Search Results (404)

Drip irrigation burial depth is a critical management factor for saline-alkali agriculture, yet its mechanisms of influencing crop productivity through soil–microbe–plant interactions remain poorly understood. To explore the regulatory effects of drip irrigation burial depth on the growth and rhizosphere microenvironment of dryland wheat in saline-alkali soil, three treatments (no irrigation control, CK; 5 cm shallow-buried drip irrigation, T5; 25 cm deep-buried drip irrigation, T25) were set up, with soil physicochemical properties, microbial community characteristics, and crop yield analyzed. The results showed that drip irrigation significantly improved soil environment and yield, and T25 exhibited superior comprehensive benefits: soil electrical conductivity was reduced by 63%, organic matter content increased by 44%, and water-salt status was significantly optimized; meanwhile, microbial community structure was altered and root nutrient uptake capacity was enhanced, ultimately achieving a yield of 5347.1 kg ha⁻¹, 55.0% higher than CK. In conclusion, 25 cm deep-buried drip irrigation may provide advantages for wheat cultivation primarily through improved water distribution, desalination, and soil structure enhancement. Full article

Although fermented seasonings play a pivotal role in improving food quality, the high sodium content of many traditional products poses considerable public health concerns, including hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This study established a low-salt fermentation strategy for Mumashan chili by regulating water activity (a_w) under NaCl concentrations ranging from 4 to 12% (w/w). The a_w-regulated system effectively maintained a_w within ± 0.03 at both 25 and 40 °C, thereby sustaining stable microbial activity despite the reduced salt concentration. Compared with the control group 15% NaCl, the 4% NaCl treatments exhibited significantly higher total acidity (130–200 g/kg vs. 24–58 g/kg) and a faster consumption rate of reducing sugars, with MH12 achieving an 80% rate of reducing sugars by day 21. Sensory evaluation revealed a higher overall quality score for the low-salt chili mash (MH12, 7.7/10), which was associated with a balanced aroma profile and enhanced color stability (ΔE < 5). However, the elevated relative abundance of opportunistic pathogens (Klebsiella app., ~10%) highlights the necessity of strict raw material hygiene. Overall, these results validate the feasibility of a_w regulation for low-salt fermentation, elucidate the associations between microbial communities and flavor development, and provide a basis for future industrial applications. Full article

Salinization is a growing global problem, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, where salt concentration interferes with the soil structure, altering natural cycling, decreasing agricultural outputs, and threatening food security. Although many soil amendments have been studied, there is still a limited understanding of their interaction with soil after mixture application and the geochemical processes and long-term sustainability that govern their effects. To address this knowledge gap, this review elucidated the effectiveness and sustainability of soil amendments, biochar, humic substances, and mineral additives in restoring saline and sodic soils of arid and semi-arid region to explore the geochemical processes that underlie their impact. A systematic search of 174 peer-reviewed studies was conducted across multiple databases (Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus) using relevant keywords and the findings were converted into quantitative values to evaluate the effects of biochar, gypsum, zeolite, and humic substances on key soil properties. Biochar significantly improved cation exchange capacity, nutrient retention, microbial activity, and water retention by enhancing soil porosity and capillarity, thereby increasing plant-available water. Gypsum improved phosphorus availability, while zeolite facilitated the removal of sodium and supported microbial activity. Humic substances enhanced soil porosity, water retention, and aggregate stability. When applied together, these amendments improved soil health by regulating salinity, enhancing nutrient cycling, while also stabilizing soil conditions and ensuring long-term sustainability through improved geochemical balance and reduced environmental impacts. The findings highlight the critical role of multi-functional amendments in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and long-term soil health restoration in saline-degraded regions. Further research and field implementation are crucial to optimize their effectiveness and ensure sustainable soil management across diverse agricultural environments. Full article

Oats (Avena sativa L.) are a staple grain and forage crop with substantial market demand. In China, they are the second most-imported forage grass, only after alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Enhancing the salt tolerance of oats to facilitate their cultivation in saline areas can thereby increase forage yield and promote the utilization of saline land, which constitutes an important reserve land resource in China. This study aimed to identify the bacterial strain Bacillus sp. LrM2 (hereafter referred to as strain LrM2) to determine its precise species-level classification and evaluate its effects on oat photosynthesis and growth under salt stress through indoor pot experiments. The results indicated that strain LrM2, capable of urease production and citrate utilization, was identified as Bacillus mojavensis. The strain LrM2 had a positive effect on shoot and root growth of oats under 100 mM NaCl stress conditions. Strain LrM2 inoculation modulated osmotic stress in oats under 100 mM NaCl stress by significantly increasing soluble sugar and decreasing proline content in leaves. It inhibited Na⁺ uptake and promoted K⁺ absorption in the roots, thereby reducing Na⁺ translocation to the leaves and mitigating ionic toxicity. Inoculation with strain LrM2 significantly increased photosynthetic pigment content (chlorophyll a, carotenoids), improved gas exchange parameters (stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, net rate of photosynthesis), enhanced PSII photochemical efficiency (maximum quantum yield, coefficient of photochemical quenching, actual photosynthetic efficiency of PSII, electron transfer rate), and reduced the quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation. These improvements, coupled with increased relative water content and instantaneous water use efficiency, thereby collectively enhanced the overall photosynthetic performance. In conclusion, strain LrM2 represents a promising bio-resource for mitigating salt stress and promoting growth in oats, with direct applications for developing novel biofertilizers and sustainable agricultural strategies. Full article

In the Hetao Irrigation District of China, land consolidation to expand cultivated areas has disrupted the regional water–salt balance, increasing soil salinization risks. This study investigates the spatial optimization of cultivated land and salt-accumulating wasteland, using the SahysMod model to simulate soil water–salt dynamics and develop multi-scenario plans. The objective is to identify optimal strategies for regulating the dry drainage system and controlling salt accumulation by optimizing three key parameters: cultivated land-to-wasteland area ratio, elevation difference between cultivated land and wasteland, and spatial layout schemes. The results show that the SahysMod model accurately simulates soil water–salt interactions. Under the current scenario, the root zone ECe of cultivated land is projected to reach 6.16 dS·m⁻¹ by 2030, surpassing the salt tolerance threshold for sunflowers and threatening crop yield. The optimized scenario, which reduces the cultivated land-to-wasteland ratio from 14.41 to 12.97, increases wasteland area to 22.01 hm² and raises the elevation difference from 20 cm to 40 cm, significantly improving salt accumulation efficiency. By 2030, the ECe in the root zone decreases to 5.37 dS·m⁻¹, bringing soil conditions within the tolerance range for major crops in the region. Between 2021 and 2025, salt accumulation in cultivated land decreases dramatically from 19.08% to 5.60% under the optimized scenario, demonstrating effective early-stage salt control. However, from 2026 to 2030, the annual salt accumulation rate stabilizes at 24.88% (optimized) versus 25.20% (current), with a difference of only 0.32%. This finding reveals that while spatial optimization effectively mitigates short-term salt buildup, it has limited efficacy in preventing long-term salt accumulation. Spatial simulations suggest that a northern concentrated and southern patchwork wasteland layout enhances salt-accumulating capacity. These results demonstrate that spatial optimization of cultivated land and wasteland configuration alone is insufficient to fundamentally resolve soil salinization. Therefore, comprehensive measures, including drainage system improvements, soil amendments, and refined irrigation management, are necessary for sustainable salt management in arid irrigation regions. Full article

Drought and salinity are critical abiotic stresses that constrain plant growth. Although MYB transcription factors mediate plant responses to abiotic stresses, their functions in the monocot I. laevigata remain unexplored. Here, we identified a nuclear-localized gene, IlMYB108, which was rapidly upregulated under NaCl and PEG-6000 treatments. Overexpression of IlMYB108 in tobacco enhanced root growth under salt and drought conditions. At the seedling stage, transgenic lines maintained higher leaf growth rates and plant height with reduced wilting during 14 days of continuous stress. Physiologically, transgenic plants exhibited a higher net photosynthetic rate (Pn), maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and chlorophyll content, alongside lower stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), and transpiration rate (Tr). They also accumulated less malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion (O₂⁻), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which was attributed to enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), as confirmed by p-Nitro-Blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) and 3,3′-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB) staining. Moreover, IlMYB108 up-regulated stress-responsive and antioxidant genes. Collectively, IlMYB108 functions as a key gene that enhances tobacco tolerance to salt and drought stress by coordinating root development, photosynthetic efficiency, water balance and antioxidant defense, thereby providing a valuable genetic resource for breeding stress-resilient plants. Full article

In response to the requirements of wellbore plugging and lost circulation control, this study designed and prepared a new type of thixotropic polymer gel system. The optimal formula was obtained through systematic screening of the types and concentrations of high molecular polymers, cross-linking agents, flow pattern regulators, and resin curing agents. Comprehensive characterization of the gel’s gelling performance, thixotropic properties, high-temperature stability, shear resistance, and plugging capacity was conducted using methods such as the Sydansk bottle test, rheological testing, high-temperature aging experiments, plugging performance evaluation, as well as infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermogravimetric analysis, and its mechanism of action was revealed. The results show that the optimal formula is 1.2% AM-AA-AMPS terpolymer + 0.5% hydroquinone + 0.6% S-Trioxane + 0.8% modified montmorillonite + 14% modified phenolic resin. This gel system has a gelling time of 6 h, a gel strength reaching grade H, and a storage modulus of 62 Pa. It exhibits significant shear thinning characteristics in the shear rate range of 0.1~1000 s⁻¹, with a viscosity recovery rate of 97.7% and a thixotropic recovery rate of 90% after shearing. It forms a complete gel at a high temperature of 160 °C, with a dehydration rate of only 8.5% and a storage modulus retention rate of 80% after aging at 140 °C for 7 days. Under water flooding conditions at 120 °C, the converted pressure-bearing capacity per 100 m reaches 24.0 MPa. Mechanism analysis confirms that the system forms a stable composite network through the synergistic effect of “covalent cross-linking—hydrogen bonding—physical adsorption”, providing a high-performance material solution for wellbore plugging in high-temperature and high-salt environments. Full article

The integration of Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination with Renewable Energy (RE) sources offers a sustainable approach to freshwater production, particularly in remote and off-grid regions. However, the variable and intermittent output of RE power can cause operational instability that affects membrane performance and system reliability. This study experimentally evaluated a flat sheet seawater RO membrane under variable conditions emulating a Photovoltaic (PV)-powered system over three days. Three scenarios were examined: (i) steady full-load operation representing PV with battery storage, (ii) variable operation representing sunny-day PV output, and (iii) highly variable operation representing cloudy-day PV output. A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) regulated by an Arduino microcontroller adjusted high-pressure pump operation in real time to replicate power fluctuations without energy storage. Each scenario operated for eight hours per day and was tested with and without end-of-day rinsing. Under the highly variable cloudy-day scenario without rinsing, water permeability decreased by 37%, salt rejection decreased by 18%, and membrane resistance increased by 37%, indicating compaction and fouling effects. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) confirmed structural changes in membranes exposed to fluctuating conditions. These results highlight the need for improved operational strategies to protect membrane longevity in RE-powered desalination systems. Full article

Salt stress significantly reduces plant growth and yield, which has led to extensive research on the mechanisms underlying plant salinity tolerance. Carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus) is a glycophyte highly sensitive to soil salinity. We investigated root and leaf anatomical, histological, and immunohistological alterations in two carrot accessions, previously identified as salt-sensitive (DH1) and salt-tolerant (DLBA), growing under control and salt stress conditions. The results demonstrate that the salt-tolerant DLBA growing under control conditions has trichome-rich leaves, high starch reserves and a hydraulically safer root xylem. Under salt stress, DLBA maintains mesophyll integrity, and increases the number of vessels and deposition of highly esterified pectins, hemicelluloses and spatially regulated AGPs in cell walls. In contrast, DH1 develops thinner, trichome-free leaves, and roots almost free of starch with fewer cambial cells and vessels. Salt stress induces overexpansion of palisade parenchyma, excess starch accumulation, loss of arabinan epitopes, disappearance of extensins in vascular bundles, and changes in hemicellulose and AGP distribution. These findings indicate that salt tolerance of DLBA plants results from the combination of constitutive anatomical characteristics and adaptive responses that together support tissue hydration, wall elasticity and stable water transport when plants are growing in saline soil. Full article

Hydrogel-based solar-driven interfacial evaporators have recently emerged as high-efficiency and sustainable technology for desalination. By leveraging the unique three-dimensional network, remarkable hydrophilicity, and tunable physicochemical properties of hydrogels, these systems achieve efficient solar absorption and thermal conversion, significantly enhancing water evaporation rates. This review summarizes design strategies based on physical and chemical cross-linking, and explores key approaches for performance enhancement, including reduction of evaporation enthalpy and structural optimization. Through regulation of water states and construction of multi-scale porous and biomimetic architectures, synergistic improvements in photothermal conversion, water transport, and thermal management have been realized. Furthermore, hydrogel-based evaporators demonstrate great potential in integrated applications such as wastewater treatment, salt collection, and hydroelectric generation. Finally, challenges related to water purification applications are discussed. This review offers valuable insights for the future design of hydrogel-based solar evaporators to mitigate global water scarcity. Full article

The plant NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factor family plays an important regulatory role in stress response. In this study, we analyzed the rice transcription factor OsNAC113 and elucidated its tissue-specific characteristics and stress response regulatory mechanisms. qRT-PCR results showed that under laboratory-simulated drought, high salt, temperature stress, and hormone treatments, such as abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA₃), the expression level of OsNAC113 significantly changed, indicating that OsNAC113 responds to various stress conditions. Targeted creation of the rice (Oryza sativa L. spp. japonica) OsNAC113 (LOC_os08g10080.1) mutant based on the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing strategy revealed its response to salt stress (200 mM). The growth status and survival rate of the mutant under high-salt stress were significantly higher than those of the wild type. Testing showed that the mutant exhibited increased relative water, chlorophyll, and soluble sugar contents under salt stress than the wild type. The malondialdehyde content in the mutant was lower, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase were higher than those in the wild type, indicating that the mutant with functional loss caused by knocking out OsNAC113 had a significantly enhanced tolerance to salt treatment. Using RNA-seq to detect genome-wide changes in OsNAC113 mutant materials under stress, KEGG annotation showed that knocking out OsNAC113 resulted in regulatory changes in “plant hormone signaling pathway” and “MAPK signaling pathway,” and GO and KEGG annotations showed significant changes in “amino acid transport and metabolism,” “carbohydrate transport and metabolism,” “lipid transport and metabolism,” and “replication, recombination, and repair.” OsNAC113 may be involved in the response to salt stress by regulating these signaling pathways. Using comparative metabolomic analysis, we further elucidated the function of OsNAC113 in physiological metabolic pathways. The knockout of OsNAC113 resulted in changes in various important metabolic pathways in plants, including flavonoid biosynthesis and ABC transporters. Therefore, it is suggested that OsNAC113 is involved in these metabolic processes and affects their regulation in high-salt environments. These results provide a theoretical foundation and reliable material for the molecular breeding of rice. Full article

Piriformospora indica, a broad-spectrum plant growth-promoting fungus, has been successfully applied in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). In this study, through an integrated transcriptomic and biochemical analyses, we investigated the effects of P. indica colonization on blueberry root growth under long-term tap water (EC ≈ 1500 μs/cm) irrigation. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that P. indica colonization greatly influenced the expression of genes involved in RNA biosynthesis, solute transport, response to external stimuli, phytohormone action, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall organization, and secondary metabolism pathways. Consistently, the fungal colonization significantly improved the nutrient absorption ability, and increased the contents of sucrose, starch, trehalose, total phenolic, total flavonoids, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), while suppressing the accumulations of jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), and strigolactone (SL) in blueberry roots. Quantitative real-time PCR verification also confirmed the fungal influences on genes associated with these pathways/parameters, such as auxin homoeostasis-associated WAT1, cell wall metabolism-related EXP, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis-related PAL and CHS, carotenoid degradation-related CCD8, transportation-related CNGC, trehalose metabolism-related TPP, and so on. Our study demonstrated that P. indica improved blueberry adaptability to mild salt stress by synergistically regulating cell wall metabolism, secondary metabolism, stress responses, hormone homeostasis, sugar and mineral element transportation, and so on. Full article

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of reducing sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) content on the quality of selected meat products in the context of changing legal regulations governing its use. The research material consisted of ostrich semi-fine sausage prepared in four variants: V1 (150 mg/kg NaNO₂), V2 (120 mg/kg NaNO₂), V3 (60 mg/kg NaNO₂), and V4 (0 mg/kg NaNO₂). The scope of this study included evaluation of production yield, pH value, basic composition, residual nitrite content, color, texture, volatile compound profile, semi-consumer evaluation, and statistical analysis. A significant effect of NaNO₂ level, storage time, and their interaction was observed on most physicochemical parameters. No statistically significant differences were found in water, protein, fat, or salt content. Variant V2 demonstrated good color stability and high sensory acceptability, while V3 showed a noticeable decrease in color intensity and a less favorable aroma profile. The results indicate that reducing NaNO₂ content affects product quality, and its total elimination may require the use of alternative preservation methods. Full article

Salt stress represents one of the most critical abiotic constraints limiting global agricultural productivity by adversely affecting plant growth, metabolism, and yield. Soil salinization disrupts water uptake and nutrient homeostasis, leading to ionic toxicity, osmotic imbalance, and oxidative stress that collectively impair crop development. Cucumis melo, a major horticultural crop of significant economic value, exhibits high sensitivity to salinity. Recent advances have elucidated that melon adapts to salt stress through intricate physiological and molecular mechanisms involving osmotic adjustment, ion transport regulation, antioxidant defense, and transcriptional reprogramming. Several pivotal genes, such as CmNHX1, CmHKT1;1, CmCML13, CmAPX27, and CmRAV1, etc., have been identified to participate in multiple signaling pathways governing salt tolerance in melon. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the physiological effects of salt stress on melon growth, elucidating the key molecular mechanisms underlying salt tolerance, particularly those associated with ion homeostasis, antioxidant defense, and transcriptional regulation. The review further discusses current strategies and future perspectives for the genetic improvement of salt tolerance. Collectively, this review provides a theoretical framework and valuable reference for future research on the molecular basis of salt tolerance and breeding of salt-tolerant melon cultivars. Full article

The substantial impact of the heating and cooling of the construction sector on global warming necessitates a focus on effective thermal insulation solutions to mitigate high CO₂ emissions. Thus, the development of efficient low-temperature thermochemical energy storage (TCES) materials offers a promising approach to improve thermal regulation. This study explores the morphological, physicochemical, and thermal properties of a silicon composite (PDMS foam) filled with calcium L-lactate (CaL) (0–70 wt.%) for the core sandwich thermopassive regulation of buildings. Furthermore, CaL was incorporated into a composite form to improve the handling and processability of the final sandwich material, as CaL is available in powder form. The results demonstrated that the filler is entirely confined within the polymer matrix (FTIR and ESEM). Additionally, the CaL-PDMS composites showed fully reversible dehydration/hydration abilities over a water vapor hydration–dehydration cycle within a temperature range suitable for low-temperature TCES, with no performance loss due to salt confinement. Regarding the energy density, the 70 wt.% CaL-PDMS composites achieved a value up to 955 MJ/m³, making it an excellent candidate for low-temperature energy storage in the construction sector as compared to other similar composites. These findings contribute to the development of new thermopassive regulation techniques for building materials. Full article