Search Results (74)

Application of wheat straw could contribute to a sulfur-driven reduction in cadmium (Cd) bioavailability under reducing conditions induced by organic matter degradation. A pot experiment was conducted in organic matter deficient paddy soil under waterlogged conditions to assess the effects of sulfur (S, 30 mg kg⁻¹), wheat straw (W, 1.0%), and their combination (WS) on Cd availability and accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Sulfur application alone increased Cd uptake in rice, whereas straw addition significantly reduced Cd accumulation, with WS achieving the greatest reduction. The mitigating effect was attributed to CdS precipitation and co-precipitation with FeS/FeS₂ under straw amendment, as well as enhanced iron plaque formation on roots, which restricted Cd uptake. In contrast, in OM-deficient soil, sulfate promoted Cd mobilization in pore water due to limited electron supply for sulfate reduction. Compared with other sulfur forms, sulfate is more readily absorbed by rice, thereby synergistically enhancing Cd uptake by rice and promoting Cd translocation in different rice tissues. However, straw amendment supported reduction in sulfate, reducing Cd uptake by rice compared with S supplement alone. Overall, wheat straw amendment enhanced sulfur-mediated immobilization of Cd and effectively decreased Cd accumulation in rice. Full article

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how a multi-component soil conditioner consisting of zeolite, calcium carbonate, potassium humate, and Ascophyllum nodosum extract affects selected soil properties (physical, chemical, and water-related properties, as well as microbial and enzymatic properties) and the growth and grain yield of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). To achieve the goal, one-year research experiments were conducted at three conventionally tilled sites, which were situated on farms across three geographically separate regions in the Kuyavian–Pomeranian Region of Midwestern Poland. Most of the chemical properties, namely, total organic C, total N, pH in KCl, cation exchangeable capacity (CEC), as well as exchangeable (Mg, Ca, K, and Na) and available (Mg, K, and P) forms of nutrients, were not significantly affected by the conditioner or sampling time. Independent of the study location, the percentage of macropores in total porosity (TP) and dissolved nitrogen content (DNt) determined in July were considerably greater in the soil treated with Solactiv compared to the reference soil. Bulk density (BD), in turn, showed the opposite tendency, also suggesting the positive effect of the studied conditioner. At all study sites, application of the conditioner significantly reduced the percentage of micropores in total porosity (TP) (by 17%), while significantly increasing the content of macropores in TP (15%) and enhancing the percentage of available and readily available water capacity (8.5% and 14%). No clear changes in the results of C and N form and enzymatic activity were noted. The activities of DHA and FDAH behave differently in each study site, making it difficult to draw clear conclusions. The cellulase was the only enzyme that was significantly and positively affected by Solactiv at all study sites and for both sampling times. The values of dry matter of roots and plants, barley root length and surface, and barley grain yield were considerably greater in soil amended with Solactiv compared to the reference soil. Because some important soil and plant properties showed a positive response toward the tested conditioner, despite the low dose used, further studies should be conducted at a larger scale, focusing on different soils and plants. Full article

Soil moisture exhibits high spatio-temporal variability that necessitates dense monitoring networks, yet the cost of commercial sensors often limits widespread deployment. Despite the mass production of low-cost capacitive soil moisture sensors driven by IoT applications, significant gaps remain in their robust characterisation and in the availability of open-source, reproducible monitoring systems. This study pursues two primary objectives: (1) to develop an open-source, low-cost, off-grid soil moisture monitoring station (picoSMMS) and (2) to conduct a sensor-unit-specific calibration of a popular low-cost capacitive soil moisture sensor (LCSMS; DFRobot SEN0193) by relating its raw output to bulk static relative dielectric permittivity (${ϵ}_s$), with the additional aim of transferring technological gains from consumer electronics to hydrological monitoring while fostering community-driven improvements. The picoSMMS was built using readily available consumer electronics and programmed in MicroPython. Laboratory calibration followed standardised protocols using reference media spanning permittivities from 1.0 (air) to approximately 80.0 (water) under non-conducting, non-relaxing conditions at 25 ± 1 °C with temperature-dependency characterisation. Models were developed relating the sensor’s output and temperature to ${ϵ}_s$. Within the target permittivity range (2.5–35.5), the LCSMS achieved a mean absolute error of 1.29 ± 1.07, corresponding to an absolute error of 0.02 ± 0.01 in volumetric water content (VWC). Benchmarking revealed that the LCSMS is competitive with the ML2 ThetaProbe, and outperforms the PR2/6 ProfileProbe, but is less accurate than the SMT100. Notably, applying the air–water normalisation procedure to benchmark sensors significantly improved their performance, particularly for the ML2 ThetaProbe and PR2/6 ProfileProbe. A brief field deployment demonstrated the picoSMMS’s ability to closely track co-located HydraProbe sensors. Important limitations include the following: inter-sensor variability assessment was limited by the small sensor ensemble (only two units), and with a larger sample size, the LCSMS may exhibit greater variability, potentially resulting in larger prediction errors; the characterisation was conducted under non-saline conditions and may not apply to peat or high-clay soils; the calibration is best suited for the target permittivity range (2.5–35.5) typical of mineral soils; and the brief field deployment was insufficient for long-term validation. Future work should assess inter-sensor variability across larger sensor populations, characterise the LCSMS under varying salinity, and conduct long-term field validation. Full article

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum G.S. Bunting), which belongs to the Arum family (Araceae Juss.), can be used for medicinal, ornamental, and pollutant-purifying purposes. Due to the usefulness of pothos, the market demand for this species is increasing. Our study attempts to fill in the shortcomings of previous studies on the effect of activated carbon and plant growth regulators on the ability of shoots to take root in vitro, as well as the effect of inexpensive and readily available materials on the transition of seedlings from in vitro to the greenhouse stage. To evaluate the shooting results, Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) was used, which included 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), kinetin (Kn), α-naphthaleneacetic acid (α-NAA), coconut water, activated carbon, and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in various concentrations and combinations. Our results showed that the MS medium with the addition of 2.5 mg/L BA and 1.0 mg/L Kn was optimal for propagation by shoots. In this variant, 2.86 shoots per explant, 1.87 cm of shoot length, and 1.59 leaves per shoot were obtained. Despite the fact that this treatment provided the highest total cytokinin concentration, it was significantly more effective than only BA (2.5 mg/L) and all combinations of BA+α-NAA or Kn+α-NAA. For rooting, the micro shoots obtained on the above medium were transferred to MS + 0.25 mg/L α-NAA + 0.5 g/L AC, which allowed for rooting by 93.33%, 1.93 roots per explant, and root lengths by 2.37 cm. This is higher than with the IBA-based treatment, which led to a shortening of the roots and a reduction in their branching. Acclimatization in a 1:1 mixture (by volume) of loamy garden soil (pH 6.2, 2.1% organic matter) and coconut coir (particle size 0.5–2 mm) gave 75% survival after 40 days. These results have opened up the prospect of developing an effective method for reproducing pothos species in vitro by organogenesis at the lowest cost. Full article

Changes in the soil microbial community for studies of different novel communities can be promoted by different methodologies, among which soil autoclaving stands out as a quick and readily available tool. However, this procedure may also directly or indirectly alter nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) dynamics. The purposes of this study were as follows: (i) to characterize microbial activity after soil autoclaving through microbial ¹⁴CO₂-respiration; and (ii) to evaluate the effect of microbial manipulation and autoclaving on soil N and ³³P dynamics. For this, two sets of soil samples from two areas (forest and cultivated area) were used in the laboratory. Firstly, ¹⁴C-glucose was added to the soils and after 24 h five soil microbiomes were generated: AS (autoclaved soil), and AS re-inoculated with serial dilutions (w/v) prepared by successive mixing of soil suspensions in sterile deionized water obtaining 10⁻¹, 10⁻³, and 10⁻⁶, which generated the treatments AS + 10⁻¹, AS + 10⁻³, and AS + 10⁻⁶; and the treatment NS (non-autoclaved control), all incubated for 28 d. ¹⁴CO₂ emission was used to characterize microbial activity; additionally, N dynamics were assessed at the end of incubation. In a second assay, ³³P was applied to the soil before autoclaving and re-inoculation. Following further incubation (14 d), a ³³P chemical fractionation was performed. The following are based on the results: (i) ¹⁴CO₂ emission: microbial activity in the autoclaved soil is null, but after a reinoculation of AS + 10⁻¹ and AS + 10⁻³ soil dilution suspension, the ¹⁴CO₂-respiration is higher than in an NS. (ii) regarding the N dynamics, in autoclaved soils, the microbial levels increased N-NH₄⁺ concentration, with an evident increase in the AS + 10⁻³ and AS + 10⁻¹, and a reduction in the N-NO₃⁻ concentration in comparison to the NS. For ³³P, the autoclaving procedure itself reduced the ³³P lability, regardless of the levels of microbial community reinoculated. Full article

Urban agriculture in space-constrained cities requires compact, reproducible propagation systems. Therefore, the aim of this Technical Note is to design, implement, and functionally validate a low-cost, modular hydroponic chamber (SSHG) for early-stage vegetative propagation. This system couples DHT11-based temperature/RH monitoring with rule-based actuation—irrigation 4×/day and temperature-triggered ventilation—under the control of an Arduino Uno microcontroller; LED lighting was not controlled nor analyzed. Two 15-day trials with basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) yielded rooting rates of 61.7% (37/60) and 43.3% (26/60) under a deliberate minimal-input configuration without nutrient solutions or rooting hormones. Environmental summaries and spatial survival maps revealed edge-effect patterns and RH variability that inform irrigation layout improvements. The chamber, bill of materials, and protocol are documented to support replication and iteration. Thus, the SSHG provides a transferable baseline for educators and researchers to audit, reproduce, and improve small-footprint, controlled-environment propagation. Beyond its technical feasibility, the SSHG contributes to sustainability by leveraging low-cost, readily available components, enabling decentralized seedling production in space-constrained settings, and operating under a minimal-input configuration. In line with widely reported hydroponic efficiencies (e.g., lower water use relative to soil-based propagation), this open and replicable platform aligns with SDGs 2, 11, 12, and 13. Full article

Poplar (Populus L. species), a fast-growing temperate species, forms plantations with high productivity and biomass, with its litter sustaining key functions in nutrient cycling, microbial diversity, and carbon storage. Litter microbial communities drive decomposition, particularly in early stages, this initial phase is characterized by the leaching of water-soluble carbon and nutrients from the litter, which creates a readily available resource pulse that facilitates rapid microbial colonization and activation. This process is followed by the activation of microbial enzymes and the immobilization of nutrients, collectively initiating the breakdown of more recalcitrant litter materials. Under rising global nitrogen deposition, we conducted a field randomized block experiment in 13-year-old pure poplar (Populus deltoides L. ‘35’) stands, with three nitrogen addition treatments: N0 (0 g N·m⁻²·yr⁻¹), N2 (10 g N·m⁻²·yr⁻¹), and N4 (30 g N·m⁻²·yr⁻¹). In the initial phase of litter decomposition, we measured the soil properties and litter traits, the litter microbial community composition, and its taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity indices. The results indicate that nitrogen addition altered microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), soil NO₃⁻-N, and accelerated litter decomposition rates. The microbial community in leaf litter responded to nitrogen addition with increased phylogenetic clustering (higher OTU richness and NRI), which suggests that environmental filtering exerted a homogenizing selective pressure linked to both soil and litter properties, whereas the microbial community in branch litter responded to nitrogen addition with increased taxonomic diversity (higher OTU richness, Shannon, ACE, and Chao1), a pattern associated with litter properties that likely alleviated nitrogen limitation and created opportunities for more taxa to coexist. The observed differences in response stem from distinct substrate properties of the litter. This study elucidates microbial taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity responses to nitrogen addition during litter decomposition, offering a scientific foundation for precise microbial community regulation and sustainable litter management. Full article

Development of sustainable agriculture on Mars is a critical step towards its colonisation. However, Martian regolith is coarse-grained, and its mineral profile differs significantly from that of terrestrial arable soil, resulting in poor seed germination success and stunted plant development. This study investigates whether germination success and plant growth can be improved by exposing seeds and plants to water enriched with either i) biochemically active reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generated by atmospheric pressure plasma (PAW) or (ii) nano-/micro-bubbles and minerals such as potassium and calcium extracted from Aquapulse^® feldspar (APW), a type of rock that is readily available on Mars, at different stages of the crop lifecycle. As a crop model, microgreen crops of B. oleracea and M. sativa are chosen for their short growth cycle, low resource requirements, and high nutritional value. For B. oleracea crops, soaking of seeds in PAW followed by irrigation with APW led to an increase in germination by ~566.7%, in biomass by 412.4%, and in chlorophyll content by 17.7% compared to crops grown using normal water for seed soaking and irrigation. For M. sativa crops, the use of APW for soaking and irrigation yielded an increase of 41.7% in seed germination and 45.2% in crop biomass, whereas the use of PAW for both soaking and irrigation resulted in the greatest improvement in seed germination, 41.7%, when compared to control. These results suggest that, with further optimisation, a regiment of treatment with PAW and APW in place of normal water can be used to address stage-specific challenges of the crop lifecycle in Martian regolith. As amending Martian regolith with a minimum of 1% organic matter is required to promote healthy plant development, further studies should investigate the use of plasma-mediated reforming of biowaste for in situ production of e.g., biochar. Full article

The presence of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) in the environment is a global problem due to soil and water microplastic contamination. There is a constant demand for new technologies that expand the possibilities of PET disposal or recycling while reducing energy consumption and anthropogenic carbon footprint. In this study, we developed a comprehensive zero-waste management system for PET recycling (rPET) to cyclic ketals and terephthalic acid. The developed method is based on the hydrolysis of rPET flakes in an inert environment with the separation and purification of terephthalic acid and the dehydration of ethylene glycol. For the first time, we present the use of cheap and readily available Cr/SiO₂ and Fe/SiO₂ nanocatalysts for direct acetalization of ethylene glycol without organic co-solvents. The catalysts were characterized by EDXRF, XPS and TEM techniques. The 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane (DMD), a product of ethylene glycol’s direct acetalization with acetone, was tested as a solvent for polymers with satisfactory results in the solubility of epoxy resins. The addition of unpurified terephthalic acid and residues constituting post-production waste to concrete allows for a reduction in the mass of concrete in the range of 11.3–23.4% and the material modified in this way allows for a reduction in concrete consumption. This rPET waste management methodology is consistent with the assumptions of the circular economy and allows for a significant reduction of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. Full article

Cyanotoxins in agricultural waters pose a human and animal health risk. These toxins can be transported to nearby crops and soil during irrigation practices; they can remain in the soil for extended periods and be adsorbed by root systems. Additionally, in livestock watering ponds, cyanotoxins pose a direct ingestion risk. This work evaluated the performance of the random forest algorithm in estimating microcystin concentrations using eight in situ water quality measurements at one active livestock water pond and two working irrigation ponds in Georgia and Maryland, USA. Measurements of microcystin along with eight in situ-sensed water quality parameters were used to train and test the machine learning model. The models performed better at the Georgia ponds compared to the Maryland pond, and interior models performed better than nearshore or whole-pond models. The most important variables for microcystin prediction were water temperature and phytoplankton pigments. Overall, the random forest algorithm(RF), augmented with a ‘trainControl’ function to perform repeated cross validations, was able to explain 40% to 70% of the microcystin concentration variation in the three agricultural ponds. Water quality measurements showed potential to aid water monitoring/sampling design by predicting the microcystin concentrations in the studied ponds by using readily available and easy to collect in situ data. Full article

This study investigates the often-overlooked phenomenon of land drainage interventions as a means of climate change adaptation, focusing on a conceptual case study from Northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. The intensification of agriculture has led to extensive tile drainage systems, which have had significant environmental impacts, including disruption of water balance, nutrient leaching, and ecological degradation. With climate change expected to alter precipitation patterns and increase temperatures, these impacts are likely to intensify, leading to more frequent droughts and pollutant delivery from soil to water bodies. This study explores the options for the allocation and implementation of drainage-related measures such as controlled drainage, constructed wetlands, and partial drainage elimination to mitigate these effects, with the use of readily available archival data as well as aerial images, current as well as historical soil, land use, geomorphological and landowner-land user relationships. At two cadastral units with local potable water resources at the hilly Lovečkovicko case study, the paper proposes conceptual, practical approaches for integrating drainage-related measures into land consolidation processes. Here, eleven sites based on the cross-intersection of the above interventions’ criteria were selected, and twenty various drainage-related measures were tentatively designed. This study categorizes the implementation potential of the proposed measures into three levels: high, medium, and low, highlighting the feasibility and transferability of these interventions within the land consolidation or similar process. Full article

The application of slow-release fertilizers is essential for improving fertilizer utilization efficiency and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Unlike traditional single organic polymer-coated or inorganic-coated fertilizers, this study utilized biodegradable modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binder and cheap, readily available phosphogypsum–bentonite as an inorganic coating material to develop a novel slow-release potassium magnesium sulfate fertilizer (SRPMSF). This study initially examined the influence of SA dosage on PVA properties. XRD, FTIR, TGA, and water resistance analyses revealed that sodium alginate exhibits good compatibility with polyvinyl alcohol, enhancing its heat and water resistance. Ultimately, PVA–SA-2 (1.2% sodium alginate) was chosen as the optimal binder for SRPMSF production. Furthermore, this study investigated the impact of bentonite on the physical and slow-release properties of the SRPMSF by varying the phosphogypsum-to-bentonite ratio. This experiment included five treatment methods: the treatments consist of SRPMSF-1 (0 g bentonite), SRPMSF-2 (phosphogypsum/bentonite ratio of 4:1), SRPMSF-3 (3:2), SRPMSF-4 (2:3), and SRPMSF-5 (1:4). A control group (PMSF) was also included. The results indicated that, as the bentonite content increased, both the particle size and compressive strength of the coated slow-release fertilizer increased, with the SRPMSF particle sizes ranging from 3.00 to 4.50 mm. The compressive strength of the SRPMSF ranged from 20.85 to 43.78 N, meeting the requirements for industrial production. The soil column leaching method was employed to assess the nutrient release rate of the fertilizers. The experimental results indicated that, compared to the PMSF, the SRPMSF effectively regulated nutrient release. Pot experiments demonstrated that the SRPMSF significantly enhanced garlic seedling growth compared to the PMSF. In conclusion, a new type of slow-release fertilizer with good slow-release performance is prepared in this paper, which can improve the utilization rate of fertilizer and reduce the economic loss and is conducive to the sustainable development of agriculture. Full article

South Africa is considered one of the driest countries, and its water insecurity challenges are exacerbated by climate change and variability, depletion, and degradation, among other factors. The challenges of water insecurity are exacerbated by some of the introduced crops, like the Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.) grown in South Africa, as they consume a lot of water. The Japanese plums are grown under irrigation to supplement low and erratic rainfall in the country. There is little information on the water requirements of Japanese plums (particularly in water-scarce regions), a gap addressed by this study. Therefore, the study aims to quantify and compare the seasonal water use of high-performing, full-bearing Japanese plum orchards under drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation in the Western Cape Province, using readily available satellite data from the FruitLook platform. The seasonal water use volumes of selected plum orchards were compared at provincial and farm scales. At a provincial scale, micro-sprinkler-irrigated orchards consumed significantly more water (up to 19%) than drip-irrigated orchards, whilst drip-irrigated orchards experienced an average 38% greater water deficit. Results were more variable at the farm scale, which was attributed to the influence of site-specific soil, climate, and crop conditions on the performance of the irrigation methods. Therefore, a blanket approach cannot be used when selecting an irrigation method and design. Instead, a case-by-case approach is recommended, which takes into account the root distribution, soil texture, and planting density, among other factors. The generated knowledge facilitates allocating and licensing water resources, developing accurate irrigation scheduling, and promoting improved water use efficiency. Full article

Although rice is highly sensitive to salinity, it is considered one of the best crops to grow in salt-affected mudflat soils to alleviate the salinity problem. Applying chemical compounds for an increase in leaf CO₂ and nutrient levels can help mitigate the negative impact of salinity on plants in a cost-effective manner. To identify the benefits of using lithovit (Liv), ethanol (Eth), and potassium carbonate (KC) as a source of CO₂ and K to enhance rice production in salt-affected soils, a field study was conducted to assess the effects of these compounds on the agro-physiological parameters of two rice genotypes (Giza178 and Giza179) in saline soils. The compounds were applied as a foliar spray at a concentration of 30 mM each before and after the heading growth stage. The results indicated that the genotype, application time, compounds, and their potential two-way interactions significantly influenced all agro-physiological parameters, with only a few exceptions. The genotype Giza 179 exhibited higher pigment contents, photosynthetic capacity, relative water content (RWC), grain yield, and most yield components compared to Giza 178, with increases ranging from 2.1% to 37.9%. Foliar application of different compounds resulted in a 9.7–37.9% increase in various parameters and a 34.6–43.2% decrease in the number of unfilled grains (NUFG) per panicle compared to untreated treatment. Foliar application of different compounds before heading resulted in an increase in various parameters by 4.8–16.1% and a decrease in the NUFG per panicle by 22.9% compared to those applied after heading. Heatmap clustering analysis revealed that foliar application of Liv before heading was the most effective treatment in enhancing various parameters for both genotypes and mitigating the negative effects of salinity stress on the NUFG. This was followed by Eth and KC before heading for Giza 179. Applying Eth and KC to the leaves after heading had a moderate positive impact on most parameters for Giza 179, outperforming the application after heading for Giza 178. Overall, our findings indicate that spraying readily available compounds that elevate CO₂ and K levels in rice leaves can help alleviate the negative impacts of salt stress and improve rice production in salt-affected soils in a cost-effective manner. Full article

This study is devoted to creating a neural network technology for assessing metal accumulation in the body of a metropolis resident with short-term and long-term intake from anthropogenic sources. Direct assessment of metal retention in the human body is virtually impossible due to the many internal mechanisms that ensure the kinetics of metals and the wide variety of organs, tissues, cellular structures, and secretions that ensure their functional redistribution, transport, and cumulation. We have developed an intelligent multi-neural network model capable of calculating the content of metals in the human body based on data on their environmental content. The model is two interconnected neural networks trained on actual measurement data. Since metals enter the body from the environment, the predictors of the model are metal content in drinking water and soil. In this case, water characterizes the short-term impact on the organism, and drinking water, combined with metal contents in soil, is a depository medium that accumulates metals from anthropogenic sources—the long-term impact. In addition, human physiological characteristics are taken into account in the calculations. Each period of exposure is taken into account by its neural network. Two variants of the model are proposed: open loop, where the calculation is performed by each neural network separately, and closed loop, where neural networks work together. The model built in this way was trained and tested on the data of real laboratory studies of 242 people living in different districts of Kazan. As a result, the accuracy of the neural network block for calculating long-term impact was 90% and higher, and the accuracy of the block for calculating short-term impact was 92% and higher. The closed double-loop model showed an accuracy of at least 96%. Conclusions: Our proposed method of assessing and quantifying metal accumulation in the body has high accuracy and reliability. It does not require expensive laboratory tests and allows quantifying the body’s metal accumulation content based on readily available information. The calculation results can be used as a tool for clinical diagnostics and operational and planned management to reduce the levels of polymetallic contamination in urban areas. Full article