Search Results (2,202)

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

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

Soil aggregate stability is a key indicator of soil health and is fundamental to soil processes such as water infiltration, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, erosion control, and ecosystem functionality. However, research concerning the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on SAS across different climates, soil types, and management practices is lacking. This review synthesizes current understanding of physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms that govern the aggregate formation and stability and brings to light how the natural and anthropogenic drivers influence these processes. It highlights how clay mineralogy, root systems, microbial diversity, soil organic matter, and management practices shape the structure and turnover of aggregates essential for agricultural productivity. Key drivers of aggregate formation, categorized into natural (such as texture, clay mineral interaction, biota, and climate) and anthropogenic (such as tillage, land use changes, organic amendments) factors, have been critically evaluated. This review provides an insightful framework for soil management that may help enhance soil aggregation and promote sustainable agriculture and food security, especially under climate change. Full article

Soil compaction from repeated mechanized traffic in sugarcane cultivation reduces porosity, root growth, water infiltration and nutrient availability. Pre-consolidation stresses (σP) in sugarcane soils (70–210 kPa) are frequently exceeded by machine loads up to 595 kPa, producing bulk density (ρb) above 1.65 Mg m⁻³ and soil resistance to penetration (SR) beyond 2.0 MPa within the upper 0.40 m; approximately 80% of root biomass concentrates in this zone. Conventional whole-area subsoiling is energy-intensive, destabilizes soil structure and accelerates re-compaction, limiting long-term efficacy. This review proposes integrating strip soil tillage (SST) with controlled traffic farming (CTF) via a multifunctional implement that performs selective subsoiling, in-row chemical correction and targeted input application. The system is designed to mobilize 53% of the area, preserve inter-row structure, reduce fuel consumption by 43.5%, decrease CO₂ emissions by 163–315.4 kg ha⁻¹ and lower operational costs by 53.5% relative to conventional approaches. The implement features adjustable-depth subsoiler shanks with dedicated input dispensers, rotary hoes for organic amendment incorporation and GNSS-guided autopilot for precise in-row operations. Expected outcomes include improved soil physical quality, enhanced root development beyond 1.30 m, increased input-use efficiency and sustainable productivity gains under CTF–SST management. This review is innovative in explicitly proposing and detailing the integration of CTF with SST through a multifunctional implement. This approach advances current knowledge by overcoming the main limitations of conventional soil tillage systems, such as accelerated recompaction, high energy consumption, and inefficient input use, while promoting measurable improvements in soil physical quality, operational efficiency, and sustainable productivity. A literature review search up to 31 May 2025 supported the integration of SST and CTF as a viable strategy for sustainable soil management in sugarcane production. Full article

This study investigated the effects of irrigation water salinity on the soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) using soil samples collected from a typical irrigated area in Yingjisha County, southern Xinjiang. The SWCC was determined experimentally via centrifugation. The correlation degree among influencing factors was evaluated, and a goodness-of-fit assessment of mainstream traditional SWCC models was conducted using MATLAB 2021a. A modified Van Genuchten (VG) model incorporating the influence of irrigation water salinity was developed. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed model were validated through soil column infiltration experiments and numerical simulations. The results demonstrated that the original VG model provided the best fit for loam soils in southern Xinjiang, albeit with non-negligible deviations, indicating the need for further refinement. Significant correlations were identified between soil characteristic indices and model parameters, ranked in descending order of influence as follows: soil dry bulk density > clay content > inorganic salt content > silt content. Soils with higher clay and silt contents, along with greater bulk density, exhibited enhanced water retention capacity, resulting in a flatter SWCC. Although increased irrigation water salinity initially improved the soil’s water absorption capacity, the rate of enhancement gradually diminished with further increases in salinity, ultimately leading to a reduction in overall water retention performance. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the prevention and amelioration of saline soils and also supports the efficient utilization of water resources. Full article

The distribution of seepage field in embankment dams is an important aspect of the safe operation of in-service embankment dams. The distributed optical fiber temperature monitoring technology has some advantages of high sensitivity, strong real-time performance, and rich data. This is a problem worthy of study for the monitoring of seepage field in embankment dams. This paper takes a certain embankment dam as an example. It sets up some optical fiber temperature measurement sections near the traditional seepage monitoring section. It elaborately introduces the optical fiber layout, on-site construction, long-term monitoring, and simulation. The result shows that the position of the infiltration line can be measured by using heated distributed optical fibers; the error is within the range of 0.1 to 0.2 m. The monitoring results are basically consistent with the traditional seepage monitoring results, indicating that it is feasible to use distributed optical fiber temperature measurement technology for dam seepage monitoring. Long-term monitoring and numerical simulation have obtained the infiltration lines, velocity vectors, and streamlines at different water levels, verifying the reliability of the distributed optical fiber temperature monitoring technology. As summarized, the distributed optical fiber temperature measurement technology can accurately obtain the seepage information inside the dam body, providing a new idea for the analysis and safety assessment of the seepage field of embankment dams. Full article

Acid soil aluminum (Al) considerably reduces crop productivity. This study examined whether transformation of supramolecular assembly of root cell wall polysaccharides (CWPs) contributes to genotype-specific responses to Al stress in triticale. CWPs were extracted from apical and hairy root segments of two triticale genotypes, differing in Al tolerance. Water-extractable polysaccharides (WEPs) and those extracted with trans-1,2-cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA) and sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) were analyzed using the multi-detection high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC-RI-LALS/RALS-DV-UV-Vis). WEPs most clearly reflected differences between genotypes in macromolecular organization and Al-induced modification. Both root segments contained high molar mass (HM) subunits of WEPs with distinct anisotropic light scatterer (AS) domains. AS domains of a tolerant genotype were symmetrically elongated and branched, whereas those of a sensitive one were asymmetrically elongated with a spherical shape. In both genotypes, Al stress induced an association of apical HM subunits to higher molar mass forms, but in a different manner. The tolerant genotype maintained branched AS domain architecture by forming separate HM subunits that prevented Al infiltration. In contrast, the sensitive genotype showed complete merging of all HM subunits into a micro gel structure, leading to AS surface degradation. These findings provide novel insight into the role of root AS domains and supramolecular cell wall organization in plant adaptation to abiotic stress. Full article

Recently, evidence indicating that microplastics (MPs) have a hazardous effect on human health is accumulating. The potential of MPs having a role in carcinogenesis was suggested. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate MPs’ effect on colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) development. The AOM/DSS-induced CAC model was reproduced in two groups of adult male C56BL/6 mice. One of these groups received MPs (5 μm polystyrene microbeads) with drinking water at a dose of 1.48 mg/kg/day throughout the experiment (12 weeks), and the other received water untreated with MPs. In the colons of mice that consumed MPs, there was a higher number of tumor nodules at the macroscopic level, a greater tumor prevalence on histological sections, more pronounced inflammatory infiltration, a higher goblet cell volume fraction, the content of highly sulfated mucins was found in them, and there were more tumors with increased enteroendocrine cell content. We did not find any MP effects on the claudins, mucins, proapoptotic factor Bax, or on the proliferation marker Mki67 gene expression in the medial colon, nor on the serum level of TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 cytokines. Thus, MPs promote the CAC development in mice by exacerbating intestinal local inflammation and damaging the epithelial barrier, and MPs may represent a potential environmental cofactor contributing to CAC risk. Full article

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are pervasive contaminants infiltrating water, food, and human tissues. The sharp rise in plastic production—with over half manufactured between 2003 and 2022—has heightened concerns about their health impacts. Methods included: (1) a literature review of clinical studies on MNPs focusing on human health and (2) analysis of Standardized Mortality Rates (SMRs) for 44 groups of diseases in Italy (2003–2022, Italian National Institute of Statistics, ISTAT data). The outcomes suggest that MNPs have been connected to pathological alterations in a number of organ systems, such as the gastrointestinal tract (intestine, liver, and pancreas), breathing system, eyes, brain, and vascular structures. SMRs increased significantly in only eight of the 46 illness categories examined between 2003 and 2022. The analysis of clinical and epidemiological data allows us to identify a possible clinical assessment consisting of a 30-variable diagnostic questionnaire (Chicago Cluster Evaluation System, CCES), encompassing laboratory markers, clinical signs, and ultrasound findings. A binomial distribution model suggests that more than 8 positive responses may indicate a presumptive diagnosis of Microplastic Syndrome (MP-Sy). This framework reflects observed clinical/epidemiological patterns and provides a foundation for hypothesis-driven research. Prospective longitudinal studies are warranted to validate the proposed definition and its diagnostic utility. The aim of the present study is to propose a preliminary clinical framework for a potential MP-Sy integrating toxicological evidence with epidemiological data, define diagnostic criteria and assess their consistency with observed disease trends. Full article

This study presents an integrated field- and model-based assessment of how rapid urbanization is transforming water infiltration and storm runoff dynamics in Dhaka—a megacity facing escalating flood risks. Unlike conventional studies that rely solely on secondary or modeled datasets, this research combines extensive in situ field measurements of soil infiltration with scenario-based hydrological modeling to capture the localized impacts of land use change. Using the SCS Curve Number and Water Balance methods, the study quantifies how variations in land cover under different urban growth trajectories alter surface runoff behavior. Results show that Dhaka’s annual infiltration rates—measured at 2034 mm, 1546 mm, and 1074 mm during wet (2017), normal (2018), and dry (2020) years—could decline by nearly 50% if current urban expansion trends persist. Concurrently, surface runoff volumes are projected to nearly double, amplifying flood hazard potential across the city. By grounding scenario modeling in empirical local data, this work offers a context-specific understanding of the evolving hydrological regime of a rapidly urbanizing South Asian metropolis, providing a framework for flood resilience planning in other data-limited cities. Full article

Background: The 2023 Delphi consensus defined metabolic and alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD), distinguishing between alcohol abuse and moderate consumption. Although alcohol abuse is known to accelerate fatty liver disease progression, the health effects of chronic moderate alcohol intake under different dietary conditions remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of moderate alcohol consumption on metabolic phenotypes and gut microbiota/metabolites in lean and obese mice and to propose a model approximating MetALD features. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed either a low-fat diet (LFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks, with access to 10% (v/v) alcohol in drinking water. Systemic metabolic parameters, liver histopathology, inflammatory and fibrotic markers, gut microbiota composition, and the fecal metabolome were assessed. Results: In LFD-fed mice, 10% alcohol intake induced multiple metabolic alterations, including elevated serum triglycerides, reduced fasting blood glucose, and changes in hepatic lipid metabolism along with steatosis and inflammation—though further studies are required to confirm causality. When combined with HFD, alcohol did not significantly exacerbate most glucose/lipid metabolic disorders but markedly increased hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis progression. Alcohol consistently increased gut microbial α-diversity in both dietary groups, while downregulating beneficial metabolites such as amino acids (e.g., glutamine, histidine), their derivatives, and short-chain fatty acids. Correlation analyses associated these microbial and metabolic changes with altered amino acid/cholesterol metabolism and inflammatory/fibrotic phenotypes, particularly under HFD conditions. Conclusions: These findings suggest that chronic moderate alcohol intake presents distinct risks in lean and obese individuals with different dietary structures. Full article

To address the severe urban flooding and the inability of urban road drainage systems to effectively resolve hydrological cycle issues, four types of permeable pavement were designed, combining the advantages of the good infiltration performance and anti-slip performance of permeable asphalt pavement. Based on the SWMM (Storm Water Management Model), road modeling and hydrological quality simulations were conducted, analyzing the surface runoff reduction rate, maximum inlet flow at the convergence node, pollutant reduction rate, and water quality purification of the four different structural permeable asphalt pavements. The results showed that the surface runoff reduction rate of the four pavements ranged from 44% to 100%, the maximum inlet flow reduction rate at the confluence node ranged from 37% to 78%, the reduction rate of the main pipe flow load ranged from 36% to 100%, the reduction rate of the hydraulic load in the pipeline ranged from 25% to 64%, the maximum water storage depth ranged from 90 mm to 177 mm, and the pollutant reduction rate ranged from 28% to 81%. This study provides the optimal combination of permeable asphalt pavements for the selection of urban pavement structures. Full article

Rapid urban growth and the expansion of impervious surfaces have intensified environmental issues such as flooding, water pollution, and urban heat islands. Permeable pavements have emerged as a green infrastructure solution to mitigate these impacts and support the sustainable development of cities. The aim of this study was to conduct an integrative review on the state of the art of permeable pavements, with a focus on their technical and environmental contributions. The methodology followed the PRISMA guidelines, using the Scopus database to select the most cited articles across four thematic areas: Life Cycle Assessment; infiltration capacity and pollutant retention; mitigation of heat islands and flooding; and the impacts of climate and clogging. The results show that, despite the initial cost and production-related impacts, permeable pavements offer long-lasting benefits, including reduced surface runoff, pollutant filtration, and evaporative cooling. The main economic limitations identified were clogging, which decreases system efficiency, and the high implementation cost, highlighting the need for regular maintenance and innovations in materials. In summary, permeable pavements are an effective strategy for sustainable urban development, but their longevity depends on proper design and maintenance. Full article

Based on the problem of water and sand inrush caused by the infiltration and failure of the clay layer at the bottom of the loose layer in shallow coal seam mining in eastern China, this study adopts the Particle Flow Code numerical simulation method to conduct multi-physics field coupling analysis. Based on the geological conditions of Taiping Coal Mine in Shandong Province, a two-dimensional water sand clay coupling model was constructed to systematically simulate the entire process of permeability failure of clay layers under different mining crack widths (5–20 mm). The permeability failure mechanism was revealed through porosity distribution, particle contact number, and contact force evolution laws. The numerical simulation results show that with the increase in crack width, the speed of contact reduction is faster, the speed of water and inrush is faster, and the time is shorter. The process of infiltration failure can be divided into two stages: the first stage is the clay infiltration deformation stage, and the second stage is the water inrush and sand collapse stage. In addition, the larger the width of the crack, the greater the contact force, and the shorter the time of infiltration failure and water and sand bursting experienced. The quantitative relationship between the width of mining induced cracks and permeability failure was revealed, and a critical discrimination index for permeability failure in clay layers was established, providing theoretical support for optimizing safe mining parameters and preventing water and sand inrush disasters in porous aquifers. Full article

The development of urban areas and the proliferation of impervious surfaces have significantly altered natural hydrological cycles, resulting in an increase in stormwater runoff and substantial risks to groundwater quality. This review synthesizes current research on the transport mechanisms of stormwater contaminants, including toxic elements, nutrients, pathogens, and emerging pollutants such as microplastics and pharmaceuticals, into aquifers. This study analyzes the physicochemical and biological processes that affect pollutant mobility and retention in urban soils, emphasizing the vulnerability of groundwater systems, particularly in areas with permeable soils and shallow water tables. The article evaluates a range of green infrastructure (GI) and low-impact development (LID) strategies—including rain gardens, bioswales, infiltration basins, constructed wetlands, and urban forestry—to assess how effectively they can mitigate stormwater pollution and improve groundwater protection. Case studies from North America illustrate the practical implementation and performance of GI systems, emphasizing the importance of site-specific design, monitoring, and adaptive management. The review also discusses global policy frameworks and community engagement strategies that support sustainable stormwater management. Ultimately, it advocates for an integrated, multidisciplinary approach that combines engineering, ecological science, and public policy to safeguard groundwater resources in the face of climate variability and urban expansion. Full article