ABSTRACT A study was conducted in Thondamuthur block, Coimbatore, during 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 to evaluate the impact of combining chemical fertilizers with farmyard manure (FYM) and biocompost on soil properties and blackgram yield. Three field experiments were carried out under varying soil organic carbon levels, with soil samples collected after 45 days and analyzed for biological properties. The combined application significantly enhanced soil health, improving bacterial, fungal, and actinomycetes populations, soil respiration, microbial quotient, microbial biomass carbon, and enzymatic activities, including urease, alkaline phosphatase, beta-glucosidase, and dehydrogenase. The STCR-IPNS-1.4 t ha− 1 resulted in the highest blackgram grain yields, ranging from 1314 to 1384 kg ha− 1 in experiment I and 1342–1368 kg ha− 1 in experiment II. During the year 2022–2023, the mean percent increase in grain yield due to STCR-IPNS-1.4 t ha− 1 (with FYM) was 48.2, 38.7, and 58.2 over blanket, blanket + FYM, and farmer’s practice, respectively. Similarly, during the year 2023–2024, the mean percent increase in grain yield due to STCR-IPNS-1.4 t ha− 1 (with biocompost) was 51.3, 43.8, and 63.8 over blanket, blanket + biocompost, and farmer’s practice. These findings highlight the potential of integrating organic and inorganic fertilizers to improve soil health and enhance crop yields in water-scarce regions. By boosting microbial activity and soil fertility, this approach offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for addressing the challenges of soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate change in arid and semi-arid areas. This method can be adapted to similar regions globally, contributing to long-term agricultural sustainability and resilience.

This study employs visual culture theory and semiotics theory to systematically examine the visual symbols embedded in material cultural remains from different regions and periods of the Yangtze River Basin. The research reveals that the civilization marker system in the Yangtze River Basin exhibits the following characteristics: First, the visual symbols in material cultural remains are diverse, encompassing archaeological sites, cultural relics, architectural symbols, and artifact patterns; Second, the diachronic evolution of symbols reflects a developmental trajectory from images to symbols to text, demonstrating shifts in social structure and cultural concepts; Third, symbol systems from different regions maintain their uniqueness while influencing each other, forming a unified yet diverse civilizational pattern; Fourth, these visual symbols embody ecological wisdom of harmony between humans and nature, humanistic spirit of respect for ritual and ethics, and enduring creative vitality. The study concludes that in-depth research of civilization markers in the Yangtze River Basin has significant theoretical and practical value for inheriting cultural genes, strengthening cultural confidence, and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese culture.

The spread of harmful algae through ballast water poses serious threats to marine ecosystems, so the development of effective methods to inactivate the algae and to treat the harmful pollution in ballast water was important. Electrocatalysis technology is safe and reliable and has been widely used in water treatment. In this paper, a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) electrocatalysis system was studied to investigate the efficiency of in-site algae inactivation in simulated ballast water. The studies showed that the DSA electrocatalysis system showed good efficiency for algae inactivation in ballast water, and the inactivation rate varied depending on the algae and could be optimized by adjusting hydraulic retention time (HTR), current density, and electrode surface area. Furthermore, the DSA electrocatalysis provided a significantly sustained inactivation effect on algae in the holding time after electrolytic operation. The inactivation rate for Platymonas helgolandica and Heterosigma akashiwo reached 99.27% and 99.09%, respectively, in short treatment time (HRT of 60 s), and the energy consumption was 0.350 kWh/L and 2.654 kWh/L. Besides the direct oxidation and reduction of electric field, the reactive oxides generated in the DSA electrocatalysis process were the primary factors which caused algae inactivation. The total residual oxides (TRO) damaged algae cells and led to algae inactivation. The DSA electrocatalysis led to lipid peroxidation in algal cell membranes, causing structural damage and metabolic failure. The DSA electrocatalysis was an effective and clean technology for the in-site algae removal in ballast water.

The China-India water diplomacy, a significant diplomatic interaction in cross-border water resources management and utilization, has had a profoundly positive impact. With the rapid economic development of the two countries, the rational distribution and protection of water resources has become a common concern. China's active measures in the hydropower development of cross-border rivers, such as the Yarlung Zangbo River, and India's river networking program, aimed at optimizing domestic water allocation, are key components of this diplomacy. This positive impact is evident in the water resources management strategy, water resources distribution in the watershed, and the environment and ecology in western China, and it has been instrumental in promoting the sustainable utilization of water resources and regional peace and stability. By studying the diplomacy of China and India in water resources management, this paper resolves the conflict and cooperation between the two countries in water resources management, which is of great significance in promoting peace and stability in the two countries.

ABSTRACT Ion flotation as an efficient method for heavy metal ions removal needs a stoichiometric collector concentration to obtain high ions removal. Collector recycling is necessary to reuse in the process and decrease the collector consumption in the process. In this study, ion flotation of zinc and manganese ions was first performed using graphene oxide (GO) as a collector and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a co-collector to obtain high ion removal with low collector consumption. The optimum experimental conditions were determined as a GO concentration of 30 mg/L, SDS concentration of 50 mg/L, pH of 9.5, impeller speed of 800 rpm, and air flow rate of 2 mL/min. The removal percentage of zinc and manganese ions and the water recovery obtained 91.30%, 90.14%, and 13.88%, respectively at the optimum conditions. Then, the recyclability of GO used in the process was evaluated by the desorption process. The recycled GO was reused at the optimum conditions in the process. The removal percentage of zinc and manganese ions and the water recovery obtained 85.20%, 83.12%, and 12.58%, respectively. The results indicated that the GO offered valuable advantages, such as recyclability, low collector consumption, and high adsorption efficiency to remove ions using ion flotation for wastewater treatment effectively.

Solar thermal technology offers a promising solution to water scarcity; however, the continuous operation of solar evaporators remains challenging due to sunlight's intermittent availability. Herein, an alternative strategy is proposed to achieve dual-functional energy management of photo-thermoactivated viologen T semiconductors for enhanced solar water evaporation, water-enabled electricity generation, and electrothermal evaporation. A sequential cyanide-bridged layer-directed intercalation approach is developed, where infinitely π-stacked, redox-active N-methyl bipyridinium cations with near-planar structures are sandwiched between cyanide-bridged MnII-FeIII. The extended absorption range of 95% is achieved through radical-π interactions that occur within the continuously π-stacked N-methyl bipyridinium units upon thermal activation. The photo-thermoactivated MnII-FeIII compounds anchored charcoal mask (MnII-FeIII@CM) with a sided evaporation structure and controllable water transfer, offering a high evaporation rate of 2.39 kg m-2 h-1 under one sun (1 kW m-2) illumination. As an energy nanogenerator, the output voltage and current of MnII-FeIII@CM can reach up to ≈480 mV and ≈60 µA cm-2 under ambient conditions. Furthermore, storage of electrical energy from MnII-FeIII@CM using energy storage devices is expected to enable all-weather evaporation by electric heating due to unsustainable sunlight, providing a unique technology for seawater desalination and offshore work platform energy access.

Research on the use of water hyacinth (WH) to improve the quality of polluted water has been widely reported, but discussions on the ability of WH to clear turbid water are still rare. This research examines the possibility of using WH as a natural clarifier for Lake Bata. Treatments with 3 variations in the percentage of lake closure with WH cultivation (25, 50, and 75%) were applied for 40 days with 3 repetitions. Water quality and turbidity measurements were carried out every 4 days. The data was analyzed descriptively in graphical form to see a model of these changes. It was found that the pollutants Fe, Hg, nitrate, phosphate and ammonia were present in very small and safe quantities, but the water turbidity level did not meet the standards of the Indonesian Minister of Health yet. During the WH growth, the turbidity decreasing follows the equation Y(25) = - 0.114x + 28.52; Y(50) = -0.195x + 29.83; and Y(75) = -0.235x + 30.14 for cover percentages of 25, 50 and 75% respectively, where y for the turbidity (NTU) and x for WH growth time (days). To meet turbidity standards, WH coverage percentages of 25, 50, and 75%, require cultivation periods of 32, 28, and 24 days, respectively.