Search Results (1,682)

The potato production process in Konya, Türkiye, was evaluated through a cumulative and system-oriented approach. A functional unit of one ton of potatoes produced was used for all analyses, using region-specific agricultural input data. In this study, the cumulative energy consumption (CEnC), exergy consumption (CExC), and CO₂ emissions (CCO₂E) of the agricultural production process were determined. Specifically, the sustainability performance of the potato production process was examined through thermodynamic indicators. The results indicate that nitrogen fertilizer accounts for the highest CEnC, reaching 368.94 MJ per ton of potato produced, followed by diesel fuel at 179.64 MJ/ton and electricity at 91.79 MJ/ton. However, the CExC assessment revealed a different pattern, with electricity emerging as the dominant source of exergy depletion. Electricity consumption accounted for 382.75 MJ/ton, representing the largest exergy burden among all inputs, while diesel (166.21 MJ/ton) and nitrogen (154.28 MJ/ton) followed as secondary contributors. A similar trend was observed in the carbon emission analysis. Electricity use resulted in the highest CCO₂E value at 12.85 kg CO₂/ton, whereas diesel contributed 2.94 kg CO₂/ton. Emissions from chemical fertilizers remained notably low, with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium generating only 0.42, 0.22 and 0.75 kg CO₂/ton, respectively. The sustainability indicators further highlighted the system’s performance. The cumulative degree of perfection (CDP) was calculated as 7.34, while the renewability indicator (RI) reached 0.86, suggesting that potato production in Konya demonstrates relatively high thermodynamic efficiency and a strong potential for renewable energy integration. Under a scenario in which agrivoltaic systems (AVS) and fully electric agricultural machinery replace conventional energy inputs, the CDP increased markedly to 21.61 and the RI to 0.95. To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first thermodynamic analysis of potato production in Türkiye that integrates sustainability indicators with an AVS integration scenario. The proposed framework provides a practical decision support approach for evaluating the integration of renewable energy into agricultural production systems. Full article

The 1st International Online Conference on Environments addresses issues of environmental understanding, management, and restoration. Sessions ranged from general frameworks to a broad area of specific investigations: heavy metal removal using inactive yeast, gadolinium’s aquatic toxicity, adsorptive removal of pollutants, energy recovery from waste and wastewater treatment, recycled carbon fibers, climate-resilient urban development, renewable biofuel production, green hydrogen, anthropogenic and volcanic CO₂ emissions, quantifying aging dignity in urban ecosystems and stray dogs as pollution health sentinels. Keynotes covered digital plant phenotyping for restoration, microplastic dynamics, agricultural residue management, carbon credits, air quality, atmospheric pollution, transitional waters, green chemistry, ecotoxicity, micropollutants, and coastal darkening effects on plankton, among others. Applied solutions included phytoremediation of eutrophication in urban streams, circular approaches in aquaculture, biochar for wastewater treatment, AI-assisted mangrove monitoring, and true-cost accounting for food systems. The conference demonstrated that effective environmental policy requires the integration of laboratory findings, field restoration, and shared resource responsibility across terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Full article

Terrestrial vegetation cover is a critical component of the global carbon cycle, annually assimilating a substantial fraction of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. However, regional estimates of gross primary production (GPP) and net primary production (NPP) remain insufficiently studied, especially for ecologically sensitive areas such as the sub-Mediterranean landscapes of southeastern Crimea. The aim of this study is to calculate and map the spatio-temporal distribution of GPP and NPP across southeastern Crimea over the period 2001–2025 using Earth remote sensing data and geoinformation modeling. This study employed MODIS products (MOD17A2H collection 061) processed in the Google Earth Engine cloud platform, together with temperature and precipitation data (ClimateEU, CHIRPS). Statistical analysis included calculation of the carbon use efficiency (CUE) coefficient and correlation analysis. The results show that the mean GPP for southeastern Crimea is 1.13 kg C/m² and the mean NPP is 0.61 kg C/m², which exceed global average values. Maximum productivity is characteristic of natural forest communities (sessile oak, beech and juniper forests), whereas anthropogenically transformed landscapes (agricultural land, urban coenoses) exhibit the lowest values. The mean CUE is 0.54, with the highest values (0.63–0.66) recorded for agrocoenoses and steppes, and the lowest (0.49–0.57) for forests. A positive correlation between productivity and precipitation and a negative correlation with air temperature were identified, especially for forest ecosystems. This study fills a gap in regional primary productivity assessments and can serve as a basis for ecosystem monitoring under climate change and anthropogenic pressure. Full article

The global plastic pollution crisis demands a fundamental re-evaluation of materials systems beyond incremental improvements to fossil fuel-based polymers. Bioplastics, polymers derived from renewable biological feedstocks, biodegradable under defined conditions, or both, offer a chemically diverse and rapidly evolving platform for transitioning toward circular materials economies in which the value of carbon, energy, and material is retained across multiple use cycles. This review provides a comprehensive and critically organized account of the bioplastics field, spanning three generations of feedstock development from food crops through lignocellulosic residues to algae and waste streams; primary production pathways including microbial fermentation, ring-opening polymerization, and biosynthesis; forming processes from extrusion and injection molding to additive manufacturing; and the mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties that determine application fitness. Particular emphasis is placed on life cycle assessment, which reveals that bioplastics’ climate benefits are conditional on feedstock choice, land-use management, energy source at manufacturing, and end-of-life pathway, and that burden-shifting from greenhouse gas emissions to land use, water consumption, and eutrophication is a systematic risk requiring integrated LCA evaluation rather than single-metric optimization. The review further examines end-of-life recycling, composting, and biodegradation pathways; market applications across packaging, agriculture, automotive, biomedical, and electronics sectors; and the growing role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in accelerating materials design, process optimization, and lifecycle data management. Critical barriers to scale, such as cost premiums of 20–75% over conventional plastics, inadequate composting infrastructure, recycling stream contamination, regulatory fragmentation, and consumer labeling confusion, are systematically analyzed alongside mitigation strategies. The review concludes with a forward-looking discussion of emerging feedstocks, smart and functional bioplastics, and the policy and infrastructure investments required to translate the environmental promise of bio-based polymers into realized circular economy impact. Full article

Agricultural lands in Russia are increasingly being converted into fallow areas, making the study of potentially mineralizable carbon (PMC) in fallow soils essential for understanding post-agrogenic ecosystem functioning. This study provides a comparative assessment of the spatial and temporal dynamics of PMC in soils of the Leningrad and Novgorod regions (Bankovo, Belogorka, and Borovichi sites) under different land-use types, including fallows of various ages, arable, garden, pasture, hayfield soils, and secondary forests. Total carbon content was determined by high-temperature dry combustion, while basal respiration was measured using a standard incubation method. PMC parameters were estimated using biokinetic fractionation of soil organic matter (SOM), and cumulative carbon release was calculated as the sum of emissions over the incubation period. The highest basal respiration values among the studied fallow soils were observed in fallow soils at the Bankovo site (1.44–1.66 µg CO₂–C g⁻¹ h⁻¹). Carbon stocks in most fallow soils were lower than those of the corresponding background soils, although the magnitude of differences varied among sites. Both the size of the PMC pool and its mineralization rate varied among fallow soils depending on post-agrogenic succession, vegetation type, and site-specific environmental conditions. The highest cumulative C-CO₂ production was recorded in degraded pasture soils and secondary forests at Borovichi. Restorative ecosystems generally showed higher carbon-mineralizing activity than arable and garden soils, although turnover characteristics varied among sites. Region-specific patterns related to parent material and environmental conditions were identified. Even after long-term fallowing (up to 120 years), several soil properties remained different from background conditions, indicating prolonged and site-dependent recovery of organic matter dynamics. Full article

Improving cropland carbon performance while maintaining food security is central to China’s agricultural transition and climate goals This study examines low-carbon cropland use performance (PCLU) and its model-implied interprovincial association network across 31 Chinese provinces from 2010 to 2023. A global super-efficiency slacks-based measure model estimated PCLU by incorporating agricultural output, carbon emissions, nonpoint-source pollution, and crop sequestration; annual directed networks were constructed with a modified gravity model and analyzed using social network analysis, a temporal exponential random graph model (TERGM), and complementary quadratic-assignment analyses. Mean PCLU increased from 0.524 to 0.861, while the interquartile range widened from 0.146 to 0.310; network density declined before partially recovering as hierarchy increased, indicating improvement without provincial convergence and reconnection within a more differentiated multi-hub structure. Persistence (β = 4.510) and reciprocity (β = 2.376) dominated network evolution, whereas shared partners produced neither additional triadic closure nor expanding open chains; similarities in urbanization and planting structure favored ties, while rural-income differences reflected socioeconomic complementarity. External validation showed moderate overall correspondence with green-technology patent collaboration (mean annual QAP r = 0.335) but limited overlap among the strongest dyads. Overall, China’s low-carbon cropland transition combined rising but increasingly uneven performance with a path-dependent and selective interprovincial structure, providing an empirical basis for differentiated coordination based on provincial performance and network position. Full article

Environmental sustainability of natural and synthetic fibers used in textiles and composites depends on their impacts throughout production, use, and end-of-life (EoL) stages. Natural fibers are renewable and biodegradable but may require substantial water and agricultural inputs, whereas synthetic fibers contribute to fossil resource depletion, microplastic pollution, and persistent waste generation. Natural fibers are often regarded as more sustainable alternatives to synthetic fiber; however, evidence from a life cycle assessment (LCA) reveals a more nuanced reality. As demand for fiber-based materials increases across textile and composite applications, a deeper understanding of the environmental implications of both natural and synthetic options becomes essential. This review compares these fiber categories from a life cycle perspective, examining carbon footprint, energy demands, resource consumption, and EoL pathways. Natural fibers such as cotton, flax, jute, hemp, sisal, banana, coir, and emerging plant-based alternatives offer advantages including biodegradability and carbon sequestration during cultivation. Nevertheless, agricultural practices and subsequent industrial processing require substantial land, water, and chemical inputs. Synthetic fibers, predominantly derived from fossil resources, provide a long service life and consistent performance but are associated with high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, dependence on non-renewable feedstocks, microplastic pollution, and broader environmental impacts. By presenting a comprehensive life cycle-based comparison, this review identifies the conditions under which each fiber type may offer environmental benefits, supporting informed material selection for sustainable development. Full article

Pyroligneous liquor (PL) is a by-product of charcoal production with potential applications in agriculture, forestry, and industry. This study evaluated the influence of carbonization temperature on the yield, chemical composition, and physicochemical properties of PL obtained from Eucalyptus spp. in a sustainable kiln-furnace system. PL fractions were collected at four temperature intervals: T1 (60–170 °C), T2 (171–270 °C), T3 (271–350 °C), and T4 (351–400 °C). The recovery of condensable gases did not affect the quality of the charcoal and minimized pollutant emissions. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified 78 organic compounds, mainly carboxylic acids, phenolic compounds, alcohols, carbohydrates, and aromatics. The highest PL yield was obtained in T3 (271–350 °C), accounting for 27% of the recovered liquor and showing high phenolic content, including syringol and catechol. In contrast, T1 (60–170 °C) showed the lowest yield and was dominated by carboxylic acids, particularly acetic acid. Carbonization temperature affected both PL composition and physicochemical properties, resulting in higher electrical conductivity and vegetable tar content at higher temperatures. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed distinct compound groups according to their concentration patterns across the evaluated temperature intervals. These results reinforce the notion that the evolution of pyrolysis vapors is not a continuous or homogeneous process, but rather occurs through discrete and chemically distinct stages driven by the sequential decomposition of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin—a behavior that directly justifies the temperature-based fractionation approach adopted. It was found that temperature-controlled fractionation effectively yields pyrolysis liquid (PL) fractions with distinct chemical profiles, facilitating the selective recovery of value-added compounds for forest biomass biorefineries and specific end-use applications, in addition to offering environmental benefits. Full article

Water scarcity has a significant impact on global agriculture, particularly in semi-arid regions, hindering economic development. The use of recycled urban wastewater in agriculture is a sustainable practice; however, it is essential to assess its impact on soil carbon stocks and microbial activity. This study hypothesized that the use of wastewater in soil cultivated with forage cactus and amended with 8 or 12 tons of sorghum straw as soil cover could increase carbon stocks, microbial biomass, and microbial activity compared to bare soil, even after only 8 months. The experiment was conducted in a tropical semi-arid region of Brazil, based on a factorial design with different cactus intercropping systems and soil cover treatments under wastewater irrigation. Overall, soil carbon stocks did not increase significantly compared to the control, although they increased by approximately 21% over the study period. However, soil cover increased C-CO₂ emissions by 70% after 4 and 8 months. Microbial biomass carbon increased by 65% compared to the baseline (time 0), particularly in treatments with soil cover. Soil cover and consortium under wastewater irrigation improved microbial activity and biomass, even over a short experimental period, indicating a sustainable soil management strategy to enhance soil organic matter quality and microbial properties. Full article

Agricultural management influences progress towards carbon neutrality through its effects on water consumption, energy use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, few studies have translated policies across sectors into management scenarios and evaluated their combined consequences for the agricultural carbon neutrality. We quantified the water, energy use, and carbon nexus for wheat, rice, and corn production across the North China Plain using 2018 as a baseline scenario. We then evaluated conditional management scenarios informed by China’s 14th Five-Year Plan. The three crop production generated net emissions of 1.8 × 10¹⁰ kg C yr⁻¹ in 2018, while cropland net ecosystem productivity offset 16.9% of GHG emissions related to crop production. Energy use was positively correlated with GHG emissions (r = 0.74, p < 0.01). The integrated scenario combining a 30% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer, more efficient nitrogen fertilizer production, sprinkler irrigation, and a 50% crop straw return rate reduced the water footprint, energy use, and GHG emissions by 4.9%, 27.6%, and 39.2%, respectively. By contrast, drip irrigation alone reduced the water footprint but increased energy use by 6.8% and GHG emissions by 12.9%. The results show that water saving measures do not necessarily improve the carbon neutrality when their energy requirements are overlooked. These findings also provide more enlightenment for local policy-makers. Full article

Agricultural and livestock production plays an important role in Inner Mongolia, China, but its continued development poses challenges for greenhouse gas mitigation. Using multi-source data from 2005 to 2023, this study integrates the IPCC emission-factor approach, panel STIRPAT modeling, uncertainty and sensitivity analyses, and Ridge regression forecasting to quantify carbon-equivalent emissions and emission intensity from selected agricultural and livestock sources, examine emission changes and associated factors, and project future emissions under a trend-continuation scenario (TCS) and a policy-target scenario (PTS). Total emissions increased from 9.8472 Mt C-eq in 2005 to 14.5223 Mt C-eq in 2023, while carbon-equivalent emission intensity declined over the same period. Livestock-related emissions remained dominant, although the contribution of agricultural emissions increased over time, with cattle and sheep accounting for most livestock-related emissions. Panel estimates showed significant positive associations between emissions and year-end rural population, year-end large-livestock inventory, and real agricultural and animal husbandry output value per capita at constant 2005 prices. Monte Carlo analysis showed that emission-factor uncertainty had a notable influence on absolute emission levels, with a coefficient of variation of 9.04% in 2023; enteric-fermentation CH₄ emission factors for cattle and sheep were the dominant sources of uncertainty. Among the models compared, Ridge regression showed the strongest overall validation performance. Emissions are projected to continue increasing through 2035 under both the TCS and PTS, reaching 16.5974 and 16.5012 Mt C-eq, respectively, indicating that the currently quantifiable policy constraints alone are insufficient to reverse the projected upward trend. Future mitigation should therefore prioritize major livestock-related emission sources and regionally differentiated management, while further refinement of the emission inventory should focus on developing more regionally representative livestock emission factors. Full article

This study assesses life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes; WH) biochar production and its subsequent use as fuel or soil amendment in Ethiopia. Overgrowth of WH in Lake Tana has created ecological and socioeconomic challenges, while the country continues to rely heavily on biomass fuels and imported chemical fertilizers. To address these issues, three scenarios were evaluated using a functional unit of 1 kg of dried WH: (Case 1) current practice of abandonment and decomposition; (Case 2) WH-derived biochar (WHB) used as household fuel; and (Case 3) WHB applied as a soil amendment. Experimental data from pyrolysis of WH and acacia, combined with background life cycle inventory data, were used to quantify GHG emissions across each value chain. Japanese WH and WHB were used for life cycle GHG evaluation and applied to Ethiopian social contexts due to biological resources restrictions. The results showed that Case 3 provided the greatest reduction in net GHG emissions due to long-term carbon sequestration in soil. Case 2 also reduced emissions through substitution of acacia charcoal by use of WHB for household fuel, though to a lesser extent. Sensitivity analyses highlighted the influence of transport distance and biochar yield on overall performance. These findings demonstrated the environmental advantages of integrating WHB into Ethiopia’s energy and agricultural systems, supporting sustainable biomass management and climate mitigation strategies. Full article

This study examines the structural drivers of carbon emission changes across 30 Chinese sectors from 2002 to 2023, employing a nested input–output structural decomposition analysis model grounded in both producer and consumer principles. We further construct a carbon inequality-adjusted network decoupling index to eliminate the systematic carbon transfer bias inherent to the conventional Tapio decoupling indicator. The core empirical findings are as follows: declining carbon intensity has served as the primary driver of emission reductions over the past two decades; however, its effect has been persistently offset by economic expansion. Upstream sectors, such as electricity generation, transfer substantial emissions downstream through sectoral chains, leading to a systematic overestimation of their decoupling performance, whereas the emission reductions in downstream manufacturing sectors are underestimated owing to embodied carbon imports. Inter-industry carbon inequality underwent a structural transformation following the launch of supply-side structural reforms in 2015, which substantially narrowed the arbitrage space for cross-sector carbon shifting. Cluster analysis further reveals that most industries continue to face considerable emission growth pressure. This study offers novel analytical perspectives and empirical evidence for designing carbon allowance allocation and differentiated emission reduction pathways that reconcile economic growth with environmental sustainability. This study offers a new analytical perspective and empirical evidence. It focuses on differentiated emission pathways and allowance allocations. The goal is to balance growth and sustainability. The findings also highlight a key point. Carbon markets must correct for sectoral chain carbon transfers. This study focuses on carbon emissions from 30 broadly defined sectors covering agriculture, mining, manufacturing, energy production and supply, construction, transportation, and commercial services. The accounting scope does not include direct fuel combustion emissions from residential consumption. Full article

Rainfed wheat covers much of the semi-arid Mediterranean, yet its environmental cost is rarely measured at the field scale where management decisions are made. This study assesses the carbon and environmental footprint of rainfed wheat in the Mygdonia Basin, Northern Greece, drawing on a primary dataset of 1385 fields (~976 ha). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was coupled with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to link environmental performance with technical efficiency. Carbon footprint ranged from 2030 to 3110 kg CO₂e ha⁻¹, revealing pronounced spatial variability across management systems. Excess nitrogen fertilization emerged as the principal driver of greenhouse gas emissions, acidification, and eutrophication in lowland systems. High-altitude systems showed lower impacts per hectare, an advantage partly offset by higher terrestrial ecotoxicity from increased machinery use. DEA revealed widespread technical inefficiency, most fields scoring between 0.70 and 0.90, with input slacks tracing this to excess nitrogen and seed. The convergence of LCA and DEA findings identifies nitrogen management as the key leverage point for improving environmental and technical performance without compromising productivity. The findings support spatially differentiated interventions under the Common Agricultural Policy, promoting precision nutrient management and conservation-oriented practices to strengthen the resilience of Mediterranean agroecosystems. Full article

Against the backdrop of increasing global food security pressures and tightening resource–environment constraints, enhancing grain production efficiency has become a focal international concern. Based on panel data from 16 cities in Shandong Province, China, spanning 2013 to 2022, this study employs the DEA–Malmquist index, SBM model, and Spatial Durbin model to measure grain production efficiency and analyze its spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors. The findings reveal that Shandong’s grain production efficiency has generally improved but exhibits a spatial differentiation pattern of “higher in Western Shandong, lower in Eastern Shandong,” with significant positive spatial correlation and agglomeration effects. Mechanization significantly boosts efficiency, while urbanization, excessive fertilizer and pesticide use, and labor surplus exert notable negative impacts. This research clarifies the spatial spillover mechanisms and key constraints of efficiency, providing scientific evidence and practical guidance for optimizing agricultural resource allocation, promoting regional collaborative innovation, and formulating differentiated food security policies in Shandong Province and other regions with similar natural–economic conditions. Full article