Alkali Salt Research Articles

Improvement of Saline–Alkali Soil and Straw Degradation Efficiency in Cold and Arid Areas Using Klebsiella sp. and Pseudomonas sp.

Corn straw is an important renewable resource, which could improve the quality of saline–alkali cultivated land. However, the slow decomposition of crop residues in cold, arid, and saline–alkali soils can lead to serious resource waste and ecological crises. The use of beneficial microorganisms with degradation functions could solve these problems. In this study, three types of saline–alkali soil with low, medium, and high salinity levels were used in the straw-returning experiment. The experiment was conducted with four treatments: GF2 (Klebsiella sp.), GF7 (Pseudomonas sp.), GF2+GF7, and CK (control without bacteria). Microbial characteristics, straw degradation efficiency, element release rate, and soil factors were compared, and random forest linear regression and partial least squares path modeling analysis methods were utilized. The results indicated that the degradation of bacterial metabolites, the efficiency of corn stover degradation, the efficiency of component degradation, and the release rates of elements (C, N, P, and K) initially increased and then decreased with the increase in salinity. At the maximum value of moderately saline–alkali soil, the effect of GF2+GF7 treatment was significantly better than that of other treatments (p < 0.05). Given the interactive effects of saline–alkali soil and microbial factors, the application of exogenous degrading bacteria could significantly increase soil enzyme activity and soil available nutrients, as well as regulate the salt–alkali ion balance in soil. The cation exchange capacity (9.13%, p < 0.01) was the primary driving force for the degradation rate of straw in saline–alkali soil with different degrees of salinization under the influence of exogenous degrading bacteria. Straw decomposition directly affected the soil chemical properties and indirectly affected soil enzyme activity. The results of this study would provide new strategies and insights into the utilization of microbial resources to promote straw degradation.

Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Soil Amendment (Volcanic Ash) Alleviating Salt–Alkali Stress in Melons (Cucumis melo L.)

Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Soil Amendment (Volcanic Ash) Alleviating Salt–Alkali Stress in Melons (Cucumis melo L.)

Maize Endophytic Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Peribacillus simplex Can Alleviate Plant Saline and Alkaline Stress.

Soil salinization is currently one of the main abiotic stresses that restrict plant growth. Plant endophytic bacteria can alleviate abiotic stress. The aim of the current study was to isolate, characterize, and assess the plant growth-promoting and saline and alkaline stress-alleviating traits of Peribacillus simplex M1 (P. simplex M1) isolates from maize. One endophytic bacterial isolate, named P. simplex M1, was selected from the roots of maize grown in saline-alkali soil. The P. simplex M1 genome sequence analysis of the bacteria with a length of 5.8 Mbp includes about 700 genes that promote growth and 16 antioxidant activity genes that alleviate saline and alkaline stress. P. simplex M1 can grow below 400 mM NaHCO3 on the LB culture medium; The isolate displayed multiple plant growth-stimulating features, such as nitrogen fixation, produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and siderophore production. This isolate had a positive effect on the resistance to salt of maize in addition to the growth. P. simplex M1 significantly promoted seed germination by enhancing seed vigor in maize whether under normal growth or NaHCO3 stress conditions. The seeds with NaHCO3 treatment exhibited higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels than the maize in P. simplex M1 inoculant on maize. P. simplex M1 can colonize the roots of maize. The P. simplex M1 inoculant plant increased chlorophyll in leaves, stimulated root and leaf growth, increased the number of lateral roots and root dry weight, increased the length and width of the blades, and dry weight of the blades. The application of inoculants can significantly reduce the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increase the activity of plant antioxidant enzymes (Catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), and Peroxidase (POD)), which may thereby improve maize resistance to saline and alkaline stress. Conclusion: P. simplex M1 isolate belongs to plant growth-promoting bacteria by having high nitrogen concentration, indoleacetic acid (IAA), and siderophore, and reducing the content of ROS through the antioxidant system to alleviate salt alkali stress. This study presents the potential application of P. simplex M1 as a biological inoculant to promote plant growth and mitigate the saline and alkaline effects of maize and other crops.

The homeostasis of ions and reactive oxygen species in root and shoot play crucial roles in the tolerance of alfalfa to salt alkali stress

High pH saline-alkali stress, mainly NaHCO3, limited the development of animal husbandry in Songnen Plain. Ion imbalance and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism disorder caused by saline-alkali stress inhibited plant growth. In this study, we compared the differences in ion absorption, transport and ROS metabolism between saline-tolerant alfalfa (ZD) and saline-sensitive alfalfa (ZM) under NaHCO3 stress using physiology and transcripomics techniques. WGCNA analysis identified key genes associated with NaHCO3 stress-induced changes. NaHCO3 stress inhibited the absorption of K+ and Mg2+, but activated Ca2+ signal. Furthermore, ZD maintained higher K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ contents and the K+/Na+ ratio than ZM, this is mainly related to the higher expression of proteins or channel-encoding genes involved in ion absorption and transport in ZD. Antioxidant enzyme systems can be activated in response to NaHCO3 stress. Peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.6), catalase (EC 1.11.1.7) and glutathione transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) activities were higher in ZD than ZM, and most genes encoding the relevant enzymes also demonstrated a stronger up-regulation trend in ZD. Although NaHCO3 stress inhibited Trx-Prx pathway, ZD related enzymes and their genes were also inhibited less than ZM. WGCNA results identified many genes involved in ion absorption, transport and antioxidant systems that play an important role in NaHCO3 stress adaptation. Collectively, ZD has the stronger ion homeostasis regulation and ROS scavenging ability, so it's more resistant to NaHCO3. The results provide theoretical guidance for further understanding of the molecular mechanism of NaHCO3 resistance and provide potential genes for research to improve saline-alkali tolerance in alfalfa.

Alkali metal depletion in the deep Jovian atmosphere: The role of anions

The Juno Microwave Radiometer has allowed observation of Jupiter's atmosphere down to previously inaccessible depths, although the complexity of the atmospheric dynamics has complicated analysis. The longest-wavelength channel (600 MHz) is sensitive to pressure levels of hundreds of bars, and has observed opacity sources other than the known gaseous and cloud components, likely caused by thermally ionized free electrons from alkali metal vapor. We extend previous analysis of limb darkening at these wavelengths, using radiative transfer and thermal equilibrium modeling, by considering the effect of anions in the deep Jovian atmosphere, which act as a sink for free electrons and will thus decrease opacity for a given alkali metal abundance. We show that MWR observations are consistent with a sodium and potassium abundance on the order of 0.1× solar around the 1-kilobar level, higher than previously estimated but still substantially depleted compared to other heavy elements, a value that would be within the range of observed alkali metal abundances on giant exoplanets; alternatively, MWR observations may be consistent with 3× solar sodium abundance, but only if potassium is even more strongly depleted. Such depletion may be the result of either chemical processes yet deeper in the atmosphere, such as in the silicate clouds, or of a long-lived stable layer shallower than the alkali salt clouds.

Enhancing Plant Stress Tolerance: The Role of LcWRKY40 Gene in Drought and Alkaline Salt Resistance in Tobacco and Yeast.

Leymus chinensis, a halophytic perennial grass belonging to the Poaceae family, thrives in saline-alkali grasslands and harbors a rich repository of resistance-related genetic resources. This study focused on deciphering the stress-responsive mechanisms of L. chinensis by conducting transcriptomic sequencing under NaHCO3 stress, which resulted in the annotation of a segment corresponding to the 51WRKY gene. The alkali-induced gene LcWRKY40 (QIG37591) was identified by phylogenetic analysis. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis was performed on L. chinensis plants subjected to PEG6000 and alkaline salt (NaHCO3) stress, and the results indicated that the LcWRKY40 gene was upregulated in both the leaves and roots. The localization of the LcWRKY40 protein was confirmed by the use of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion technology in transformed rice protoplast cells. The GAL4-driven transformation of the LcWRKY40 gene in INVScI yeast cells, which exhibited enhanced tolerance upon overexpression of the LcWRKY40 gene under mannitol and alkaline salt (NaHCO3) stress conditions. Under drought stress using mannitol, the fresh weight of Nicotiana tabacum overexpressing the LcWRKY40 gene was significantly higher than that of wild-type(WT) tobacco. Through drought and salt alkali stress, we found that overexpressed tobacco at different stages always outperformed the wild type in terms of fresh weight, SOD, MDA, and Fv/Fm. This study provides preliminary insights into the involvement of the LcWRKY40 gene in responding to drought and alkaline salt stresses, highlighting its role in enhancing plant resistance to drought and saline-alkaline conditions. These findings lay the foundation for future molecular breeding strategies aimed at improving grass resistance from different aspects.

OsCSLD4 confers salt–alkali tolerance by regulating gene expressions in photosynthesis and carbohydrate biosynthesis pathways, cell wall hemicellulose accumulation and physio-biochemical adaptability in rice

In rice, cell-wall matrix polysaccharides contribute to salt–alkali tolerance. However, the mechanism by which cell-wall matrix polysaccharides and their biosynthetic genes regulate salt–alkali tolerance in rice remains unclear. To address this question, we report on the regulatory mechanism of salt–alkali tolerance of the 1,4-β-d-xylan synthase gene OsCSLD4 in the hemicellulose biosynthesis pathway. Mutant of OsCSLD4, nd1 and its wild-type were analyzed using comprehensive techniques and methods, including phenotyping, gene expression, comparative transcriptomic analysis, qPCR validation, and determination of physio-biochemical indices. We found that the salt–alkali tolerance of nd1 was lower than that of the wild type, and the expression of the OsCSLD4 gene was induced under salt–alkali stress. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression levels of genes involved in photosynthesis, carbohydrate, and cell wall matrix polysaccharide biosynthesis pathways in nd1 seedlings were downregulated compared to those in the wild type under salt–alkali stress. Accordingly, physio-biochemical analysis demonstrated that nd1 seedlings had reduced levels of chlorophyll, total soluble sugar, starch, and hemicellulose, coupled with a significant increase in malondialdehyde content under salt–alkali stress. In essence, the OsCSLD4 gene confers salt–alkali tolerance to rice by regulating the hemicellulose content to strengthen cell wall integrity and enhance intracellular physio-biochemical salt–alkali tolerance at the cellular level, thereby maintaining photosynthetic capacity and growth at the plant level. This study revealed that OsCSLD4 has potential value in molecular breeding for the development of salt-alkali-tolerant rice varieties.

Microwave-assisted alkaline fusion followed by water-leaching for the selective extraction of the refractory metals tungsten, niobium and tantalum from low-grade ores and tailings

The refractory metals tungsten, tantalum and niobium are considered critical raw materials in Europe. Diversifying the supply of such materials, for instance by recovering refractory metals from local low-grade ore materials could reduce their supply risks. However, the extraction processes require to be efficient with a low energy and material consumption and a minimal environmental impact. In this work, microwave (MW) assisted alkaline fusion was explored to extract tungsten from scheelite containing ore materials with different grades (high to very low) and tantalum and niobium from a columbite-tantalite [(Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6] concentrate. During the fusion process scheelite was converted into soluble alkali tungstate salts [Na2WO4, K2WO4 and/or K3Na(WO4)2] and the reaction temperature could be lowered to 150–200 °C by fusion with a low-melting eutectic alkali salt system of an 1:1 (m/m) NaOH:KOH mixture. The application of MW-assisted heating allowed for fast and volumetric heating, thereby lowering reaction times to 10 min – 30 min. After fusion, tungsten was extracted by a simple water leaching step leading to extraction efficiencies ranging from 77 % to 97 %. Noteworthily, also P, S and As, which all form soluble oxyanions were extracted from the studied materials. Extraction of niobium and tantalum was also achieved though MW-assisted alkaline fusion as an alternative to acidic fluorine-based hydrometallurgical processes. MW-assisted heating allowed for a fast conversion of the (Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 into alkali tantalate and niobate salts. Under optimal conditions, MW-assisted fusion with KOH (salt:sample = 3:1 (m/m)) at 400 °C for 10 min leached ca. 74 %–88 % of tantalum and 77 %–86 % of niobium into water (L/S=10) at 40 °C for 120 min, while the main matrix elements Mn and Fe displayed limited dissolution (<4%). Due to the low solubility of sodium tantalate and niobate salts in water, MW-assisted alkaline fusion in an eutectic NaOH:KOH mixture followed by water leaching was not efficient.

Studies on Quantitative Determination of Polyphenols in Seven Harvesting Times of Salvia deserta Schang Leaves and its Stability Evaluation

Introduction: Leaves of Salvia deserta Schang at seven harvesting times in the same year were collected as the materials. Method: The polyphenols were determined by the Folin–Ciocaileu method and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to compare the quality of samples. The stability of polyphenols was studied under different conditions (light, temperature, pH, common additives). Results: The results showed that the established method is fast, simple and reliable, which is fully validated in terms of outstanding validation data. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of total polyphenol content can be quickly and accurately detected, reducing the error of manual determination of the content. The study of polyphenol stability was carried out using a UV spectrophotometer (UV) in order to explore the potential factors affecting polyphenol stability as much as possible and to make the study as scientific and rigorous as possible. The results of quantitative determination showed that there are obvious differences in the content of polyphenols in seven samples. The contents of total polyphenols, rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA) in the samples harvested in July reached the highest level of 41.37, 26.73 and 1.05 mg/g. Conclusion: The results of the stability assay found that light could damage the stability of polyphenols in samples, especially UV light. Polyphenols are quite sensitive to high temperatures. While polyphenols are less stable when exposed to high alkali conditions and salt treatment, they are much more stable when subjected to low concentrations of redox agents, carbohydrates, and preservatives. The developed methods and stability evaluation provide valuable basis information for quality evaluation and the following use of polyphenols in S. deserta Schang leaves.

Salt–Alkali Tolerance Evaluation for Bermudagrass and Critical Indicator Screening at the Seedling Stage

The adaptability of bermudagrass genotypes to high-pH saline–alkali conditions was investigated through a comprehensive evaluation of 38 genotypes during the seedling stage. For this purpose, two distinct treatments were established: exposure to saline–alkali solution composed of 45% NaCl, 5% Na2SO4, 5% NaHCO3, and 45% Na2CO3 (pH 10.0), and exposure to distilled water as control. On 6th day of treatment, eight physiological indicators were measured. Compared with the control, the net photosynthetic rates, leaf water content, and chlorophyll content of the test genotypes decreased under stress. In contrast, the soluble protein content, proline levels, malondialdehyde concentration, and conductivity exhibited an increase. The salt–alkali tolerance coefficients of each indicator ranged from 0.24 to 8.54, and the variable coefficient was from 9.77% to 62.82%. Based on the salt–alkali tolerance coefficients, the comprehensive evaluation value (D) and resistance coefficient (CSAC) for each genotype were calculated. Subsequently, 38 genotypes were classified into three salt–alkali tolerance clusters by hierarchical clustering analysis, with Cluster I consisting of 10 genotypes with the most salt–alkali tolerance, and Cluster II with intermediate tolerance. Cluster III was comprised of 18 genotypes showing the lowest tolerance. The predictive model for assessing salt–alkali tolerance in bermudagrass is (D) = −0.238 + 0.106 × SACChlb + 0.209 × SACRWC + 0.015 × SACPro + 0.284 × SACProtein + 0.051 × SACPn. Notably, Cluster I genotypes were more vigorous and showed lower damage under saline stress compared to Cluster III. Moreover, stepwise regression analysis pinpointed Chlb, RWC, and Pro as crucial indicators for evaluating salt–alkali tolerance in bermudagrass genotypes.

The Effects of Exogenous Iron on the Photosynthetic Performance and Transcriptome of Rice under Salt–Alkali Stress

Saline-sodic stress induces iron deficiency in rice, reduces leaf photosynthetic performance, and inhibits yield enhancement. In this study, we investigated the effects of exogenous Fe on the photosynthetic performance and transcriptomics of two different tolerant rice cultivars CB9 (Changbai9: saline tolerant cultivar) and TH899 (Tonghe899: saline sensitive cultivar) with 4-week-old Fe-deficient rice seedlings under saline stress, Fe deficiency stress, and both co-stresses. The results showed that under saline and alkaline stress, spraying exogenous iron favored the growth of the two cultivars of rice, with a 32.68% and 39.82 increase in fresh weight, a 2.20-fold and 2.16-fold increase in pigment, respectively, and an 80.28% and 100.00% increase in net photosynthetic rate, respectively, as compared with the iron-deficiency treatment. Transcriptome analysis showed that we found a higher number of differentially expressed genes (7785 differentially expressed genes) in response to exogenous Fe spraying in the soda-salt sensitive variety TH899. The differentially expressed genes that are common to the two cultivars are primarily enriched in metabolic pathways, including plant hormone signal transduction (map04075) and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (map00940). Specifically, among these genes, 14 are differentially expressed in the carotenoid biosynthetic metabolic pathway. The differentially expressed genes specific to the salinity-tolerant variety CB9 were mainly enriched in the metabolic pathways of glyoxylate and dicarboxylic acid methyl metabolism (map00630), and carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms (map00710), among which 20 genes were significantly expressed in the pathway for carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms (map00710). The research results offer specific theoretical support for enhancing the salt tolerance of rice.

Cloning and Function Analysis of the CsTAU1 in Response to Salt-Alkali Stress.

To investigate the role of candidate genes for salt-alkali tolerance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), this study screened CsTAU1 in the glutathione pathway from previous transcriptome data for cloning and functional analysis. Clone cucumber CsTAU1 contains one 675 bp open reading frame, containing one GST-N-Tau domain and one GST-C-Tau domain, and is expressed in cytoplasm. After successfully constructing overexpression vectors of CsTAU1 (+) and CsTAU1 (-), they were transferred into cucumber varieties 'D1909' (high salt alkali resistance) and 'D1604' (low salt alkali resistance) for salt-alkali resistance identification. It was found that under salt-alkali stress, CsTAU1 (+)-overexpressing plants showed strong resistance to salt-alkali stress, while CsTAU1 (-)-overexpressing plants showed the opposite situation. qRT-PCR analysis was performed on other glutathione pathway-related genes in CsTAU1-overexpressing plants. The expression patterns of LOC101219529 and LOC105434443 were the same as CsTAU1, and the introduction of CsTAU1 (+) increased the chlorophyll, α-Naphthylamine oxidation, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and catalase (CAT) content of cucumber. The research results provide a theoretical basis for cultivating salt-alkali-tolerant cucumber varieties.

Enhancement of low-zinc phosphate coatings with addition Ni2+ and Mn2+ cations: Structure, corrosion resistance and paint adhesion

Multi-cation phosphate coatings are used in various industries today to enhance the properties of the painting process. This study explored the impact of adding nickel and manganese ions to the low-zinc phosphating process on the properties of the resulting coating. The first step of the research examined the influence of the bath phosphating agents’ concentration, temperature and immersion time and pH on the phosphate coating on the steel 41Cr4 substrate. The second step explored the impact of varying concentrations of Zn, Ni and Mn cations in the phosphating bath and the third step compared the characteristics of zinc (single-cation), Zn–Ni (two-cation) and Zn–Ni–Mn (three-cation) phosphate. The surface thickness and weight per unit area of the phosphate coating, the total and free acid values, and the coating morphology and microstructure were measured; corrosion resistance tests including alkali solubility and salt spray tests were conducted. In addition, scratch, impact, hardness and bending tests of the paint layer were performed. The results indicated that introducing Ni2+ and Mn2+ cations into the low-zinc phosphating bath enhances the structure, corrosion resistance and paint adhesion of the phosphate coating. Scanning electron microscope images revealed that the optimal three-cation coating has a cubic and sheeted structure. Atomic force microscope analysis also demonstrated that in the tri-cation phosphate coating, compared to the zinc phosphate coating, the roughness (Ra) decreases by up to 50% and reaches 8.92 nm. The optimal three-cation coating has the highest corrosion resistance, which is attributed to the higher uniformity, lower porosity, fine crystalline structure, and high percentage of corrosion-resistant phases in the coating composition. The time to the onset of initial corrosion signs in the salt spray test, both without and with paint, increases by 50% and 225%, respectively, resulting in 11 and 180 h.

The impact of extraction processes on the physicochemical, functional properties and structures of bamboo shoot protein

This study aimed to extract bamboo shoot protein (BSP) using different extraction approaches and compare their functional and physicochemical properties with commercial protein ingredients, including whey protein and soy protein isolates. The extraction methods including alkali extraction (AE), salt extraction (SE), and phosphate-aided ethanol precipitation (PE) were used. An enhanced solvent extraction method was utilized in combination, resulting in a significant improvement in the protein purity, which reached 81.59 %, 87.36 %, and 67.08 % respectively. The extraction methods had significant effects on the amino acid composition, molecular weight distribution, and functional properties of the proteins. SE exhibited the best solubility and emulsification properties. Its solubility reached up to 93.38 % under alkaline conditions, and the emulsion stabilized by SE with enhanced solvent extraction retained 60.95 % stability after 120 min, which could be attributed to its higher protein content, higher surface hydrophobicity, and relative more stable and organized protein structure. All three BSP samples demonstrated better oil holding capacity, while the SE sample showed comparable functional properties to soy protein such as foaming and emulsifying properties. These findings indicate the potential of BSP as an alternative plant protein ingredient in the food industry.

Improvement of foaming and emulsifying properties of SPI via weak-base synchronized membrane separation: Insight from tuning the interfacial flexibility

Preparation of soy proteins with high functionalities is significant for enhancing their utilization. Here, we propose a green and mild weak-base synchronous membrane separation (MS) technique to enrich soy protein isolate (SPI), with two traditional extraction methods, alkali extraction-isoelectric point precipitation (AE) and salt extraction (SE), as the control. The interfacial properties of SPI were investigated by Cryo-SEM, interfacial rheology (dilatational and shear), and Langmuir-Blodgett films combined with AFM. Results showed that MS extraction significantly reduced the disulfide bond content of SPI, which induced partial depolymerization of the protein and exposed the internal hydrophobic groups, and thus leading to the reduction of particle size as well as the increase of surface hydrophobicity (H0). These structural properties conferred MS-SPI with a faster interfacial adsorption rate, followed by easier unfolding and rearrangement after anchoring to the interface. Finally, the flexible and denser interfacial layers with high mechanical properties were formed through strong in-plane interactions among SPI, which could effectively prevent the rupture of oil droplets and air bubbles. Therefore, the emulsification stability and foamability of MS-SPI could be maintained for up to ∼252 min and ∼232%, which was at least 2.4 times and 1.2 times than that of AE-SPI and SE-SPI, respectively. These findings demonstrated that MS extraction was an effective approach for broadening the applications of soy proteins in the food ingredient field.

Fast fabricating superhydrophilic PVDF membrane via proanthocyanidins crosslinking at room temperature

Mussels in nature can adhere to the surface of hydrophobic substances by secreting adhesive substances, which has attracted wide attention by coating method for membrane modification. However, complicated processing procedures remain major problems. Here, we proposed a simple, mild and fast surface coating method. Proanthocyanidins (PC) react with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550) under the accelerated action of the oxidant ammonium persulfate (APS) at room temperature to form a polyphenol network. The hydrophilic network coating was constructed on PVDF membrane by surface co-deposition method for 1 h, which could effectively separate different emulsions. The water permeability of modified membrane was 18,271 L∙m−2∙h−1∙bar−1. The permeability for separating isooctane-in-water emulsion arrived at 14,223 L∙m−2∙h−1∙bar−1 and the oil rejection rate was 99.6 %. After ten cycles, the separation flux was 10,836 L∙m−2∙h−1∙bar−1 with the rejection rate of 98.8 %. Modified membranes were soaked in acid and alkali salt solutions of different pH values for 30 days, and maintained good underwater oleophobic performance (>156°). The developed membrane showed excellent separation performance, oleophobic property and acid-base stability. The proposed membrane modification strategy was prospective for efficient separation of oily wastewater.

The Ecological Design of Marine Urban Green Space Plant Landscaping Based on the Concept of Sustainability.

With global climate change and accelerating urbanization, marine cities face unique environmental challenges. Ecological landscape creation is a form of design planning guided by the disciplines of landscape ecology and ecological aesthetics in the process of urban planning and construction. It seeks a design that can maintain the virtuous cycle of the ecosystem and at the same time maintain the spatial equilibrium of the dynamic development of urban landscapes, so as to make them have good ecological functions and corridor functions. The aim of this study is to explore the ecological design methods of plant landscaping in marine urban green spaces under the concept of sustainability. We first reviewed the concept of sustainable development and its application to urban green space design, especially the special requirements in the marine urban environment. This research focuses on how to select plant species that are adapted to the marine climate and how to promote biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services, and improve the quality of life of urban residents through eco-design approaches. Through the analysis of a number of domestic and international cases of green spaces in marine cities, we found that effective eco-design is not only about choosing the right plant species but also includes the rational management of water resources, soil protection, and ecosystem restoration, among other aspects. This study also points out that public participation and interdisciplinary cooperation play a crucial role in the ecological design process. Finally, this paper carries out a specific analysis of the landscape model landscape evaluation system for the ecological design of plant landscaping in marine urban green spaces and experimentally verifies that, compared with other styles, the experience of the European-style landscape is good overall. However, the view openness rating of the European style landscape is only about 0.42, and the best plant landscaping is the mixed mode of alkali poncho and salt poncho. This study aims to provide a practical reference and guidance for urban planners, landscape architects, and environmentalists.

Exploring Candidate Genes and Regulatory Mechanisms for Salt–Alkali Tolerance in Cucumber

Soil salinization is one of the main problems faced by modern agricultural production, especially cucumber production. This study screened the salt–alkali-tolerant cultivar ‘D1909’ and the salt–alkali-sensitive cultivar ‘D1604’ from 32 different cucumber ecological types on the basis of morphological indicators and salt–alkali indices combined with relevant physiological and biochemical indices. By performing a transcriptome metabolome analysis, the key gene CsSRG1, which is responsive to salt–alkali stress in cucumber, was screened, and its function was verified. The role of CsSRG1 in reducing salt–alkali stress in cucumber was clarified, and the mechanism of salt–alkali tolerance in cucumber was preliminarily explored. This study provides germplasm resources for cucumber salt–alkali tolerance breeding and a theoretical basis for the effective use of saline alkali soil to achieve high quality and high yield in other crops.

Research on Improvement of Light to Moderate Salinization and Alkalinization Farmland in Northeast China

The soil barrier factors currently present in Tuquan County, Northeast China, such as drought, waterlogging, stickiness, salt, alkalinity, and barrenness. This study chose to build a core demonstration area of 50 mu in Xinglongshan Village, Tuquan County. Seven improvement measures were adopted for soil improvement, including straw returning, alkaline amendment, desulfurization gypsum, organic fertilizer, deep tillage and deep loosening, furfural residue, and salt alkali tolerant variety screening. After adopting the above measures, the average soil pH value decreased by 0.4-0.9, the total salt content decreased by more than 10%, and the organic matter increased by more than 0.2 percentage points. The physical and chemical properties of the soil in the experimental area were significantly improved. These measures not only significantly improve the soil fertility of saline alkali farmland and increase the average grain yield by more than 15 percentage points, but also play a role in protecting farmland, thus forming a virtuous cycle.

The Influence of Pseudoplastic Flow Behavior on the Slot Die Process in Solid Electrolyte Production

Solid-state batteries (ASSB) are the next generation of batteries for energy storage. An ion-conducting solid replaces the liquid electrolyte. The trend is toward thin, homogeneous solid electrolytes (SE) that replace the liquid electrolyte and separator. At the same time, the use of a lithium metal anode and the reduction of the layer thickness enable higher energy and power densities. SEs should have a high mechanical strength with a certain flexibility. In addition, electrochemical and chemical properties such as good electrical isolator and good ion conductor, as well as low flammability, are essential. This requirement profile for SEs increases the demand for suitable materials and their processing methods.A promising candidate for the production of SE is the slot die process. This process is mainly controlled by three process parameters, i.e. coatings speed, dispense rate and coating gap. Compared to other production methods, this makes it easy to set parameters for targeted coating thicknesses. The process is already used in many production steps, e.g. for electrodes in the conventional lithium ion battery production. This provides a good opportunity to use and adapt this knowledge for SE production.In general, for coating solutions, structurally viscous fluids have well suited properties. The change in flow properties during shear stress can be used to achieve a certain stability between the coating tool and the substrate to avoid defects during coating. It also ensures easy handling of the system after processing and the shape stability of the resulting coatings.Therefore, a promising candidate as base material for SE production is Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). In addition to the shear thinning (or pseudoplastic) flow behavior, it also offers many advantages, such as its good availability on the global market, high solubility in solvents such as acetonitrile, and the capability to dissolve conductive salts like the alkali salt Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI).The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of the pseudoplastic flow behavior during and after the coating process by varying the molecular weight (Mw) of PEO. Therefore, the coating window is evaluated as a function of material properties MW and solution concentration. From viscosity and surface tension determination, an increase in MW leading to a stronger pseudoplastic flow behavior can be observed. For the coating process, a DoE employing a constant set of the process parameters dispense rate, coating gap and coating speed is used. The produced layers are evaluated based on their coating quality, dry layer thickness and ionic conductivity. For each solution, the obtained coating window is compared to a theoretical film break-up model.This work shows successful production of SE with an ionic conductivity of 10-6 S/cm using different MW. Further, the experimental results are comparable to the theoretical models. Moreover, the experiments show both, a dependency of MW and PEO concentrations. Within one MW, stable coating window becomes smaller with increasing concentration. Similar behavior is observed at a constant concentration with different MW. Due to the change in flow properties, the stable coating window becomes smaller with increasing MW. As a result of these correlations, the produced dry layer thickness varies depending on the use of MW and the associated PEO concentration.