Water Availability Research Articles

Burden of unintentional drowning in China from 1990 to 2019 and exposure to water: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study

BackgroundDrowning is an important contributor to the burden of deaths in China. Exposure to open water is a risk factor for drowning, but few studies quantify its impact on drowning....

Molecular Models of Atomically Dispersed Uranium at MoS2 Surfaces Reveal Cooperative Mechanism of Water Reduction.

Single atoms of uranium supported on molybdenum sulfide surfaces (U@MoS2) have been recently demonstrated to facilitate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) through electrocatalysis. Theoretical calculations have predicted uranium hydroxide moieties bound to edge-sulfur atoms of MoS2 as a proposed transition state involved in the HER process. However, the isolation of relevant intermediates involved in this process remains a challenge, rendering mechanistic hypotheses unverified. The present work describes the isolation and characterization of a uranium-hydroxide intermediate on molybdenum sulfide surfaces using [(Cp*3Mo3S4)UCp*], a molecular model of a reduced uranium center supported at MoS2. Mechanistic investigations highlight the metalloligand cooperativity with uranium involved in the water activation pathway. The corresponding uranium-oxo analogue, [(Cp*3Mo3S4)Cp*U(═O)], was also accessed from the hydroxide cluster via hydrogen atom transfer and from [(Cp*3Mo3S4)UCp*] through an alternative direct oxygen atom transfer. These results provide an atomistic perspective on the reactivity of low-valent uranium at molybdenum sulfide surfaces toward water, modeling key intermediates associated with the HER of U@MoS2 catalysts.

Analysis of the accumulation of β-emitting radionuclides in the production of radiopharmaceuticals based on <sup>18</sup>F using the IBA CYCLONE 18/9 HC cyclotron

In order to clarify the scheme of radioactive waste management, the accumulation of undesirable beta-emitting radionuclides (PH) in the production of radiopharmaceuticals based on 18F using the IBA CYCLONE 18/9 HC cyclotron was investigated. It is shown that the dominant impurity PH is tritium, which is formed by the reaction of 18O(p, t) 16O when water is irradiated with [18O]H2O protons. The main proportion of 3H (about 95%) remains in the regenerated water. 1.6 % of the accumulated tritium activity is carried away from the synthesis zone with gases and water vapor. Tritium-containing waste (regenerated water in vials) can be considered as waste of a very low level of activity during disposal. With an increase in the operating time of the target over 2500 µA · h, the processes of corrosion /erosion of target materials increase, which leads to a sharp increase in the concentration of undesirable radionuclides in regenerated water, sorption purification cartridges and the finished dosage form. The concentration of tritium does not increase significantly. In the β-spectra of regenerated water [18O]H2O and the finished radiopharmaceutical [18F]NaF, in addition to the maximum due to tritium, a number of maxima appear in both the low- and high-energy parts of the spectrum. Other undesirable β-emitters accumulate in water as a result of leaching of the activated target wall. The possibility of using measurements of tritium activity in water [18O]H2O as an indicator of its re-enrichment has been demonstrated. The necessity of controlling the content of impurity beta-emitting PH in intermediate products, production waste and final radiopharmaceutical is shown.

RoGeR v3.0.5 – a process-based hydrological toolbox model in Python

Abstract. Although water availability and water quality are equally important for effective water resources management at various spatial and temporal scales, to date, a combined representation of soil water balance components and water quality components in Python is not available. The new RoGeR toolbox contains models that can be used for not only the quantification of hydrological processes, fluxes and stores, but also solute transport processes based on StorAge selection (SAS). This study presents the code structure and functionalities of RoGeR developed as a scientific model toolbox following defined open-source software guidelines. RoGeR uses five different computational backends covering just-in-time compilation, parallelism and graphical processing units (GPUs) that might be used for optimizing computational performance. We show that graphical processing unit computing has the greatest potential to improve computation time and energy usage, especially for large modelling experiments. A simple modelling experiment highlights the capabilities of the new RoGeR model toolbox. We simulated the soil water balance, stable water isotope (18O) transport, and corresponding travel time distributions of the Eberbaechle catchment, Germany, for a 3-year period. Due to the current limitations of a variety of process components, further development of RoGeR as a scientific software is needed. Future modifications are easily possible due to the open software architecture of RoGeR.

Expansion of grasslands across glacial Sundaland caused by enhanced precipitation seasonality

The distribution of vegetation across glacial Sundaland and the underlying mechanisms have long been debated. We address this issue by comparing a compilation of vegetation reconstructions with climate simulations from the Community Earth System Model 2 (CESM2). A new n-alkane δ13C record derived from higher plants, covering the period from 21 to 5 cal ka BP in the southern South China Sea, is presented. This record, combined with previous pollen-based reconstructions, indicates that C3 forests dominated the outer-to-mid shelf regions of the northern Sundaland between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Heinrich Stadial 1, while open grasslands occupied the inner shelf region. A compilation of vegetation reconstructions shows a glacial contraction of lowland rainforests in longitudinal extent compared to the Holocene, especially in southern Sundaland. Furthermore, the previously proposed “savannah corridor” or “dry tropical forests” existed in the interior of Sundaland during the LGM, extending from the Malay Peninsula to the Lesser Sunda Islands. Modelling studies suggest that changes in the seasonality of precipitation, rather than mean annual rainfall, are more relevant to vegetation changes between the LGM and the Holocene. The glacial emergence of Sundaland caused an eastward shift of the ascending branch of the Walker Circulation and a substantial reduction in atmospheric convection activity over Southeast Asia, leading to a decrease in water availability during the dry season in both hemispheres. The enhanced water stress thus favors the expansion of open environments.

Changes in plant diversity of European lowland forests: Increased homogenization and expansion of shade-tolerant trees

European lowland forests have undergone significant transformations over the past century due to increased canopy closure, eutrophication and plant invasions. The new millennium has brought plant invasions, alien fungal pathogens, and extreme weather conditions, all contributing to forest diebacks. However, the response of plant diversity remains poorly understood. We examined changes in understorey vegetation following a decade (2012–2021) of severe drought in four temperate lowland forest types (dominated by oaks, hornbeams, ashes, and willows) to understand how water availability, canopy openness, and alien fungal pathogens altered diversity in interaction with climate change. Following an exceptionally warm decade, the vegetation exhibited increased homogeneity, with denser shrub and herb layers, likely resulting from diminished tree canopy, particularly in hornbeam and ash forests. Homogenization was manifested by the colonization of plants with conservative life-history strategies (higher leaf dry matter content) to cope with increased drought. Consequently, communities with fewer species increased their species richness, while species-rich communities experienced impoverishment. Conversely, herbaceous species with higher specific leaf area were declining. Compositional changes were particularly prominent in hornbeam and oakwoods at the drier end of moisture gradient where the understorey became dominated by woody plants. Ashwoods were opening up due to ash dieback by fungal pathogens, causing replacement of wetland forbs by nitrophilous forbs and woody saplings. The overall number of species decreased in oakwoods but increased in hornbeam and ashwoods due to increased cover of grasses and shade-tolerant woody species, mostly Acer campestre. Conversely, willow understorey vegetation at the wetter end of the moisture gradient remained relatively stable. Our findings suggest shifts towards more homogeneous vegetation. Conservation plans for managing the remnants of species-rich lowland forests should consider the accelerated environmental changes linked to canopy alterations, biological invasions, and extreme climate events.

A Closed Loop Automated Drip Irrigation System Based on Arduino Uno

In recent years, the limited availability of irrigation water has made the optimal use of water a necessity. Successful irrigation practices in agriculture reduce excessive water usage and increase water use efficiency. Economical use of water can be made possible through modern irrigation systems. Nowadays, automatic control systems in agriculture have made significant progress and offer important advantages. In this study, a mini evaporation pan consisting of nested two cylinders was used (outer cylinder diameter 32 cm, inner cylinder diameter 27 cm, and both with a height of 20 cm) and the water remained at a constant level in both cylinders due to the notch beneath the inner cylinder. A water level sensor was placed inside the inner cylinder, and irrigation was activated based on the signal received from the sensor. The data from the sensor was processed by the microcontroller on the Arduino Uno, and three different irrigation applications were implemented by activating pumps connected to relays at 07:00, 14:00, and 21:00 o’clock, and then the mini-evaporation pan was refilled, and the system waited for the next irrigation period. The automation drip irrigation system maintained irrigation as a closed loop throughout the entire growth period of the lettuce plants using this approach. The addition of a fertilization unit to this system could make it more effective in plant production. The performance of the system will be significantly enhanced by enabling hardware that provides irrigation and fertilization to the plant according to its specific needs in terms of timing and quantity, along with appropriate software integration.

Dynamic physiological response of tef to contrasting water availabilities

Global climate change is leading to increased frequency of extreme climatic events, higher temperatures and water scarcity. Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) is an underutilized C4 cereal crop that harbors a rich gene pool for stress resilience and nutritional quality. Despite gaining increasing attention as an “opportunity” crop, physiological responses and adaptive mechanisms of tef to drought stress have not been sufficiently investigated. This study was aimed to characterize the dynamic physiological responses of tef to drought. Six selected tef genotypes were subjected to high-throughput whole-plant functional phenotyping to assess multiple physiological responses to contrasting water regimes. Drought stress led to a substantial reduction in total, shoot and root dry weights, by 59%, 62% and 44%, respectively (averaged across genotypes), and an increase of 50% in the root-to-shoot ratio, relative to control treatment. Drought treatment induced also significant reductions in stomatal conductance, transpiration, osmotic potential and water-use efficiency, increased chlorophyll content and delayed heading. Tef genotypes exhibited diverse water-use strategies under drought: water-conserving (isohydric) or non-conserving (anisohydric), or an intermediate strategy, as well as variation in drought-recovery rate. Genotype RTC-290b exhibited outstanding multifaceted drought-adaptive performance, including high water-use efficiency coupled with high productivity under drought and control treatments, high chlorophyll and transpiration under drought, and faster drought recovery rate. This study provides a first insight into the dynamic functional physiological responses of tef to water deficiency and the variation between genotypes in drought-adaptive strategies. These results may serve as a baseline for further studies and for the development of drought-resistant tef varieties.

Photosynthetic Acclimation of Larch to the Coupled Effects of Light Intensity and Water Deficit in Regions with Changing Water Availability

The impact of frequent water deficits on dominant tree species in boreal forests has received increased attention, particularly towards addressing the global climate change scenarios. However, the impacts of coupled light intensity and water deficit in the regeneration and growth of Larix gmelinii seedlings, a dominant species in China’s boreal forests, are still unclear. We conducted a dual-factor controlled experiment with four light intensities (natural sunlight, 50% shading, 75% shading, and 90% shading) and three soil water conditions (80%, 60%, and 40% soil saturated water content). The results showed that the coupling of light and water has a significant effect on the growth and development of Larix gmelinii seedlings. In 40% of the saturated soil moisture content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll a, and total phenol—leaf were significantly lower than the same light conditions under 80% soil saturated water content. Under the coupling treatment of 60% soil saturated water content and 50% shading treatment, the plant height increment, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll a, and phenolic compound content were significantly higher than those of other coupling treatments; however, more than 75% shading inhibited photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll a, total flavonoid—leaf, and total flavonoid—branch. Our results have important implications for forest management practices; they provide a scientific reference for the early growth of Larix gmelinii seedlings under the coupling of light and water and promote the survival and growth of seedlings.

Dynamic physiological response of tef to contrasting water availabilities.

Global climate change is leading to increased frequency of extreme climatic events, higher temperatures and water scarcity. Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) is an underutilized C4 cereal crop that harbors a rich gene pool for stress resilience and nutritional quality. Despite gaining increasing attention as an "opportunity" crop, physiological responses and adaptive mechanisms of tef to drought stress have not been sufficiently investigated. This study was aimed to characterize the dynamic physiological responses of tef to drought. Six selected tef genotypes were subjected to high-throughput whole-plant functional phenotyping to assess multiple physiological responses to contrasting water regimes. Drought stress led to a substantial reduction in total, shoot and root dry weights, by 59%, 62% and 44%, respectively (averaged across genotypes), and an increase of 50% in the root-to-shoot ratio, relative to control treatment. Drought treatment induced also significant reductions in stomatal conductance, transpiration, osmotic potential and water-use efficiency, increased chlorophyll content and delayed heading. Tef genotypes exhibited diverse water-use strategies under drought: water-conserving (isohydric) or non-conserving (anisohydric), or an intermediate strategy, as well as variation in drought-recovery rate. Genotype RTC-290b exhibited outstanding multifaceted drought-adaptive performance, including high water-use efficiency coupled with high productivity under drought and control treatments, high chlorophyll and transpiration under drought, and faster drought recovery rate. This study provides a first insight into the dynamic functional physiological responses of tef to water deficiency and the variation between genotypes in drought-adaptive strategies. These results may serve as a baseline for further studies and for the development of drought-resistant tef varieties.

Photosynthetic Acclimation of Larch to the Coupled Effects of Light Intensity and Water Deficit in Regions with Changing Water Availability.

The impact of frequent water deficits on dominant tree species in boreal forests has received increased attention, particularly towards addressing the global climate change scenarios. However, the impacts of coupled light intensity and water deficit in the regeneration and growth of Larix gmelinii seedlings, a dominant species in China's boreal forests, are still unclear. We conducted a dual-factor controlled experiment with four light intensities (natural sunlight, 50% shading, 75% shading, and 90% shading) and three soil water conditions (80%, 60%, and 40% soil saturated water content). The results showed that the coupling of light and water has a significant effect on the growth and development of Larix gmelinii seedlings. In 40% of the saturated soil moisture content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll a, and total phenol-leaf were significantly lower than the same light conditions under 80% soil saturated water content. Under the coupling treatment of 60% soil saturated water content and 50% shading treatment, the plant height increment, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll a, and phenolic compound content were significantly higher than those of other coupling treatments; however, more than 75% shading inhibited photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll a, total flavonoid-leaf, and total flavonoid-branch. Our results have important implications for forest management practices; they provide a scientific reference for the early growth of Larix gmelinii seedlings under the coupling of light and water and promote the survival and growth of seedlings.

The impact of swimming and other aquatics on human development, physiology, and the course of some diseases

Introduction: In our work, we decided to connect physical activity and hydrotherapy as well as explore the impact of water-based physical activity on human organisms. We focused on the effects on physiology and body development. We also analysed studies that research aquatics activity as a method of treatment. We aim to present scientific evidence about using in-water activity in prevention and rehabilitation. Results: Physical activity in water has a beneficial influence on the cardiorespiratory system and can be used for both prevention and rehabilitation. It is well-tolerated among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease even if physical comorbidities are present. Swimming can be used as a rehabilitation and even one form of asthma treatment in the paediatric population. Swimming can improve insulin sensitivity, glucose control and reduce biomarkers of endothelial activation. There is data suggesting that the water environment exercises benefit patients with rheumatological diseases like ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. A positive impact was observed on the population suffering from ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. The diving by the Bathysmed® protocol seems to decrease symptoms of PTSD. Research conducted on the paediatric population shows that swimming training can benefit motor development. There were no observed impacts of aquatics on IgA levels. In contrast to that swimming can improve the level of TNFα and HSP70. Conclusions: Recent studies show a positive influence on human development, physiology, and the course of some diseases. They suggest that aquatics can be used as a form of preventing, rehabilitating and even treatment of some illnesses. The conclusions from recent studies need to be confirmed in further research because of their limitations.

Soil physico-chemical properties and yield response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) To 2,4-Epibrasinolide under water stress

Dry season production of cucumber is often limited by water availability. Here, we explored the pleiotropic role of 2,4-epibrassinolide (BR) in ameliorating water stress based on changes in soil physico-chemical properties and fruit yield of cucumber under water stressed-conditions. The effects of four water stress levels-WL0, [No stress/control: 860 mL (100% daily irrigation)], WL1 [640 mL (75% daily irrigation)], WL2 [430 mL (50% daily irrigation)] and WL3 = [210 mL (25% daily irrigation)] in factorial combination with foliarly-applied two BR levels [with (BR1= 150 and 250 mL) and without (BR0= 0 mL)] were studied. The soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks) decreased substantially under the water-stressed condition. Soil pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, effective cation exchange capacity and base saturation were adversely (p ≤ 0.05) affected by water stress, but the exchangeable acidity (EA) was little changed. Water-stressed soil treated with BR showed a significant reduction in EA, increased Ks and nutrient availability. Although dry matter, biological yield, moisture content of the leaves and fruit yield were severely reduced by water stress, treatment with BR increased these by about 89, 27, 41 and 95%, respectively. Light interception was considerably improved under BR treatment as evidenced from the photosynthetically active radiation which increased by 42%. Over all, the increased fruit yield was a result of reduced soil acidity, increased nutrient availability and better use of light energy. Foliar application with BR could sustain growth and fruit yield of cucumber up to 50% of daily irrigation requirement.

Effect of Growth Stage-based Water Stress on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon L.) in Semi-arid Regions of Tigray, Ethiopia

Water availability is a major concern in regions with limited water resources. Implementation of best irrigation water management methods can maximize crop yields and irrigation water use efficiency. An experiment was conducted in Laelay Koraro district, Tigray, Ethiopia for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019 off seasons) to investigate the effect of growth stage-based deficit irrigation on tomato yield, yield characteristics and water usage efficiency. The experiment used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were three irrigation levels (100%, 50%, and 25% of crop irrigation requirement) and four FAO-defined tomato growth stages (initial, developmental, mid, and late seasons). Data on agronomic parameters and irrigation water were collected and analyzed statistically. The results revealed that reducing irrigation amount by up to 75% during the development growth stage significantly decreased marketable yield by up to 66.5%. However, the highest water use efficiency (9.2kgm-3) was achieved by reducing irrigation amount by 75% at the end-growth stage of tomato. Treatments with the lowest water use efficiency (3.5kgm-3) were those receiving 75% less irrigation amount than the full requirement during the development growth stage. Irrigation deficit up to 75% of the full requirement during tomato development stages greatly affect marketable yield and water use efficiency. Therefore, the tomato crop is highly susceptible to water stress when receiving more than a 50% reduction in full irrigation requirement during its developmental growth stage.

Enhanced water oxidation stability and activity in MnO2 nanosheet arrays through Ti doping

Efficient and sustainable hydrogen production via water electrolysis relies on the utilization of highly active electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Birnessite (δ-MnO2), a type of manganese oxide with a local atomic structure similar to the oxygen-evolving complex in photosystem II, has emerged as a highly promising OER catalyst. Despite considerable efforts have been dedicated to enhancing its activity, the crucial aspect of stability has been often overlooked. Herein, Ti ions have been selectively incorporated into the in-layered lattice of δ-MnO2 nanosheet arrays using a hydrothermal method, aiming to enhance the stability without reducing its activity. The resulting optimal Ti-MnO2 catalyst demonstrates enhanced OER activity in alkaline electrolyte, exhibiting an impressive 85 mV reduction in overpotential at 10 mA cm−2, surpassing the initial MnO2 (495 mV reduced to 410 mV). Remarkably, it shows exceptional durability, with negligible performance decrease observed over the entire 50-hour testing period. It has been demonstrated that the incorporation of Ti serves a dual purpose: it adjusts the electronic structure around Mn, enhancing activity, and simultaneously stabilizes the Mn3+ active sites, resulting in exceptional durability. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations provide additional confirmation of the optimized electronic structure of MnO2 achieved through Ti doping, leading to a reduction in the free energy of adsorbed intermediates and expediting the kinetics of the OER process. Our findings open a pathway for enhancing OER stability and activity by doping electrocatalytic inert ions into the lattice of MnO2, applicable not only to Mn-based oxides but also other non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts.

Drivers of agrivoltaic perception in California and North Carolina

The last decade has seen dramatic growth in solar power. In some regions, the most favorable land for solar panels is farmland, which is often flat and exposed to high levels of irradiance. At the same time, the agricultural sector is faced with growing challenges, notably changing water availability and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. The combination of these trends presents an opportunity for a synergistic relationship between the agriculture and solar sectors: agrivoltaic systems (AVS). In AVS, solar panels are placed above and between crops, such that the same land produces both food and energy. This system has beneficial microclimate impacts, such as reduced evapotranspiration. Yet, despite these benefits there has been limited uptake of AVS. One reason may be hesitation on the part of farmers, whose perceptions of AVS have been explored little. This analysis seeks to address part of this gap by exploring the relationship between farmer perceptions and interest in AVS. A Likert scale survey was designed and distributed to farmers across two large, agriculturally productive states, North Carolina and California. Responses from the 41 participants who fully completed the survey suggest that farmers who perceive AVS as diversifying their income or whose goals include reducing water use are the most interested in installing AVS. Respondents also identified financial viability as a major concern, agreeing that upfront cost is a major barrier to AVS, and markets as the most influential driver of crop decisions. These findings provide insights for policymakers interested in expanding AVS, particularly in response to environmental stressors, such as water scarcity and extreme weather events. They also suggest the aspects of AVS that may be most important to farmers, and most effective in encouraging AVS uptake. This information can support efforts to promote AVS, contributing to sustainable agriculture.

Green Infrastructure Microbial Community Response to Simulated Pulse Precipitation Events in the Semi-Arid Western United States

Processes driving nutrient retention in stormwater green infrastructure (SGI) are not well quantified in water-limited biomes. We examined the role of plant diversity and physiochemistry as drivers of microbial community physiology and soil N dynamics post precipitation pulses in a semi-arid region experiencing drought. We conducted our study in bioswales receiving experimental water additions and a montane meadow intercepting natural rainfall. Pulses of water generally elevated soil moisture and pH, stimulated ecoenzyme activity (EEA), and increased the concentration of organic matter, proteins, and N pools in both bioswale and meadow soils. Microbial community growth was static, and N assimilation into biomass was limited across pulse events. Unvegetated plots had greater soil moisture than vegetated plots at the bioswale site, yet we detected no clear effect of plant diversity on microbial C:N ratios, EEAs, organic matter content, and N pools. Differences in soil N concentrations in bioswales and the meadow were most directly correlated to changes in organic matter content mediated by ecoenzyme expression and the balance of C, N, and P resources available to microbial communities. Our results add to growing evidence that SGI ecological function is largely comparable to neighboring natural vegetated systems, particularly when soil media and water availability are similar.

Effects of l‐arginine/l‐lysine on physicochemical properties of sodium‐reduced Cantonese sausage without exogenous phosphate addition

SummaryThe study inquired the influences of l‐arginine and l‐lysine on the physicochemical properties (including weight loss rate, water activity, texture, colour, lipid and protein oxidation, residual nitrite content and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) content) of low‐sodium and low‐phosphate Cantonese sausage during the 1‐ and 7‐day storage. The results showed that the addition of l‐arginine or l‐lysine reduced the weight loss rate, TBARS content, carbonyl group content and residual nitrite level, slightly decreased water activity, and enhanced L*, a* and b* values. Compared to the control, 0.3% l‐arginine or l‐lysine declined hardness and chewiness, while 0.6% l‐arginine or l‐lysine elevated these two parameters. However, the addition of l‐arginine or l‐lysine also led to an increase in TVB‐N content. Overall, l‐arginine and l‐lysine improved the qualities of low‐sodium and low‐phosphate Cantonese sausage, which might be attractive to meat product manufacturers.

Effects of l‐arginine/l‐lysine on physicochemical properties of sodium‐reduced Cantonese sausage without exogenous phosphate addition

SummaryThe study inquired the influences of l‐arginine and l‐lysine on the physicochemical properties (including weight loss rate, water activity, texture, colour, lipid and protein oxidation, residual nitrite content and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) content) of low‐sodium and low‐phosphate Cantonese sausage during the 1‐ and 7‐day storage. The results showed that the addition of l‐arginine or l‐lysine reduced the weight loss rate, TBARS content, carbonyl group content and residual nitrite level, slightly decreased water activity, and enhanced L*, a* and b* values. Compared to the control, 0.3% l‐arginine or l‐lysine declined hardness and chewiness, while 0.6% l‐arginine or l‐lysine elevated these two parameters. However, the addition of l‐arginine or l‐lysine also led to an increase in TVB‐N content. Overall, l‐arginine and l‐lysine improved the qualities of low‐sodium and low‐phosphate Cantonese sausage, which might be attractive to meat product manufacturers.

Assessing seed pellet formulations to improve native plant restoration under water‐limited conditions

Water scarcity, a challenge expected to worsen with climate change, significantly hinders native plant community restoration. Enhancing seed‐based restoration requires methods to increase the water availability for seeds and seedlings. Surfactants and superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can improve soil water‐holding capacity and infiltration, but their use in seed enhancements remains underexplored. We investigated whether pellets containing surfactants or SAPs could improve seedling emergence of two native species (Rytidosperma caespitosum and Chrysocephalum apiculatum) common in temperate grasslands in south‐eastern Australia under different watering treatments. We used a randomized block design with five watering treatments to simulate predicted changes in precipitation for south‐eastern Australia: ambient, two reducing overall water volume, and two reducing watering frequency while increasing watering volume to maintain ambient treatment water volume. We explored four enhanced pellets (two containing surfactants and two containing SAPs) and non‐pelleted seeds. Our results showed that watering events with larger volumes but reduced frequency increased seedling emergence. Under these conditions, block co‐polymer surfactants further increased seedling emergence of C. apiculatum, while synthetic SAP pellets promoted emergence of R. caespitosum. Block co‐polymer surfactants decreased R. caespitosum emergence, and both SAPs reduced C. apiculatum emergence under reduced watering frequency. A 50% reduction in overall water volume significantly reduced seedling emergence for both species, regardless of seed enhancement. These findings suggest that surfactants and SAP pellets can improve the success of seed‐based restoration under ambient conditions and when rainfall events are larger in volume but reduced in frequency, but not when the overall volume of rainfall is reduced.