Optimization Of Water Consumption Research Articles

Evaluating Seawater and Wood Distillate for Sustainable Hydroponic Cultivation: Implications for Crop Growth and Nutritional Quality

The adoption of innovative cultivation methods, such as hydroponics and aeroponics, is gaining attention due to the unprecedented demand for food that an increasing population is posing on agricultural systems, exacerbating the pressure on already limited arable land. Seeking sustainable and circular economy solutions is imperative, aiming to optimize water consumption and enhance crop yields and quality without resorting to synthetic chemical fertilizers. This study investigated the use of seawater at various concentrations as a base for nutrient solutions, with and without the addition of a natural biostimulant, wood distillate (WD). Four seawater (SW) concentrations (0, 3, 6, and 12%) and two wood distillate concentrations (0 and 0.2%) were applied to assess their impacts on lettuce growth. Findings reveal that seawater at low concentrations (< 6%) serves as an effective water-saving strategy, despite the reduction in the plant ascorbic acid contents. The addition of WD did not inflate growth; in fact, the results obtained are comparable to that of the controls for each concentration of seawater, except at the highest concentration (12% SW), resulting in reduced fresh leaf weights and root areas. Significantly, there was a notable increase in the ascorbic acid contents in all plants grown with WD. Moreover, the WD increased the leaf concentrations in Ca, Mg, P, and K, indicating the higher nutritional value of the crop. This research highlights the potential of combining seawater and WD for sustainable and efficient plant cultivation, suggesting new strategies for exploration across diverse plant species and hydroponic applications.

Providing optimal cropping patterns and water consumption according to monitored and forecasted drought conditions

Providing optimal cropping patterns and water consumption according to monitored and forecasted drought conditions

An optimization framework for multi-timescale operations of pumped storage systems: Balancing stability and economy

Pumped storage hydropower system (PSHS) has multi-timescale operating characteristics which are divided into hour scale short-term scheduling and second scale power regulation with the objectives of minimizing water consumption and optimizing power regulation characteristics, respectively. However, the operating characteristics of these two scales are often analyzed independently, preventing decision makers from obtaining a strategy with optimal multi-timescale operating characteristics. This paper proposes a novel optimization framework by coupling the second scale model with the hour scale model which balances the stability (power regulation characteristics) with the economy (water consumption). Firstly, the power regulation characteristics of the unit under different operating conditions are summarized in terms of the integrated time and absolute error (ITAE) and maximum deviation of the rotational speed (ntdmax) based on a refined PSHS model. And a novel short-term scheduling model is developed which couples the power regulation characteristics. Secondly, with the novel model, the Pareto solution sets are obtained based on the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-III (NSGA-III) with the objective of minimizing the water consumption and ITAE/ntdmax. Finally, by the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS), the Pareto solution sets are further evaluated to obtain an operating strategy with optimal power regulation characteristics and water consumption. Compared to the traditional solution aiming for the minimum water consumption, this strategy results in a significant improvement in the stability (65.03 % reduction in ITAE and 68.43 % reduction in ntdmax) at the expense of a smaller economic behavior (0.0295 % increase in water consumption). The strategy outstands existing operating rules and innovatively introduces power regulation characteristics to obtain a short-term scheduling strategy that balances stability with economy. It provides a theoretical basis for the multi-timescale operation of PSHS.

Minimization and optimization of water consumption in an oil refinery using water pinch analysis: A case study in Iran

In the present study, to minimize water consumption and reduce wastewater production in an oil refinery, a technique called water pinch analysis (WPA) was used with two single and double pollutant approaches. Total dissolved solids (TDS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were selected as the index pollutants. The results showed that the use of WPA has reduced the overall consumption of freshwater in the refinery on average between 79 m3/h (45%) in the single pollutant approach (77 m3/h for COD and 81 m3/h for TDS) and 99 m3/h (56%) in the double pollutant approach. It was also found that the volume of produced oily and sanitary effluents decreased between 31 and 52 m3/h. These findings show that WPA is a useful tool that can help make strategic decisions to minimize water consumption and modify consumption patterns in industries, and by reducing effluent production environmental risks will be reduced.

Validation of farmers’ on-farm irrigation scheduling for optimal water utilization in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Unwise use of irrigation water in water-scarce areas exacerbates water scarcity, diminishes crop yield, and leads to resource wastage. In the Tigray region of Ethiopia, where water is scarce and a determinant resource, no regional-level validation of on-farm irrigation scheduling had been conducted until now. The objectives of this study were to (i) validate farmers’ irrigation scheduling practices and (ii) optimize water consumption for increased irrigated area and number of farmers. Eight different irrigation schemes were purposively selected from the Tigray region. Primary data, acquired through field measurements, observations, and discussions, were supplemented with secondary data. Farmers' irrigation scheduling practices were predominantly of the "Fixed" type, characterized by constant irrigation intervals and amounts. Unfortunately, these practices were non-optimal, with 55% over-irrigation and 45% under-irrigation. Over-irrigation instances ranged from 1350 m3in a garlic plot within the Mesima scheme to a maximum of 1,327,067 m3in a maize plot within the Serenta scheme. The excess water could potentially be utilized to irrigate an additional area of 2 to 148 hectares, thereby benefiting 7 to 296 more farmers, respectively. Conversely, instances of under-irrigation in the Fre Lekatit scheme resulted in yield reductions of 10,445 kg for potatoes and 138,499 kg for maize. In the Tigray region, most of the schemes are semi-arid, emphasizing the imperative need for water conservation. Renovating regional-level irrigation scheduling by integrating performance assessment and enhancing water productivity at the field level, and establishing a remote-sensing-based 'Real-Time Irrigation Scheduling System' is deemed necessary to sustain dryland irrigated agriculture.

Empirical design for the excavation method and support system at tunnel no 2, Bintang Bano irrigation area, West Nusa Tenggara

Bintang Bano Irrigation Area aims to optimize water consumption downstream of the Bintang Bano Dam and distribute it to irrigate agricultural land in Rempe, Seteluk, Seloto, and Senayan villages. Bintang Bano Irrigation Area uses tunnel construction as its network. This research aims to provide recommendations for the tunnel excavation method and support system and predict the tunnel stand-up time based on an empirical method from Rock Mass Rating (RMR89). The research method includes analysis of surface geological mapping and analysis of the core drill along the tunnel to determine the classification of rock masses. Surface engineering geological mapping was conducted to validate the Rock Mass Rating parameters determined by drill core evaluation. The results show the tunnel consists of andesite having poor to good rock masses. The excavation methods for poor to fair rock masses are heading and bench; good rock mass is full face and uses complete support. The tunnel requires bolts, shotcrete, and steel ribs for the support systems. Stand-up time predictions for poor rock mass are less than one day, and fair to good rock is over a month. Although the empirical approach is functional, numerical analysis is needed to verify the empirical design and effect of geological structures for tunnel stability, including tunnel deformation during construction.

An IoT-Based Prototype for Optimizing Agricultural Irrigation: A Case Study in the Biobío Region of Chile

This paper shows an agricultural irrigation alternative using a low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) application. This technology allows the automation and optimization of processes by monitoring, processing, and analyzing large volumes of related data, including variables related to the soil (moisture), fertilization, and irrigation, which can be visualized through the internet to enable sustainable and efficient agriculture. The study is centered on the Los Angeles, Biobío, Chile case. The main objective of the prototype is to optimize water consumption for agricultural irrigation by using only the amount that is strictly necessary for each crop by allowing real-time visualization of irrigation status, moisture data, and irrigation times while providing a history of data that can be used for further analysis.

2017–2019年宁夏兰山骄子葡萄园日蒸散发观测数据集

The grapevine is one of important economic crops. Accurate measurements of daily grapevine evapotranspiration (ET) measurements are essential for improving the understanding of crop water demand and optimizing water consumption efficiency. Unfortunately, there is a relative scarcity of daily grapevine ET values in China. This dataset presents daily ET values obtained through using the Bowen ratio energy balance method and the surface renewal method in Lanshan Jiaozi Vineyard on the outskirts of Yinchuan City, spanning the period from 2017 to 2019. Abnormal Bowen ratio values have been removed during the estimation of ET and the quality of each daily ET measurement has been thoroughly assessed. The dataset is freely available, with the primary goal of establishing a foundation for the efficient use of agriculture water resources. Additionally, it is aimed to assess the applicability of the surface renewal method in a highly heterogonous vineyard.

Development and evaluation of smart irrigation system to enhance the water use efficiency

<p>For this purpose, a moisture sensor device was designed and constructed in February and March 2019 to determine the appropriate time to stop irrigation in furrow irrigation. Testing the device in the laboratory and its application in the Farm of the Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran (Mohammad Shahr), Iran, from April to July 2019. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a smart sensor of soil moisture to determine the optimum depth of installation and recording of soil moisture at 10, 30, and 50 cm depths and different length ratios in furrow irrigation. Initially, calibration of the device was carried out on field soil, and based on the obtained validation, the device was transferred to the field. To achieve the goals of optimum depth of installation and optimum length, 36-meter furrows with a distance of 0.75 m were created in the field. Sensitive lengths in furrows with 0.5 L, 0.75 L, and 0.85 L ratios were selected as the starting points. The results showed that in the calibration and validation phases, the R<sup>2</sup> values were 0.93 and 0.95, respectively, and in the calibration and validation stages, the value of nRMSE was 80 and 13.81%, indicating good model training in the calibration stage. Also, the average RE parameter in estimating soil moisture was 2.74%, indicating the high accuracy of the device in estimating soil moisture. The results also showed that if the device was installed at a depth of 30 cm from the soil surface of the furrow and at 75% from the beginning of the field, the depth and runoff losses would be minimal and irrigation adequacy would be best compared to other depths and lengths. It is expected that with optimal water consumption and timely interruption of irrigation, deep losses and runoff will be avoided, and with low water consumption, the productivity of crops will increase.</p>

Arduino based irrigation monitoring system using Node microcontroller unit and Blynk application

In the case of traditional irrigation systems, irrigation is done manually by the user. Since the water is irrigated directly into the land, plants undergo high stress from variations in soil moisture, and therefore plant appearance is reduced. The objective is for remote monitoring and controlling devices, which are controlled using a Wi-Fi module, and to optimize water consumption. The sensors collect and evaluate data regarding changing weather, soil moisture levels, and water levels before sending timely notifications to the user's phone and desktop. The system also contains a device application (Blynk) that runs on various devices and may be used to monitor plant conditions at the user's workplace. It constantly monitors the situation and notifies the user of any developments that necessitate urgent action. It combines the sensor devices, Node microcontroller unit (NodeMCU), and Arduino to work together to meet the system's objectives.

Water consumption assessment and classification in industrial buildings - The case study of Continental Advanced Antenna, Vila Real, Portugal

Water abstraction for the industrial, domestic, and agricultural sectors increased from 0.67 trillion m3/year in the 1900s to 3.79 trillion m3/year in 2000, and it is expected to increase by 55 % in 2050 when the majority of the world's population will live in urban areas. Concerning the industrial sector, despite the efforts to a more sustainable use, water is still an essential and irreplaceable resource, and this situation tends to increase due to modern industrial installations that require large-scale and complex water distribution systems. Usually, industries consume a large volume of water, however due to more and severer regulations, it is necessary to propose strategies for the aid of water conservation.This article presents a methodology to analyse, classify and optimize water consumption in industrial installations, using a real case study located in Vila Real, Portugal. The daily water consumption per worker, the daily record of use of each type of device and the hourly usage pattern were analysed and a classification was achieved according to the ANQIP (National Association for Quality in Building Installations) calculator. The case study revealed a great opportunity of improvement in what concerns to water efficient use. Some measures to improve the efficiency of water use in the building were pointed out, such as the use of rainwater harvesting systems, the use of aerators and replacements of taps and faucets when possible.The methodology is expeditious and user-friendly, and easy to replicate in similar cases, however it reveals some difficulties (especially in the data collection process that is made by inquiry, once it is always dependent on the respondent sensibility and willingness).

Optimizing water consumption at the pig factory farms

Optimizing water consumption at the pig factory farms

Water footprint of small-scale dairy farms in the central coast of Peru.

Worldwide, dairy sector consumes 19% of the water in the livestock sector. However, in Latin America, the amount of water used in this sector is unknown, especially in arid zones. On the other hand, water footprint (WF) is a methodology to estimate the use of water to produce a product. The aim of this work was to estimate the WF of dairy production in the arid zone of the Peruvian central coast. Data from five dairy farms were used. The WF was calculated in its three dimensions: green water, blue water and grey water. In addition, the WF was measured for categories: feed, drinking and service. To measure the WF of feed production, the CROPWAT software was used, whilst the NRC (2001) equations were used to estimate the drinking water. The reference unit was cubic metres per kilogram of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM). In average, 99% of the WF comes from feed production, followed by drinking water (0.4%). From the three dimensions of the WF, green water is responsible of 60% of the WF, followed by the blue water (30%). Imported water represented 63% of the WF. In general, WF of dairy production in these systems was 0.66 m3/kg FPCM. In conclusion, feed production, as the main source of WF from which most is imported, shows the possibility of reducing the WF of these systems by prioritizing and optimizing water consumption by crops using local resources with lower water requirements.

An Integrated IoT-GIS Framework for Water Quality Monitoring in Arid Regions of Western Rajasthan

Water acts as a critical resource in sustaining the life of human beings and all other life forms on this earth. Despite the increased awareness and better management techniques in recent times, water scarcity has been a significant concern for most governments worldwide. Especially in arid regions, such as the western areas of Rajasthan, which are heavily dependent upon a few rivers, their tributaries and underground water sources. It becomes crucial to optimize water consumption and maintain water quality in such water bodies. In this work, an Internet of Things (IoT) based framework has been developed to monitor the water quality parameters of the Jojari River, a tributary of the Luni River. Data collected from the IoT endpoints is passed to a GIS-based system designed to support continuous data monitoring and alerts for abnormal changes in the monitored parameters. Analysis of the collected data for some time denotes that the current state of water quality in the Jojari River is not appropriate for drinking or the surrounding ecosystem. Over time, the system can enable forecasting of water quality parameters and locate significant sources of pollution.

In situ thermal remediation application in South Africa: a case study incorporating sustainable remediation principles

This paper presents a case study of the first instance in South Africa where in situ thermal remediation (ISTR) was undertaken. The project, completed during 2020 and 2021, is located in Cape Town. The ‘site’ is a former printing facility located in a multistorey building adjacent to an upgradient service station. Petroleum hydrocarbon impacts, identified in subsurface soil and groundwater, originated from leaking underground fuel storage tanks at this service station. Following a sustainability-based options appraisal, ISTR with steam used as the heating source was selected as the most appropriate remedial technology. Based on Environmental Resources Management's (ERM's) international and local expertise, this solution was implemented after due consideration of the site's geological characteristics, the properties of the contaminants of concern and the client's goals of rapidly achieving a risk-based remediation solution. This solution was enhanced by the identification and incorporation, where feasible, of sustainable management practices (SMPs) in the system design and operational phases. Particular focus was placed on resource consumption and the use of alternative power sources, such as reduction of water and energy and the use of biofuel. Other SMPs incorporated into the system's operational phase included temperature tracking to optimize steam usage, which has been successfully applied by ERM at previously completed ISTR sites in other countries. Key lessons learnt from the ISTR application at this site were that the energy source and use, combined with the optimization of water consumption, could be more widely applied to improve the sustainability of ISTR, not only in South Africa but also in other sites worldwide. Supplementary material: Details of sustainable remediation assessments are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5965339 . Thematic collection: This article is part of the Sustainability in Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/sustainability-in-engineering-geology-and-hydrogeology

Straw Strip Mulching Increases Winter Wheat Yield by Optimizing Water Consumption Characteristics in a Semi-Arid Environment

To investigate the feasibility of replacing plastic film with straw in semi-arid areas and establishing coordinated cultivation technology for high winter wheat yield and efficient resource utilization, a two-year field experiment was conducted under six treatments, specifically CK (no-mulching), S1 (59% of the field area straw mulched), S2 (50% of the field area straw mulched), S3 (42% of the field area straw mulched), BM (full-cover transparent plastic mulch), and HM (full-cover black plastic mulch). The effects of mulching measures on soil moisture, water consumption characteristics, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat farmland in rain-fed semiarid regions were studied. The results showed that, compared with CK, straw strip mulching reduced total water consumption by 15.39 mm on average, the soil organic carbon content at the 0–40 cm soil layer increased by 4.68%, yield by 6.90%, WUEr by 11.27%, and WUEb by 16.51%. Compared with CK, the total water consumption and soil organic carbon content in each growth period of plastic film mulching were not significantly different, but the yield, WUEr, and WUEb increased by 16.28%, 15.29%, and 25.50%, respectively. Among the three straw strip mulching treatments, treatment S3 had the highest yield, which was equivalent to that of plastic film mulching. The S3 treatment with 42% of the field area straw mulched is recommended in this stusy as the optimal replacement of plastic film mulching in semi-arid environments.

Beijing Land Subsidence Revealed Using PS-InSAR with Long Time Series TerraSAR-X SAR Data

Beijing is a major city suffering from land subsidence due to long-term over-exploitation of groundwater. The South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP), however, has had a significant impact on the structure of water consumption since the end of 2014, and it is changing the status of land subsidence in Beijing. In this study, we employed Persistent Scatterers Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometric (PS-InSAR) to investigate the decadal evolution of land subsidence in Beijing with 100 TerraSAR-X stripmap images collected from April 2010 to December 2019. The water resources, historic climate and urban construction data were compiled for the years of 2010 to 2019 to analyze changes in groundwater level, human activity, surface geology, active faults and land subsidence patterns. The results show that the changes in the water supply structure are correlated to a rise in groundwater level after 2015. These changes include an increase in the water supply from the SNWDP, a reduction in groundwater exploitation, the optimization of water consumption, replacing recycled water for environmental water and a reduction in the use of water for agriculture. Land subsidence in the study area was concentrated in the eastern regions, trending towards a decreasing velocity starting about two years after the commencement of SNWDP in 2015. Uneven subsidence in the land subsidence area was related to excavations of underground soil, and the construction of Line 6 and Line 7 led to rapid nonlinear subsidence. Our results have scientific significance for reducing subsidence hazards in the context of SNWDP and urban expansion.

Life cycle assessment and relations with triple bottom line in meat production: a systematic approach about cleaner production

PurposeThe objective of the present research was to carry out a scientific map about life cycle assessment (LCA) and triple bottom line (TBL) at slaughterhouse areas, looking for Cleaner Production practices aiming at recognizing strategic themes for maintaining the sustainability of productive systems, according to the development of sustainable practices and production evolution in slaughterhouse areas.Design/methodology/approachThe literature analysis was based on general approach, with steps adapted of study phases and activities of preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses (PRISMA) recommendation guide to do systematic literature review. Activities were subdivided to discuss the results in two kinds of analysis: quantitative and qualitative.FindingsThe main findings of our study reinforce the LCA importance in slaughterhouses to promote Cleaner Production, so that the main measures suggested and/or adopted by different authors include the substitution of raw materials by feeding, with the adoption of grains, protein supplements with less environmental impact in the composition of the feed and changes in the processes seeking for better energy efficiency and optimization of water consumption in meat processing.Research limitations/implicationsThere is another action of sustainability considering LCA and Cleaner Production practices in the industrial meat area that should also be considered. These actions are restricted to documents of business circulation, with limited access since they involve issues regarding innovations in economic and technological aspects of slaughterhouses, as well as industrial confidentiality. Furthermore, in patent bases it is possible to advance the studies looking for how the digital transformation has been carried out in this industrial branch, since the 4.0 transformation industry tends to use clean technologies.Originality/valueThere are LCA models with a systemic approach to measure the level of sustainability of a process, comprising analysis of impacts related to different areas: environmental, social and economic although in terms of the meat production chain, the impact analysis focuses mainly on the environmental area. So, future works should be developed in meat production chain to assess social and economic impacts, i.e. a sustainable LCA addressing the three areas to consolidate models and standardize metrics with a scientific basis.

Optimization of Water Consumption of High-Oleic Sunflower Hybrids under Non-Irrigated Conditions of the Steppe Zone of Ukraine

Optimization of Water Consumption of High-Oleic Sunflower Hybrids under Non-Irrigated Conditions of the Steppe Zone of Ukraine

Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted Hebe andersonii

Many plant producers tend to overwater crops to prevent water stress and salt-induced damage. These practices waste irrigation water and cause leaching that harms the environment and increases production costs. In order to optimize water consumption and minimize the environmental impact of plant production, this study aimed to determine the physiological and morphological responses of Hebe andersonii to three substrate volumetric water contents (49%, 39%, and 32%). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with an irrigation protocol that consisted of adding small volumes of water to avoid leaching while monitoring substrate moisture with dielectric soil sensors. The results showed that moderately low substrate moisture improved the water-use efficiency, while growth was significantly reduced under more severe water deficit conditions (but without leaf chlorosis or abscission). The photosynthetic activity of Hebe was primarily controlled by the stomatal aperture, which was co-determined by the substrate moisture and seasonal temperature. Hebe leaves promoted non-photochemical quenching when carbon assimilation was limited by a water deficit, and accumulated solutes through an osmotic adjustment process (especially Cl−, Na+, and K+) to maintain their water status. Overall, Hebe andersoni cv. Variegata could successfully grow and improve its water-use efficiency in low substrate moisture and under a non-draining irrigation regime.