Sulfur Levels Research Articles

Polyoxometalates ionic liquids based magnetic nanocomposites as an efficient heterogeneous catalysts for oxidation of thiobenzoic acid and dibenzothiophene by employing RP-HPLC-UV

Sulfur compounds need to be effectively rejected from fuel to maintain a clean environment. The removal of sulfur compounds from thiocompounds has received increased attention due to the negative environmental and industrial consequences of sulfur emissions. We examine the effectiveness of polyoxometalate (POM) ionic liquid-based nanocomposites as catalysts for the oxidative desulfurization of thiobenzoic acid and other sulfur-containing chemicals. Na-POMIL@NCP and Cr-POMIL@NCP were synthesized and thoroughly characterized using a variety of analytical techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). POMIL-based nanocomposites with Fe3O4@SiO2 exhibit both catalytic activity and adsorption capability. To evaluate sulfur removal efficiency and investigate the transformation paths of the thio compounds, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed at 33 °C using a C18 column with an acetonitrile–water mobile phase (1:1 ratio). The catalytic conversion of thiobenzoic acid and dibenzothiophene occurs at temperature, oxidant O/S ratio and catalyst concentration were investigated to determine the best catalyst for a given process. Under moderate conditions, this work proposes a cost-effective and ecologically acceptable approach for thiobenzoic acid (TB) and dibenzothiophene (DBT) production employing H2O2 as an oxidant and Na-POMIL@NCP and Cr-POMIL@NCP as heterogeneous catalysts. They are highly effective for oxidizing sulfur compounds included in diesel to lower the sulfur levels of fuel. This study provides to the development of innovative materials for ecologically friendly sulfur removal applications.

Better growth and yield performance of lentil under different level of phosphorus,sulphur and zinc in sub-humid Southern plain of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur (Rajasthan) to assess the impact of different levels of phosphorus, sulphur and zinc on growth parameters and yield of lentil. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and 18 treatment combinations. Phosphorus factor comprised of 3 levels, viz. 30, 40 and 50 kg P2 O5 /ha along with sulphur that comprised of 3 levels, viz. 15, 20 and 25 kg/ha; and zinc factor with 2 levels, viz. control and 0.5 % ZnSO4 foliar spray at 55 Days after sowing (DAS). Results revealed that the higher plant height, dry matter accumulation (DMA) and primary branches/plant were recorded with application of 40 kg P2 O5 /ha in combination of 25 kg/ha sulphur and foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 55 DAS. The dry matter accumulation (0.838**) and plant height (0.871**) had a significant and positive correlation with the seed yield. The crop growth rate (CGR) enlaced by 10.49% and root-shoot ratio by 7.21% with application of 40 kg P2 O5 /ha over 30 kg P2 O5 /ha. Similarly, the CGR and root-shoot ratio of lentil were significantly enhanced by 11.95 and 5.19%, respectively with 25 kg/ha over 15 kg/ha sulphur application at 60-90 DAS. Likewise, the significantly increased CGR by 5.09% and root-shoot ratio by 3.72% with application of 0.5% ZnSO4 as foliar spray over control. Moreover, the effective nodules increased by 22.68% and fresh and dry weight by 20.9 and 8.0% respectively with 50 kg P2 O5 /ha during both the years. The effective nodules and fresh and dry weight of nodules/ plant increased by 13.59, 12.68 and 6.52% respectively with 25 kg/ha over 15 kg/ha suphur application while it was increased by. 6.71%, the by 6.39 and 4.08% respectively with 0.5% foliar spray of ZnSO4 over control. Furthermore, significantly higher seed, haulm and biological yields increased by 9.34, 12.90 and 11.75%, respectively with 40 kg P2 O5 /ha followed by 50 kg P2 O5 /ha over 30 kg P2 O5 /ha. Similarly, the application of 25 kg/ha sulphur significantly enhanced seed yield, haulm and biological yields of lentil but it has no significant effect on the harvest index. The foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 increased the seed yield by 4.71 per cent, haulm yield by 7.30 per cent and biological yield by 6.45% over control. The plant growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of lentil were significantly enhanced with the application of P2O5 (40 kg/ha) and sulphur (25 kg/ha) along with ZnSO4 (0.5%) as foliar spray at 55 days after sowing as compared to other treatment combinations. These treatment combinations could be adopted to achieve better growth performances and bridging yield gap of lentil in sub-humid agro ecologies.

Better growth and yield performance of lentil under different level of phosphorus,sulphur and zinc in sub-humid Southern plain of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur (Rajasthan) to assess the impact of different levels of phosphorus, sulphur and zinc on growth parameters and yield of lentil. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and 18 treatment combinations. Phosphorus factor comprised of 3 levels, viz. 30, 40 and 50 kg P2 O5 /ha along with sulphur that comprised of 3 levels, viz. 15, 20 and 25 kg/ha; and zinc factor with 2 levels, viz. control and 0.5 % ZnSO4 foliar spray at 55 Days after sowing (DAS). Results revealed that the higher plant height, dry matter accumulation (DMA) and primary branches/plant were recorded with application of 40 kg P2 O5 /ha in combination of 25 kg/ha sulphur and foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 55 DAS. The dry matter accumulation (0.838**) and plant height (0.871**) had a significant and positive correlation with the seed yield. The crop growth rate (CGR) enlaced by 10.49% and root-shoot ratio by 7.21% with application of 40 kg P2 O5 /ha over 30 kg P2 O5 /ha. Similarly, the CGR and root-shoot ratio of lentil were significantly enhanced by 11.95 and 5.19%, respectively with 25 kg/ha over 15 kg/ha sulphur application at 60-90 DAS. Likewise, the significantly increased CGR by 5.09% and root-shoot ratio by 3.72% with application of 0.5% ZnSO4 as foliar spray over control. Moreover, the effective nodules increased by 22.68% and fresh and dry weight by 20.9 and 8.0% respectively with 50 kg P2 O5 /ha during both the years. The effective nodules and fresh and dry weight of nodules/ plant increased by 13.59, 12.68 and 6.52% respectively with 25 kg/ha over 15 kg/ha suphur application while it was increased by. 6.71%, the by 6.39 and 4.08% respectively with 0.5% foliar spray of ZnSO4 over control. Furthermore, significantly higher seed, haulm and biological yields increased by 9.34, 12.90 and 11.75%, respectively with 40 kg P2 O5 /ha followed by 50 kg P2 O5 /ha over 30 kg P2 O5 /ha. Similarly, the application of 25 kg/ha sulphur significantly enhanced seed yield, haulm and biological yields of lentil but it has no significant effect on the harvest index. The foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 increased the seed yield by 4.71 per cent, haulm yield by 7.30 per cent and biological yield by 6.45% over control. The plant growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of lentil were significantly enhanced with the application of P2O5 (40 kg/ha) and sulphur (25 kg/ha) along with ZnSO4 (0.5%) as foliar spray at 55 days after sowing as compared to other treatment combinations. These treatment combinations could be adopted to achieve better growth performances and bridging yield gap of lentil in sub-humid agro ecologies.

Effect of Sulphur and Zinc application on Growth and Nutrient uptake by Gobhi Sarson (Brassica napus L.) under Central Plain Region of Punjab, India

Background: Zinc (Zn) and Sulphur (S) play critical roles in enhancing plant growth, nutrient uptake and productivity. Despite their importance, there is limited understanding of their combined impact under field conditions in Punjab, India. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying levels of zinc and sulphur application on growth, chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake in plants to optimize their agricultural use. Methods: A two-year field experiment (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) was conducted at the Agronomy Research Field, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India. The experimental design included four zinc application treatmentsviz., Z0-Control, Z1-1 appl. (one spray @ 15 DAS), Z2-2 appl. (two spray @ 15 + 45 DAS) and Z3-3 appl. (three spray @ 15 + 45 + 75 DAS) and four sulphur application treatments viz., S0-Control, S1 (10 kg ha-1), S2 (20 kg ha-1) and S3 (30 kg ha-1). The plant height (cm), fresh weight (g), dry weight(g), number of leaf/plant, chlorophyll content (mg/g), number of primary leaf and number of secondary leaf was recorded maximum under Z3-3 appl. (three spray @ 15 + 45 + 75 DAS) and which was at par with Z2-2 appl. (two spray @ 15 + 45 DAS) and similar trend were also found in N, P, K, S and Zn uptake by stover and seed. Result: In sulphur levels highest plant height (cm), fresh weight (g), dry weight(g), number of leaf/plant, chlorophyll content (mg/g), number of primary leaf and number of secondary leaf, N, P, K, S and Zn uptake by stover and seed were found under S3 (30 kg ha-1). These findings highlight the synergistic effect of higher zinc and sulphur applications on plant growth and productivity.

Effect of Genotypes and Sulphur Levels on Yield Attributes, Yield and Quality of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Background: Groundnut is an important oilseed crop and belongs to the family Leguminosae. However, the productivity of groundnut in India is less as compared to average productivity of the world. Variety and sulphur are crucial for the growth and yield of crops like groundnut. Methods: The field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2023 at crop physiology field lab, Department of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four genotypes (G1-MH 4, G2-HNG 10, G3-HNG 69, G4- GNH 804) in main plots and four sulphur levels (S1-Control, S2-20 kg/ha, S3-40 kg/ha, S4-60 kg S/ha) in sub-plots with three replications. Results: The results indicated the genotypes and sulphur significantly improved the pod yield and yield components except harvest index and all the quality parameters.

Influences of ternary ethanol methanol gasoline mixtures on the performance of a spark ignition engine

The principal aim of this study is to determine the influence of ternary mixtures of gasoline, ethanol and methanol as fuels, on a spark ignition engine performance. Four samples of fuels were prepared with varying concentrations of each constituent. The different fuels studied are: EM0 (gasoline), EM5 (2.5% ethanol, 2.5% methanol, 95% gasoline), EM10 (5% ethanol, 5% methanol, 90% gasoline) and EM15 (7.5% ethanol, 7.5% methanol, 85% gasoline). A battery of tests (appearance, color, odor, lower heating value, density, research octane number, vapor pressure, total sulfur content and distillation curve) was carried out on these mixtures in order to determine their physicochemical properties and their ability to be used as fuel. Then, the different prepared mixtures were used as fuels to determine the performance of the 4-stroke, carbureted Renault 4 engine. These tests show that these additions give rise to a fuel with a lower sulfur level, a higher RON and a lower low heating value compared to unleaded gasoline and therefore improve, depending on the circumstances, the power of the fuel engine, its specific consumption, its speed and combustion. At the end of this study, it was concluded that the use of fuel mixtures was relevant for high speeds and also more suitable for total loads.

EFFECT OF TEST PARAMETERS ON ABRASION RESISTANCE OF COATINGS UNDER ABRASIVE WEAR CONDITIONS

The article deals with the determination of the influence of the speed of hard metal layers welding, with a focus on the evaluation of the abrasive wear of the layers formed by the tubular wire welding technology. The layers were wound with filled wire manufactured by ESAB under the trade name Fluxofil 58. Two different winding speeds of v=125m/min and a speed of 18m/min were used to produce the samples. Subsequently, it was necessary to determine the dependence of abrasive wear on the different abrasive hardness. The abrasives used in the experiment were SiO2 (silica) and Al2O3 (alumina, also referred to as corundum). Abrasive wear resistance was determined from the mass loss determined by weighing the prepared specimens before the test and also after traversing the 420 m and 716 m sliding paths. The specimens were prepared in accordance with ASTM G 65/16. Subsequently, an analysis of the surface degradation after wear was carried out using a Neophot 21 optical metallographic microscope. S355J0 grade steel (11 523) was used as the substrate and therefore the base material. This is a structural unalloyed steel with prescribed mechanical properties and guaranteed carbon, sulphur and phosphorus levels.

Evaluation of plant-based coagulants for turbidity removal and coagulant dosage prediction using machine learning

ABSTRACT This study investigates the use of six plant-based coagulants – Acacia erioloba, Ricinodendron rautanenii, Schinziophyton rautanenii, Peltophorum africanum, Delonix regia, and Maerua angolensis for the removal of turbidity from wastewater effluent. The coagulants were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to determine morphological structure, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to assess chemical composition, and X-ray diffraction to analyse the molecular structure. The coagulation process was evaluated using jar tests with varying coagulant dosages and pH levels. SEM images revealed irregular, rough surfaces, with all materials being amorphous and non-crystalline. Significant levels of essential elements, including iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), sulphur (S), and potassium (K) were revealed. Turbidity removal efficiency fluctuated with pH, showing optimal results under alkaline conditions. Notably, strong negative correlations between pH and turbidity were observed for all coagulants except Peltophorum africanum at a dosage of 20 g/L. Doubling the coagulant volume achieved turbidity reductions between 59% and 92.24%, except for Acacia erioloba and Ricinodendron rautanenii at a dosage of 40 g/L, which showed increased turbidity. The study also employed machine learning techniques to analyse the data and predict the most effective coagulant dosage under different pH conditions. These findings suggest that plant-based coagulants could be viable alternatives to chemical coagulants, with machine learning providing accurate predictions of coagulation performance. Further research is recommended to explore the capabilities of these natural coagulants fully.

Impact of Sulfur Concentration on the Magnetic and Electrical Characteristics of ZnMnO Thin Films

Influence of the sulfur doping on the structural, optical, electrical and magnetic properties of ZnMnO thin films fabricated using the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique was investigated. Our study reveals that increasing sulfur content leads to a noticeable shift in the band gap energy towards the red spectrum, an indicator of altered electronic states and potential for enhanced spintronic functionalities. The strong reduction in the band gap for the sulfur doped ZnMnO alloys is the result of the upward shift of the valence-band edge. As a result, the room temperature bandgap of ZnMnO1-xSx alloys can be tuned from 3.2 eV to 2.97 eV for x ≤ 0.2. The observed large bowing in the composition dependence of the energy bandgap arises from the anticrossing interactions between the valence-band of ZnO and the localized sulfur level above the ZnMnO valence-band maximum. The doping process significantly modifies the ferromagnetic properties, with an observed increase in Curie temperature correlating with higher sulfur concentrations. These changes are attributed to the increased free holes concentration, which facilitates a more robust exchange interaction between the magnetic ions. Additionally, the structural assessments via scanning electron microscopy confirm the uniform integration of sulfur into the ZnMnO matrix, resulting in distinct nanocrystalline formations. This study contributes to the understanding of doping mechanisms in semiconductor materials, especially for highly mismatched alloys, where the anions are partially substituted with isovalent atoms of considerably different size and/or electronegativity, offering insights into the tunability of their magnetic and electronic properties for potential future applications in spintronic devices.

Effect of Sulfur and Biofertilizers on Growth Characters and Economics of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

A field experiment was carried out at Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur (Rajasthan) to study the effect of sulfur and biofertilizers on growth characters and economics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) during the rabi season of 2021-2022. Application of sulfur significantly increases growth characters and net returns and highest obtain in application of 40 kg S ha-1 over application of 30, 20 and 10 kg S ha-1 and seed inoculation with biofertilizers NPK Consortia obtain highest growth characters and net return. The experimental design was used Factorial Randomized Design (FRBD) consisted of 16 treatment combinations i.e. four levels of sulfur (10, 20, 30, 40 kg S ha-1) and four biofertilizers combinations (Control, Rhizobium, Rhizobium + PSB, NPK Consortia) these were replicated thrice.

Pigeonpea response to sowing methods and sulphur levels: A review

Pigeonpea response to sowing methods and sulphur levels: A review

Phycoremediation of rice bran oil processing wastewater and biodiesel production using green microalgae, Scenedesmus obliquus: a green approach to environmental protection and remediation.

The current study investigated the enhancement of biomass in S. obliquus, using rice bran oil processing (RBOP) wastewater in different RBOP wastewater concentrations, while also aiming to produce biofuel and treat the wastewater simultaneously. The strain was grown in Blue Green-11 (BG11) media as well as RBOP wastewater at different wastewater concentrations with distilled water at 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% under controlled experimental settings. The study findings demonstrated a notable enhancement in the characteristics of RBOP wastewater during a 16-day growth period. The 75% RBOP wastewater concentration demonstrated superior efficacy as a growth medium for producing biomass as well as lipids, among other wastewater concentrations. Accordingly, physicochemical parameters and heavy metal percent of the RBOP wastewater were assessed. The collected biomass was employed in the production of biodiesel, and the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were measured, along with an assessment of its characteristics. Physicochemical analysis indicated that S. obliquus was able to effectively decrease levels of nitrate, phosphate, sulfur, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in RBOP wastewater. The heavy metal reduction percentages for iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and arsenic (As) were 69.43%, 72.94%, 72.99%, 90.49%, and 91.5%, respectively, following treatment with S. obliquus. FTIR indicated the existence of various functional groups (including alcohol, carboxylic acid) on the surface of the microalgal biomass. The FAME profile of S. obliquus exhibited a moderate level of saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content. S. obliquus demonstrated significant phycoremediation capabilities and potential for lipid production. This study has indicated that S. obliquus is a potential candidate for the treatment of wastewater.

African walnut (Plukenetia conophora) oil promotes glucose uptake while improving energy metabolism and steroidogenesis and maintaining surface architecture in rat testes.

African walnut (Plukenetia conophora) oil (AWO) has been reported for its nutritional and medicinal properties and has been employed for the management of metabolic diseases including hyperglycemia-mediated ailments. In the present study, AWO was investigated for its ability to stimulate glucose uptake and its effect on energy metabolism, steroidogenesis, and tissue morphology in isolated testes of Wistar rats. Isolated testes were incubated with AWO (30-240 μg/mL) in the presence of 11.1 mMol glucose at 37°C for 2 h. Control consisted of testes incubated with glucose only, while normal control consisted of testes not incubated with AWO and/or glucose. The standard antidiabetic drug was metformin. Incubation with AWO led to significant increase in glucose uptake, hexokinase, glyoxalase 1, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities, GLUT4, glutathione, and ATP levels while concomitantly suppressing glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-biphosphatase, glycogen phosphorylase, aldose reductase, polyol dehydrogenase, E-NTPDase, and ATPase activities. Furthermore, incubation with AWO led to improved testicular morphology while elevating testicular levels of magnesium, sulfur, potassium, calcium, and iron. Fatty acid profiling with GC-MS revealed linoleic acid and linolenic acid as the predominant essential fatty acids in AWO. Molecular docking analysis revealed potent molecular interactions of linoleic acid and linolenic acid with GLUT4. These results suggest the ability of AWO to improve testicular glucose metabolism and steroidogenesis and can be explored in the management of male infertility.

Sustainable Cropping Sequences to Improve Soil Fertility and Microbiological Properties

Different cropping systems and nutrient management techniques impact the microbiological characteristics of soil and nutrient availability for plants. This study assessed four cropping systems—rice–wheat, cotton–wheat, pearl millet–wheat, and pearl millet–mustard in Hisar district, Haryana, using 80 soil samples (20 from each system) collected in April 2022 after the Rabi crop harvest. The cotton–wheat system had the highest accessible nitrogen (N) at 155.9 kg ha−1, while both the cotton–wheat (59.3 kg ha−1) and rice–wheat (54.0 kg ha−1) systems had higher available sulfur (S) levels compared to pearl millet–wheat (41.2 kg ha−1). Pearl millet–wheat also showed 12.4% higher potassium (K) levels than rice–wheat. The rice–wheat system exhibited the highest phosphorus (P) concentration at 54.3 kg ha−1 and greater DTPA-extractable micronutrients. Soils from the rice–wheat system had higher DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu) and superior microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN, 54.7 mg kg−1), urease (37.9 µg NH4+-N g−1 h−1), and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA, 269.7 µg PNP g−1 h−1) compared to other systems. Canonical discriminant functions explained 88.1% of the variability among cropping systems, while principal component analysis identified available P, DTPA-extractable Zn, and Cu as key soil quality indicators, accounting for 66.9% of the variance. These insights can inform policymakers on promoting effective cropping systems and sustainable soil health in northwestern India.

Impact of Condensed Tannin and Sulfur Dioxide Addition on Acetaldehyde Accumulation and Anthocyanin Profile of Vitis vinifera L. Cv. Cabernet Sauvignon Wines During Alcoholic Fermentation.

Acetaldehyde is a key carbonyl by-product during red wine alcoholic fermentation; it is reactive and takes part in certain reactions involving anthocyanin. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of SO2 and condensed tannin on the acetaldehyde accumulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) during alcoholic fermentation and the ripple effect on wine anthocyanin. In this study, six sets of Cabernet Sauvignon alcoholic fermentation with two different sulfur levels (HS and LS) were carried out by adding exogenous condensed tannins before fermentation (T0) in the acetaldehyde rise period (TA) of S. cerevisiae and at the end of fermentation (TE), separately. The acetaldehyde evolution was identified during fermentation and anthocyanin was analyzed comparatively. The results showed that HS treatment slowed down the degradation of acetaldehyde, while tannins accelerated the degradation of acetaldehyde during alcoholic fermentation, especially TA wines. Furthermore, TA wines possessed a unique anthocyanin profile after fermentation regardless of SO2 level compared with other wines. These results suggest that acetaldehyde-mediated anthocyanin polymerization most likely occurs timely at the acetaldehyde production phase of S. cerevisiae during alcoholic fermentation, and managing tannin addition time during production could be used to regulate the anthocyanin profile.

Effect of Level of Sulphur and Phosphorus on Yield and Quality of Soybean Grown in Inceptisol

The field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2017 at Post Graduate Research Farm, Rajarshee Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, College of Agriculture Kolhapur, with the view to study the effect of levels of sulphur and phosphorus on yield and quality of soybean grown in inceptisol. The soil of the experimental site was slightly alkaline in reaction, very low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and medium in available potassium and deficient in available sulphur. The field experiment was carried out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications and sixteen treatments comprising four levels of sulphur (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg ha-1) through elemental sulphur and four levels of phosphorus (0, 75, 100, and 125 kg ha-1) through DAP. The result indicated that the significantly highest grain yield (27.20 q ha-1, 25.04 q ha-1 respectively) was recorded by application of sulphur and phosphorus at 60 kg ha-1 (S4) and 100 kg ha-1 (P3) than rest of the sulphur and the phosphorus levels. The application of (S4, P3) at 60 kg ha-1 and 100 kg P ha-1 showed significantly highest straw yield (38.85 q ha-1, 35.50 q ha-1 respectively) than rest of the combination of sulphur and Phosphorus levels. The quality parameter records highest percent of 1000 grain weight, oil content and oil yield were found in 60 kg S along with 100 kg P ha-1 while the lowest seed yield, 1000 grain weight and oil content were found in control. Therefore, application of 60 kg S with 100 kg P appeared as the promising practice for obtaining higher seed yield and better quality of Soybean.

Air pollution under formal institutions: The role of distrust environment

Formal trust is an important formal institution that may significantly impact the environment. This study uses regional distrust environment as a reverse proxy variable for formal trust and studies the impact of formal trust on corporate sulfur dioxide emissions. This study finds that the environment of distrust significantly increases the sulfur dioxide emission levels of enterprises, which means that formal trust affects the environmental management strategies of enterprises. This study also finds that some other formal institutional factors, which include marketization, the development of intermediate organizations, the legal system environment, and GDP levels, have moderating effects on the impact of distrust environment on corporate sulfur dioxide emissions. In addition, climatic conditions including temperature, humidity, and precedence, as well as the location of the enterprise, have certain moderation effects. Mechanism analysis indicates that distrust environment affects corporate sulfur dioxide emissions through the increase in coal sulfur content in enterprise production, the decrease in exhaust gas processing capacity, the reduction in financing capacity, and the decline in social and environmental responsibilities. Finally, this study finds through further analysis that the local government appears to have noticed this negative impact, and the regions with a distrust environment tend to increase their environmental regulation intensity.

Effect of Nitrogen and Sulphur Fertilization on Winter Oilseed Rape Yield

Oilseed rape is one of many crops with high nutritional requirements, particularly for nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S). Both macronutrients affect important physiological plant functions and are essential for the proper growth and development of oilseed rape. The objective of the experiment was to investigate the impact of nitrogen and sulphur fertilization on the yield of the winter oilseed rape cultivar LG Absolut. The experiment was conducted during the 2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2022/2023 growing seasons on Haplic Cambisol soil formed from loess, with medium levels of mineral nitrogen and sulphur. In the experiment, two nitrogen fertilization treatments (150 and 200 kg ha−1) were compared in combination with three additional sulphur fertilization rates (20, 40, and 60 kg ha−1). The results demonstrated that the effectiveness of N and S fertilization varied between individual years. On average, the highest seed yields were obtained with the application of 200 kg N ha−1 combined with sulphur, regardless of the rate. This was attributed to a significant increase in soil–plant analysis development (SPAD) values, the number of pods per plant, and the thousand-seed weight. The increase in seed yield with the higher nitrogen rate without sulphur ranged from 0.36 to 0.57 t ha−1 compared to the lower rate (control 150 N kg ha−1). Supplementary sulphur fertilization increased seed yield ranging from 0.22 to 0.76 t ha−1. The protein content in the seeds increased, while the fat content decreased, following the application of the higher nitrogen rate. The decrease in fat content was mitigated by higher rates of sulphur. The application of 60 kg S ha−1 yielded similar results of the tested parameters to the lower rates. Therefore, for soils with moderate levels of mineral nitrogen and sulphur, it is recommended to fertilize winter oilseed rape with 200 kg N ha−1 combined with 20 or 40 kg S ha−1.

Factors affecting the concentration of metals and metalloids in the kidneys of a top predator, the Eurasian Buzzard (Buteo buteo) wintering in farmland in Poland

During late autumn and winter, raptors in the western Palearctic face challenges due to food scarcity and dropping temperatures. That time they can be exposed to various elements including toxic ones ingested with food. Kidney samples from 22 females and 19 males of a medium-sized raptor, the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo found dead in farmland of Eastern Poland in winter were analyzed for a concentration of 21 elements. Elemental concentrations were analyzed regarding the age and sex of birds. Results revealed that only 4.9% of individuals had kidney lead levels exceeding 8.0 mg, while 9.8% showed cadmium levels above 8.0 mg/kg, indicating potential poisoning. The study also highlighted the limited entry of arsenic into agricultural ecosystems exploited by Common Buzzards. Sex differences were noted, with females accumulating more lead and vanadium than males which can be associated with foraging niche partitioning between sexes driven by body size dimorphism. Sulfur showed complex interactions with cadmium, mercury, and zinc, with a positive correlation between sulfur and zinc levels in the kidneys, emphasizing dietary needs during food scarcity. A positive correlation was found between zinc and lead concentrations, indicating zinc’s role in mitigating lead’s impact. The study also revealed positive correlations between selenium and highly toxic elements like mercury (Spearman correlation, rs = 0.41) and cadmium (rs = 0.51), suggesting a mitigating effect of selenium on exposure to heavy metals. This study enhances understanding of year-round environmental contamination exposure for raptors and sheds light on bioaccumulation in a top predator.

Application of Y-MOF-CNT-Derived Y2O3-C@CNT Composites in Lithium-Sulfur Battery Separators.

In order to mitigate the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries, we propose a yttrium-metal-organic framework-carbon nanotube (Y-MOF-CNT)-derived Y2O3-C@CNT composite for modifying the separator in this study. The Y-MOFs, comprising yttrium (Y) rare earth metal and terephthalic acid, exemplify a prototypical category of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials. They manifest the advantageous attributes associated with MOFs while concurrently possessing distinctive catalytic traits ascribed to rare earth elements. In this study, Y-MOF nanoparticles were synthesized on carbon nanotube (CNT) substrates via a facile aqueous solution method, succeeded by high-temperature carbonization to yield Y2O3-C@CNT composite materials. These composites were subsequently employed as coatings on one side of polyethylene (PE) separators. The resultant Y2O3-C@CNT composite inherits the particle-like morphology and porosity from its precursor Y-MOF, alongside the inherent conductivity in carbon-based materials. This amalgamation is conducive to polysulfide capture and catalytic conversion processes within lithium-sulfur batteries. The application of the Y2O3-C@CNT-coated PE separator effectively mitigated polysulfide shuttle effects and significantly enhanced the battery electrochemical performance. At a sulfur loading level of 3 mg cm-2 under a 0.5 C rate, an initial discharge specific capacity of 900 mAh g-1 was achieved. After 400 cycles, the discharge specific capacity remained at 483.85 mAh g-1 with a capacity retention rate of 53.7%. Upon increasing sulfur loading to 5 mg cm-2, the discharge specific capacity at a lower rate (0.1 C) reached 817.8 mAh g-1; even after 100 cycles, it maintained a value of 700 mAh g-1 with a capacity retention rate of 85.6%. Notably, our modified Y2O3-C@CNT separator demonstrated exceptional cycling stability, even under conditions involving high sulfur loading.