress responses (osmolytes, cations, anions, oxidative stress indicators, and antioxidant enzymes and compounds) was carried out at two phenological stages (vegetative growth and the beginning of reproductive development) and under different salinity conditions (saline and non-saline soil, and irrigation water), using two formulations (different GB concentrations) and two doses of the biostimulant. Once the experiments were completed, the statistical analysis revealed that both formulations and doses of the biostimulant produced very similar effects. The application of BALOX® improved plant growth and photosynthesis and assisted osmotic adjustment in root and leaf cells. The biostimulant effects are mediated by the control of ion transport, reducing the uptake of toxic Na+ and Cl- ions and favoring the accumulation of beneficial K+ and Ca2+ cations, and a significant increase in leaf sugar and GB contents. BALOX® significantly reduced salt-induced oxidative stress and its harmful effects, as evidenced by a decrease in the concentration of oxidative stress biomarkers, such as malondialdehyde and oxygen peroxide, which was accompanied by the reduction of proline and antioxidant compound contents and the specific activity of antioxidant enzymes with respect to the non-treated plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Zuzunaga-Rosas
- Department of Plant Production, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain (H.M.-R.)
- Innovak Global S. A. de C. V., Blvd. Lombardo Toledano 6615, La Concordia, Chihuahua 31375, Mexico
| | - Sara González-Orenga
- Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Universidad de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain
- Institute for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Roberta Calone
- Institute for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, I-40128 Bologna, I-00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Raúl Rodríguez-Heredia
- Innovak Global S. A. de C. V., Blvd. Lombardo Toledano 6615, La Concordia, Chihuahua 31375, Mexico
| | - Ali Asaff-Torres
- Innovak Global S. A. de C. V., Blvd. Lombardo Toledano 6615, La Concordia, Chihuahua 31375, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo (CIAD), A. C. Carretera Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas No. 46, La Victoria, Hermosillo 83304, Mexico
| | - Monica Boscaiu
- Mediterranean Agroforestry Institute (IAM), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sara Ibáñez-Asensio
- Department of Plant Production, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain (H.M.-R.)
| | - Héctor Moreno-Ramón
- Department of Plant Production, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain (H.M.-R.)
| | - Oscar Vicente
- Institute for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
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22
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Liu L, Dobson B, Mijic A. Optimisation of urban-rural nature-based solutions for integrated catchment water management. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 329:117045. [PMID: 36549055 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nature-based solutions (NBS) have co-benefits for water availability, water quality, and flood management. However, searching for optimal integrated urban-rural NBS planning to maximise co-benefits at a catchment scale is still limited by fragmented evaluation. This study develops an integrated urban-rural NBS planning optimisation framework based on the CatchWat-SD model, which is developed to simulate a multi-catchment integrated water cycle in the Norfolk region, UK. Three rural (runoff attenuation features, regenerative farming, floodplain) and two urban (urban green space, constructed wastewater wetlands) NBS interventions are integrated into the model at a range of implementation scales. A many-objective optimisation problem with seven water management objectives to account for flow, quality and cost indicators is formulated, and the NSGAII algorithm is adopted to search for optimal NBS portfolios. Results show that rural NBS have more significant impacts across the catchment, which increase with the scale of implementation. Integrated urban-rural NBS planning can improve water availability, water quality, and flood management simultaneously, though trade-offs exist between different objectives. Runoff attenuation features and floodplains provide the greatest benefits for water availability. Regenerative farming is most effective for water quality and flood management, though it decreases water availability by up to 15% because it retains more water in the soil. Phosphorus levels are best reduced by expansion of urban green space to decrease loading on combined sewer systems, though this trades off against water availability, flood, nitrogen and suspended solids. The proposed framework enables spatial prioritisation of NBS, which may ultimately guide multi-stakeholder decision-making, bridging the urban-rural divide in catchment water management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyang Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Barnaby Dobson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Mijic
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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23
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Barroca B, Clemente MF, Yang Z. Application of "Behind the Barriers" Model at Neighbourhood Scale to Improve Water Management under Multi-Risks Scenarios: A Case Study in Lyon, France. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2587. [PMID: 36767951 PMCID: PMC9915353 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In modern urban areas, water management highly depends on the socio-ecological urban water cycle (UWC) that heavily relies on water infrastructures. However, increasing water-related hazards, natural and/or human-based, makes it difficult to balance water resources in the socio-ecological UWC. In the last decade, urban infrastructure resilience has rapidly become a popular topic in disaster risk management and inspired many studies and operational approaches. Among these theories and methods, the "Behind the Barriers" model (BB model), developed by Barroca and Serre in 2013, is considered a theory that allows effective and comprehensive analysis of urban infrastructure resilience through cognitive, functional, correlative, and organisational dimensions. Moreover, this analysis can be a reference to develop actions that improve infrastructure resilience under critical scenarios. Therefore, this study aims to study resilience design actions based on the BB model to achieve socio-ecological water balance and assess the performance of these actions. The study focuses on water management on a neighbourhood scale, which is considered the essential urban unit to study and improve the resilience of critical infrastructures, such as water services. The Part-Dieu neighbourhood in Lyon, France is selected as a case study, and it highlights the need to develop indicators to assess the performance of implemented actions in a structural and global resilience framework, to understand urban systems as complex and dynamic systems to provide decision support, and to strengthen crisis prevention and management perspectives in a dynamic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Barroca
- Lab’urba, Université Gustave Eiffel, 77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France
| | | | - Zhuyu Yang
- Lab’urba, Université Gustave Eiffel, 77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France
- LATTS, UMR CNRS 8134 Université Gustave Eiffel/Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, 77420 Marne la Vallee, France
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24
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Cui H, Zhou G, Ruan H, Zhao J, Hasi A, Zong N. Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the Maize Serine Peptidase S8 Family Genes in Response to Drought at Seedling Stage. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:369. [PMID: 36679082 PMCID: PMC9865268 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Subtilisin-like proteases (subtilases) are found in almost all plant species and are involved in regulating various biotic and abiotic stresses. Although the literature on subtilases in different plant species is vast, the gene function of the serine peptidase S8 family and its maize subfamily is still unknown. Here, a bioinformatics analysis of this gene family was conducted by describing gene structure, conserved motifs, phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distributions, gene duplications, and promoter cis-elements. In total, we identified 18 ZmSPS8 genes in maize, distributed on 7 chromosomes, and half of them were hydrophilic. Most of these proteins were located at the cell wall and had similar secondary and tertiary structures. Prediction of cis-regulatory elements in promoters illustrated that they were mainly associated with hormones and abiotic stress. Maize inbred lines B73, Zheng58, and Qi319 were used to analyze the spatial-temporal expression patterns of ZmSPS8 genes under drought treatment. Seedling drought results showed that Qi319 had the highest percent survival after 14 d of withholding irrigation, while B73 was the lowest. Leaf relative water content (LRWC) declined more rapidly in B73 and to lower values, and the nitrotetrazolium blue chloride (NBT) contents of leaves were higher in Qi319 than in the other inbreds. The qPCR results indicated that 6 serine peptidase S8 family genes were positively or negatively correlated with plant tolerance to drought stress. Our study provides a detailed analysis of the ZmSPS8s in the maize genome and finds a link between drought tolerance and the family gene expression, which was established by using different maize inbred lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Cui
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Herbage and Endemic Crop Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Guyi Zhou
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hongqiang Ruan
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Agula Hasi
- Key Laboratory of Herbage and Endemic Crop Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Na Zong
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
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25
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Aijaz MO, Yang SB, Karim MR, Alnaser IA, Alahmari AD, Almubaddel FS, Assaifan AK. Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly(propylene glycol)- b-poly(ethylene glycol)/Silicon Dioxide Nanofibrous Adsorbents for Selective Copper (II) Ions Removal from Wastewater. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:membranes13010054. [PMID: 36676861 PMCID: PMC9863775 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The problem of industrial wastewater containing heavy metals is always a big concern, especially Cu2+, which interprets the soil activity in farmland and leaves a negative impact on the environment by damaging the health of animals. Various methods have been proposed as countermeasures against heavy-metal contaminations, and, as a part of this, an electrospun nanofibrous adsorption method for wastewater treatment is presented as an alternative. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biopolymer with an intrinsic hydrophobic property that has been considered one of the sustainable nanofibrous adsorbents for carrying adsorbate. Due to the hydrophobic nature of PLA, it is difficult to adsorb Cu2+ contained in wastewater. In this study, the hydrophilic PLA/poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(propylene glycol)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PPG-PEG) nanofibrous adsorbents with different silicon dioxide (SiO2) concentrations were successfully prepared by electrospinning. A hydrophilic group of PEG-PPG-PEG was imparted in PLA by the blending method. The prepared PLA/PEG-PPG-PEG/SiO2 nanofibrous adsorbents were analyzed with their morphological, contact angle analysis, and chemical structure. The Cu2+ adsorption capacities of the different PLA/PEG-PPG-PEG/SiO2 nanofibrous adsorbents were also investigated. The adsorption results indicated that the Cu2+ removal capacity of PLA/PEG-PPG-PEG/SiO2 nanofibrous adsorbents was higher than that of pure ones. Additionally, as an affinity nanofibrous adsorbent, its adsorption capacity was maintained after multiple recycling processes (desorption and re-adsorption). It is expected to be a promising nanofibrous adsorbents that will adsorb Cu2+ for wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Omer Aijaz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (M.O.A.); (M.R.K.)
| | - Seong Baek Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Rezaul Karim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (M.O.A.); (M.R.K.)
| | - Ibrahim Abdullah Alnaser
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Fahad S. Almubaddel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz K. Assaifan
- Department of Biomedical Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
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26
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Farmers' beliefs and concerns about climate change, and their adaptation behavior to combat climate change in Saudi Arabia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280838. [PMID: 36696423 PMCID: PMC9876375 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change threatens the existence of humankind on the planet Earth. Owing to its arid climate and poor natural resources base, Saudi Arabia is particularly susceptible to the negative impact of ongoing climate change. Farmers' understanding of this global phenomenon is extremely important as it may help determine their adaptation behavior. This study was designed to analyze farmers' beliefs and concerns about climate change as well as their views about adaptation different obstacles. Data were collected from 80 randomly farmers of the Al-Ahsa region in Eastern Province using structured interviews. The findings revealed that farmers believed that climate change is mainly occurring due to anthropogenic activities. Drought, insects, crop diseases, and heat stress were their main concerns regarding adverse impacts of climate change. Lack of knowledge about adaptation practices, and poor government and financial support are perceived as the major obstacles to adaptation. The results of non-parametric analysis identified no significant differences in farmers' climate change beliefs and concerns, and their views about obstacles to adaptation in relation to their demographic characteristics. Based on the findings, we suggest that capacity building programs should be undertaken by the government for enhancing the adaptive capacity of the farmers as well the provision of financial incentives wherever deemed necessary for promoting the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and building a resilient national food system.
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27
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Prisa D, Spagnuolo D. Evaluation of the Bio-Stimulating Activity of Lake Algae Extracts on Edible Cacti Mammillaria prolifera and Mammillaria glassii. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3586. [PMID: 36559698 PMCID: PMC9782507 DOI: 10.3390/plants11243586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The research aimed to test different seaweed extracts derived from three macroalgae representatives, namely, Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta and Phaeophyceae, as a bio-fertiliser for the growth of Mammillaria prolifera and Mammillaria glassii and the production of edible fruits. The experiments started in September 2021 and were conducted in the greenhouses of CREA-OF in Pescia (PT). Three different algae, namely, Hypnea cornuta (Rhodophyta), Ulva ohnoi (Chlorophyta), collected from the brackish lake Ganzirri, in Messina, and Sargassum muticum (Phaeophyceae) from Venice lagoon, were tested. The experimental trial showed a significant improvement in the agronomic parameters analysed for the growth and production of cactus plants and fruits treated with the selected algae. A significant increase was found in the sugar, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E content of the fruits of treated plants. In particular, the thesis with Ulva ohnoi was the best for plant growth and fruit production with a higher sugar and vitamin content. This experiment confirms the algae's ability to stimulate soil microflora and microfauna, promoting nutrient uptake, participating in organic matter mineralisation processes and significantly influencing the nutraceutical compounds in the fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Prisa
- CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Via Dei Fiori 8, 51012 Pescia, Italy
| | - Damiano Spagnuolo
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
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28
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Rapid and Automated Approach for Early Crop Mapping Using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 on Google Earth Engine; A Case of a Highly Heterogeneous and Fragmented Agricultural Region. J Imaging 2022; 8:jimaging8120316. [PMID: 36547481 PMCID: PMC9783565 DOI: 10.3390/jimaging8120316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate and rapid crop type mapping is critical for agricultural sustainability. The growing trend of cloud-based geospatial platforms provides rapid processing tools and cloud storage for remote sensing data. In particular, a variety of remote sensing applications have made use of publicly accessible data from the Sentinel missions of the European Space Agency (ESA). However, few studies have employed these data to evaluate the effectiveness of Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2 spectral bands and Machine Learning (ML) techniques in challenging highly heterogeneous and fragmented agricultural landscapes using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform. This work aims to map, accurately and early, the crop types in a highly heterogeneous and fragmented agricultural region of the Tadla Irrigated Perimeter (TIP) as a case study using the high spatiotemporal resolution of Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and a Random Forest (RF) classifier implemented on GEE. More specifically, five experiments were performed to assess the optical band reflectance values, vegetation indices, and SAR backscattering coefficients on the accuracy of crop classification. Besides, two scenarios were used to assess the monthly temporal windows on classification accuracy. The findings of this study show that the fusion of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data can accurately produce the early crop mapping of the studied area with an Overall Accuracy (OA) reaching 95.02%. The scenarios prove that the monthly time series perform better in terms of classification accuracy than single monthly windows images. Red-edge and shortwave infrared bands can improve the accuracy of crop classification by 1.72% when compared to only using traditional bands (i.e., visible and near-infrared bands). The inclusion of two common vegetation indices (The Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)) and Sentinel-1 backscattering coefficients to the crop classification enhanced the overall classification accuracy by 0.02% and 2.94%, respectively, compared to using the Sentinel-2 reflectance bands alone. The monthly windows analysis indicated that the improvement in the accuracy of crop classification is the greatest when the March images are accessible, with an OA higher than 80%.
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29
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Šunjka D, Mechora Š. An Alternative Source of Biopesticides and Improvement in Their Formulation-Recent Advances. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3172. [PMID: 36432901 PMCID: PMC9694139 DOI: 10.3390/plants11223172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plant protection in contemporary agriculture requires intensive pesticide application. Their use has enabled the increase in yields, simplifying cultivation systems and crop protection strategies, through successful control of harmful organisms. However, it has led to the accumulation of pesticides in agricultural products and the environment, contaminating the ecosystem and causing adverse health effects. Therefore, finding new possibilities for plant protection and effective control of pests without consequences for humans and the environment is imperative for agricultural production. The most important alternatives to the use of chemical plant protection products are biopesticides. However, in order to increase their application and availability, it is necessary to improve efficacy and stability through new active substances and improved formulations. This paper represents an overview of the recent knowledge in the field of biopesticides and discusses the possibilities of the use of some new active substances and the improvement of formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragana Šunjka
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Špela Mechora
- Agency for Radwaste Management, Litostrojska 58A, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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30
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Liu YJ, An JP, Gao N, Wang X, Chen XX, Wang XF, Zhang S, You CX. MdTCP46 interacts with MdABI5 to negatively regulate ABA signalling and drought response in apple. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:3233-3248. [PMID: 36043225 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) transcription factors play crucial roles in plant abiotic stresses. However, little is known about the role of TCP genes in the drought stress tolerance of apple. Here, we found that abscisic acid (ABA) and drought treatment reduced the expression of MdTCP46, and overexpression of MdTCP46 reduced ABA sensitivity and drought stress resistance. MdTCP46 was found to interact with MdABI5 both in vitro and in vivo, and this interaction was essential for drought resistance via the ABA-dependent pathway. Overexpression of MdABI5 enhanced ABA sensitivity and drought stress resistance by directly activating the expression of MdEM6 and MdRD29A. MdTCP46 significantly suppressed the transcriptional activity of MdABI5, thereby negatively regulating MdABI5-mediated ABA signalling and drought response. Overall, our results demonstrate that the MdTCP46-MdABI5-MdEM6/MdRD29A regulatory module plays a key role in the modulation of ABA signalling and the drought stress response. These findings provide new insight into the role of MdTCP46 in ABA signalling and abiotic stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
- School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Jian-Ping An
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
| | - Ning Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
| | - Xi-Xia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao-Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
| | - Chun-Xiang You
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
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31
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Slathia D, Jamwal KD. Water quality characterization and pollution source apportionment in the Himalayan river flowing through Jammu City, India, using multivariate statistical approach and geospatial techniques. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:76712-76727. [PMID: 35668273 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21147-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The present study evaluates and characterizes the water quality of River Tawi in Jammu city of Union Territory of J&K, using water quality index, multivariate statistical methods, and geospatial techniques. Water quality parameters were measured at fourteen selected sites along a 12 km (approx.) stretch of river (passing through the city) over two seasons (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon) using standard methods. Water quality index (WQI) results demonstrated spatial and temporal variations and the pollution level of the river increased from upstream to downstream sites. Calculated WQI revealed 35.71% of the water samples in the unfit for drinking category, 28.57% in good and poor category each, and 7.14% samples in very poor drinking water category during the study period. Comparison of analysis results with the drinking water standards prescribed by the World Health Organization and Bureau of Indian standards recorded elevated ranges of parameters like turbidity, BOD, total alkalinity, nitrate, and faecal coliform beyond the permissible limits. Hierarchical cluster analysis has transformed the sites into two clusters during pre-monsoon and three clusters during post-monsoon season indicating more water quality variation during post-monsoon season. Principal component analysis resulted in two PCs for the water quality, explaining 80.827% and 73.672% of the variance for pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. The prepared WQI maps confirmed and depicted deterioration of river water quality towards the midstream and downstream sites of the river basin. Entry of major sewage drains from the city particularly at the midstream sites and dumping of solid waste and agricultural runoff towards the downstream sites of the river constituted the main anthropogenic sources that decreased the river water quality. The study establishes first step towards spatial zoning of River Tawi based on pollution level which would help in improving the river water quality through proper basin management. The study also recommends installation of sewage treatment plants particularly at the midstream and downstream sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Slathia
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, Jammu, J&K, India.
| | - Karan Dev Jamwal
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, Jammu, J&K, India
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32
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Haque Mondol MA, Zhu X, Dunkerley D, Henley BJ. Technological drought: a new category of water scarcity. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 321:115917. [PMID: 35988400 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we argue that current definitions of drought, especially in the context of small-scale agricultural production, are incomplete. We introduce the concept of 'technological drought' to account for crop failures, reduced yields or water scarcity, which are the consequence of an inability to supplement water when there is a lack of irrigation technology and/or existing poor water management. We illustrate the diversity of causes of technological drought, which can include shortages of fuel or electricity to operate pumps, problematically high costs to access irrigation infrastructure, or constrained access to pumps that have to be shared among multiple farmers. We argue that vulnerability to technological drought can be strongly conditioned by socio-economic conditions and that its impact can be magnified when population growth and the demand for food mean that any decline in yield can have serious consequences for food security. We show that technological drought is a complex phenomenon, and can be differentiated from the more widely-recognised classes of drought (meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socio-economic) in multiple ways. In particular, technological drought exhibits an important dependence on the socio-economic context of agricultural production. It is perhaps most evident in developing economies, especially where agricultural output depends strongly on the capacity of individual farmers to manage crop water supply on small holdings. Technological drought can follow from even brief interruptions to monsoon rainfall during critical stages of crop growth, such that technological droughts can be distinguished from other forms of drought by their brevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Anarul Haque Mondol
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Clayton, VIC-3800, Australia; Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh.
| | - Xuan Zhu
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Clayton, VIC-3800, Australia
| | - David Dunkerley
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Clayton, VIC-3800, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Henley
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia; Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
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33
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Muhammad F, Raza MAS, Iqbal R, Zulfiqar F, Aslam MU, Yong JWH, Altaf MA, Zulfiqar B, Amin J, Ibrahim MA. Ameliorating Drought Effects in Wheat Using an Exclusive or Co-Applied Rhizobacteria and ZnO Nanoparticles. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:1564. [PMID: 36358265 PMCID: PMC9687648 DOI: 10.3390/biology11111564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Drought is a major abiotic factor and affects cereal-based staple food production and reliability in developing countries such as Pakistan. To ensure a sustainable and consistent food supply, holistic production plans involving the integration of several drought mitigation approaches are required. Using a randomized complete block design strategy, we examined the drought-ameliorating characteristics of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and nanoparticles (NPs) exclusively or as a combined application (T4) through three stages (D1, D2, and D3) of wheat growth (T1, control). Our field research revealed that Azospirillum brasilense alone (T2) and zinc oxide NPs (T3) improved wheat plant water relations, chlorophyll, proline, phenolics and grain quality, yield, and their allied traits over the stressed treatments. Specifically, the best outcome was observed in the combined treatment of PGPR and ZnO NPs (T4). Interestingly, the combined treatment delivered effective drought mitigation through enhanced levels of antioxidants (15% APX, 27% POD, 35% CAT, 38% PPO and 44% SOD) over controls at the grain-filling stage (GFS, D3 × T1). The 40% improvements were recorded under the combined treatment at GFS over their respective controls. Their combined usage (PGPR and ZnO NPs) was concluded as an effective strategy for building wheat resilience under drought, especially in arid and semi-arid localities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faqeer Muhammad
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Aown Sammar Raza
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Rashid Iqbal
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Faisal Zulfiqar
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Usman Aslam
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Jean Wan Hong Yong
- Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 23456 Alnarp, Sweden
| | | | - Bilal Zulfiqar
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Jawad Amin
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Arif Ibrahim
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
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Zidan K, Sbahi S, Hejjaj A, Ouazzani N, Assabbane A, Mandi L. Removal of bacterial indicators in on-site two-stage multi-soil-layering plant under arid climate (Morocco): prediction of total coliform content using K-nearest neighbor algorithm. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:75716-75729. [PMID: 35661304 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21194-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate and monitor the efficacy of a full-scale two-stage multi-soil-layering (TS-MSL) plant in removing fecal contamination from domestic wastewater. The TS-MSL plant under investigation consisted of two units in series, one with a vertical flow regime (VF-MSL) and the other with a horizontal flow regime (HF-MSL). Furthermore, this study attempts to see whether linear model (LM) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) model can be used to predict total coliform (TC) removal in the TS-MSL system. For 24 months, the TS-MSL system was monitored, with bimonthly measurements recorded at the inlet and outlet of each compartment. Obtained results show removal of 85% of COD, 67% of TP, 27% of TN, and 3 log units of coliforms with good system stability. Thus, the effluent meets the Moroccan water quality code for reuse in the irrigation of green spaces. In addition, as compared to LM, the KNN model (R2 = 0.988) may be considered as an effective method for predicting TC removal in the TS-MSL system. Finally, sensitivity analysis has shown that TC and dissolved oxygen level in the influent were the most influential parameters for predicting TC removal in the TS-MSL system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadija Zidan
- National Center for Studies and Research on Water and Energy (CNEREE), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry (Photocatalysis and Environment), Faculty of Sciences Agadir, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco
| | - Sofyan Sbahi
- National Center for Studies and Research on Water and Energy (CNEREE), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Abdessamed Hejjaj
- National Center for Studies and Research on Water and Energy (CNEREE), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Naaila Ouazzani
- National Center for Studies and Research on Water and Energy (CNEREE), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Ali Assabbane
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry (Photocatalysis and Environment), Faculty of Sciences Agadir, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco
| | - Laila Mandi
- National Center for Studies and Research on Water and Energy (CNEREE), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
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Khan F. Water availability and response of Tarbela Reservoir under the changing climate in the Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15865. [PMID: 36151258 PMCID: PMC9508107 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20159-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Agriculture is one of the major contributors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Pakistan which relies on the availability of water. Hydropower contributes approximately 35% to the national electricity gid of Pakistan. Indus River is the main river of the Indus River System (IRS) which provides water for agriculture, hydropower and other purposes. The outputs of the Conformal-Cubic Atmospheric Model (CCAM) are used to force the University of British Columbia Watershed Model (UBCWM) in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), to investigate future water availability under the two IPCC emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Tarbela Reservoir which is the outlet of UIB is used as a measurement tool to assess water availability and response of the reservoir to climate change. The results show that maximum and minimum temperature are increasing in the future in comparison to the reference period. The largest increases in maximum temperature are projected for MAM (March–April–May) and JJA (June–July–August), with increases up to 2 °C in MAM and increases up to 6.4 °C in JJA under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively, in the future. Minimum temperature has maximum increase (6.7 °C) in DJF (December–January–February) during 2071–2100 under RCP8.5. Precipitation shows a 5.1% decrease in DJF during 2011–2040 under RCP4.5. The statistics about water availability suggest that there is consistent increase in most of the months in the future, however, under the RCP4.5, there is decline in the river flow during 2071–2100 as compared to the 2041–2070. The findings of this study show that most of the time there will be more water available but in some months, there may be water scarcity under the RCP4.5, however, proper management and optimal utilization can reduce the water scarcity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firdos Khan
- School of Natural Sciences (SNS), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan.
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Impact of Biochar Application at Water Shortage on Biochemical and Physiological Processes in Medicago ciliaris. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11182411. [PMID: 36145812 PMCID: PMC9506477 DOI: 10.3390/plants11182411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The application of biochar is mostly used to improve soil fertility, water retention capacity and nutrient uptake. The present study was conducted in order to study the impact of biochar at water deficiency conditions on the physiological and biochemical processes of Medicago ciliaris seedlings. Seedlings were cultivated under greenhouse conditions in pots filled with a mixture of soil and sand mixed in the presence or absence of 2% biochar. Plants of uniform size were subjected after a pretreatment phase (72 days) either to low (36% water holding capacity, water potential low) or high soil water potential (60% water holding capacity, water potential high). Pots were weighed every day to control and maintain a stable water holding capacity. In Medicago ciliaris, drought led to a significant reduction in plant growth and an increase in the root/shoot ratio. The growth response was accompanied by a decreased stomatal conductance and a reduction of the net CO2 assimilation rate and water use efficiency. The associated higher risk of ROS production was indicated by a high level of lipid peroxidation, high antioxidant activities and high proline accumulation. Soil amendment with biochar enhanced the growth significantly and supported the photosynthetic apparatus of Medicago ciliaris species by boosting chlorophyll content and Anet both under well and insufficient watered plants and water use efficiency in case of water shortage. This increase of water use efficiency was correlated with the biochar-mediated decrease of the MDA and proline contents in the leaves buffering the impact of drought on photosynthetic apparatus by increasing the activity of enzymatic antioxidants SOD, APX, GPOX and GR and non-enzymatic antioxidants, such as AsA and DHAsA, giving the overall picture of a moderate stress response. These results confirmed the hypothesis that biochar application significantly reduces both the degree of stress and the negative impact of oxidative stress on Medicago ciliaris plants. These results implied that this species could be suitable as a cash pasture plant in the development of agriculture on dry wasteland in a future world of water shortages.
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Al Bazedi G, Soliman N, Sewilam H. Novel organic draw solution in forward osmosis process for fertigation: performance evaluation and flux prediction. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:68881-68891. [PMID: 35554813 PMCID: PMC9508070 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20674-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis (FDFO) has received a lot of attention for its potential for producing fertigated water for agriculture purposes. To minimize the use of chemical-based fertilizers and support sustainable organic agriculture, this work investigated the separation performance of FO membrane for different feed concentrations (FS) of brackish water using microalgae Spirulina platensis as an organic fertilizer draw solution (DS). Different feed solution concentrations were investigated ranging 3-20 g/L NaCl, with various draw solutions of spirulina ranging 280-440 g/L. The performance was measured by water flux and recovery. The results showed that using spirulina as a draw solution is a promising solution for fertigation purposes. The results showed that Na+ in feed solution is concentrated by 41%, Cl- by 36%, and spirulina is diluted by 20% for feed salinity 5000 mg/L. The highest flux obtained with different feed solution 3000/5000/10,000/20,000 mg/L were 9/6/4.5/7 for draw solution concentration of 360/360/400/420 g/L. The calculated specific reverse solute flux (SRSF) JS/JW varies from 0.1 and 0.8 for different explored FS/DS concentrations. Flux decline and the down-time was investigated for the highest flux observed, showing 290 min of operation before cleaning action is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada Al Bazedi
- Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability (CARES), School of Science and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O. Box: 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
- Chemical Engineering & Pilot Plant Department, Engineering Research Division, National Research Center, 33 El-Bohouth St, Dokki, 12311, Cairo Post Code, Egypt
| | - Noha Soliman
- Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability (CARES), School of Science and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O. Box: 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Hani Sewilam
- Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability (CARES), School of Science and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O. Box: 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
- Department of Engineering Hydrology, RWTH Aachen University, Mies-van-der-Rohe Strasse 17, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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Ahmed N, Hornbuckle J, Turchini GM. Blue-green water utilization in rice-fish cultivation towards sustainable food production. AMBIO 2022; 51:1933-1948. [PMID: 35244893 PMCID: PMC9287512 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01711-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Integrated rice-fish culture is a competitive alternative to rice monoculture for environmental sustainability and food productivity. Compared to rice monoculture, rearing fish in rice field ecosystems could increase food (rice and fish) production from this coculture. Moreover, the water productivity of rice-fish coculture is considerably higher than that of rice monoculture, because of double cropping. Despite these benefits, rice-fish coculture has not yet been broadly practiced. One of the potential challenges for the wider adoption of rice-fish coculture is water management. There are two forms of water involved in rice-fish cultivation: (1) blue water-surface and groundwater, and (2) green water-soil water from rainfall. The aim of this article is to focus on key factors determining the adoption of rice-fish cultivation through the effective utilization of blue-green water. We suggest that the efficient application of blue and green water in rice-fish coculture could help confronting water scarcity, reducing water footprint, and increasing water productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesar Ahmed
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia
| | - John Hornbuckle
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Griffith, Hanwood, NSW 2680 Australia
| | - Giovanni M. Turchini
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia
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Mupfiga S, Katiyatiya CL, Chikwanha OC, Molotsi AH, Dzama K, Mapiye C. Meat production, feed and water efficiencies of selected South African sheep breeds. Small Rumin Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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40
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Lanrewaju AA, Enitan-Folami AM, Sabiu S, Edokpayi JN, Swalaha FM. Global public health implications of human exposure to viral contaminated water. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:981896. [PMID: 36110296 PMCID: PMC9468673 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.981896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteric viruses are common waterborne pathogens found in environmental water bodies contaminated with either raw or partially treated sewage discharge. Examples of these viruses include adenovirus, rotavirus, noroviruses, and other caliciviruses and enteroviruses like coxsackievirus and polioviruses. They have been linked with gastroenteritis, while some enteric viruses have also been implicated in more severe infections such as encephalitis, meningitis, hepatitis (hepatitis A and E viruses), cancer (polyomavirus), and myocarditis (enteroviruses). Therefore, this review presents information on the occurrence of enteric viruses of public health importance, diseases associated with human exposure to enteric viruses, assessment of their presence in contaminated water, and their removal in water and wastewater sources. In order to prevent illnesses associated with human exposure to viral contaminated water, we suggest the regular viral monitoring of treated wastewater before discharging it into the environment. Furthermore, we highlight the need for more research to focus on the development of more holistic disinfection methods that will inactivate waterborne viruses in municipal wastewater discharges, as this is highly needed to curtail the public health effects of human exposure to contaminated water. Moreover, such a method must be devoid of disinfection by-products that have mutagenic and carcinogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abimbola Motunrayo Enitan-Folami
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Abimbola Motunrayo Enitan-Folami,
| | - Saheed Sabiu
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
| | - Joshua Nosa Edokpayi
- Water and Environmental Management Research Group, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Feroz Mahomed Swalaha
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
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Hirwa H, Peng Y, Zhang Q, Qiao Y, Leng P, Tian C, Yang G, Muhirwa F, Diop S, Kayiranga A, Li F, Chen G. Virtual water transfers in Africa: Assessing topical condition of water scarcity, water savings, and policy implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 835:155343. [PMID: 35489483 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Africa is facing an increasing challenge with respect to water scarcity (WS), which is driven by climate change, population growth, and socioeconomic growth combined with inadequate water resources management. In particular, there is significant concern of virtual water (VW) trade, which plays the key role in water resource management and food security sustainability. Using bilateral trade data, this study consistently evaluated the change and balanced trade of major grains, the VW flows, WS status, water dependency (WD), water self-sufficiency (WSS), and water savings/losses within5 African sub-regions and their partners from 2000 to 2020. The ratio of water use to water availability was used to estimate the WS. The WD was quantified by the ratio of the net VW import to the regional water appropriation and the regional water savings/losses were also quantified by multiplying the inter-regional trade by the virtual water content of the imported/exported grains. The overall average trade deficit of African regions was found to increase to -1364.22 × 106 tons and Africa imported 41,359.07 Bm3 of VW from grain products. Green water contributed 79.33% of the total VWI. The WS values for East African countries were >100, indicating overexploitation. Besides, the overall WD in Africa was 465.5% for the studied period. The trade of main grains between Africa and the rest of the planet corresponded to a global water loss of 2820.7 Bm3·yr-1. However, the inter-continental cereal VW trade pattern and high trend will continue in the future. In view of the rising tension of WS, some African countries need to revise international crop trade and water resources conservation policies to promote a more balanced ecosystem. This study exemplifies that decision makers would consider VW flows and water savings/losses for enhancing water use efficiency and fair trading, thus increasing food production in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubert Hirwa
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Peng
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qiuying Zhang
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yunfeng Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peifang Leng
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chao Tian
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Guang Yang
- College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
| | - Fabien Muhirwa
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Key Laboratory for Resources Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Salif Diop
- National Academy of Sciences of Senegal, P.O. Box 4344, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Alphonse Kayiranga
- State Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental Information, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fadong Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China.
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
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Bonetti S, Sutanudjaja EH, Mabhaudhi T, Slotow R, Dalin C. Climate change impacts on water sustainability of South African crop production. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS : ERL [WEB SITE] 2022; 17:084017. [PMID: 35928217 PMCID: PMC9310695 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac80cf] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which, combined with projected food requirements, makes the sustainable management of water resources critical to ensure national and global food security. Using South Africa as an example, we map the spatial distribution of water use by seventeen major crops under current and future climate scenarios, and assess their sustainability in terms of water resources, using the water debt repayment time indicator. We find high water debts, indicating unsustainable production, for potatoes, pulses, grapes, cotton, rice, and wheat due to irrigation in arid areas. Climate change scenarios suggest an intensification of such pressure on water resources, especially in regions already vulnerable, with a country-scale increase in irrigation demand of between 6.5% and 32% by 2090. Future land use planning and management should carefully consider the spatial distribution and local sustainability of crop water requirements to reduce water consumption in water risk hotspots and guarantee long-term food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bonetti
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edwin H Sutanudjaja
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
- Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI-GH)—West Africa Regional Office, Accra, Ghana
| | - Rob Slotow
- Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carole Dalin
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Ibrahim AEA, Abd El Mageed T, Abohamid Y, Abdallah H, El-Saadony M, AbuQamar S, El-Tarabily K, Abdou N. Exogenously Applied Proline Enhances Morph-Physiological Responses and Yield of Drought-Stressed Maize Plants Grown Under Different Irrigation Systems. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:897027. [PMID: 35909786 PMCID: PMC9331896 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.897027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The exogenous application of osmoprotectants [e.g., proline (Pro)] is an important approach for alleviating the adverse effects of abiotic stresses on plants. Field trials were conducted during the summers of 2017 and 2018 to determine the effects of deficit irrigation and exogenous application of Pro on the productivity, morph-physiological responses, and yield of maize grown under two irrigation systems [surface irrigation (SI) and drip irrigation (DI)]. Three deficit irrigation levels (I100, I85, and I70, representing 100, 85, and 70% of crop evapotranspiration, respectively) and two concentrations of Pro (Pro1 = 2 mM and Pro2 = 4 mM) were used in this study. The plants exposed to drought stress showed a significant reduction in plant height, dry matter, leaf area, chlorophyll content [soil plant analysis development (SPAD)], quantum efficiency of photosystem II [Fv/Fm, Fv/F0, and performance index (PI)], water status [membrane stability index (MSI) and relative water content (RWC)], and grain yield. The DI system increased crop growth and yield and reduced the irrigation water input by 30% compared with the SI system. The growth, water status, and yield of plants significantly decreased with an increase in the water stress levels under the SI system. Under the irrigation systems tested in this study, Pro1 and Pro2 increased plant height by 16 and 18%, RWC by 7 and 10%, MSI by 6 and 12%, PI by 6 and 19%, chlorophyll fluorescence by 7 and 11%, relative chlorophyll content by 9 and 14%, and grain yield by 10 and 14%, respectively, compared with Pro0 control treatment (no Pro). The interaction of Pro2 at I100 irrigation level in DI resulted in the highest grain yield (8.42 t ha-1). However, under the DI or SI system, exogenously applied Pro2 at I85 irrigation level may be effective in achieving higher water productivity and yield without exerting any harmful effects on the growth or yield of maize under limited water conditions. Our results demonstrated the importance of the application of Pro as a tolerance inducer of drought stress in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abd El-Aty Ibrahim
- Department of Soils and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Taia Abd El Mageed
- Department of Soils and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Yasmin Abohamid
- Department of Soils and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Hanan Abdallah
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Mohamed El-Saadony
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Synan AbuQamar
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled El-Tarabily
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Nasr Abdou
- Department of Soils and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
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Karimi E, Aliasgharzad N, Esfandiari E, Hassanpouraghdam MB, Neu TR, Buscot F, Reitz T, Breitkreuz C, Tarkka MT. Biofilm forming rhizobacteria affect the physiological and biochemical responses of wheat to drought. AMB Express 2022; 12:93. [PMID: 35834031 PMCID: PMC9283637 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-022-01432-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can attenuate the adverse effects of water deficit on plant growth. Since drought stress tolerance of bacteria has earlier been associated to biofilm formation, we aimed to investigate the role of bacterial biofilm formation in their PGPR activity upon drought stress. To this end, a biofilm-forming bacterial collection was isolated from the rhizospheres of native arid grassland plants, and characterized by their drought tolerance and evaluated on their plant growth promoting properties. Most bacterial strains formed biofilm in vitro. Most isolates were drought tolerant, produced auxins, showed 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity and solubilized mineral phosphate and potassium, but at considerably different levels. Greenhouse experiments with the most promising isolates, B1, B2 and B3, under three levels of water deficit and two wheat varieties led to an increased relative water content and increased harvest index at both moderate and severe water deficit. However, the bacteria did not affect these plant parameters upon regular watering. In addition, decreased hydrogen peroxide levels and increased glutathione S-transferase activity occurred under water deficit. Based on these results, we conclude that by improving root traits and antioxidant defensive system of wheat, arid grassland rhizospheric biofilm forming bacilli may promote plant growth under water scarcity. Numerous biofilm forming PGPR reside in grass rhizospheres from arid grasslands. Drought tolerance of wheat is enhanced by bacterial inoculations. Wheat variety and the level of drought stress modify the plant’s response to the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmaeil Karimi
- Department of Soil Science, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran
| | | | - Ezatollah Esfandiari
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran
| | | | - Thomas R Neu
- Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - François Buscot
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Reitz
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claudia Breitkreuz
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle, Germany
| | - Mika T Tarkka
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle, Germany. .,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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45
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Securing Land and Water for Food Production through Sustainable Land Reform: A Nexus Planning Perspective. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11070974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Land and water are vital resources for sustaining rural livelihoods and are critical for rural development as they form the basis of agriculture, the main economic activity for rural communities. Nevertheless, in most developing countries, land and water resources are unevenly distributed due to historical and socio-economic imbalances, hence the need for land reform policies to address these disparities. However, redistributing land without considering the interconnectedness of land and socio-ecological systems can compound existing food and water insecurity challenges. This study used a mixed research method, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data, to develop a framework to guide policy and decision-makers to formulate coherent strategies towards sustainable land redistribution programmes and achieve the desired outcomes. The approach was vital for integrating the broad and intricate interlinkages between water, land, and environmental resources. Therefore, the framework is based on transformative and circular models for informing strategic policy decisions towards sustainable land redistribution. The focus was on South Africa’s land redistribution plans and the implications on water and food security and rural development. The developed framework is designed to ensure the sustainability of agrarian reform and rural economic development. It is framed to address land and water accessibility inequalities, promote water and food security, and enhance rural development. A sustainable land redistribution increases the adaptive capacity of rural communities to climate change, enhances their resilience, and provides pathways towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Lankford B, Orr S. Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative Agriculture; Building Promises and Avoiding Pitfalls. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.891709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This article seeks greater clarity in the connections between water and regenerative agriculture (RA). We first review existing soil/water knowledge and argue that desired “RA and water” outcomes depend on the management and optimal levels of two key soil properties; readily available moisture and infiltration rate. Secondly, we hypothesize these help define a range of RA beneficial outcomes or “promises,” such as improved vegetative growth, reduced risk of erosive runoff, higher soil organic matter content and biological fertility, easier irrigation management, resilience to drought, better water filtration and less variable streamflow hydrology. Thirdly we show that by not fully understanding water's multiple roles for achieving desired RA outcomes, risks, contradictions and “pitfalls” can arise. With these three parts we observe that carefully explained and quantified roles of water in the existing RA literature are often missing, neglected, over-generalized or poorly explained. We also suggest that narratives and terms (e.g., “net zero” or “net positive”) for describing the benefits and aims of RA and water can lack context and situational fit, or are misleading and incorrect. Cautions also apply to water quantities additionally required for soil regeneration activities, recognizing stiff competition for scarce river basin water and its allocation. How necessary quantities overlap with local and catchment policies for water allocations and hydrology, incorporating farmers' views and choices and informed by field, farm and system water accounting, are critical to successful agricultural practices including those that are “regenerative.” Accordingly, we suggest that scientists and decisions-makers should more thoroughly interrogate how “RA and water” is being analyzed so that relevant policies develop its promises whilst avoiding pitfalls.
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Effect of Treated Wastewater Irrigation on the Accumulation and Transfer of Heavy Metals in Lemon Trees Cultivated in Arid Environment. HORTICULTURAE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae8060514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
The Middle East is considered as one of the driest regions of the world and the use of municipal-treated wastewater (TWW) for agricultural purposes is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuous irrigation of TWW in lemon orchards on the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in the soil, as well as their uptake and translocation to aerial parts of the trees. For this purpose, two lemon orchards were selected to be irrigated from two different water sources: TWW from a tertiary treatment plant and freshwater (SW) from Moses springs in Jordan. Continuous irrigation with TWW resulted in higher concentrations of nutrients and HM accumulation in the soil as compared to SW. However, HM accumulation in the soil was found to be within the acceptable range according to the standards of the WHO. On the contrary, the continuous irrigation with TWW resulted in the accumulation of HMs in plant parts when compared to SW irrigation; the fruits were clearly affected by the accumulation of high levels of Cd and Pb that exceed the maximum limits for the presence of HMs in plant tissues. The irrigation of lemon trees with TWW had a significant effect on the bioaccumulation factor and translocation factors (TF) of HMs into different lemon tree parts. Heavy metal accumulation coincided with high translocation rates to different tree parts, and this is considered to be a main challenge for long-term irrigation with TWW in arid environments.
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48
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Hybrid superhydrophobic/hydrophilic patterns deposited on glass by laser-induced forward transfer method for efficient water harvesting. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 625:383-396. [PMID: 35724461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the combination of factors such as growing population and global climate change has resulted in freshwater shortages. Therefore, water harvesting from the atmospheric fog in order to produce freshwater supply inspired by nature has received much attention. The water harvesting capability of the creatures is significantly based on the combination of both wettability states on their surfaces. In this study, a facile physicochemical hybrid method was used for the fabrication of glass surfaces with contrast wettability. First, fractal and regular repeated geometric patterns were deposited on a glass substrate using brass sheet as donor material by laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) method. Subsequently, stearic acid (SA) treatment was used to convert the wettability of the superhydrophilic (SHL) deposited patterns on glass to superhydrophobic. In order to investigate the effect of the shape of designed patterns on glass surfaces in the water harvesting efficiency, the amount of collected water for a period of time from untreated hydrophilic (HL) glass, superhydrophobic (SHB) glass and hybrid superhydrophobic/hydrophilic (SHB-HL) surfaces were measured. The obtained results indicate that the hybrid of superhydrophobic and hydrophilic regions and selecting the optimal pattern can improve the water harvesting performance by up to 300%.
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49
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Delineating Groundwater Recharge Potential through Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14111824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Owing to the extensive global dependency on groundwater and associated increasing water demand, the global groundwater level is declining rapidly. In the case of Islamabad, Pakistan, the groundwater level has lowered five times over the past five years due to extensive pumping by various departments and residents to meet the local water requirements. To address this, water reservoirs and sources need to be delineated, and potential recharge zones are highlighted to assess the recharge potential. Therefore, the current study utilizes an integrated approach based on remote sensing (RS) and GIS using the influence factor (IF) technique to delineate potential groundwater recharge zones in Islamabad, Pakistan. Soil map of Pakistan, Landsat 8TM satellite data, digital elevation model (ASTER DEM), and local geological map were used in the study for the preparation of thematic maps of 15 key contributing factors considered in this study. To generate a combined groundwater recharge map, rate and weightage values were assigned to each factor representing their mutual influence and recharge capabilities. To analyze the final combined recharge map, five different assessment analogies were used in the study: poor, low, medium, high, and best. The final recharge potential map for Islamabad classifies 15% (136.8 km2) of the region as the “best” zone for extracting groundwater. Furthermore, high, medium, low, and poor ranks were assigned to 21%, 24%, 27%, and 13% of the region with respective areas of 191.52 km2, 218.88 km2, 246.24 km2, and 118.56 km2. Overall, this research outlines the best to least favorable zones in Islamabad regarding groundwater recharge potentials. This can help the authorities devise mitigation strategies and preserve the natural terrain in the regions with the best groundwater recharge potential. This is aligned with the aims of the interior ministry of Pakistan for constructing small reservoirs and ponds in the existing natural streams and installing recharging wells to maintain the groundwater level in cities. Other countries can expand upon and adapt this study to delineate local groundwater recharge potentials.
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Huang T, Qi F, Ji X, Peng Q, Yang J, Wang M, Peng Q. Effect of different irrigation levels on quality parameters of 'Honeycrisp' apples. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2022; 102:3316-3324. [PMID: 34811758 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.11678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Water shortage is the main factor affecting agricultural production in the vast arid and semi-arid areas of northern China. Using proper irrigation methods can optimize the efficiency of water use and improve the quality of agricultural products. This study investigated the effect of different irrigation levels on the quality of 'Honeycrisp' apples grown in the Loess Plateau of northern China. RESULTS Different irrigation levels were applied to the 'Honeycrisp' apple trees via root irrigation using ceramic emitters that provide saturation levels of 75-90% θf (S1, where θf is the field capacity), 60-75% θf (S2), 45-50% θf (S3) and no irrigation treatment (CK). Compared to the apples from the CK group, the water content, transverse diameter, individual fruit weight and titratable acid content of S1 and S2 group apples increased significantly. However, their hardness, soluble solids and total sugar content decreased significantly. The phenolic acid content of apples also changed with the irrigation levels. The chlorogenic acid content of apples increased with increased irrigation volume, while the hyperoside, protocatechuic acid and caffeic acid content decreased. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of fruits were the highest in S2 group apples. They also had the strongest ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging capacities. CONCLUSION The volume of irrigation applied through ceramic emitters significantly impacted the quality of 'Honeycrisp' apples grown in loess areas. Considering water conservation and improving fruit quality, the most suitable ceramic root irrigation level was observed to be 60-75% θf (S2). © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhui Huang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Fei Qi
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xiaolong Ji
- Henan Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Quality and Safety Control, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingqing Peng
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jiachuan Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Min Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Qiang Peng
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Quality and Safety Control, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
- Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, Beijing Technology & Business University (BTBU), Beijing, China
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