Search Results (12,601)

Against the backdrop of global water scarcity, utilizing sediment-laden river water for agricultural irrigation is a critical strategy for ensuring food security. However, the associated water and nitrogen transport processes are influenced by the coupled effects of multiple factors, and the governing mechanisms are not yet fully understood. To investigate the coupled effects of muddy water sediment concentration (ρ), physical clay content (d_0.01), applied nitrogen concentration (N), and pressure head (H) on infiltration characteristics during film hole irrigation, this study conducted an indoor soil-box experiment using an orthogonal design to analyze soil water and nitrogen transport dynamics. Results indicated that sediment properties were the dominant factors governing infiltration, with their relative influence on cumulative infiltration following the order ρ > d_0.01 > H > N. ρ and d_0.01 strongly inhibited infiltration; for instance, an increase in ρ from 3% to 9% reduced the initial infiltration rate by as much as 49.3%. Conversely, H and N exhibited a slight promoting effect. High muddy water sediment concentration and physical clay content significantly restricted water and nitrogen transport, causing substantial amounts of ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) to be retained within the surface soil layer adjacent to the irrigation hole. Paradoxically, the same factors that reduced infiltration (ρ and d_0.01) led to a significant increase in the average change in volumetric water content (Δθ) within the wetted soil volume. Based on these findings, multivariate power function models were developed to predict key parameters. The models demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with coefficients of determination (R²) of 0.9715 for cumulative infiltration, 0.94 for wetting front migration, and 0.9758 for Δθ, and validation errors were within acceptable limits. In conclusion, the film hole irrigation process is predominantly governed by physical clogging from sediment particles, a mechanism that decisively controls the spatial distribution of water and nitrogen. Furthermore, the slight enhancement of infiltration by nitrogen fertilizer suggests a potential physicochemical mechanism, possibly involving ion-induced flocculation of clay particles. The models developed in this study provide a quantitative basis for precision fertigation management in China’s Yellow River irrigation district and other regions with similar conditions. Full article

Water resources are increasingly scarce, with groundwater overexploitation causing major declines in quantity and quality. Effective water accounting is essential for sustainable management, which requires measuring irrigation water use despite limited metering. Traditional modeling approaches suffer from errors when there are narrow spatial coverages. Digital agriculture and remote sensing offer alternatives by enabling large-scale, cost-effective, and near-real-time monitoring. However, issues of accuracy, methodological consistency, and integration with governance frameworks still restrict operational use. This review followed the PRISMA protocol, screening 1485 documents and selecting 79 studies on remote sensing for irrigation water accounting. A structured labeling process classified papers into Technological Readiness, Management Impact, Implementation Barriers, Policy Integration, and Innovation/Gaps. Findings show a strong focus on management benefits and technological innovation, while institutional and policy aspects remain limited. Although many studies addressed multiple themes, governance integration and real-world barriers were often overlooked. Research is concentrated in digitally advanced regions, with limited attention to water-scarce areas in the Global South. The review concludes that although remote sensing improves efficiency and data availability, adoption is challenged by institutional, regulatory, and methodological gaps. Interdisciplinary work, stronger validation, and stakeholder engagement are essential for transitioning these tools into operational components of integrated water management. Full article

Cold pressing is a sustainable oil extraction method that operates without chemical solvents, requires relatively low energy input, and preserves bioactive compounds, making it a recognized green technology in line with circular economy principles. By enabling full utilization of raw materials and valorization of by-products, it supports resource efficiency, waste reduction, and the development of bio-based products. This study provides the first comprehensive mapping of Serbia’s small-scale cold-pressed oil producers, based on data from the Central Register of Food Business Operators, local inspectorates, agricultural fairs, and social media, classified according to NUTS 2024 statistical regions. A total of 55 producers were identified, with over 60% operating as artisanal units (≤15 t/year), typically using screw presses of 20–50 kg/h capacity. Pumpkin seed was the most common raw material (30 producers), followed by sesame (21), hazelnut (20), sunflower (19), and flaxseed (19), while niche oils such as jojoba, argan, and rosehip were produced on a smaller scale. Medium and large facilities (>15 t/year) were concentrated in Vojvodina and central Serbia, focusing on high-volume seeds like sunflower and soybean. Integration of green screw press technologies, zero-kilometer supply chains, and press cake valorization positions this sector as a driver of rural development, biodiversity preservation, and environmental sustainability, providing a strong basis for targeted policy support and process optimization. Full article

Emys trinacris, the Sicilian pond turtle, is a species endemic to the island of Sicily. Despite its global and Italian distribution aligning, E. trinacris is classified as “Data Deficient” by the IUCN Red List, but “Endangered” on the Italian Red List, due to threats from habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, and the illegal pet trade. To aid conservation efforts, understanding the suitability of the species’ habitat is essential. This study aims to create a habitat suitability map by incorporating bioclimatic variables but also environmental factors related to the species’ preference for wetland habitats. We employed the Maximum Entropy model (MaxEnt), based on 264 georeferenced presence points and 33 climatic, topographic, and habitat-related variables. Our model, with an Area Under the Curve of 0.947 and True Skill Statistic of 0.853, identified key predictors such as winter temperature and summer precipitation, with a notable dependence on wetland vegetation. The resulting suitability map highlights the central-southern regions of Sicily as critical areas for the species, with moderate to high suitability also present in the western coastal areas. However, the map shows a discrepancy between the wide distribution of presence records and the limited high-suitability area. This study also assessed the overlap of suitable habitats with existing Natura 2000 sites, showing satisfactory protection levels, though agricultural reservoirs remain unprotected. Active conservation strategies, including expanding protected areas and improving habitat connectivity, are crucial to ensuring the long-term survival of E. trinacris in Sicily. Full article

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in coastal areas has a significant impact on water nutrients, with increasing emission of atmospheric nitrogen-containing pollutants. Clarifying the characteristics, source, and nutrient impact of atmospheric inorganic N deposition is therefore critical for targeted eutrophication control in coastal areas. Dry and wet atmospheric nitrogen deposition samples were collected and integrated into the atmospheric deposition model to analyze the influence of the deposition flux and source on coastal water nutrients. The results showed that inorganic nitrogen in the atmosphere over Xiamen’s coast was mainly composed of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N. A high concentration of nitrogen was found in the cold season. Source apportionment analysis revealed that NH₄⁺-N mainly originated from agricultural sources, while NO₃⁻-N was primarily derived from traffic sources (24%) and secondary sources (25%). The wet deposition flux of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N was significantly larger than the dry deposition flux. The NO₃⁻-N wet deposition flux was elevated during winter and summer, whereas the dry deposition flux peaked in spring and winter. A high NH₄⁺-N wet deposition flux was also found in spring and summer. Spatially, the inorganic nitrogen deposition flux was higher in offshore areas than in the inner bay, which was attributed to the higher wind speed in the offshore region. The atmospheric inorganic nitrogen input accounted for only 0.9% to 1.8% of the inorganic nitrogen input from the Jiulong River to Xiamen Bay; however, the NO₃⁻ concentration in Xiamen Bay showed a significant positive correlation with the dry deposition flux of atmospheric nitrogen (p < 0.05). Atmospheric nitrogen deposition directly affects coastal water nutrients without estuarine filtration. This study clarifies the different sources of atmospheric inorganic nitrogen deposition and their contribution to coastal water nutrients, providing an important basis for eutrophication in coastal areas, as well as pollutant control and emission reduction efforts. Full article

The accurate mapping of soil texture, a key determinant of soil’s hydrological and nutritional behavior, is essential for agricultural drought assessment, yet the application of multi-temporal satellite data for this purpose remains largely unexplored. In this study, we first identified the optimal prediction period by evaluating the performance of single-date imagery (satellite images captured on individual observation dates). Subsequently, dual-phase imagery (DPI) was developed to increase mapping accuracy. Finally, these refined predictions quantified soil texture’s response to drought and its corresponding thresholds. Results demonstrated that: (1) the bare soil period in April provided peak prediction accuracy for all texture fractions (Sand: R² = 0.617, RMSE = 10.21%; Silt: R² = 0.606, RMSE = 8.648%; Clay: R² = 0.604, RMSE = 1.945%); (2) Significant accuracy gain from DPI using April-August imagery fusion (Sand: R² = 0.677, RMSE = 9.386%; Silt: R² = 0.660, RMSE = 8.034%; Clay: R² = 0.658, RMSE = 1.807%); (3) sand content was the most critical factor influencing crop drought stress, with a threshold of 31%. By integrating multi-temporal satellite observations with quantitative drought evaluation for high-resolution soil texture mapping and precision agricultural management in Northeast China’s black soil region. Full article

Based on the “three-dimensional” perspective of modern circulation theory, this study constructs an index system for evaluating the circulation efficiency of agricultural products. The circulation efficiency index values are computed from panel data from 2015 to 2022 in China, and regression estimation is applied to estimate their impact on contract farming coverage. The findings reveal that the circulation efficiency of agricultural products has a significant driving effect on the development of contract farming, and the key mechanism lies in logistics efficiency. Moreover, its impact exhibits regional heterogeneity. Accordingly, we propose policy recommendations to improve contract farming coverage. Full article

Kumamoto is a city in Japan that relies completely on groundwater for drinking water. Groundwater in the Kumamoto region divided into shallow and deep aquifers. Around Lake Ezu, where one of Kumamoto City’s largest tap-water source wells are located, groundwater from both aquifers mixes, resulting in numerous springs. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the relative contributions of the groundwater sources that discharge into Ezu Lake. River, lake, spring, and artesian well samples were collected every month between April 2021 and March 2022, and groundwater chemistry data for the shallow and deep aquifers were obtained from previous studies. The NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ concentrations indicated three end-members: (A) high NO₃⁻ from anthropogenic sources, (B) high SO₄²⁻ from Shirakawa River water, and (C) low NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ from denitrification or dilution. Mixing analysis show 60–70% from A, 17–22% from B, and 7–25% from C for the lake waters. Also, the result showed that springs in the Kami-Ezu area were dominated by shallow aquifer water, whereas artesian wells in the Shimo-Ezu area reflected deep aquifer water. This is the first time that the contributions of groundwater sources in this area have been quantified using a three-component mixing approach. Furthermore, it was estimated that Shirakawa River infiltration, including the artificial recharge project from rice paddy, contributed approximately 57% to groundwater discharge into Ezu Lake in 2020. These results provide new insights into the contribution of artificial recharge from agricultural land to groundwater. Full article

Agriculture puts significant pressure on freshwater sources, which motivates the use of reclaimed water for irrigation as a promising alternative to reduce freshwater demand while also providing nutrients. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment to determine the environmental impacts of irrigating a DOCa La Rioja vineyard with reclaimed water in the cultivation of organic grapes (scenario A) and compares it with an irrigation practice that uses canal water combined with organic extra-fertilisation (scenario B), accounting for differences in wastewater treatment processes. Results show that scenario A reduces impacts in categories such as global warming (16.2%) and freshwater eutrophication (25.6%) compared with scenario B, primarily due to the lower emissions associated with reclaimed water treatment. Additionally, a water balance was performed for the plot, which indicated that current inputs currently exceed losses in the region, so water stress is not observed; however, this situation may change in the near future due to population growth and climate change. These findings underscore the need to enhance the efficiency of the reclaimed water production, primarily by optimising its energy requirements, to support sustainable water use in agricultural systems. Full article

Donkeys (Equus asinus) play a critical role in agricultural, transport, and livelihood systems across Asia, yet they remain among the most neglected domestic species in terms of welfare, management, and research attention. This review synthesizes recent literature on donkey welfare, health, breeding, and conservation across Asia, highlighting regional disparities and emerging challenges. A systematic review of published studies identified welfare determinants including nutrition, workload, shelter, and veterinary access. Welfare conditions are found to be poorest in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, where chronic undernutrition, inadequate housing, excessive workloads, and limited veterinary support prevail. Preventive healthcare, such as vaccination and deworming, remains largely absent, reflecting low owner awareness and weak veterinary infrastructure. In contrast, China demonstrates substantial progress through semi-intensive farming systems, structured welfare management, and research-based breeding programs that integrate welfare with productivity enhancement. Recent advancements in molecular genetics have further expanded the scope of donkey conservation and improvement. Studies on key genes, including PRKG2, NR6A1, LTBP2, HOXC8, and DCAF7, have elucidated their roles in vertebral number, skeletal development, and body conformation in Dezhou donkeys, offering new opportunities for genomic-level conservation and marker-assisted selection. Nonetheless, significant health challenges, such as parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections (Theileria equi, Giardia duodenalis, and Equid herpesviruses), continue to threaten productivity and welfare. Reproductive management across most Asian countries remains traditional and uncoordinated, whereas China leads in artificial insemination, genetic resource preservation, and policy-supported breeding initiatives. Ethical concerns surrounding overexploitation and the commercial use of donkeys, particularly in the ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin) industry, are also gaining attention. Overall, this review underscores the urgent need for a “One Welfare” approach, linking Animal Welfare, human livelihoods, and sustainable industry development. Strengthening veterinary infrastructure, promoting owner education, and integrating genomic tools into breeding programs are essential steps toward improving the welfare, productivity, and long-term conservation of donkeys across Asia. Full article

Understanding soil water in the saline-alkali lands is crucial for sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration. Existing studies have largely focused on macroscopic distribution and associated interpolation techniques, which complicates the precise identification of localized anomalous regions. To address this limitation, this study proposes a novel three-dimensional detection method for localized soil water anomalies (3D-SWLA). Utilizing soil water sampling data, a comprehensive three-dimensional soil water cube is constructed through 3D Empirical Bayesian Kriging (3D EBK). We introduce the Soil Water Local Anomaly Index (SWLAI) and apply a second-order difference method to effectively identify and filter anomalous voxels. Then, the 3D Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm is utilized to cluster Soil Water Anomalous Voxels (SWAVs), thereby delineating three-dimensional Local Anomalous Soil Water Areas (LASWAs) with precision and robustness. A series of experiments were conducted in Kenli to validate the proposed methodology. The results reveal that 3D-SWLA successfully identified a total of 8 Local Anomalous Soil Water Areas (LASWAs), four of which—classified as large-scale anomalies (area > 1.0 km²)—are predominantly concentrated in the northeastern coastal zone and the southern salt fields. The largest among them, LASWA-1, spans 1.8 km² with a vertical depth ranging from 0 to 35 cm and an average soil water content of 0.36. Another significant anomaly, LASWA-8, covers 1.5 km², extends to a depth of 0–60 cm, and exhibits a higher average water content of 0.42, reflecting distinct hydrological dynamics in these regions. Additionally, 4 smaller LASWAs (area < 1.0 km²) are spatially distributed along the northeastern irrigation channels, indicating localized moisture accumulation likely influenced by agricultural water management. Full article

The Ulansuhai Basin stands as the most crucial ecological and economic zone in northern China. Resource and environmental planning serves as a core strategy, aimed at mitigating the consumption of environmental resources induced by economic expansion within the Ulansuhai Basin and facilitating the synergistic development of the economy and the environment. In this paper, by taking the data of the economy, resource and water environment of the Ulansuhai Basin during the period from 2010 to 2022 as the research basis, a fuzzy multi-objective programming model for the resource–environment and socio-economic system was constructed. The results showed that within the planting industry, giving priority to the cultivation of sunflowers and corn will enable the model results to remain in an optimal state. In the field of animal husbandry, the quantity ratio of cows to pigs should be maintained at 1.5:1, and the quantity ratio of sheep to cows should be controlled at approximately 20:1; these ratio settings were conducive to ensuring the model remains in an optimal state. When the ratio of planting industry to animal husbandry was set at 13.16:1 (with the unit of “head” for livestock quantity and “hm²” for planting area), the model arrived at the optimal solution. This study, by virtue of its analysis of the coordination mechanism of economic development with environmental protection in typical watersheds, can provide meaningful policy references for realizing the synergistic enhancement of ecological quality and economic benefits in arid and semi-arid basins, fragile ecological carrying capacity, and the balance between agricultural production expansion and environmental pollution control in these regions. Full article

The Sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps Puton) ranks among the most harmful pests affecting wheat yield and grain quality in Kazakhstan. In particular, it poses a serious threat to regions in which winter wheat cultivation is dominant. Climate change, parasites, predators, and recent transformations in agriculture and human activities in Kazakhstan and throughout Central Asia have significantly influenced the population dynamics of the Sunn pest. This study reports the findings on Sunn pest population dynamics in Kazakhstan’s winter wheat growing regions from 2022 to 2024, based on surveys of 233 hectares across four regions. In total, 1753 specimens of the Sunn pest were studied. The obtained results were analyzed in comparison with historical data (1991–2020) and recent findings in this field. We found that a combination of ecological factors are the main determinants of the Sunn pest population dynamics in different regions of the country. The pest population increased in seasons with optimal temperature (sum of effective temperatures—SET) and humidity conditions (hydrothermal coefficient—HTC), as well as when wheat cultivation areas and forest belts expanded. Moreover, the results highlighted that the pest population is controlled by the activity of egg parasites (Telenomus) in the south, unfavorable weather conditions during overwintering in the east and west, and the growing of resistant varieties in the southeast of the country. Compared to wild grasses, wheat crops increased the reproductive potential of the pest. Full article

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dujiangyan Irrigation District is a key area for Chengdu’s rural revitalisation. However, as the plan progresses, issues have emerged, including loss of traditional features, cultural heritage, and landscape degradation. Within the framework of “landscape information collection—landscape information processing—landscape information output”, the study utilized literature review, field surveys, and remote sensing interpretation to collect data for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 as time slices. A system of landscape characteristic elements was then built to identify the types of landscape characteristics. The types were determined, and a systematic analysis of the regional landscape’s evolution was conducted. The results indicated that the types of landscape characteristics were classified as follows: Urban Settlement Landscape (8.70–16.10%), Low-Hill Forest Landscape (1.82–3.47%), Village Woodland-Grove Landscape (15.89–44.23%), and Idyllic Agricultural Landscape (36.20–73.59%). Over the last two decades, there has been a steady increase in Urban Settlement Landscape, a slow overall growth trend in Low-Hill Forest Landscape, a rapid growth trend in Village Woodland-grove Landscape, and a rapid decline in Idyllic Agricultural Landscape. Among these, built-up land dominates Urban Settlement Landscape evolution; forest land shapes Low-Hill Forest Landscape; cultivated and built-up land influence Village Woodland-grove Landscape; and cultivated land drives Idyllic Agricultural Landscape changes. Based on the changes observed, the study explored the impact of relevant policies on the landscape characteristics of the study area. Policies for urban-rural integration have encouraged the networked growth of settlement landscapes, creating a system with several centres. Both ecological and economic gains have resulted from forestry practices. Policies that safeguard farmhouse forests have made multifunctional transformation easier. Large-scale farming and ecological agriculture are now linked in a zone established by agricultural modernisation strategies. The study offers scientific references for the protection of regional landscapes and the construction of rural living environments in the irrigation area. Full article

Cu in tea leaves can be easily leached into the tea broth during brewing and ingested by humans; therefore, excessive accumulation of Cu in tea leaves may pose potential health risks. In this study, the relationship between soil Cu and Cu content in tea plantations was investigated by analyzing 106 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) and their corresponding tea samples from Anxi County. The distribution of Cu, ecological risk, and early warning indicators were analyzed in both tea and soil samples. Research indicates that soil Cu content is classified into five grades in accordance with the Specifications for Geochemical Evaluation of Land Quality: Grade I (>29 mg/kg, accounting for 7.55%), Grade II (24~29 mg/kg, accounting for 2.83%), Grade III (21~24 mg/kg, accounting for 3.77%), Grade IV (16~21 mg/kg, accounting for 8.49%), and Grade V (≤16 mg/kg, accounting for 77.36%). The mean soil Cu content varied with the underlying rock type, following the order: sedimentary rocks > metamorphic rocks > magmatic rocks. The spatial distribution of soil Cu content was higher in the north and lower in the southeast and northwest, whereas tea Cu content was higher in the southeast and northwest and lower in the central region. Soil-forming parent materials, traffic emissions, and agricultural activities were identified as the main sources of soil Cu, while tea Cu content was mainly affected by soil Cu and agricultural activities. Importantly, soil Cu posed no significant ecological risks, and all tea samples had Cu contents within safe limits without significant toxicity or health hazards. This study innovatively integrates Cu source identification, spatial analysis, and dual-dimensional (soil–tea) risk assessment in a typical tea-producing area, providing a targeted scientific basis for the precise monitoring and management of soil Cu in tea plantations and ensuring compliance of soil and tea products with national safety standards. Full article