Dry Water Research Articles

Determining Some Chemical and Microbiological Changes in the Ripening Process of Kashar Cheese

In the present study, some microbial, chemical, and physicochemical characteristics occurring during ripening were observed in unpackaged and vacuum-packed Kashar cheese samples. Some microbial and chemical properties of Kashar cheese samples were studied Also, the free fatty acid ratio was determined with the SDS-Page Electrophoresis to determine proteolysis during the ripening period and with the High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) for lipolysis. Physical, chemical, and microbiological analyzes were made at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days of ripening during which the changes in the number of microbiologically total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB), Lactobacillus spp., Lactococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., yeast-mold, lipolytic, and proteolytic bacteria were determined. In the present study, % lactic acid, pH, dry matter percentage, color parameters (L, a and b values) and water activity (aw) were analyzed during ripening and the changes during storage were defined. Lactobacillus spp., Lactococcus spp., TAMB, and proteolytic bacteria counts and % lactic acid ratios were higher in vacuum-packed Kashar cheeses. It was found that lipolysis and proteolysis were higher in cheese samples stored open during ripening.

Micro–Macro-Analysis and Model Derivation of Electrical Resistivity of Ningxia Cement–Loess

In recent years, highway infrastructure in the Ningxia region of China has rapidly advanced. Cement–loess is extensively utilized in the roadbed and foundation reinforcement. It is necessary to conduct micro–macro-analysis and model derivation of the electrical resistivity on Ningxia cement–loess, which are beneficial for both the practical application of electrical resistivity and the evaluation of the geotechnical properties of cement–loess. Therefore, a series of electrical resistivity measurements, microstructural observations (scanning electron microscopy), mineral analyses (thermogravimetric analysis), and theoretical analyses were adopted on the cement–loess. The following conclusions can be drawn: The electrical resistivity is negatively related to dry density and water content, while it is positively related to cement dosage and curing age. A cement dosage of 6% exhibits a lower hydration reaction potential compared to 12%, causing a slower increase in electrical resistivity. The formation of calcium silicate gel around particles results in particle clustering and pore filling, reducing the pore area and increasing electrical resistivity. Increased hydration also decreases microscopic orientation, contributing to a higher electrical resistivity of cement–loess. Finally, a new three-dimensional electrical resistivity model was created, finding that the electrical resistivity of Ningxia cement–loess was determined by the dry density, water content (ρd·w), cement dosage, and curing age (aw·T) in an exponential function form. The new three-dimensional electrical resistivity model could be used in the high-efficiency evaluation of the cement–loess geotechnical parameter, offering valuable insights for the monitoring and maintenance of road infrastructure.

Mechanical properties optimization and cost analysis of agricultural waste as an alternative in brick production

In recent years, building materials made from agricultural waste have become popular due to their lower cost and environmental impact. The Bio-Brick is mixed with Cement-Fly Ash and Hydrated Lime and a fine aggregate of groundnut shell in percentages (20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%). The optimum mix proportions of Bio-Brick and hydrated lime mortar were found from the compressive strength and were further continued to study the dry density, water absorption, and efflorescence. Machine Learning techniques are used to optimize and predict the properties of Bio-Bricks and mortars. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are employed to forecast properties such as compressive strength, dry density, and water absorption with exceptional accuracy. The results from RSM models exhibit high degrees of accuracy, with R-squared values exceeding 0.88 for compressive strength, dry density, and water absorption. ANN models further enhance this predictive power, with R-squared values exceeding 0.99 in predicting these critical properties.

A Study of the Influence of Ion-Ozonized Water on the Properties of Pasta Dough Made from Wheat Flour and Pumpkin Powder.

Water treated with ion ozone improves the technological qualities of food products. Therefore, ion-ozonated water was used in the work, and whole-grain flour from soft wheat of the Almaly variety and pumpkin powder were used as raw materials to improve the quality and nutritional value of the pasta. This study investigated the effects of ion-ozone concentration in ion-ozonated water Cio, water temperature tw, pumpkin powder content Cpp and drying temperature td on various characteristics affecting the quality of pasta, including its organoleptic physical, chemical, and rheological properties. These characteristics were assessed by conducting multiple experiments, a total of 25 indicators were determined, such as humidity, acidity, cooking properties, deformation, and other basic quality indicators. To reduce the number of experiments and obtain a reliable assessment of the influence of individual factors on the quality indicators of pasta, methods involving the multifactorial design of experiments were applied. Data processing and all necessary calculations were carried out using the PLAN sequential regression analysis program. Consequently, our findings indicate that minimizing dry water (DM) loss in cooking water requires a dual approach: increasing ion-ozone concentration and optimizing pasta composition and drying conditions, specifically by reducing pumpkin powder content and drying temperature. As a result, it was established that to obtain high-quality pasta from whole-grain flour with high quality and rheological properties, it is necessary to use the following optimal production modes: ion-ozone concentration in ion-ozonated water Cio = 2.5 × 10-6 mg/cm3, water temperature tw = 50 °C, pumpkin powder content Cpp = 3.0%, and pasta drying temperature td = 50 °C. The resulting pasta is an environmentally friendly product with a high content of biologically active substances.

Study of Carbon Dioxide Hydrates in “Dry Water” Disperse System

Study of Carbon Dioxide Hydrates in “Dry Water” Disperse System

60 Effects of a calcareous marine algae on dry matter intake, water intake, rumen temperature, rumen pH and average daily gain of grain-fed steers during a heat wave

Abstract During summer, feedlot cattle are often subjected to multiple high heat load events which can cause heat stress and negatively impact on cattle performance and well-being. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different dietary buffering feeding strategies, on dry matter intake (DMI), water intake (WI), rumen temperature (TRUM), rumen pH and average daily gain (ADG) of grain-fed beef steers exposed to a simulated heat wave event. Angus steers [n = 12; body weight (BW) = 582 ± 8.92 kg] were housed within climate control rooms for 21 d and randomly allocated into one of three dietary treatments (4 steers/treatment): 1) Treatment 1 (T1), finisher diet; 2) Treatment 2 (T2), transitioned from finisher to heat load diet (HLD) on d 4 and fed HLD until d 16; 3) Treatment 3 (T3), fed finisher and supplemented with a calcareous marine algae (CMA; Acid Buffer, Celtic Sea Minerals) on d 4 until d 16. On d 17, T2 and T3 transitioned back to the finisher. Days were split into three phases consisting of i) d 0 to 6 [PI, Temperature Humidity Index (THI), THI 65-78]; ii) d 7 to 11 (PII, THI 83-87); iii) d 12 to 20 (PIII, THI 65-78). Data were analyzed using a repeated measures model, with a first order auto-regressive error structure, including fixed effects for treatment, phase, day and hour, with animal ID as a random effect. Body weight declined (P < 0.005) during PII, with steers losing on average, 17.65 ± 3.06 kg BW/steer (T1), 12.30 ± 3.06 kg BW/steer (T2) and 16.20 ± 3.06 kg BW/steer (T3) at conclusion of PII, with muscle atrophy visually evident (Table 1). There were no effects (P ≥ 0.93) for treatment on ADG. During PII, DMI decreased (P < 0.005), with T2 and T3 having >2kg DMIּ steer-1ּ d-1 greater (P ≤ 0.006) DMI compared with T1. During PIII, T1 maintained decreased (P ≤ 0.001) DMI compared with T2 and T3. During PII, mean WI increased (P ≤ 0.05) for T1 and T3, although remained unchanged (P = 0.11) for T2, TRUM increased (P < 0.0001), whilst range in TRUM decreased (P ≤ 0.01) for all TRT and rumen pH for T2 and T3 decreased (P ≤ 0.0003), whilst T1 tended (P ≥ 0.05) to decrease. Rumen pH diurnal rhythms were disrupted during PII, range in rumen pH also reduced (P < 0.0001) for T1 and T3, remaining unchanged (P = 0.94) for T2. Mean rumen pH was lower (P ≤ 0.002) during PIII compared with PI for all treatments. Both T2 and T3 had a lower (P ≤ 0.05) range in rumen pH than T1 during PIII. Data from the current study suggest that feeding strategies to include CMA may aide in moderating DMI reductions observed during and post-heat stress periods, whilst also reducing the range in rumen pH during post-heat wave conditions when rumen dysfunction challenges may present.

Optimizing nitrogen application rates to maximize productivity while reducing environmental risk by regulating nitrogen and water utilization in mixed cropping systems

Optimizing the nitrogen (N) fertilization level and cropping system is critically important for achieving good production performance with low environmental pollution. However, there is a knowledge gap on the relationship between crop production sustainability, water and nitrogen consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission under the change in N application rate under cereal and legume mixed systems. A 3-year field experiment with two cropping systems [sole forage sorghum (SS) and forage sorghum/lablab mixed cropping (SL) with four N fertilizer application rates (N0, 0 kg N ha−1; N90, 90 kg N ha−1; N180, 180 kg N ha−1; and N270, 270 kg N ha−1)] was conducted. Results obtained showed that mixed cropping combined with N fertilization enhanced forage biomass and crude protein yield by 34.0 % and 51.1 %, respectively, particularly in mixed cropping combined with the N180 treatment compared with the N0 level in the sole cropping system. Similar improvements were observed for yield stability and sustainability (2.97 % and 0.95, respectively), which reached maximum values at N180 in the mixed cropping system. In addition, mixed cropping increased the water productivity of dry matter yield (WPDM) and water productivity of crude protein yield (WPCPY) by 17.2 % and 27.6 %, respectively, at 180 kg N ha−1 compared with the corresponding treatments of the sole planting system. Furthermore, mixed cropping combined with appropriate N application significantly improved N physiological efficiency (PEN) and reduced GHG intensity (GHGI), where N application of 180 kg ha−1 N increased PEN by 21.3 % and reduced GHGI by 17.6 % compared with the corresponding monoculture in the mixed cropping system. This study demonstrated that reducing N fertilization in cereal–legume cropping systems can promote forage productivity by optimizing water and N management while decreasing environmental pollution. Therefore, forage sorghum mixed with lablab and fertilization at 180 kg N ha–1 is a preferable approach for sustainable agricultural production in the Northwest arid region of China.

Pomegranate-Quinoa-Based Agroforestry System: An Innovative Strategy to Alleviate Salinity Effects and Enhance Land Use Efficiency in Salt-Affected Semiarid Regions.

Salinity is a major problem, impeding soil productivity, agricultural sustainability, and food security, particularly in dry regions. This study integrates quinoa, a facultative halophyte, into a pomegranate-based agroforestry with saline irrigation in northeast Morocco. We aim to explore this agroforestry model's potential in mitigating salinity's effects on quinoa's agronomic and biochemical traits and evaluate the land equivalent ratio (LER). Field experiments in 2020 and 2021 used a randomized block design with three replicates, including monocropping and agroforestry systems, two salinity levels (1.12 and 10.5 dS m-1), four quinoa genotypes (Titicaca, Puno, ICBA-Q4, ICBA-Q5), and a pomegranate control. Salinity significantly decreased total dry matter (40.5%), root dry matter (50.7%), leaf dry matter (39.2%), and root-to-shoot ratio (7.7%). The impact was more severe in monoculture than in agroforestry, reducing dry matter (47.6% vs. 30.7%), grain yield (46.3% vs. 26.1%), water productivity (47.5% vs. 23.9%), and total sugar (19.2% vs. 5.6%). LER averaged 1.86 to 2.21, indicating 86-121% higher productivity in agroforestry. LER averaged 1.85 at 1.12 dS m-1 and 2.18 at 10.5 dS m-1, reaching 2.21 with pomegranate-ICBA-Q5 combination. Quinoa-pomegranate agroforestry emerges as an innovative strategy, leveraging quinoa's salt resistance and agroforestry's potential to mitigate salinity impacts while enhancing land use efficiency.

Examining contaminant transport hotspots and their predictability across contrasted watersheds.

Hydrobiogeochemical processes governing water quantity and quality are highly variable in space and time. Focusing on thirty river locations in Québec, Canada, three water quality hotness indices were used to classify watersheds as contaminant transport hotspots. Concentration and load data for suspended solids (SS), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP) were used to identify transport hotspots, and results were compared across hotness indices with different data requirements. The role of hydroclimatic and physiographic characteristics on the occurrence and temporal persistence of transport hotspots was examined. Results show that the identification of transport hotspots was dependent on both the type of data and the hotness index used. Relationships between temporal and spatial predictors, however, were generally consistent. Annual transport hotspot occurrence was found to be related to temporal characteristics such as the number of dry days, potential evapotranspiration, and snow water equivalent, while hotspot temporal persistence was correlated to landcover characteristics. Stark differences in the identification of SS, TN, and TP transport hotspots were attributed to differences in mobilization processes and provided insights into dominant water and nutrient flowpaths in the studied watersheds. This study highlighted the importance of comparing contaminant dynamics across watersheds even when high-frequency water quality data or discharge data are not available. Characterizing hotspot occurrence and persistence, among hotness indices and water quality parameters, could be useful for watershed managers when identifying problematic watersheds, exploring legacy effects, and establishing a prioritization framework for areas that would benefit from enhanced routine monitoring or targeted mitigation strategies.

Visualization of hydraulic fracturing in compacted bentonite: The roles of dry density, water content, and pressurization rate

Deep geological repository is typically situated at depths ranging from several hundred to 1000 m below ground, making bentonite engineered barrier potentially vulnerable to high water pressure and even inducing hydraulic fracturing. This study conducted injection tests on compacted GMZ (Gaomiaozi) bentonite with a self-developed visualization set-up. The objective was to unveil the roles of dry density, water content, and pressurization rate in hydraulic fracturing from the perspective of fracturing macro-morphological dynamics and breakthrough characteristics. Moreover, the relationships between breakthrough characteristics and microstructure were examined by MIP (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analysis. Results showed that the fracturing dynamics were characterized by three stages: hydration, cracking, and fracturing stages. Compared to water content and pressurization rate, dry density exerted more pronounced effects on these stages. Increasing dry density can lead to an expansion of circular hydration zone, a more complex cracking network, and a change in fracturing patterns from long and clear to short and fuzzy. In terms of breakthrough characteristics, the breakthrough pressure was positively correlated with dry density and negatively correlated with water content. Interestingly, there is a good and unique logarithmic correlation between the breakthrough pressure and the ratio eM/em of inter-aggregate void ratio and intra-aggregate void ratio, regardless of dry density and water content. Within a certain range (i.e. 200-50 kPa/min), breakthrough pressure showed slight dependency on pressurization rate. Nevertheless, an extremely low pressurization rate of 20 kPa/min caused a transition for the specimen from quasi-brittle to plastic state owning to more water infiltration, thereby hindering fracture initiation and propagation.

Dielectric properties of Pouteria sapota compounds in terahertz frequency range

The analysis and a mathematical approximation of the dielectric properties of Pouteria sapota (Mamey) pulp compounds in the Terahertz (THz) range are presented. Since THz electromagnetic waves show a high sensitivity to detect water content when interacting with organic materials, this technique was used to determine the effective dielectric function (EDF) of a wet and a dry sample from the THz spectrum data. By fitting the EDF to the Landau-Lifshitz-Looyenga (LLL) dielectric mixture equation, the theoretical dielectric functions of each pulp compounds were approximated. The approach proposed here not only considered dry matter and water content in the Pouteria sapota pulp, as has been reported in the literature for organic samples, but also included the contribution of the volatile components (VC) that allowed a better adjustment to the experimental results. The water and VC content increase the value of the real and imaginary part of the calculated EDF of the wet sample. The use of the non-destructive THz spectroscopy technique allows determining the dielectric properties of fruits that have been dehydrated. Therefore, the methodology proposed here can be used as a method of in situ and ex situ quality control in the agri-food industry.

Effect of raw material fineness on the properties of inorganic foam materials from solid waste

Solid waste inorganic lightweight materials not only compensate for the flammability of organic materials but also have a lower carbon footprint. They are environmentally safe and cost-effective compared with cement-based foaming materials, and they have good development prospects. This study aimed to improve the chemical foaming reaction kinetics by reducing the particle size of aluminum powder and alkaline solid waste, thereby increasing the expansion degree of solid waste slurry, to further reduce the absolute dry density of inorganic lightweight materials for solid waste and optimize their performance. The influence of the particle size of raw material on the absolute dry density, water absorption, and compressive strength of lightweight materials was investigated. The influence of the particle size of raw material on the macroscopic pore structure of foamed materials was analyzed through binarization of cross-sectional images of specimens. Furthermore, the hydration products and microstructure of materials were characterized using XRD, FTIR, TG-DTG, and SEM to provide a theoretical basis for related research. The experimental results showed that the smaller the particle size of the raw material, the easier it was to carbonize and the lower the flowability of the corresponding cementitious material slurry. Reducing the particle size of raw materials and aluminum powder increased the degree of slurry expansion, thereby reducing the absolute dry density of foaming materials. In addition, reducing the particle size of raw materials and using carbide slag wastewater instead of tap water increased the degree of foaming reaction and hydration reaction, which helped C-(A)-S-H gel formation and promoted the development of sample strength. Finally, the absolute dry density of inorganic lightweight materials was reduced to 0.35 g/cm3 at the minimum, and the corresponding 28-day compressive strength was 0.28 MPa, which met the requirements of the JG/T 266–2011 “foam concrete” specification.

Enhancing the mechanical and thermal properties of foam concrete by incorporating glass lightweight microspheres

The inferior mechanical strength and thermal resistance of foam concrete limited its application in thermal insulation engineering. This study focused on enhancing the mechanical strength and thermal resistance of foam concrete by incorporating glass lightweight microspheres (GLM) to partially replace foam. The roles of GLM in foam concrete were investigated through physical, mechanical, and thermal properties tests. The improvement mechanism behind the mechanical strength and thermal resistance was further revealed. Results indicated that the addition of GLM enhanced mechanical strength of foam concrete by promoting hydration reaction, optimizing pore structure, and improving GLM-paste interfaces. The mechanical strength of foam concrete with 20 % GLM increased by about 40 %. Moreover, GLM improved the residual compressive strength after exposure to 800°C, with an enhancement of 39.8 %. The inclusion of GLM reduced the risks of crack formation, densified the paste, and strengthened the foam wall due to its hollow structure, pozzolanic reactivity, melting and filling effects, and the phase transformation of additional C-S-H into well-packed wollastonite. Additionally, GLM with closed and isolated pores reduced the drying shrinkage and water absorption rate of foam concrete. The finding suggests that incorporating an appropriate amount of GLM can produce high-strength, low-density, and thermal-resistant foam concrete.

Study on mechanical properties and corrosion damage mechanism of mixed sand concrete

In order to address the excessive utilization of river sand resources in Inner Mongolia, an investigation is being conducted on the utilization of wind-blown sand and machine-made sand for the production of mixed sand concrete. A study is conducted to examine the influence of including mixed sand in concrete on its mechanical qualities, working performance, and erosion resistant durability. The findings suggest that when the proportion of wind-blown sand in the mixed sand mixture increases, the compressive strength of the mixed sand concrete exhibits a general pattern of initially increasing and subsequently dropping. At a ratio of 1:1 between wind-blown sand and machine-made sand, there is a maximum point. Nevertheless, the capacity for stretching under tension, resilience, and the strength of the connection all demonstrate a consistent decline. The wind-blown sand content of 50 % in the mixed sand is the critical value. When the wind-blown sand content exceeds 50 %, the tensile deformation capacity, toughness, and bond strength experience a steep decline. Utilizing a combination of different types of sand diminishes the efficiency of concrete. Nevertheless, the efficacy of concrete can be enhanced by modifying the water-cement ratio and the quantity of water-reducing admixtures. It is worth mentioning that although the work performance can be improved, there might be a little reduction in the mechanical qualities of the concrete. The erosion depth in mixed sand concrete has a growth rate that is 0.027 mm/d lower compared to ordinary river sand concrete under erosion conditions. The compressive erosion resistance coefficient and saturated surface dry water absorption rate show significantly reduced damage in mixed sand concrete compared to standard river sand concrete. Moreover, when erosion-freeze-thaw coupling circumstances are present, the structural deterioration of mixed sand concrete is less significant in comparison to ordinary river sand concrete. By using a mixture of sand, the concrete's ability to withstand erosion is improved, resulting in a longer lifespan. This discovery establishes a theoretical foundation for the secure utilization of concrete in aquatic environments in Inner Mongolia.

Oxidation behavior of SiC‐AlN ceramics exposed to dry oxygen and water oxygen environments at 1100–1300°C

AbstractThe corrosion of SiCf/SiC composites in gas environment threatens their long‐term service in aeroengines as hot‐end structure components. Addition of corrosion‐resistant phases into SiC matrix is a potential strategy to improve the service performance of SiCf/SiC materials. Here, AlN added SiC ceramics were prepared by reactive melt infiltration, and the effect of AlN phase on the oxidation resistance of the ceramics was emphasized. The oxidation tests were performed in dry oxygen and water oxygen atmospheres at 1100°C–1300°C, respectively. The oxidation mechanism was discussed based on the microstructure evolution of the oxide layer. The results show that the oxide layer is composed of aluminum silicate glass and Al2O3 flakes dispersedly distributed in the glass phase. As the temperature rises, the oxide layer gradually grows and thickens. Finally, a smooth and dense protective layer could be formed on the surface of ceramics to resist oxidation. This study can provide a profound insight to construct SiCf/SiC composites with excellent oxidation resistance.

Mechanical properties of teguline clay pellet mixtures during continuous oedometric compression

Clay pellet mixtures are generally compressed to improve their engineering performance. Deepening the comprehension of the mechanical properties of these mixtures in the complete compression process facilitates the benefit to the engineering design and their utilization. In this study, the effects of soil grain size distribution, water content and dry density on the mechanical properties and microstructure of Teguline clay pellet mixtures during a continuous oedometric compression process are explored. Three types of soil pellet mixtures, including mixture A (grain size ≤5 mm), mixture B (≤ 0.4 mm) and mixture C (2–5 mm), were prepared with different water contents of 7%, 8% and 12% respectively. Subsequently, continuous oedometeric compression was undertaken to explore their mechanical behaviours of the soil pellet mixtures. After that, the microstropic structures of the compacted pellet mixtures were investigated using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results indicated that mixture A has a minimal initial packing density of pellet mixtures, while mixture C has a maximum one at the initial compression stage. After completion of compression, the compression curves of the pellet mixtures tended to converge uniformity at a semilogarithm coordinate as the vertical stress increased. All of the compression curves presented a concave shape at the plastic compression stage, which is significantly influenced by grain size distribution and water content. In contrast, the elastic compression and rebound behaviours are little affected by the grain size distribution and water content. As far as the microstructure is concerned, compacted samples prepared by mixture A or C presented a unimodal pore structure, while those by mixture B showcased a bimodal pore structure. In comparison with the unimodal pore distribution of the undisturbed stiff clay, the compacted samples displayed a pseudo-unimodal pore distribution because the inter-aggregate pores still existed. A double tangent method was proposed to determine the delimiting pore diameter of the pseudo-unimodal pore distribution curves and found that the delimiting pore diameter decreased with the increase of dry density and water content. Moreover, the inflexion point for the pore diameter of compacted samples prepared by coarse soil was larger than that of fine soil. Combining this work with previous research, it was found that the high compression of coarse soil easily causes the pseudo-unimodal shape, which is also impacted by water content and particle properties. This work could help deepen the understanding of the mechanical characteristics and microstructure of the stiff clay pellet mixtures during continuous oedometric compression.

Comparative Assessment of Water Productivity and Crop Performance of Cluster Bean, Cowpea and Pearl Millet in Arid Zones

Arid and semi-arid regions face mounting challenges due to water scarcity exacerbated by climate change, necessitating sustainable agricultural practices to ensure food security and economic stability. This study compares the water productivity and crop performance of Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L), Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under sprinkle irrigation in the Thar Desert, India. The experiment, conducted over two years (2022 and 2023) at ICAR – CSWRI – Arid Region Campus, Bikaner evaluated plant height, leaf number, branch development, fresh and dry biomass yields and water productivity. Pearl Millet exhibited the tallest plants (160.03 cm) and highest water productivity (1.57 kg/m³), emphasizing its drought resilience and efficient water use. Cowpea demonstrated substantial biomass production (average fresh weight of 16,348.75 kg/hac.) and moderate water productivity (1.16 kg/m³), suitable for forage and soil improvement. Cluster Bean, although less productive in biomass, showed adaptability with increased branching (from 4.65 to 7.35 branches/tiller/plant), indicative of its resilience in arid conditions. These findings underscore the importance of crop selection and management practices in maximizing agricultural productivity and resource use efficiency in water-limited environments.

Covalently attached phosphonic acid‐Si2O3‐PEO polymer membranes for PEMFC applications

AbstractIn the context of growing interest in phosphonic acid proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for fuel cell applications, we report on new PEMs containing low‐cost polyethylene oxide (PEO) covalently linked by siloxane bonds, SiOSi, to phosphonic acid (PA). Key chemistry in the formation of these membranes involves hydrolysis and condensation reactions of triethoxysilyl propyl capped PEO and pre‐hydrolyzed dimethyl phosphonatoethyltrimethoxysilane (DMPTMS) giving PEO‐Si2O3‐PA and cross‐linked chain PEO‐Si2O3‐PEO organosilsesquioxane components. The Si2O3 can enhance membrane thermal and mechanical properties. The membrane formulations were varied by (a) reagent ratios (b) PEO molecular weights or using polypropylene oxide (PPO) (c) incorporating chain extending groups methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) or hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). These variations provided five membrane families, one of which afforded a complete group of robust membranes with weight% x of PA, PAx in range PA0–PA33. These were studied using ATR‐FTIR, dry membrane water uptake capacity, ion exchange capacity (IEC), and conductivity from room temperature to 120°C at 100% relative humidity. Conductivity increased with PAx reaching 15 mS cm−1 at 120°C, activation energy 0.1 eV, for membrane PA33 for which thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX) are reported. A comparative performance of the five membrane families is presented.

Dry Matter Accumulation, Water Productivity and Quality of Potato in Response to Regulated Deficit Irrigation in a Desert Oasis Region.

As one of the most important food crops, the potato is widely planted in the oasis agricultural region of Northwest China. To ascertain the impact of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on various facets including dry matter accumulation, tuber yield, quality and water use efficiency (WUE) of potato plants, a two-growth season field experiment under mulched drip irrigation was conducted in the desert oasis region of Northwest China. Water deficits, applied at the seedling, tuber formation, tuber expansion and starch accumulation stages, encompassed two distinctive levels: mild (55-65% of field capacity, FC) and moderate (45-55% FC) deficit, with full irrigation (65-75% FC) throughout the growing season as the control (CK). The results showed that water deficit significantly reduced (p < 0.05) above-ground dry matter, water consumption and tuber yield compared to CK, and the reduction increased with the increasing water deficit. A mild water deficit at the tuber formation stage, without significantly reducing (p > 0.05) yield, could significantly increase WUE and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), with two-year average increases of 25.55% and 32.33%, respectively, compared to CK. Water deficit at the tuber formation stage increased starch content, whereas water deficit at tuber expansion stage significantly reduced starch, protein and reducing sugar content. Additionally, a comprehensive evaluation showed that a mild water deficit at the tuber formation stage is the optimal RDI strategy for potato production, providing a good balance between yield, quality and WUE. The results of this study can provide theoretical support for efficient and sustainable potato production in the desert oasis regions of Northwest China.

Determination of River Ecological Flow Thresholds and Development of Early Warning Programs Based on Coupled Multiple Hydrological Methods

In order to safeguard the health of river ecosystems and maintain ecological balance, it is essential to rationally allocate water resources. This study utilized continuous runoff data from 1967 to 2020 at the Zhouqu Hydrological Station on the Bailong River. Five hydrological methods, tailored to the hydrological characteristics of the Zhouqu hydrological cross-section, were employed. These methods included the improved dynamic calculation method, the NGPRP method, the improved monthly frequency computation method, the improved RVA method, and the Tennant method. Ecological flow calculations were conducted to determine the ecological flow, with analysis carried out through the degree of satisfaction, economic benefits, and the nonlinear fitting of the GCAS model. We established an ecological flow threshold and early warning program for this specific hydrological cross-section. Ecological flow values calculated using different methods for each month of the year were compared. The improved RVA method and Tennant method resulted in small values ranging from 4.05 to 36.40 m3/s and 7.65 to 22.94 m3/s, respectively, with high satisfaction levels and economic benefits, but not conducive to ecologically sound development. In contrast, the dynamic calculation method, NGPRP method, and improved monthly frequency calculation method yielded larger ecological flow values in the ranges of 21.79–97.02 m3/s, 23.90–137.00 m3/s, and 28.50–126.00 m3/s, respectively, with poor fulfillment and economic benefits. Ecological flow thresholds were determined using the GCAS model, with values ranging from 16.72 to 114.58 m3/s during the abundant water period and from 5.03 to 63.63 m3/s during the dry water period. A three-level ecological warning system was proposed based on these thresholds, with the orange warning level indicating optimal sustainable development capacity for the Zhouqu Hydrological Station. This study provides valuable insights into the scientific management of water resources in the Bailong River Basin to ensure ecological security and promote sustainable development.