Search Results (736)

Sustainable development is one of the main directions of modern agriculture. First of all, sustainability in the agricultural sector can be achieved through the possible abandonment of traditional mineral fertilizers. Many decades of using these fertilizers have led to the degradation of arable soils and to soil and environmental pollution. As a result, this causes reductions in yields and the environmental quality of agricultural products and affects the health of the population. An alternative to traditional mineral fertilizers may be the use of innovative organomineral fertilizers obtained from local resources. These include manure, humus, compost, sediments, etc. In recent years, fertilizers obtained from the sapropels of the bottom sediments of lakes have become widespread. Their distinctive feature is the environmental friendliness and completeness of the content of chemical elements and substances necessary for the development and growth of plants. In addition, the methods of obtaining and applying these fertilizers allow us to talk about their effectiveness in use. The range of applications of these fertilizers is diverse, from use in the form of a dry extract applied directly to the soil to the use of liquid suspensions used at various stages of processing and from pre-sowing seed treatment to watering and spraying plants at different periods of vegetation. Moreover, an important aspect is the research work on the variational use of sapropel fertilizers on different crops, with different methods of production and concentrations and at different stages of processing. This publication contains the results of a study of the effect of the obtained innovative sapropel fertilizer on productivity, wheat grain quality, and economic efficiency (Triticum aestivum L.). To identify the optimal concentration of sapropel extract, laboratory studies were carried out to determine the germination energy and germination of wheat seeds of different varieties when they were soaked in various concentrations: 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 g/L. The best indicators of germination energy and germination of wheat seeds during treatment with the extract were obtained at a concentration of 1.2 g/L. The research was conducted at an accredited variety testing laboratory. A field experiment was conducted in the fields of the agrobiological station of North Kazakhstan University named after Manash Kozybayev. The treatment of the seeds was carried out by soaking them in sapropel extract to evenly distribute the substance. The scheme of the field experiment included the option of using foliar treatment with a solution of sapropel extract at the tillering stage. As a result of the application of the obtained extract in the field, environmental and socio-economic efficiency was noted. The conducted field studies note its positive effect and effectiveness on the morphological, qualitative, and quantitative indicators of the wheat harvest. In the areas where wheat seeds were pretreated, as well as where foliar treatment with the resulting sapropel suspension was carried out, the best yield indicators were revealed. In these variants of the experiment with pre-sowing and pre-sowing and foliar treatment with the sapropel extract solution, the yield was 3.63 and 3.81 tons per hectare, respectively. The introduction of sapropel extract at the stage of seed treatment before sowing, as well as foliar processing of wheat at the tillering stage, will increase the efficiency and profitability of the agricultural industry and obtain a synergistic effect in the form of socio-economic efficiency and environmental safety of production. In our opinion, this will contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture and the production of environmental products. Full article

Collecting is a form of leisure, and even a passion, consisting of collecting, preserving and displaying objects. When we look for its origin in the literature, we are taken back to “the appearance of writing and the fixing of knowledge”, specifically with the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal (7th century BC, Mesopotamia), and his fondness for collecting books, which in his case were in the form of clay tablets. This is not, however, a true reflection, for we have evidence of much earlier collectors. The curiosity and interest in keeping stones or fossils of different colors and shapes, as manuports, is as old as we are. For decades we have had evidence of objects of no utilitarian value in Neanderthal homes. Several European sites have shown that these Neanderthal groups treasured objects that attracted their attention. On some occasions, these objects may have been modified to make a personal ornament and may even have been integrated into subsistence activities such as grinders or hammers. Normally, one or two such specimens are found but, to date, no Neanderthal cave or camp has yielded as many as the N4 level of Prado Vargas Cave. In the N4 Mousterian level of Prado Vargas, 15 specimens of Upper Cretaceous marine fossils belonging to the Gryphaeidae, Pectinidae, Cardiidae, Pholadomyidae, Pleurotomariidae, Tylostomatidae and Diplopodiidae families were found in the context of clay and autochthonous cave sediments. During MIS 3, a group of Neanderthals transported at least fifteen marine fossils, which were collected from various Cretaceous units located in the surrounding area, to the Prado Vargas cave. The fossils, with one exception, show no evidence of having been used as tools; thus, their presence in the cave could be attributed to collecting activities. These activities could have been motivated by numerous tangible and intangible causes, which suggest that collecting activities and the associated abstract thinking were present in Neanderthals before the arrival of modern humans. Full article

Soil erosion and sediment transport are significant concerns in the Yaqui River sub-basin in northwest Mexico, driven by land use changes and environmental degradation. This study aims to evaluate erosion processes between 2000 and 2020 using a combination of satellite imagery and numerical simulations with Iber software (Version 2.5.2). The primary objective is to assess the impacts of land use changes, particularly the conversion of forest to grassland, on erosion rates and sediment transport. Satellite images from 2000 and 2020 were analyzed to detect land cover changes, while Iber’s sediment transport module was used to simulate erosion patterns based on the Meyer–Peter and Müller equation for bedload transport. Hydrological and topographical data were incorporated to provide accurate simulations of flow velocity, depth, and erosion potential. The results reveal a 35.3% reduction in forest cover, leading to increased erosion and sediment transport in steep areas. Simulation predictions highlighted areas with high future erosion potential, which are at risk of further soil loss if current trends continue. Flow velocity increased, contributing to riverbank destabilization and higher sediment yield, posing a risk to infrastructure such as the Álvaro Obregón Dam. This study underscores the need for targeted erosion control measures and sustainable land management practices to mitigate future risks and protect vital infrastructure in the Yaqui River Basin. Full article

Fish and shellfish pathogens of the Harveyi clade of the Vibrio genus cause significant losses to aquaculture yields and profits, with some of them also causing infections in humans. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of Harveyi clade fish and shellfish pathogens and their possible diversification in response to environmental drivers in southeastern USA waters. The presence and abundance of potential pathogens were evaluated via the detection and quantitation of six Harveyi-clade-specific virulence genes (toxR, luxR, srp, vhh_a, vhh, and vhp; VGs) in environmental DNA with clade-specific primers. The environmental DNA was obtained from water and sediments collected from three Georgia (USA) cultured clam and wild oyster grounds. In sediments, the VG concentrations were, on average, three orders of magnitude higher than those in water. The most and least frequently detected VGs were vhp and toxR, respectively. In water, the VGs split into two groups based on their seasonal trends. The first group, composed of luxR, vhp, vhha, and vhh, peaked in August and remained at lower concentrations throughout the duration of the study. The second group, composed of toxR and srp, peaked in June and disappeared between July and December. The first group revealed a high adaptation of their carriers to an increase in temperature, tolerance to a wide range of pH, and a positive correlation with salinity up to 25 ppt. The second group of VGs demonstrated a lower adaptation of their carriers to temperature and negative correlations with pH, salinity, potential water density, conductivity, and dissolved solids but a positive correlation with turbidity. No such trends were observed in sediments. These data reveal the role of VGs in the adaptability of the Harveyi clade pathogens to environmental parameters, causing their diversification and possibly their stratification into different ecological niches due to changes in water temperature, acidity, salinity, and turbidity. This diversification and stratification may lead to further speciation and the emergence of new pathogens of this clade. Our data urge further monitoring of the presence and diversification of Harveyi clade pathogens in a global warming scenario. Full article

The Tabuk region is located in the northern part of Saudi Arabia, and it has an area of 117,000 km² between longitudes 26° N and 29° N and latitudes 34° E and 38° E. King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve (KSRNR) is the largest natural reserve in Saudi Arabia and covers about 130,700 km². It represents a new tourist attraction area in the Tabuk region. Human activities around the lake may lead to changes in water quality, with subsequent changes in microenvironment components, including microbial diversity. The current study was designed to assess possible changes in bacterial communities of the water sediment at some natural lakes and artificial waterpoints of KSRNR. Water samples were collected from ten different locations within KSRNR: W1, W2, W3 (at the border of the royal reserve); W4, W5, W6, W7 (at the middle); and W8, W9, and W10 (artificial waterpoints). The total DNA of the samples was extracted and subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic analysis; also, the environmental parameters (temperature and humidity) were recorded for all locations. Metagenomic sequencing yielded a total of 24,696 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were subsequently annotated to 193 phyla, 215 classes, 445 orders, 947 families, and 3960 genera. At the phylum level, Pseudomonadota dominated the microbial communities across all samples. At the class level, Gammaproteobacteria, Clostridia, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli, and Betaproteobacteria were the most prevalent. The dominant families included Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Clostridiaceae, Comamonadaceae, and Moraxellaceae. At the genus level, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Acinetobacter, Paenibacillus, and Acidovorax exhibited the highest relative abundances. The most abundant species were Hungatella xylanolytica, Pseudescherichia vulneris, Pseudorhizobium tarimense, Paenibacillus sp. Yn15, and Enterobacter sp. Sa187. The observed species richness revealed substantial heterogeneity across samples using species richness estimators, Chao1 and ACE, indicating particularly high diversity in samples W3, W5, and W6. Current study results help in recognizing the structure of bacterial communities at the Tubaiq area in relation to their surroundings for planning for environmental protection and future restoration of affected ecosystems. The findings highlight the dominance of various bacterial phyla, classes, families, and genera, with remarkable species richness in some areas. These results underscore the influence of human activities on microbial diversity, as well as the significance of monitoring and conserving the reserve’s natural ecosystems. Full article

In the context of climate policy, measures are being taken around the world to reduce pollution. These have been intensified in the areas of transport, industry, and energy, with the goal of zero emissions. The role of the biogas plant in energy transition and as a waste treatment plant for disposal is very important. This article describes research on a dynamic anaerobic digestion (AD) process plant. The subject of this study was leather shavings, which is a problematic waste. The research presented here is intended to demonstrate the decomposition of the flesh in the process, to confirm its biogas yield, and to evaluate the biological and technical parameters of the process. High biochemical stability was achieved for each of the tests evaluated, and no specific technical requirements were demonstrated. The only technical aspect to be addressed during operation was sedimentation, which can be solved by preparing the mixture earlier or by changing the mixing method. This made it reasonable to investigate the material further in the context of an industrial project. The characteristics of protein degradation in the AD process resulted in a high methane content in the biogas, above 65%. It was also observed that the long conditioning time of biogas in the gas cushion favourably affected the proportion of methane in biogas. Analytical results confirmed 77.5% methane content, which was a very good result. This paper presents the results of a surprising effect of chromium, primarily Cr (III), on the performance of anaerobic digestion. Full article

Dams are vital for irrigation, power generation, and domestic water needs, but siltation poses a significant challenge, especially in areas prone to water erosion, potentially shortening a dam’s lifespan. The Ahmed El Hansali Dam in Morocco faces heightened siltation due to its upstream region being susceptible to erosion-prone rocks and high runoff. This study estimates the siltation at the dam from its construction up to 2014 using bathymetric data and the Brown model, which is a widely-used empirical model that calculates reservoir trap efficiency. Additionally, the study evaluates the impact of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes and projected future rainfall until around 2076 based on siltation rates. The results indicate that changes in LULC, particularly temporal variations in precipitation, have a significant impact on the siltation of the Ahmed El Hansali dam. Notably, rainfall is strongly correlated with the siltation rate, with an R² of 0.92. The efficiency of sediment trapping (TE) is 97.64%, meaning that 97.64% of the sediment in the catchment area is trapped or deposited at the bottom of the dam. The estimated annual specific sediment yield is about 32,345.79 tons/km²/yr, and the sediment accumulation rate is approximately 4.75 Mm³/yr. The dam’s half-life is estimated to be around 2076, but future precipitation projections may extend this timeframe due to the strong correlation between siltation and precipitation. Additionally, soil erosion driven by land management practices plays a crucial role in future siltation dynamics. Hence, this study offers a comprehensive assessment of the siltation dynamics at the Ahmed El Hansali dam, providing essential information on the long-term effects of erosion, land use changes, and climate projections. These findings may assist decision makers in managing dam reservoir sedimentation more effectively, ensuring the durability of the dam and extending the reservoir life. Full article

Non-point source (NPS) pollution has a complex formation mechanism, and identifying its primary controlling factors is crucial for effective pollution treatment. In this study, the Baixi Reservoir Watershed, characterized by low-intensity development, was selected as the study area. A new methodology combining the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) with the Random Forest (RF) algorithm was proposed to comprehensively identify the primary controlling factors of NPS pollution and analyze the interaction between factors. The results of the validated SWAT model showed that the annual intensity of total nitrogen (TN) load range was 0.677–11.014 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and the total phosphorus (TP) load per unit area range was 0.020–0.110 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Loads of sediment, TP, and TN exhibited significant seasonal variations, particularly in the Baixi basin, where sediment yield had the highest absolute change rate, with a value of up to 232.26. Random Forest models for TN and TP displayed high accuracy (R² > 0.99) and robust generalization ability. Fertilization, sediment yield, and terrain slope were identified through RF models as the primary factors affecting TN and TP. By graphing partial dependency plots (PDPs) based on the results of the RF models to analyze the interaction between factors, the findings suggest a strong synergistic effect of two combined factors: fertilization and sediment yield. When fertilizer application exceeds 15 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and sediment yield exceeds 3 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, there is a sharp increase in nitrogen and phosphorus load. Through the identification and analysis of the primary controlling factors of NPS pollution, this study provides a solid scientific foundation for developing effective watershed management strategies. Full article

Background The growth habit (GH), also named the branching habit, is an important agronomic trait of peanut and mainly determined by the lateral branch angle (LBA). The branching habit is closely related to peanut mechanized farming, pegging, yield, and disease management. Objectives However, the molecular basis underlying peanut LBA needs to be uncovered. Methods In the present study, an erect branching peanut mutant, eg06g, was obtained via ⁶⁰Co γ-ray-radiating mutagenesis of a spreading-type peanut cultivar, Georgia-06G (G06G). RNA-seq was performed to compare the transcriptome variation of the upper sides and lower sides of the lateral branch of eg06g and G06G. Results In total, 4908 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 5833 DEGs were identified between eg06g and G06G from the lower sides and upper sides of the lateral branch, respectively. GO, KEGG, and clustering enrichment analysis indicated that the carbohydrate metabolic process, cell wall organization or biogenesis, and plant hormone signal transduction were mainly enriched in eg06g. Conclusions Further analysis showed that the genes involved in starch biosynthesis were upregulated in eg06g, which contributed to amyloplast sedimentation and gravity perception. Auxin homeostasis and transport-related genes were found to be upregulated in eg06g, which altered the redistribution of auxin in eg06g and in turn triggered apoplastic acidification and activated cell wall modification-related enzymes, leading to tiller angle establishment through the promotion of cell elongation at the lower side of the lateral branch. In addition, cytokinin and GA also demonstrated synergistic action to finely regulate the formation of peanut lateral branch angles. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into the molecular regulation of peanut LBA and present genetic materials for breeding peanut cultivars with ideotypes. Full article

The remediation of dredged sediments (DS) as a major waste generation field has become an urgent environmental issue. In response to the limited strategies to restore DS, the current study aimed to investigate the suitability of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud as a tool for decontamination of DS, both independently and in combination with a sewage sludge-based biochar. The experimental design included unamended and biochar-supplemented DS with the application rates of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0%, in which vegetation of P. tomentosa was monitored. The results confirmed that the incorporation of biochar enriched DS with the essential plant nutrients (P, Ca, and S), stimulated biomass yield and improved the plant’s photosynthetic performance by up to 3.36 and 80.0 times, respectively; the observed effects were correlated with the application rates. In addition, biochar enhanced the phytostabilisation of organic contaminants and shifted the primary accumulation of potentially toxic elements from the aboveground biomass to the roots. In spite of the inspiring results, further research has to concentrate on the investigation of the mechanisms of improvement the plant’s development depending on biochar’s properties and application rate and studying the biochar’s mitigation effects in the explored DS research system. Full article

Sustainable agriculture aims to use biological resources to improve crop quality and productivity. This approach promotes alternatives, such as replacing synthetic pesticides with biological ones and substituting mineral fertilizers with organic fertilizers. Field trials were conducted using two different factors: fertilizer treatments (ammonium nitrate and pig manure digestate) and plant protection treatments (pesticides, Artemisia dubia Wall biomass mulch, and strips). After harvesting the winter wheat, the productivity and quality (weight of 1000 grains, protein, gluten, starch, sedimentation of grains) were evaluated. The two-year studies showed that pig manure digestate positively affected winter wheat grain quality. Mugwort biomass outperformed other plant protection options in three key grain quality indicators (protein, gluten, and sedimentation). Furthermore, in 2023, the highest grain yield of 5798 ± 125 kg ha⁻¹ was observed in the pesticides and pig manure digestate treatment. The quick impact and mode of action of vegetation pesticides were more easily felt over the two years of study, leading to the highest yield of wheat grains compared to other plant management measures. This study shows that mugwort biomass can positively influence wheat grain quality, a significant milestone in utilizing nonfood crops as alternatives for agricultural productivity. Full article

The Bir el-Umdan cistern, a prominent archaeological site in the Judean Desert, is one of the largest and best preserved water systems in the region. Hewn in chalk, the cistern area measures 114 m² and has a ~700 m³ volume. Two massive columns, each with a base diameter of 2.5 m, support the ceiling within the cistern’s interior. This impressive structure is estimated to date back to the Hellenistic to Late Antiquity periods based on its architectural characteristics. Historical records indicate that the cistern was documented on 19th-century maps but disappeared from the 1935 and 1943 British Mandate maps. Its reappearance on the 1967 Survey of Israel map includes an upstream road disconnecting the cistern from its natural drainage basin. Despite its renovation in the 2010s, the cistern’s water supply remains limited due to its reduced catchment area, which now constitutes only 25% of its original size. Runoff coefficients calculated for the cistern’s drainage basin are relatively low (1.4% to 8.1%) compared to other desert regions. We analyzed the 21st-century runoff coefficient and recurrence interval over the original drainage basin (0.12 km²) to estimate the water volumes in antiquity. Our analysis suggests that using an 8.1% runoff coefficient, the estimated water volume is 806 m³, implying a cistern overflow every 6–7 years. A more conservative estimate using a 5% runoff coefficient yields a water volume of 500 m³ and a 15-year recurrence interval. Sediment analysis reveals that silt particles dominate the sediment accumulated in the cistern and its upstream sedimentation basins. The consistent grain size distribution throughout the system indicates rapid water flow during flood events. Reconstructing the sedimentation history is challenging due to potential maintenance and possible dredging and cleaning operations. Full article

As climate change intensifies, the need to conserve ecosystem services and our natural resources increases. Nature-based solutions projects that focus on sequestering carbon can also have significant impacts on the ecosystem services in the project area. Herein, we describe a method to quantify ecosystem services via the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (Version 3.14) model. We use those quantitative methods to show where carbon projects and other restoration projects could increase certain ecosystem services through best practices. Using the Edisto River Basin in South Carolina as a study site, we developed a spatial additionality model that shows where water retention, carbon, and sediment retention can be improved. InVEST modeling showed high levels of sediment export and water yield, with 0.12 tons/acre of sediment exported and 256.3 cm/acre of water yielded downstream on average. The model indicates that over 70,000 acres comprised of parcels greater than 20 contiguous acres could implement management to increase ecosystem service provisioning. This model output shows spatially where best management practices can be implemented to achieve positive outcomes and where carbon projects could be implemented to derive additional co-benefits. Furthermore, it can be used as a tool for measurement and verification as data is updated. Full article

In rubber plantations, understory coverage is often disrupted by human activities, which increases the risk of soil erosion under intense rainfall typical of tropical islands. Evaluating the effectiveness of soil and water conservation measures (SWCMs) is crucial for effectively conserving subcanopy resources. This study focused on Hainan Island’s rubber plantations, where nine different SWCMs were implemented, and the runoff and sediment yield were monitored during the rainy season using runoff plots. Through correlation analysis, we identified the primary rainfall characteristic factors leading to soil and water loss on rubber plantation slopes. Path analysis was then used to quantify the impacts of these characteristic factors. The results showed that the SWCMs were significantly more effective in erosion reduction (68.55%) than in runoff reduction (58.95%). Of all the measures, comprehensive SWCMs proved most effective in controlling runoff (71.34%), followed by engineering SWCMs (62.03%) and biological SWCMs (43.51%). Comprehensive SWCMs were also found to be effective in erosion reduction, with a rate of 77.84%, surpassing engineering and biological SWCMs by 7.23% and 20.66%, respectively. Notably, the combination of narrow terraces, contour trenches, and grass planting was the most effective, achieving runoff-reduction rates of 80.94% and erosion-reduction rates of 85.27%. This combination is recommended as a primary prevention method. Rainfall and maximum 30-min intensity (I₃₀) were identified as key variables affecting the efficacy of SWCMs, with rainfall positively correlating with runoff yield and I₃₀ being more closely linked to sediment production. This study provides valuable insights for developing erosion control strategies for sloping garden lands in similar regions and lays theoretical foundations for future ecological restoration projects. Full article

Since the 1970s, comprehensive control measures on soil erosion in the headwater region of the Loess Plateau have been carried out. Quantitative evaluation of the benefits of soil and water conservation measures during extreme rainstorms is of great significance for the comprehensive management of the catchments. In this study, a systematic modeling methodology for evaluating the effects of soil and water conservation measures on sediment reduction was developed based on a distributed soil erosion model (DSEM). Taking the Chabagou basin in the Loess Plateau as the study area, the tested DSEM was used to simulate soil erosion and sediment yield during an extreme rainstorm under two scenarios, the uncontrolled condition and the controlled condition with soil and water conservation measures implemented. The results showed that DSEM could successfully simulate soil and water losses and evaluate the effects of soil and water conservation measures during extreme storm events. The evaluated results showed that each soil and water conservation measure had the specific function of sediment reduction. And under rainstorm conditions, the effect of engineering measures on sediment reduction was greater than that of forest and grass measures. Full article