Impact Water Quality Research Articles

Exploring institutional drivers and barriers for green ESG strategies performance in Russian regions

Stakeholders are interested in creating an institutional environment in regions that promotes green economic growth. However, the increased risks of failing to achieve sustainable development goals are shifting stakeholders’ focus towards strategic evidence-based and data- driven approaches to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies. This article aims to identify the drivers and barriers to green ESG strategies in Russian regions. Using regression analysis, institutional factors affecting the green index, calculated based on national sustainable development indicators, were identified. The green index proposed by the author includes indicators of water quality, green urbanization, and local climate impact. The results showed that the drivers of effective green ESG strategies are environmental investments, activities of small and medium- sized enterprises in the region, high-quality urbanization, and the development of public transportation infrastructure. Barriers to green performance include regional unemployment and a low level of health capital, reflected through mortality from cardiovascular diseases and cancers. The findings of this study can be used for green monitoring of the effectiveness of regional ESG strategies.

Reduction of Nitrate Leaching and Threats to Surface Water Under Conservation Tillage

Highlights Conservation agriculture practice (NT) improved soil organic matter, a principal indicator of soil health, soil health score (SHS) and CO2 respiration, and other soil physical and chemical properties vs. conventional till (CT) practice. Conservation agriculture practice (NT) promoted soil health functions under sufficient precipitation distribution and ample temperature conditions and aided the soil's retention ability to resist nitrate leaching and loads in subsurface drainage discharge systems. Uneven weather conditions, drought, and other variable agronomic practices rendered soil conditions unfavorable to retain nitrate and induced adverse effects by increasing the nitrate leaching and loads in NT vs. CT. The limited experiment period presented significant challenges for the evaluation and synthesizing of soil health motivations and barriers in the NT vs. CT. Abstract. An edge-of-field subsurface drainage discharge system removes excess subsurface water from agricultural fields to improve the conditions of the soil system making them favorable for plant growth. Conversely, edge-of-fields can increase the nitrate (NO3 -) offsite movement to surface water bodies, which ultimately impacts water quality. In St. Johns, MI. Two on-farm large areas were initiated in 2013 for conservation (NT) and conventional till (CT) practices, of which two microscale fields, an area of 4 acres for each, were delineated in 2019 for NT and CT practices under a corn/soybean crop rotation. NT and CT fields were monitored and evaluated through full water years (WYs) 2019-2022. The objective was to use an innovative approach in coupling edge-of-field with soil health assessments to learn how improved soil health functions are influencing nitrate leaching and loads. NT practice enhanced SOM, other physical properties, and soil health parameters, promoting soil health functions compared to CT practice under conditions of adequate precipitation and favorable temperatures. Additionally, it improved the soil's ability to retain and resist nitrate loads in the 2020 water year, with reductions of 9.6 and 18.3 kg/ha, respectively. In 2021, WY nitrate loads reported nearly an equal value in NT vs. CT (4.8 and 4.4 kg/ha, respectively). Factors of uneven weather conditions and drought, variable agronomic practices, and residual nitrogen after corn, rendered soil conditions unfavorable to retain nitrate and induced adverse effects by increasing the nitrate leaching and loads in NT vs CT in 2022 WY (8.1 and 5.8 kg/h, respectively). Therefore, the limited evaluation period (2019-2022 WYs) presented significant challenges and revealed no affirmative evidence that the improved soil health functions under NT reduced the nitrate leaching loads in all WYs of this research. Further research is needed to prove the impact of NT on improving soil health functions to sustainably reduce nitrate leaching and loads in edge-of-fields. Keywords: Conservation no-till (NT), Conventional till (CT), Nitrate load, Soil health functions, Subsurface drainage discharge, Water quality.

Optimizing water hardness removal through electrodialysis: A comprehensive exploration using Box-Behnken design analysis

Water hardness significantly impacts water quality, influencing both industrial processes and daily domestic applications. This study investigates the efficacy of electrodialysis (ED) in removing hardness, aiming for a balanced approach that avoids aggressive or scaling tendencies. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to determine the interaction between the inputs and the hardness removal, optimizing key parameters using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The resulting regression model, validated through analysis of variance (ANOVA), demonstrated a high R2 value of 0.9761 and an adjusted R2 value of 0.9454, indicating a robust fitness for hardness removal prediction. The interaction of both voltage and initial concentration holds significance in our investigative study. A notable hardness removal efficiency of 87% was achieved at a demineralization time of 47 min, an applied voltage of 11V and an initial concentration of 5.3 mmol/L. This research enhances our understanding of critical operating parameters in ED, offering insights for optimizing the process toward effective water softening and long-term water treatment.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AMPHIBIAN (ANURA) BIODIVERSITY AT THREE SELECTED SITES IN RELATION TO PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF YAMUNA RIVER AGRA

Present paper illustrates the water quality of Yamuna River from the Agra at various locations. Water samples were collected from three sites (Poia ghat, Bainpur Reserve forest and Taj Nature Walk) of Agra region, during months March to November . Samples were taken to the laboratory and examine, just then to observe the Amphibian species especially (Anura), few specific Anurans were found on the spot then monitored of them. Mainly observed that the impact of water quality on Anurans and studied that changes on their existence and also richness at breeding sites. Water analysis was also done for the parameters such as CO2, Alkalinity, Chlorides, magnesium Mg, Na Sodium. Thus finding of such research reflects that the water quality of river Yamuna is so poor condition also harmful for all living things.

Research on Underwater Wireless Optical Communication Channel Model and Its Application

Underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) is an emerging technology with wide-ranging applications in marine exploration, offshore industries, environmental monitoring, and underwater robotics. In order to investigate the application of UWOC in environments of different water quality, this study establishes a model of an optical communication channel and analyzes the impact of water quality on communication range. Our experimental design is employed to validate the effectiveness of the model and analyze the sources of model errors. Furthermore, this research introduces the concept of an “effective communication space” for underwater optical wireless communication and constructs an experimental platform to test the effective communication space under various water quality conditions. In addition, the application methods and workflow of wireless optical communication on underwater mobile platforms are discussed, and field tests are conducted in a practical lake environment to verify the application value of the effective communication space. This research offers valuable guidance for advancing the study and engineering applications of UWOC technology.

Water quality impact on flotation Response: A focus on specific ions and temperature

Plant water recycling causes an accumulation of ions in the process water which may affect plant processes since processing routes are water intensive. Seasonal temperature differences affect the water quality through variation of the available recycled water within the plant between the summer and winter seasons. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of specific ions and temperature, relevant to onsite process water recycling and temperature variations brought about by seasonal changes, on the separation of gangue from valuable minerals in batch flotation of a low-grade Cu-Ni-PGE ore. Water and solids recoveries were impacted by Ca2+ and SO42-. At high SO42- concentrations, an increase in Ca2+ increased the mass of water and solids recovered. An increase in SO42- alone caused an increase in copper recovery whilst decreasing the copper grade. S2O32- alone affected the nickel recovery. An increase in S2O32- caused an increase in nickel recovery whilst the nickel grade was affected by the interaction of S2O32- and temperature. Furthermore, copper showed similar trends as those observed for nickel in the responses for the mineral grade. At high S2O32- concentration there was no observable change in the nickel and copper grades when temperature increased. At low S2O32- concentrations, an increase in temperature decreased the nickel and copper grades. In addition to the interactive effect of temperature and S2O32-, nickel was more temperature sensitive in comparison to copper. The study demonstrated that there are specific ion concentration ranges beyond which flotation performance was adversely affected and other ranges beyond which no observable effect on flotation was visible. Based on this understanding, it may be possible to predict the ideal operating conditions for the number of water recycles in a plant. The higher ionic concentrations and their corresponding ionic strengths resulted in a more stable froth in comparison to lower ionic concentrations and consequently an improvement in the recoveries.

Water Quality and Flooding Impact of the Record-Breaking Storm Gloria in the Ebro Delta (Western Mediterranean)

Extreme events are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change, making the littoral zone even more vulnerable and requiring continuous monitoring for its optimized management. The low-lying Ebro Delta ecosystem, located in the NW Mediterranean, was subject to Storm Gloria in the winter of 2020, the most severe coastal storm registered in the area in decades and one of the most intense ever recorded in the Mediterranean. This event caused intense rainfall, severe flooding, the erosion of beaches, and the destruction of coastal infrastructures. In this study, the Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 satellites were used to monitor the flooding impact and water quality status, including chlorophyll-a, suspended particulate matter, and turbidity, to evaluate the pre-, syn-, and post-storm scenarios. Image processing was carried out using the ACOLITE software and the on-the-cloud Google Earth Engine platform for the water quality and flood mapping, respectively, showing a consistent performance for both satellites. This cost-effective methodology allowed us to characterize the main water quality variation in the coastal environment during the storm and detect a higher flooding impact compared to the one registered three days later by the Copernicus Emergency Service for the same area. Moreover, the time series revealed how the detrimental impact on the water quality and turbidity conditions was restored two weeks after the extreme weather event. While transitional plumes of sediment discharge were formed, no phytoplankton blooms appeared during the study period in the delta. These results demonstrate that the workflow implemented is suitable for monitoring extreme coastal events using open satellite imagery at 10–30 m spatial resolution, thus providing valuable information for early warning to facilitate timely assistance and hazard impact evaluation. The integration of these tools into ecological disaster management can significantly improve current monitoring strategies, supporting decision-makers from the local to the national level in prevention, adaptation measures, and damage compensation.

On conservation of world heritage Beijing-Hangzhou grand canal for enhancing cultural ecosystem services

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal carries unique social and cultural significance as a world cultural heritage, but with the acceleration of global urbanization, it has potentially severe environmental risks under continuous anthropogenic disturbances. Therefore, to protect the ecological and cultural values of the Grand Canal, it is necessary to assess the corresponding relationship of water quality to land use and the perception of ecosystem services that focus on cultural ecosystem services (CES). This study aims to analyze the water quality response to land use in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, describe the land use types closely related to water quality, and propose corresponding management strategies for enhancing CES. This study investigated the impacts of land use structure and landscape pattern on water quality by calculating the correlation between land use structure and landscape pattern indices and water quality in buffer zones of different distances on both sides of the canal. The results show that green land dominates the land use structure and can effectively reduce water pollution in the canal. On the other hand, urban impervious surfaces showed a significant positive correlation with pollution contributing to low water quality. We accessed the impact of water quality on the perception of CES in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and proposed optimization strategies for promoting CES. Both content analysis and thematic analysis were applied to analyze the impact of the water environment quality of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal on the perception of CES. We found that the perceptions of CES along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal are associated with the public’s opinions on its cultural heritage services and artistic inspiration services. The perceptions of CES are closely related to the quality of the water environment and riparian greenness, which affect the values of cultural heritage and conservation of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

GROUND WATER QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH IN DUNGARPUR DISTRICT OF RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Abstract. Dungarpur, one of the most backward districts of India, is a predominantly tribal region of Rajasthan state. Ground water is the major source of drinking water in the region. High concentrations of Fluoride (F) and Iron (Fe) have been reported in the region which poses high risk of rampant water-borne diseases. This study evaluates the ground water quality for drinking purpose in terms of 10 hydro-geochemical and two biological parameters in context of causative factors like land use and geology of the region. The occurrence of water borne diseases in resident population has been examined in association with quality of drinking water and priority areas for policy intervention have been identified. Water samples have been collected from 173 drinking water sources and 346 households consuming water from the selected sources have been surveyed for prevalence of water borne diseases. Water quality surfaces have been mapped in terms of F, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Hardness, Fe, alkalinity, Faecal Coliform (FC), E. Coli, and Water Quality Index (WQI) computed on the basis of 10 geochemical parameters, using Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) method. Results reveal that the north-eastern part comprising Aspur, Sabla and part of Sagwara tehsils predominantly has ‘very poor’ to ‘unsuitable’ water quality. The western part has excessive faecal contamination. Entire district has high levels of TDS and hardness, while excessive Fe and F occur in specific regions. Disease incidence closely corresponds to the geochemical and microbial composition of water. Higher values of WQI correspond with occurrence of Phyllites and Mica Schists.

Nutrient removal performance from agricultural drainage by strengthening ecological ditches in hilly areas

Agricultural drainage from catchment greatly impacts water quality in the hilly area due to high nitrogen concentrations in the central basin of Sichuan Province, China. The original ecological ditches have proven effective in removing associated nutrient loads, but their nitrogen removal efficiency is limited by the elevated nitrogen levels of overland flow and subsurface flow. Field experiments were conducted to optimize the drainage network to enhance the performance of ecological ditches and enhance nitrogen removal efficiency in hilly regions. The results suggested that ecologically permeable dam ditches exhibited superior total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies compared to single dams, multiple dams, and ecological intercept dams. Specifically, in single, multiple, and ecological intercept dams, TN removal was 20.2 %, 12.7 %, and 2.5 % higher, respectively, while TP removal was 18.2 %, 10.3 %, and 3.7 % higher, respectively. The TN removal efficiency by the Hydrocotyle verticillate and Iris pseudacorus L. ditch was 15.8 % and 2.3 % higher than that of the Myriophyllum verticillatum L. and Hydrocotyle verticillata and Hydrocotyle verticillata and Thalia dealbata Fraser, respectively. The TP removal efficiency in Hydrocotyle verticillata and Thalia dealbata Fraser ditch was 11.4 % and 3.5 % higher than that in Myriophyllum verticillatum L. and Hydrocotyle verticillata and Hydrocotyle verticillate and Iris pseudacorus L., respectively. The soil bed ditch demonstrated superior TN and TP removal efficiencies, with rates of 15.2 % and 11.3 %, respectively, compared to the pebble bed and mudstone bed (2.9 % and 3.4 %, respectively). Therefore, the original ecological ditch was reinforced through a combination of fine-textured soil substrates, native emergent plants with large biomass and ecologically permeable dams to enhance the removal efficiencies of TN and TP in agricultural drainage. Following reinforcement and evaluation in 2020, the removal efficiencies of TN, TP, ammonia nitrogen (AN) and nitrate nitrogen (NN) in the strengthened ecological ditches increased to 58.1 %, 56.5 %, 56.8 % and 54.2 %, respectively. In this study, a scientific foundation for enhancing the efficacy of ecological ditches in mitigating nonpoint source pollution from agricultural drainage in mountainous and hilly regions of subtropical and developing countries is established.

Comparative Diversity and Functional Traits of Fungal Endophytes in Response to Elevated Mineral Content in a Mangrove Ecosystem.

This study investigates the impact of water quality, specifically elevated phosphate and zinc content, on the diversity and functional properties of mangrove fungal endophytes in two distinct mangrove forests. Mangrove plant performance is directly related to the presence of fungal leaf endophytes as these fungi could enhance plant health, resilience, and adaptability under stressed environmental conditions. Two distinct mangrove forest sites, one non-disturbed (ND) and one disturbed by aquaculture practices (D), were assessed for differences in water quality parameters. We further analyzed the fungal endophyte diversity associated with the leaves of a target host mangrove, Rhizophora mucronata Lamk., with the aim to elucidate whether fungal diversity and functional traits are linked to disturbances brought about by aquaculture practices and to characterize functional traits of selected fungal isolates with respect to phosphate (PO4) and zinc (Zn) solubilization. Contrary to expectations, the disturbed site exhibited a higher fungal diversity, challenging assumptions about the relationship between contamination and fungal community dynamics. Water quality, as determined by nutrient and mineral levels, emerged as a crucial factor in shaping both microbial community compositions in the phyllosphere of mangroves. From both sites, we isolated 188 fungal endophytes, with the ND site hosting a higher number of isolates and a greater colonization rate. While taxonomic diversity marginally differed (ND: 28 species, D: 29 species), the Shannon (H' = 3.19) and FAI (FA = 20.86) indices revealed a statistically significant increase in species diversity for fungal endophytes in the disturbed mangrove site as compared to the non-disturbed area (H' = 3.10, FAI = 13.08). Our chosen mangrove fungal endophytes exhibited remarkable phosphate solubilization capabilities even at elevated concentrations, particularly those derived from the disturbed site. Despite their proficiency in solubilizing zinc across a wide range of concentrations, a significant impact on their mycelial growth was noted, underscoring a crucial aspect of their functional dynamics. Our findings revealed a nuanced trade-off between mycelial growth and enzymatic production in fungal endophytes from ostensibly less contaminated sites, highlighting the relationship between nutrient availability and microbial activities. These insights provide a foundation for understanding the impact of anthropogenic pressures, specifically nutrient pollution, on mangrove-associated fungal endophytes.

Participatory Modeling for Analyzing Interactions Between High‐Priority Sustainable Development Goals to Promote Local Sustainability

AbstractAchieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is challenging given the complex interactions between different SDGs and their spillover effects. We developed a system dynamics model—the Local Environmental and Socio‐Economic Model (LESEM)—to analyze and quantify context‐based SDG interactions at the local scale using a participatory model co‐design process with local stakeholders. The LESEM was developed for the Goulburn‐Murray Irrigation District in Victoria, Australia, to assist policymakers in analyzing local issues with a more integrated and holistic approach to sustainable development at the local scale. The process of participatory systems dynamics modeling facilitates integrated and strategic decision‐making and can help local policymakers identify and quantify potential trade‐offs and synergies that benefit multiple SDGs, which eventually leads local communities toward sustainability. We present an illustrative application of the model that quantifies SDG interactions across four high‐priority SDGs, namely clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), zero hunger (SDG 2), economic growth (SDG 8), and life on land (SDG 15). We illustrate the use of the model in assessing key SDG indicator trajectories under a business‐as‐usual (BAU) scenario from 2010 to 2050. Under the BAU, agri‐food production increased despite a decline in water resource availability, with gains driven by intensification and increased agricultural productivity. This boosted local prosperity and reduced the amount of agricultural land required to meet future agri‐food demand, thereby reducing pressures on terrestrial ecosystems and creating the space for ecological restoration and carbon storage in soils and biomass. However, agricultural intensification impacted water quality through increases in algal blooms and river salinity.

Assessment of Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Jebba Upper Basin on River Niger, North Central Nigeria

Jebba Upper Basin upstream at Kainji, was constructed on River Niger in Nigeria during the last five decades mainly for hydropower generation, but receives pollutants through anthropogenic activities. This study assesses physical and chemical characteristics of Jebba upper basin on River Niger, North Central Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. The results show that the mean values of the physical and chemical parameters of water were: temperature (27.89±1.84 °C), pH (7.17±0.22), dissolved oxygen (6.35±0.91 mg/L), total hardness (42.33±32.89 mg/L), biological oxygen demand (2.85±1.07 mg/L), and conductivity (51.13±29.09 µs/cm). The result shows that temperature has significant positive (either at r < 0.05 and r < 0.01) association with Total Hardness (TH) (0.47), BOD (0.30) and NO3- (0.43) though inversely correlated with transparency (-0.29, r >0.05). Total Hardness also have a positive correlation (0.52, r >0.05) with nitrate. Spatial-temporal variations influenced by environmental factors were observed to impacted water quality parameters in the study area.

Impact and recovery of water quality in a river with salmon aquaculture

AbstractFreshwater aquaculture can have negative impacts on chemical, physical and biological water quality. To contextualise the impact that these activities may have, a case study site in Ireland was monitored for 1 year. The study aims were to investigate the impact of freshwater aquaculture on water quality (biological, physical, and chemical) and the degree of the impact and recovery in water quality, within 1000 m downstream of a salmon smolt hatchery. The hatchery was monitored, at four locations (upstream, 10, 100, and 1,000 m downstream of the discharge point). Data on macroinvertebrate, macrophyte, hydromorphology and chemical characteristics were collected. Results for the physical monitoring indicated no significant changes in hydromorphology between up and downstream sites. Chemical water quality did decrease downstream in terms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The greatest concentrations in N and P were found at 1000 m though it is likely additional contributions from agriculture impacted this site. Dissolved oxygen was steady throughout the monitoring campaign with a 13% variance between upstream and downstream locations. Changes in biological indices were statistically significant for taxa at all downstream sites. There were positive trends which indicated a degree of recovery in biotic indices.

Coupling water, solute, and sediment transport into a new computationally efficient hydrologic model

While surface–subsurface interactions strongly impact water quality and quantity in ecosystems, only relatively little attention has been given to solute mass transfers at this boundary. The KINEROS2 (K2) model solves the 1D kinematic wave equation for water flow and the advection–dispersion equation for non-absorbing solute (or sediment) transport at the surface, whereas the HYDRUS-1D (H1D) model solves the Richards equation for flow and the advection–dispersion equation for solute transport in the subsurface. We previously coupled water flow in the surface and subsurface environments using the K2 and H1D models (H1D-K2). Herein, an innovative framework was developed to additionally couple solute transport at the surface–subsurface boundary in the simple, accurate, and computationally efficient H1D-K2 model. To test the H1D-K2 model’s accuracy and robustness, simulation results are compared to analytical solutions, experimental data, and results from the two-dimensional HYDRUS-2D (H2D) code. The relative differences in water and solute balance components between the H2D and H1D-K2 models are less than 1% for homogeneous cases and 4% for heterogeneous cases. The simulated hydrograph and chemograph are almost identical for the two models. Furthermore, simulated Bromide (Br) concentration in runoff is in good agreement with observations. The proposed model also accurately reproduces soil erosion under different rainfall patterns and intensities.

For Want of a Cup: The Rise of Tea in England and the Impact of Water Quality on Mortality

Abstract This paper explores the impact of water quality on mortality by exploiting a natural experiment: the rise of tea consumption in eighteenth century England. This resulted in an unintentional increase in consumption of boiled water, thereby reducing mortality rates. The methodology uses two identification strategies tying areas with lower initial water quality to larger declines in mortality rates after tea drinking became widespread and following larger volumes of tea imports. Results are robust to the inclusion of controls for income and access to trade. The hypothesis is further bolstered by suggestive evidence from cause specific deaths and early childhood mortality.

Chemical characteristics with attention on toxic metals content in sediments of the urban tropical ecosystem Río Almendares, Havana, Cuba: Pollution risk assessment

Anthropogenic disturbances have dramatically impacted surface water quality worldwide. There is no restriction placed on waste disposal in developing countries, so micropollutants, including metals, are of major concern to soil and water. A tropical river ecosystem was selected as a model for this study: Almendares River (Havana, Cuba). We investigated the occurrence of 15 toxic metals in surface sediment for ecological risk analysis. Results indicated that sediments of a silty loam type had higher concentrations of four metals (Cr concentration range: 3.59–7.35 mg kg−1, Cu: 6.23–14.82 mg kg−1, Zn: 22.64–27.40 mg kg−1, and Pb:3.85–6.72 mg kg−1), than Cuban norms. Further, the contamination indices including Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation, Contamination Factor, Contamination Degree, Ecological Risk Factor and Potential Ecological Risk were calculated. 10 elements presented significant enrichment at the sampling stations of the 15 metals examined; Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Ag had the highest EF values. Anthropogenic activities and polymetallic contamination could be the main source of these five heavy metals. The correlation analysis revealed that domestic, agricultural, and industrial sources were the main sources of contamination, along with an unregulated landfill. In terms of the extent of metal contamination in the urban site (Zone II) of Almendares River, this study constitutes the most comprehensive and extensive. The study contributes to the knowledge of the region and is crucial for the sustainable management of the Almendares River. There must be efforts made to control metal pollution in this river and ensure that metal levels are monitored.

Statistical Analysis and Health Risk Assessment: Vegetables Irrigated with Wastewater in Kirri Shamozai, Pakistan.

One of the primary environmental routes through which humans are exposed to metals and may be exposed to health risks is the food chain's contamination with heavy metals. The study observed the risks posed by contaminants in vegetables produced in soil that received wastewater irrigation, as well as their origins and the human health impacts. Eight harmful metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr) were tested for concentration levels in water, soil, and vegetable samples using analytical techniques and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The present study investigated the potential health implications associated with the consumption of vegetables irrigated using wastewater containing heavy metals. The results indicated a notable accumulation of heavy metals in plant and soil samples obtained from Kirri Shamozai, Pakistan. In comparison to vegetables cultivated in soil irrigated with fresh water, the concentration levels of heavy metals in vegetables grown on soil irrigated with untreated wastewater were considerably higher at (P ≤ 0.001) and above the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits. The results showed that heavy metals had significantly accumulated in the soil and had permeated into the crops. Heavy metal concentrations in vegetables cultivated on land irrigated with wastewater were more significant than those grown on land irrigated with freshwater. They exceeded US EPA and World Health Organization (WHO) limits. PCA results for Pb, Cu, and Cr are the main issues impacting water quality and health hazards. The PCA results show that the soil has an extensive loading of heavy metals Cd, Ni, and Mn.

Cover crop impacts water quality in a tile-terraced no-till field with corn-soybean rotation

Cover crops (CCs) are a recognized best management practice to reduce surface water runoff and nutrient loss from agroecosystems. This 4-yr study was conducted in a tile-terraced field to assess the effects of CCs on nutrient loss compared to without CC (no CC) in a corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation. The 3xCCmix (wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. Sativus), and turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. Rapa)) was aerial seeded in soybean at R6 in 2018 and 2020. Cereal rye (Secale cereale) was drill seeded after the corn harvest in 2019 and 2021 (corn-cereal rye-soybean-3xCCmix). Water samples from individual flumes were collected using automated samplers and analyzed for concentrations and loads of nitrate-N (NO3-N), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved phosphorus (PO4-P), and total suspended solids (TSS). The 3xCCmix and cereal rye had 16% and 12% lower discharge, respectively, than no CC. The 3xCCmix reduced TSS load 50% compared to CC, while cereal rye had no effect. Cover crops reduced NO3-N load 20%, 54%, and 68% during the corn, cereal rye, and soybean growing periods, respectively. Over the full rotations, cumulative discharge and nutrient loads were greater during the 2018–20 crop rotation year because of increased precipitation in 2019. The variability in effectiveness of CCs in reducing nutrient losses was likely affected by different climatic and management factors including CC planting and termination dates. This study highlights the benefits of CCs for reducing sediment and nutrient loss over crop rotation, as well as the continued need for enhanced fertilizer management systems to reduce nutrient loss.

Linking the use of reclaimed water to indicators of crop stress by metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. A tool to compare water irrigation quality

The occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) or heavy metals in reclaimed water used for agricultural irrigation may affect crop morphology and physiology. Here, we analyzed lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grown in outdoor lysimeters and irrigated with either tap water, used as a control, or reclaimed water: CAS-reclaimed water, an effluent from a conventional activated sludge system (CAS) followed by chlorination and sand filtration, or MBR-reclaimed water, an effluent from a membrane biological reactor (MBR). Chemical analyses identified seven CECs in the reclaimed waters, but only two of them were detected in lettuce (carbamazepine and azithromycin). Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that irrigation with reclaimed water increased the concentrations of several crop metabolites (5-oxoproline, leucine, isoleucine, and fumarate) and of transcripts codifying for the plant stress-related genes Heat-Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) and Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD). In both cases, MBR-water elicited the strongest response in lettuce, perhaps related to its comparatively high sodium adsorption ratio (4.5), rather than to its content in CECs or heavy metals. Our study indicates that crop metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles depend on the composition of irrigating water and that they could be used for testing the impact of water quality in agriculture.