Agricultural Purposes Research Articles

Adoption status of integrated pest management (IPM) practices among vegetable growers of Lamjung district of Nepal

The widespread use of highly toxic pesticides for agricultural purposes has raised concerns about their hazardous impact on both human health and the environment. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a strategy designed to tackle pest problems and reduce pesticide use, with the aim of protecting both human health and the environment. This study was conducted in Besishahar, Sundarbazar, Rainas, and Madhyenepal municipalities of the Lamjung district of Nepal in the year 2023 with a sample of 100 vegetable-growing farmers to assess the adoption of IPM practices in vegetable cultivation. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data, and the logit model was used to identify the factors affecting the adoption of IPM practices in vegetable cultivation among farmers. Respondents were grouped into two categories, adopter and non-adopter, based on the extent of adoption of IPM practices. The findings revealed that only 37 % of the total respondents adopted IPM practices for vegetable cultivation. The easy availability of chemical pesticides and lack of bio-pesticides were the major constraints for the adoption of IPM practices in the study area. The output of the binary logit model indicated that greater participation in training, higher education levels, and increased contact with extension agents significantly influence the adoption of IPM practices in vegetable cultivation. The findings could be used to formulate better policies towards increasing the adoption of sustainable approaches in agriculture and regulation.

Index-Based Alteration of Long-Term River Flow Regimes Influenced by Land Use Change and Dam Regulation

The growing population and expansion of rural activities, along with changing climatic patterns and the need for water during drought periods, have led to a rise in the water demand worldwide. As a result, the construction of water storage structures such as dams has increased in recent years to meet the water needs. However, dam construction can bring significant alterations to the natural flow regime of rivers, and it is therefore essential to understand the potential effects of human structures on the hydrological regime of rivers to reduce their destructive impacts. This study analyzes the hydrological changes in the Shahrchai River in response to the Shahrchai Dam construction in Urmia, Iran. The study period was from 1950 to 2017 at the Urmia Band station. The Indicators of Hydrological Alteration (IHA) were used to analyze the hydrological changes before and after regulating, accounting for land use changes and climatic factors. The results revealed the adverse effects of the Shahrchai Dam on the hydrological indices. The analysis showed an increase in the average flow rate during the summer season and a decrease in other seasons. However, the combined effects of water transferring for drinking purposes, a decrease in permanent snow cover upstream of the dam, and an increase in water use for irrigation and agricultural purposes resulted in a decrease in the released river flow. Furthermore, the minimum and maximum daily flow rates decreased by approximately 85% and 65%, respectively, after the construction of the Shahrchai Dam. Additionally, the number of days with maximum flow rates increased from 117 days in the pre-dam period to 181 days in the post-dam period. As a concluding remark, the construction of the Shahrchai Dam, land use/cover changes, and a decrease in permanent snow cover had unfavorable effects on the hydrological regime of the river. Therefore, the hydrological indicators should be adjusted to an acceptable level compared to the natural state to preserve the river ecosystem. The findings of this study are expected to guide water resource managers in regulating the sustainable flow regime of permanent rivers.

Assessing RO and NF Desalination Technologies for Irrigation-Grade Water

In this work, the performance of a Reverse Osmosis (RO) process using different types of reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes is evaluated for brackish water desalination for producing irrigation-grade water. The proposed desalination system is a single-stage system, where three types of RO and two NF membranes were examined. The different desalination systems were simulated using ROSA72 software. In order to validate the theoretical model, the results obtained from the simulation were compared to those obtained from the experiment conducted in this work. The El-Moghra aquifer of Egypt is considered the test bed due to a considerable amount of data being available for this aquifer. The El-Moghra aquifer has 79 wells, and the available water data, when checked against several quality parameters, show that none of the investigated wells are suitable for direct irrigation without treatment due to problems of salinity, the sodium adsorption ratio, and low water quality according to the irrigation water quality index values. The obtained results show that nanofiltration membranes exhibited superior energy efficiency compared to reverse osmosis membranes. However, what sets the nanofiltration membranes apart is their ability to elevate water quality in 89.9% of the total investigated wells to an acceptable level for agricultural purposes. This underscores the nanofiltration membranes as a highly effective alternative to reverse osmosis membranes, demonstrating the capability to produce water suitable for irrigation while concurrently reducing operational costs due to the lower energy consumption in nanofiltration-based systems.

Classification of surface waters and groundwater in terms of drinking, agriculture, and industry

In this study, samples were collected from Seydoon River, The Alaa River, Galal Duparan Well, and Seyed Behzad Seepage Well near Seydoon River during the water year 2021-2022 for evaluation by the Khuzestan Water and Power Organization. Following laboratory analysis, Schuler and Wilcox diagrams were created using Aqua and Chemistry software to classify and interpret the water from The Seydoon River, The Alaa River, Duparan Well, and Seyyed Behzad Seepage Well. The objective of this study is to assess and comprehend the water quality of the rivers and wells in the region for drinking, industrial, and agricultural purposes. Overall, the groundwater in the area is deemed to be of medium to unsuitable quality for drinking. The well water is are classified as extremely hard. Furthermore, The Seydoon River and The Alaa River exhibit lower hardness levels compared to the groundwater in the region. in accordance with the Wilcox diagram, both surface and groundwater in the area are suitable in sodium absorption ratio for agricultural use, but they do face salinity issues. The water from The Seydoon River is suitable for industrial purposes, while The Seydoon River, The Alaa River, and Seyyed Behzad Seepage Well water is drinkable, and the water from Duparan Well is prone to forming deposits.

Chemical composition of city wastewater and its effect on germination of some vegetable seeds

Due to increasing shortage of fresh water, the use of city wastewater in agricultural purpose has become more popular day by day. This experiment was conducted to analyze the physico-chemical parameters of the city wastewater and its effect on seed germination and seedling growth of Abelmoschus esculentus (Lady’s Finger), Vigna unguiculata (Yard Long Bean) and Cucumis sativus (Cucumber) plants during the period of January, March and May, 2023 with the application of five treatments i.e. T0 (control), T1 (3ml), T2 (5ml), T3 (7ml) and T4 (10ml). The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Analyses included pH, EC, hardness, cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+ and Fe3+), anions (CO32-, HCO3-, SO42-, PO43- and Cl-) and TDS (total dissolved solids), SAR (sodium adsorption ratio). The pH (6.9 ~ 7.23) was neutral to alkaline and could be suitable for agricultural uses. According to TDS and SAR values, all samples of wastewater were classified as ‘Freshwater’ and ‘excellent’ categories. T0 (control) and T3 (7ml) were showed the highest germination percentage (100%) for every month and T4 (10ml) was showed the lowest germination percentage (80%). The speed of germination, relative germination ratio and germination index were also highest at T0 (control) and lowest was in T1 (3ml) condition and again the shoot and root length of the vegetables were gradually enhanced with increasing concentration and highest shoot and root length found in T4 (10 ml) treatment and lowest shoot and root length observed in T0 (control) treatment. Thus, the city wastewater, after proper dilutions can be used as a promising source of water in agricultural practice.

Internet of Things (IoT) Driven Water Management System for Efficient Level Control

Water is an essential and valuable resource in daily life, making its conservation crucial to prevent adverse effects. Storing water for domestic, industrial, agricultural, and other purposes is particularly important. Safe drinking water is increasingly becoming polluted due to the growing population and their demands for urbanization and industrialization. At the household level, some people leave electric water pumps running and either go to work or sleep, forgetting to turn off the pumps when the water container is full. This highlights the need for a reliable and continuous water supply. IoT plays a significant role in environmental monitoring, particularly in disaster management, early warning systems, and environmental data analytics. One major challenge in urban cities is water management, especially with the rapid growth of urbanization, necessitating sustainable urban development plans. To address these issues, we propose a "Water Level Monitoring System" solution. This paper presents an IoT-based water monitoring system for real-time applications. The system's sensors measure the water level in the tank, and the data is sent to a cloud server, allowing users to view it on a remote dashboard. This system can be used efficiently by both homeowners and industrial users, as well as other water utilities.

Optimizing agricultural land use: A GIS-based assessment of suitability in the Sana River Basin, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract The research subject is the application of geographic information systems (GIS) in assessing land suitability for agriculture in the Sana River Basin in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of the research is to apply the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in identifying suitable areas for agricultural production. Within the AHP framework, the following factors were considered: pedology, land use, elevation, slope, aridity index, and distance from rivers. The results of the suitability assessment underwent reclassification (RP) and cluster analysis processes (CAPs). It was found that very unsuitable land (1) covers an area of 0.15% (RP) or 5.83% (CAP), unsuitable land (2) covers 3.44% (RP) or 17.52% (CAP), conditionally suitable land (3) covers 32.11% or 28.47% (CAP), suitable land (4) covers 56.29% or 28.57% (CAP), and very suitable land (5) covers 7.98% (RP) or 19.59% (CAP). At the study area level, a supervised classification process was conducted to identify land use classes: meadows/pastures, water, forest, agricultural, and built-up areas. RP and CAP results were overlaid with supervised classification results to determine the amount of land used for agricultural purposes within each suitability class. It was determined that currently, for agricultural purposes, 0.04 km2 (RP) or 0.88 km2 (CAP) of very unsuitable land (1) is used, 0.41 km2 (RP) or 7.28 km2 (CAP) of unsuitable land (2), 15.75 km2 (RP) or 27.52 km2 (CAP) of conditionally suitable land (3), 185.15 km2 (RP) or 107.06 km2 (CAP) of suitable land (4), and 42.99 km2 (RP) or 101.65 km2 (CAP) of very suitable land (5). The research findings hold substantial importance in elucidating both the potential and constraints of land use practices as a vital natural resource within agriculture. They also have practical importance for relevant institutions in terms of agricultural sector development and making timely land use planning decisions for sustainable development.

Assessment of water quality and source apportionment of pollution in a tropical river in eastern India: A study utilizing multivariate statistical tools and the APCS-MLR receptor model.

The Mundeswari River, an ecologically distressed river in eastern India, has been subjected to water quality deterioration largely due to anthropogenic activities in its vicinity. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the current state of pollution in the river and assess the appropriateness of river water for irrigation, given its extensive use for agricultural purposes. Monthly water quality monitoring was undertaken at four distinct sampling sites (SP1-SP4) over a two-year period (2020-2022), considering seventeen water quality parameters. This research employed principal component analysis/factor analysis (PCA/FA) and absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) receptor modelling. These methodologies were used to discern and quantify potential sources of pollution influencing the water quality of the Mundeswari River. The study revealed that the water quality of the Mundeswari River was most degraded during the pre-monsoon season. Among the four sampling sites, SP3 exhibited the highest level of pollution with mean biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) values of 5.36mg/L and 44.72mg/L, respectively. According to the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), there was considerable spatial and seasonal disparities (P < 0.05) in most water quality parameters. The PCA/FA extracted four latent pollution sources, accounting for 81.5% of the total variance. The primary factors influencing the quality of river water are natural weathering processes, discharge of domestic effluent and waste, and agricultural runoff. The APCS-MLR receptor model further revealed that agricultural drainage factors and the discharge of domestic effluent and waste had a greater impact on the Mundeswari River. The investigation concluded that the mean values of all indicators for irrigation suitability were below the defined threshold limits, indicating that the water of the studied river appears suitable for irrigation. The outcomes of this study may significantly contribute to the formulation of sustainable strategies for the ecological rejuvenation of the Mundeswari River.

Green and Low Carbon Development Performance in Farmland Use Regulation: A Case Study of Liyang City, China

Farmland use regulation strictly regulates the conversion of agricultural land for other agricultural purposes and the construction of agricultural facilities, thereby optimizing the land use pattern in rural areas. However, different measures and intensities of farmland use regulation can affect the overall performance of green and low-carbon development in rural areas. This study utilizes system dynamics modeling and simulation to conduct a case study based on current land use data from 10 towns in Liyang City, China. The empirical results indicate the following: (1) Based on comprehensive measurements of green and low carbon development performance, Liyang City exhibits a pattern of higher indices in the south and lower indices in the north. Towns such as Tianmu Lake, Daibu, and Shezhu show relatively high average comprehensive indices of 0.31, 0.30, and 0.28, significantly higher than other towns. (2) Simulation of farmland use regulation’s impact on green and low carbon development performance reveals that Scenario One, involving additional construction land occupying farmland, achieves a comprehensive index of only 0.23, significantly lower than the other scenarios. (3) Based on calculations and field surveys, Liyang City’s villages are categorized into four types, with the largest number being industry-integrated villages (94 villages). Accordingly, policies for farmland use regulation are designed for different village types. Therefore, future farmland use regulation should be tailored with differentiated institutional designs according to the development needs of different villages. This study’s findings provide insights into green and low-carbon development in rural areas.

Pemanfaatan Eco Enzyme sebagai Upaya Pereduksi Limbah Organik di Desa Sumput, Kota Sidoarjo

Organic waste remains a significant problem in various major cities in Indonesia, especially in urban areas such as Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya. Household waste, which predominantly consists of organic materials, is often simply discarded or burned without proper processing, leading to environmental issues. One innovative solution that is beginning to be implemented is the processing of organic waste into eco enzyme. Eco enzyme is a versatile liquid produced through the fermentation of organic waste, such as vegetable and fruit scraps. This study aims to examine the process of making eco enzyme and its benefits for both society and the environment. The research method involves several stages, starting from material preparation, the fermentation process, to the harvesting of eco enzyme. The results of the study indicate that eco enzyme products offer various benefits, including as a natural cleaner, organic fertilizer, and a substance for improving air and soil quality. The three-month fermentation process produces eco enzyme with a fresh acidic smell and a pH below 4. Additionally, eco enzyme can be utilized on a household scale up to a larger scale for agricultural and environmental management purposes. Although eco enzyme has great potential in waste management, the main challenges faced are the lack of awareness and knowledge among the community regarding the benefits and production methods of eco enzyme. Therefore, further efforts in socialization and training are needed to maximize the potential of eco enzyme as a sustainable solution in organic waste management.

APPLICATION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESISTIVITY PARAMETERS IN EVALUATING AQUIFER POTENTIAL AND VULNERABILITY WITHIN KABBA, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

The study area depends on groundwater as a major source of potable and healthy water supply. However, its occurrence and quality vary with low yield or abortive borehole drilled in some part. Therefore, there is need to properly investigate the geology and groundwater condition of the area using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and Dar Zarrouk parameters. The different rock types identified are migmatite-gneiss, granite-gneiss, schist, and charnockite. Forty (40) VES was carried out which revealed five to four geo-electric layers. These are top soil, lateritic clay, confining weathered basement, weathered/fractured basement aquifers and fresh basement. The types of curves identified are HA and KQ. The average depth to groundwater is 55.00m, this indicate that borehole should be drilled within or above the average depth to avoid later drying of wells. The value of aquifer resistivity and thickness was used to calculate longitudinal conductance, transverse resistance, hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity. The longitudinal conductance varies from poor to good in protective capacity class and revealed that the groundwater is easily exposed to contamination. The aquifer resistivity, thickness with transverse resistance, hydraulic conductivity, and transmissivity were used to classified the groundwater into different zones. The groundwater potential within the study area varies from low to very good with most of the area having moderate potential zones distributed mainly within the migmatite gneiss and the schist. The study area has fractures that can produce water for domestic, agricultural and industrial purpose and the result can be used for proper management of groundwater resources.

Environmental Study in Assessing the Water Quality of the Al-Gharraf River for Agricultural Purposes

Environmental Study in Assessing the Water Quality of the Al-Gharraf River for Agricultural Purposes

Sergentomyia khawi: a potential vector for Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites affecting humans and animals and insecticide resistance status in endemic areas of Songkhla, southern Thailand

BackgroundSand flies serve as crucial vectors in various medical and veterinary diseases. Sand fly-borne diseases pose a significant public health burden globally, as the causative agents can infect a diverse range of hosts, leading to severe consequences such as leishmaniasis and sand fly fever. Additionally, the widespread use of insecticides for agricultural purposes and mosquito control is not specifically targeted at sand flies, potentially leading to resistance development. We investigated sand fly species, their potential role as vectors of various parasitic agents, and insecticide resistance in the endemic regions of Natawi and Sadao districts in Songkhla, Thailand.MethodsSand flies were collected using CDC light traps. The collected sand flies were then identified to species level using molecular techniques. Subsequent analyses included the detection of pathogens and the identification of pyrethroid resistance mutations within the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vgsc) domain IIS6 gene, followed by sequence analysis.ResultsThe study identified nine sand fly species belonging to the genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. The DNA of Sergentomyia khawi was the only species found to test positive for one sample of Leishmania orientalis in Sadao district. This finding represents the first detection of L. orientalis in Thailand. Moreover, three samples of Leishmania martiniquensis and four samples of Trypanosoma sp. were found in the Natawi district. No I1011M, L1014F/S, V1016G, or F1020S mutations were detected in Vgsc gene.ConclusionsThe results of this study provide valuable information on sand fly species and the continuous circulation of Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma spp. in Songkhla, southern Thailand. Moreover, the development of geo-spatial information on vectors, parasites, and insecticide resistance in sand flies has the potential to provide well-informed risk assessments and evidence-based guidance for targeted vector control in Thailand. These results can serve as a foundation for integrating the One Health approach, which is crucial for disease control, considering the diverse ecological interactions among human and/or animal reservoir hosts, parasites, and sand fly vectors.Graphic

The Potential of Elephantorrhiza goetzei Seed Extract as a Coagulant for Household Drinking Water Treatment

ABSTRACTPoor access to adequate, clean, and safe water is one of the greatest world problems people encounter. There has been considerable attention in recent times toward the use of natural coagulants for water treatment. This study seeks to promote this by investigating the potential of Elephantorrhiza goetzei (E. goetzei) seed extract as natural coagulants for water treatment. This included the determination of key ingredients responsible for the coagulation process and optimal dosages for the removal of turbidity, fluoride, manganese, and iron. The residual content of organic matter in the treated water and the quality of sludge produced were also investigated. The methodology consisted of a proximate analysis procedure to investigate the active ingredient(s) responsible for coagulation and standard jar tests. Standard methods were used for the analyses. Coagulant dosages ranging from 0 to 300 mg/L at a rapid mixing speed of 120 rpm for 1 min, a slow mixing speed of 30 rpm for 15 min, and a settling time of 15 min were used for the jar test. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) using IBM SPSS Version 20 was conducted, and regression models were developed to determine the effect of coagulant dosage on turbidity, pH, total dissolved solids, fluoride, iron, manganese, chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, and phosphorus. The results obtained from the proximate analysis of E. goetzei seed extract show that values of 5.25%, 21.40%, 8.23%, 32.99%, 2.20%, and 29.93% were obtained for moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, fat, ash, and carbohydrate content, respectively. Moreover, seed extract of E. goetzei achieved removal efficiencies up to 94.8%, 50.1%, 90.0%, and 53.9% for turbidity, fluoride, iron, and manganese in water, respectively. The coagulant has the potential to achieve the desired World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards for turbidity, fluoride, iron, and manganese. The COD increased from 55.3 to 419.3 mg/L as the coagulant dosage increased from 0 to 100 mg/L. This could cause an unwanted rise in microbial activities, affecting the microbiological quality of the treated water. The total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations obtained in the sludge at 100 mg/L were 0.343 and 0.194 µg/kg, respectively, and this compromises its attractiveness for agricultural reuse purposes.

Improving Irrigation Water Quality with Local Filters in Akungba - Akoko, Southwest, Nigeria

The shortage of freshwater for irrigating vegetables in Akungba Akoko, Nigeria, is a critical concern during the dry season, demanding urgent attention. Local farmers rely heavily on polluted well and stream water for irrigation, which poses significant health risks due to contamination from refuse and pollutants. Addressing this challenge requires the development of a simple, cost-effective treatment facility to remove contaminants and make the water suitable for irrigation. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of a straightforward filtration system using various physical materials to improve water quality. Conducted at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, the study focused on evaluating granite and river sand filtration on water collected from a local stream at Ibaka, Akungba-Akoko in April 7th, 2023. The filtered and unfiltered waters, categorized as follows: T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;0&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; = Borehole water (Control), T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; = Unfiltered water, T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; = water filtered with granite, T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; = water filtered with pure river sand, and T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;4&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; = water filtered with combined physical filters were subjected to physicochemical and microbiological analyses to determine its suitability for irrigation purposes. The study revealed that using single or combined physical filtration materials led to a notable decrease in microbial levels in the water samples. Additionally, significant reductions in total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were observed in water filtered through these materials, either alone or in combination. Granite filtration (T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;) resulted in notably higher pH (5.57 Ms/cm), EC (172.00 μ. S/cm) and nitrogen (27.00 mg/L) levels, while combined filtration (granite and pure river sand) (T&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;4&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;) showed higher levels of phosphorus (9.35 mg/L). These findings demonstrate the efficacy of both singular and combined physical filtration materials in improving wastewater quality. Thus, employing these filtration methods, either individually or in combination, is recommended for local farmers, especially in Akungba Akoko, South West Nigeria, to enhance water quality for agricultural purposes.

Inoculations of &lt;i&gt;R&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;erythropolis&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;B. subtilis&lt;/i&gt; Stimulate Indigenous Bacteria and Improve the Properties of Low-fertilized Agricultural Soils

Biodiversity and the number of bacteria present in the soil are two of the main parameters of soil quality, especially for agricultural purposes. Analysis of the low-fertilized soils suggested that the number and diversity of the bacterial communities in this soil are low. Hence, various methods have been used to stimulate bacterial activity and improve agricultural soil conditions. One of the popular methods is the inoculation of bacteria such as &lt;i&gt;B. subtilis&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;R. erythropolis&lt;/i&gt;. These bacteria are potential species as bio-inoculants in soil management. However, the effectiveness of these bacteria in stimulating the activity of bacterial communities and improving soil properties of the low-fertilized soil is still sparsely explored. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the impact of the inoculation of &lt;i&gt;B. subtilis&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;R. erythropolis&lt;/i&gt; on the bacterial community structure and soil properties of low-fertilized soil. The soil used is agricultural soil for tobacco farming activities using agrochemicals. Bacterial community structures were analyzed using the environmental DNA (eDNA) method. The soil properties analyzed were total nitrogen, carbon, phosphorous, potassium, and pH. This study suggests that &lt;i&gt;B. subtilis&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;R. erythropolis&lt;/i&gt; may affect the bacterial community structure and increase the number of bacteria to reach the ideal limit for fertile soil. Adding bacterial inoculants could stimulate the growth of bacteria and the nutrient cycle in the soil environment, resulting in improved soil fertility.

The Heritagescape of Kichwa People of Nizag Built upon Traditional Plant Usage along a Chimborazo Variant of the Andean Road System or Qhapaq Ñan

To document the dynamics of biocultural heritage, we studied traditional uses of plants on a segment of the Andean Road System, or Qhapaq Ñan, within the central Andes of Ecuador, home of the Kichwa community of Nizag. Here, residents preserved a rich diversity of plants within their agricultural fields, or chakra, of the Andean landscapes, upholding a culture steeped in traditional knowledge. Wild and domesticated plants are a cornerstone for the community, prompting the development of ethnobotanical management strategies with a conservation approach. The diverse plant uses aim to revalue their culture, fortify their self-identification as an indigenous community, and ensure the transmission of ancestral knowledge. This research aims to ascertain the ethnobotanical applications of this venerable community. Employing participatory action research, semistructured interviews were conducted with 43 community informants to gather ethnobotanical data on the flora applied within their territory, spanning categories such as food, agriculture, crafts, living fences, construction, fuel, ornamental, environmental, technological, and medicinal services. The findings indicate that age, rather than educational level and gender, significantly influences the variation in plant usage knowledge. In total, 142 plant species were cataloged, comprising herbs (58%), shrubs (23%), trees (15%), and climbers (4%). The most represented families were Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Poaceae. Notably, 96% of these species provide some type of environmental service or fulfill a niche within the socioecological system. Medicinal uses were reported for 89% of the plants, while 56% served agricultural purposes, primarily in fertilizer production and forage. Additionally, 44% of the plants are utilized as food, typically consumed fresh. Among the medicinal plants, leaves are the most used part (58%), prepared as infusions and poultices. The prevalent ailments addressed include respiratory and urinary system conditions, with Borago officinalis, Carica pentagona, Vasconcellea pubescens, and Origanum mejorana being the most frequently employed plants.

Human‐initiated autocyclic delta failures

ABSTRACTRiver regulations have resulted in changes in the hydrology and particle budgets of fluvial systems. Since the 19th century, many rivers have been significantly modified to control flood hazards, to gain land from swamp areas for agricultural purposes, and to stabilize river‐levels and lake‐levels to facilitate navigation. These dramatic changes of the river courses have impacted the sediment budgets and grain‐size dissemination along them as well as the sediment distribution at the delta mouths in the downstream lakes, which could lead to slope instabilities. Deposits of such catastrophic lacustrine mass movements caused by delta collapses have been, for instance, observed in Lake Brienz (Switzerland), where relatively thick (0.5 to 1.3 m) and voluminous (&gt;1 million m3) megaturbidites are stacked in the deep basin witnessing these processes. This study uses sediment cores and seismic data to reconstruct the megaturbidites' history in Lake Brienz. Data reveal that mass‐movement deposits, originating from the Aare Delta, one of the two main inflows, have mean ages of 1853, 1905, 1942 and 1996 ce and that they were unprecedented in, at least, half a millennium. The fact that the numbers of floods and earthquakes have not changed radically over this time period implies that human impact is the most likely explanation for these failure events. Therefore, the recurrent delta collapses are attributed to the focused sediment accumulation at the front of the channelized inflow in the proximal delta region, caused by the modification of the Aare River through its straightening and channelization during the late 19th century. These findings indicate that river regulation can affect delta sedimentation, leading to autocyclic delta collapses. Those collapses, in turn, can potentially generate tsunami waves, representing an additional natural hazard for shoreline communities.

Energy consumption, structural transformation and related carbon dioxide emissions of rural households on the Tibetan plateau

The use of solid fuels presents a dual challenge for rural household energy systems: transitioning to cleaner energy sources while reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Particularly in the Tibetan Plateau (TP), which is highly sensitive to global climate change, addressing rural household energy consumption, structural changes, and related CO2 emissions is crucial for implementing targeted measures. Based on household-level survey data, this study analyzes the quantitative and structural changes in energy consumption patterns among rural households on the TP from 2001 to 2021, as well as their related CO2 emissions. The results indicate that: (1) Yak dung is the primary fuel for rural households on the TP and a major contributor to direct household emissions. (2) While cooking has shifted considerably towards a modern clean energy structure, heating continues to rely on solid fuels such as firewood, yak dung, and coal. (3) Commercial energy used by high-income groups for agriculture, transportation, and other purposes has resulted in an overall increase in total household energy consumption and related CO2 emissions. Policymakers must implement more effective measures to accelerate the transition to cleaner, modern energy sources for heating and cooking purposes.

Isotopic and trace element record of changing metal source contributions to tropical freshwater Lake Naivasha (Kenya)

Lake Naivasha, Kenya's second-largest freshwater body is a wetland of international ecological importance and currently subjected to unprecedented anthropogenic influence. The study aims to chronologically reconstruct the main human activities and background weathering reactions that govern metal mobilizations into the lake and their potentially adverse effects on its ecological status. We combine extensive geochemical analyses (major, trace elements, Zn-Pb isotope ratios) in a dated lake sediment record and catchment rocks with remote sensing techniques. Downcore geochemical variations reflect natural ecosystem destabilizations occurring as early as the first half of the 20th century. These coincide with changes towards less radiogenic Pb-isotope values which persist towards the top of the core (206Pb/207Pb = 1.243 at core base ∼1843, to 206Pb/207Pb = 1.225 at ∼1978). We interpret the land-clearance for agricultural purposes on the Aberdare Range and documented early aviation activities as possible vectors of this early Pb-isotope excursion. The overlapping Pb-isotope signatures between sediment sources and anthropogenic contributions challenges a straightforward deconvolution of the two. Our conservative model calculations suggest, nevertheless, that an addition of up to ∼1.8 % Pb-gasoline influx to the total Pb flux, peaking in the 1980s is able to explain the Pb distribution trend. Homogeneous Zn-isotope compositions in sediments deposited until ∼1970s (δ66/64Zn = 0.216–0.225 ‰) do not follow major hydro-climatic events or anthropogenic forcing but likely reflect lake-specific natural cycling. Subsequent higher variations to both heavier (up to δ66/64Zn = 0.242 ± 0.005 ‰) and lighter (down to δ66/64Zn = 0.184 ± 0.003 ‰) Zn-isotope values are contemporaneous with intensification of large-scale horticultural industry in the catchment. Together with supporting indicators, the lighter Zn-isotope compositions in youngest analysed sediments (21st century) are attributable to increased biological productivity (algal blooms) and ongoing lake eutrophication. Our study demonstrates the applicability of the heavy metal isotope tool to reconstruct human influences on lake environments with complex geological settings such as the East African Rift System.