Water Productivity Research Articles

Mechanically Flexible, Large-Area Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Dendritic Au Films for Reproducible Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection of Nanoplastics.

The escalating crisis of nanoplastic pollution in water and food products demands the development of novel methodologies for detection and recycling. Despite various techniques available, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is emerging as a highly efficient technique for the trace detection of micro/nanoplastics. However, the development of highly reproducible and stable, flexible SERS substrates that can be used for sensitive detection in environmental medium remains a challenge. Here, we report a fabrication of large-area, three-dimensional (3D), and highly flexible SERS substrate based on porous dendritic Au films onto a flexible indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate via facile, thermal evaporation of Au over the vacuum-compatible deep eutectic solvent (DES)-coated glass substrate and subsequent direct transfer process. The as-fabricated 3D dendritic Au/ITO flexible substrates can be used for ultrasensitive SERS detection of crystal violet (CV) as probe analyte molecules with the limit of detection (LOD) as low as 6.4 × 10-15 M, with good signal reproducibility (RSD of 11.3%). In addition, the substrate showed excellent sensitivity in detecting nanoplastics such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (200 nm) and polystyrene (100 nm) with LODs reaching up to 0.051 and 8.2 μg/mL, respectively. This work provides a facile approach for the preparation of highly flexible plasmonic substrates, showing great potential for the SERS detection of a variety of environmental pollutants.

A RAPIDLY COLORIMETRIC DETECTION OF ARSENIC AND MERCURY IONS BASED ON SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE ABSORBANCES OF FUNCTIONALIZED AuNPs IN COSMETICS

In this study, a novel colorimetric method is developed for the detection of arsenic and mercury ions, utilizing the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties of AuNPs ([Formula: see text] nanoparticles) functionalized with APT ([Formula: see text]-(3-aminophenyl) tetrazole). Theoretical calculations confirm the findings from UV–Visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses, indicating that APT is electrostatically bound to the surfaces of the AuNPs. The introduction of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] ions triggers a coordination reaction with APT, resulting in a reduced interparticle distance among the AuNPs. This change leads to a visible color shift of the solution from wine red to bluish-gray. The detection limits for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are determined to be 0.6 and 0.24 [Formula: see text] g⋅[Formula: see text], respectively, distinguishable to the naked eye. A robust linear correlation is observed between the absorbance ratios and the ion concentrations, with correlation coefficients ([Formula: see text]) of 0.990 for [Formula: see text] and 0.998 for [Formula: see text]. These findings demonstrate that AuNPs functionalized with APT are effective for the quantitative analysis of arsenic and mercury ions. The sensor exhibits high selectivity and excellent resistance to interference, indicating its potential applicability for monitoring [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in tap water and cosmetic products.

Assessment of upscaling methodologies for daily crop transpiration using sap flows and two-source energy balance models in almonds under different water statuses and production systems

Abstract. Daily transpiration (Td) is crucial for both irrigation water management and increasing crop water productivity. The use of the remote-sensing-based two-source energy balance model (TSEB) has proven to be robust in estimating plant transpiration and evaporation separately for various crops. However, remote sensing models provide instantaneous estimations, and so daily upscaling approaches are needed to estimate daily fluxes. Daily upscaling methodologies have not yet been examined to upscale solely transpiration in woody crops. In this regard, this study aims to evaluate the proper image acquisition time throughout the day and four methodologies used to retrieve Td in almond trees with different production systems and water statuses. Hourly transpiration (Th) was estimated using the TSEB contextual approach (Th–TSEB) with high-resolution imagery five times during two diurnal courses. The tested methodologies were the following: the simulated evaporative fraction variable (EFsim), irradiance (Rs), reference evapotranspiration (ETo), and potential evapotranspiration (ETp). These approaches were first evaluated with in situ sap flow (T–SF) data and were then applied to the Th–TSEB. Daily T–SF showed significant differences among production systems and levels of water stress. The EFsim and ETp methods correlated better with measured T–SF and reduced the underestimation observed using the Rs and ETo methods, especially at noon in the severely water-stressed trees. However, the daily upscaling approaches applied in the TSEB (Td–TSEB) failed to detect differences between production systems. The lack of sensibility of Th–TSEB among production systems poses a challenge when estimating Td in canopies with discontinuous architectural structures. The use of ETp as a reference variable could address this issue as it incorporates various aerodynamic and radiative properties associated with different canopy architectures that influence the daily Th–SF pattern. However, more accurate ETp estimates or more advanced ETp models are needed.

Maize biomass yield variations due to diverse nitrogen applications using Aquacrop

AbstractIn the quest to increase crop yields and production intensity to meet the demands of a growing global population, the responsible use of nitrogen (N) applications is paramount. Excessive application of these fertilizers results in economic losses, environmental pollution and reduced N‐use efficiency. To address this challenge, precision agriculture techniques offer promising solutions. This study explored the relationships among applied N, maize crop parameters and the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) to optimize N application usage and crop performance. The AquaCrop model was used to simulate water productivity and plant parameters accurately. The research establishes equations between the NNI and maize parameters, enabling the use of AquaCrop to simulate crop responses to varying N levels. The results demonstrate that AquaCrop effectively simulates more than 95% of the biomass changes. The findings suggest that applying N based on presented equations optimized the use of N applications, thereby mitigating economic losses and environmental impacts.

Water Requirements, Soil Moisture Availability, and Their Effects on Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Development and Yield

Throughout the world, about 70% of the total water is used for irrigation. Reports show that there will be a significant increase in irrigation requirements, as irrigation is an important factor affecting water footprint and productivity worldwide [45]. The experiment described in this article was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Iraq, in 10 kg pots to evaluate the effects of soil moisture availability on water requirements, water productivity, and quinoa crop productivity under different irrigation treatments. These treatments maintained the soil at different levels of soil water tension (-0.05, -0.10, -0.15, -0.30, and -0.40 MPa) during the vegetative and/or reproductive periods of growth. The study analyzed water consumption, plant growth, yield components, and water productivity of the quinoa crop. The data showed that evapotranspiration decreased with increasing soil moisture tension during both the vegetative and reproductive periods of development. The maximum water productivity was consistently recorded at the lowest soil moisture tension, highlighting moisture efficiency. It was concluded that quinoa is relatively tolerant to soil moisture stress during the vegetative period compared to the reproductive period. The number of grains per ear was identified as a limiting factor for grain yield.

Optimizing yield and water productivity in summer mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) through crop residue management and irrigation strategies

A multi-season research trial entitled ‘crop residue management effects on yield and water productivity of summer mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) under different irrigation regimes in Indian Punjab’ was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Regional Research Station (RRS), Bathinda, during rabi 2020 and 2021. The field experiment was conducted in a split-plot layout with nine treatment combinations and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of T1 (no wheat residue along with tillage), T2 (leftover wheat residue with zero tillage), and T3 (incorporated wheat residue along with tillage) in main plots and irrigation regimes viz., I1 (vegetative growth and flowering stage), I2 (vegetative growth, flowering, and pod filling stage) and I3 (vegetative growth, flowering, pod formation and pod filling stage) in sub-plots, respectively. The growth and yield attributing characters were significantly higher under T3 than T1 but statistically at par with T2 during both years. An increase of 24.1% and 19.0% in grain yield was found in residue incorporation (T3) and residue retention (T2) over residue removal (T1), respectively. Maximum crop and irrigation water productivity was observed under T3 due to reduced water use and increased yield. Among the irrigation regimes, the I3 recorded significantly higher grain yield (0.70 and 0.79 t ha− 1) than I1. It was at par with I2 during both years due to higher irrigation frequency at the pod formation and pod filling stage. Crop water productivity (CWP) was higher under I3, whereas irrigation water productivity (IWP) was higher under I1 during both years. Additional irrigation at the pod-filling stage increased the grain yield by 36.5%, and two additional irrigations at the pod-formation and pod-filling stage further increased yield by 46.2% compared to only two irrigations at the vegetative and flowering stages. The treatment combinations of T2I2 and T3I2 outperformed T1I3 in terms of growth and yield attributing characters viz. plant height, dry matter accumulation (DMA), leaf area index (LAI), pods plant− 1, seeds pod− 1, and 1000-seed weight, which resulted in higher grain yield in these treatment combinations over T1I3. Applying crop residue can help minimize water use and increase crop water productivity. So, retaining crop residue in summer mung bean resulted in saving irrigation water due to lesser evapotranspiration from the soil surface.

Water productivity and date palm production: a field study in Biskra Region

In southern Algeria, agriculture is mainly based on groundwater irrigation, leading to significant water consumption, Improving water productivity in field-scale irrigation is critical for sustainable water management and the protection of this valuable resource. In the present study, to analyze water productivity, data were collected on the volumes of irrigation water applied and the resulting yields from 24 farmers through a survey questionnaire during the 2022-2023 agricultural season water productivity for date palm cultivation was evaluated in Biskra region of Algeria. The study found that water productivity values ranged from 0.4 to 1.1 in kg m-3 with an Average of 0.83 kg m-3, consequently, producing one kilogram of dates requires 1220.35 liters of water. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the water productivity of date palms was moderate compared to the results of other studies conducted in various regions around the world. This research highlights the critical need for strategies to enhance water-use efficiency, including the implementation of advanced irrigation technologies and improved management practices.

A distributed simulation-optimization framework for many-objective water resources allocation in canal-well combined irrigation district under diverse supply and demand scenarios

To address the issues of both water resources allocation and sustainable management in agriculture areas with rising food demand, a simulation-optimization framework based on Flopy and Pymoo was proposed and developed for canal-well combined irrigation districts. The proposed framework first solved the many-objective water resources allocation problem which integrates groundwater simulation, crop production, and farmer income modules to quantitatively reveal the various trade-offs and synergies by using NSGA-III algorithm. The Entropy-TOPSIS method was then applied to recommend proper water allocation schemes. The proposed framework was further tested in Baojixia irrigation district considering various water supply and crop demand scenarios based on Copula-based uncertainty analysis. The Key findings are as follows: (1) the proposed framework could effectively optimize conjunctive water resources allocation problems of both surface water and groundwater; (2) low supply combined with high demand (p=0.17) is more likely to occur than high supply with high demand (p=0.02); (3) increased crop demand and restricted surface water negatively impact both water productivity and groundwater sustainability; and (4) the cumulative groundwater drawdown of recommend schemes is 36.9 % and 6.5 % higher under low to medium supply scenarios, while water productivity of recommend schemes decreases 28.2 % and 9.7 % with high and medium demand. This framework could provide useful insights for sustainable agricultural water management in canal-well combined irrigation district with various uncertainties in supply and demand scenarios.

Potential impact of climate change on water productivity and water footprints of rice and wheat in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India.

Agriculture faces a significant problem as a result of the decline in per capita freshwater supply that has been observed over the past couple of decades. Better water management strategies are required in order to make agriculture water secure, environmentally sustainable, and economically attractive. The goal of this study was to develop water productivity scenarios for rice and wheat crops in India's Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) by analysing agricultural production from the perspective of water consumption. To pinpoint the areas that are hydrologically suitable for growing rice and wheat crops under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios, water footprints and water productivity have been mapped. The study found that changes in temperature trends under future climate scenarios are probably going to increase crop water requirements, leading to greater water footprints for IGP regions. Water risk hotspots have been identified in the IGP for the rice- and wheat-growing states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. In order to achieve food security in a sustainable way, attention should be given to increase the water productivity of both crops.

Improving Water Productivity in Irrigated Agriculture: A Review of Techniques and Water Conservation Methods in Ethiopia

Water is a scarce resource and the competition for it is increasing from time to time due to population growth and economic status change. The population growth leads to high expectations to produce more food from irrigated agriculture which could not be satisfied by rain-fed conditions. As irrigated agriculture is by far the largest water consumer in an inefficient way, improving water productivity has paramount importance both for the production of more food and for wise utilization of scarce water. Beyond these, studies suggest that improving water productivity in Ethiopia contributes to an increase in the irrigated area, reduced competition, and conflict between users, increased profitability due to reduced labor cost, water pumping and working time, and generally increased food production. Different water productivity improvement techniques and water conservation methods have been tested in different parts of the country. These include improving the performance of irrigation schemes, regulated deficit irrigation practice, partial root zone drying, application of irrigation on selected crop growth stages, supplementary irrigation, drip irrigation, surge and cutback irrigation, and water conservation methods like mulching and integrating irrigation with conservation agriculture. The level of water productivity improvement varies considerably for different methods, study areas, crop types, and seasons. Generally, more studies concentrated on deficit irrigation and irrigation application at different crop growth stages. Water conservation and integration of cultivation practices with efficient irrigation led to an improvement in water productivity. Despite few studies, scheme-level study results suggest that the level of deficit irrigation should be selected based on the available irrigation water and cultivable land area for maximizing the benefit of the scheme. According to the economic profitability, crop types and crop varieties also should be selected for production with site-specific conditions. Despite different types and levels of reduced irrigation leading to lower crop yield, the inclusion of the economic importance is essential as most crops showed higher water productivity at lower irrigation levels. On the other hand, studies on the integration of different water productivity enhancement techniques and crop planting patterns are minimal in the country, though current studies revealed better water productivity. Moreover, basin-level water productivity improvement studies could contribute to alleviating water competition and increasing irrigated areas. Therefore, studies on the optimization of these different methods could be done at the basin level for better water resource utilization. Government policies should also focus on water productivity improvement for the implementation of research findings.

Experimental and numerical evaluation of soil water and salt dynamics in a corn field with shallow saline groundwater and crop-season drip and autumn post-harvest irrigations

In areas with shallow saline groundwater, soil salts inevitably accumulate in the root zone during the growth period due to irrigation and upward movement of salts from the groundwater. In Northern China, autumn irrigation (AIR) with large amounts of water is commonly employed post-harvest to mitigate soil salt stress on crop growth in the subsequent year. Optimizing the total irrigation depth during both crop-growth and non-growth periods is challenging because of the movement of soil salts, which is influenced by their two-dimensional distribution around drippers and the impact of the winter freeze-thaw cycles, significantly affecting water flow and solute transport during winter. In this study, the HYDRUS-1D and HYDRUS-2D models were integrated and calibrated using experimental data collected from 2021 to 2023 in China's Ordos south bank irrigation area. This model integration was conducted to assess soil water and salt dynamics during the non-growth and corn-growth periods under different irrigation strategies: a) AIR with high (AH) and low (AL) irrigation depths, and b) drip irrigation (DIR) with high (DH), medium (DM), and low (DL) irrigation depths. The results indicated that HYDRUS effectively modeled the electrical conductivity of the saturation paste extract (ECe) across different irrigation strategies, yielding an average coefficient of determination (R2) and the root mean square errors (RMSE) of 0.87 and 0.53 dS m−1, respectively. Generally, ECe increased during the growth period with DIR and decreased during the non-growth period with AIR. For the 0–40 cm soil layer, ECe decreased by 5.7 % and 12 % for every 100 mm increase in the AIR and DIR depths, respectively. Compared with the AHDM and AHDL treatments, reducing an AIR depth and increasing a DIR depth resulted in lower ECe in the 0–40 cm layer during the growth period and higher crop yield (CY) and irrigation water productivity (WPI). Specifically, the average ECe in the 0–40 cm layer decreased by 4.8 % during the growth period in the ALDH treatment compared to the AHDM treatment, and CY and WPI increased by 7.2 % and 10.3 %, respectively. Additionally, the irrigation strategy was the most effective in reducing ECe when AIR accounted for 35 % of the total irrigation. This study suggested that combining low AIR and high DIR could enhance water and field productivity.

Strategi Pemasaran Air Minum dalam Kemasan di Pondok Pesantren Riyadhus Samawi

In general, some of the community's drinking water needs can be sourced from well water and water that has been treated by the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM). However, the increasing demand for drinking water sometimes cannot be met by well water sources or water that has been treated by PDAM. Along with technological advances, accompanied by increasingly busy community activities today tend to choose a more practical way at a relatively low cost in meeting drinking water needs. One of the alternative ways to fulfill drinking water needs is by using mineral water products. Marketing is a process of preparing integrated communication that aims to provide information about goods or services in relation to human needs. The marketing carried out at the Riayadus Samawi Islamic Boarding School is still very simple, namely from word of mouth to the congregation. So that Yarisa Drinking Water has not been sold widely like bottled drinking water in general because the majority of consumers are still worshipers and the neighborhood around the cottage. The purpose of this community service is to contribute thoughts and training, especially to the manager of Yarisa drinking water regarding the importance of analyzing marketing strategies for a company in an effort to market its products so that these products can be accepted by the public and distributed widely. The PKM process carried out at the Riyadus Samawi Ludoyo Blitar Islamic Boarding School consists of three stages, including: first, problem identification with a study carried out by the PKM team, Yarisa drinking water managers, cottage administrators, cottage caregivers, and cottage owners to find out the quality and development of Yarisa drinking water marketing strategies. The second stage is the implementation of PKM by holding a seminar with the theme “Marketing Strategy for Bottled Drinking Water at Riyadus Samawi Islamic Boarding School” and attended by Yarisa drinking water managers and students and board members. The third stage is monitoring and evaluation of whether the bottled drinking water marketing strategy delivered by the PKM team has been implemented in Yarisa drinking water. The results of this PKM are socialization and assistance regarding bottled drinking water marketing strategies and making several marketing and motivational programs so that in the future Yarisa drinking water owned by Riyadus Samawi Islamic Boarding School can be marketed widely.

Improving maize yield and drought tolerance in field conditions through activated biochar application

Amidst depleting water resources, rising crop water needs, changing climates, and soil fertility decline from inorganic modifications of soil, the need for sustainable agricultural solutions has been more pressing. The experimental work aimed to inspect the potential of organically activated biochar in improving soil physicochemical and nutrient status as well as improving biochemical and physiological processes, and optimizing yield-related attributes under optimal and deficit irrigation conditions. Biochar enhances soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability, while improving plant nutrient uptake and drought resilience. The field experiment with maize crop was conducted in Hardaas Pur (32°38.37’N, 74°9.00’E), Gujrat, Pakistan. The experiment involved the use of DK-9108, DK-6321, and Sarhaab maize hybrid seeds, with five moisture levels of evapotranspiration (100% ETC, 80% ETC, 70% ETC, 60% ETC, and 50% ETC) maintained throughout the crop seasons. Furthermore, activated biochar was applied at three levels: 0 tons/ha (no biochar), 5 tons per hectare, and 10 tons per hectare. The study’s findings revealed significant improvements in soil organic matter, bulk density, nutrient profile and total porosity with biochar supplementation in soil. Maize plants grown under lower levels of ETC in biochar supplemented soil had enhanced membrane stability index (1.6 times higher) increased protein content (1.4 times higher), reduced malondialdehyde levels (0.7 times lower), improved antioxidant enzyme activity (1.3 times more SOD and POD activity, and 1.2 times more CAT activity), improved relative growth (1.05 times more) and enhanced yield parameters (26% more grain and stover yield, 16% more 1000-seed weight, 29% more total seed weight, 33% more apparent water productivity) than control. Additionally, among the two biochar application levels tested, the 5 tons/ha dose demonstrated superior efficiency compared to the 10 tons/ha biochar dose.

A Validation of OLCI Sentinel-3 Water Products in the Baltic Sea and an Evaluation of the Effect of System Vicarious Calibration (SVC) on the Level-2 Water Products

The monitoring of coastal waters using satellite data, from sensors such as Sentinel-3 OLCI, has become a vital tool in the management of these water environments, especially when it comes to improving our understanding of the effects of climate change on these regions. In this study, the latest Level-2 water products derived from different OLCI Sentinel-3 processors were validated against a comprehensive in situ dataset from the NW Baltic Sea proper region through a matchup analysis. The products validated were those of the regionally adapted Case-2 Regional Coast Colour (C2RCC) OLCI processor (v1.0 and v2.1), as well as the latest standard Level-2 OLCI Case-2 (neural network) products from Sentinel-3’s processing baseline, listed as follows: Baseline Collection 003 (BC003), including “CHL_NN”, “TSM_NN”, and “ADG443_NN”. These products have not yet been validated to such an extent in the region. Furthermore, the effect of the current EUMETSAT system vicarious calibration (SVC) on the Level-2 water products was also validated. The results showed that the system vicarious calibration (SVC) reduces the reliability of the Level-2 OLCI products. For example, the application of these SVC gains to the OLCI data for the regionally adapted v2.1 C2RCC products resulted in RMSD increases of 36% for “conc_tsm”; 118% for “conc_chl”; 33% for “iop_agelb”; 50% for “iop_adg”; and 10% for “kd_z90max” using a ±3 h validation window. This is the first time the effects of these SVC gains on the Level-2 OLCI water products has been isolated and quantified in the study region. The findings indicate that the current EUMETSAT SVC gains should be applied and interpreted with caution in the region of study at present. A key outcome of the paper recommends the development of a regionally specific SVC against AERONET-OC data in order to improve the Level-2 water product retrieval in the region. The results of this study are important for end users and the water authorities making use of the satellite water products in the Baltic Sea region.

Determination of Optimal Soil Moisture Depletion Levels for Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) at Wondo Genet, Ethiopia

Determining allowable soil moisture depletion level is critical for determining proper irrigation scheduling. The study was conducted at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia, latitude 8°25'59'', longitude 39°01'44''and altitude of 1800 m.a.s.l to determine optimal soil moisture depletion level for sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Six levels of soil moisture depletion (20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 100% of total available water (TAW) of the soil), with three replication were used as treatments to evaluate the yield and yield component of sweet basil in randomized complete block design. Different levels of soil moisture depletion levels significantly affected all recorded yield and yield components of sweet basil including its water productivity. Significantly higher yield and yield components were associated with frequently irrigated treatment under lower soil moisture depletion levels before irrigation. However, when sweet basil was irrigated beyond 40% TAW lowest yield and yield components were recorded. Therefore, sweet basil could be irrigated when the soil moisture content is depleted by 40% of the total available water content in the soil to enhance yield and water use efficiency in the study area and similar agro ecologies.

Effect of Drip Irrigation Intervals and Fertigation Frequency on Yield and Yield Components of Cucumber under Greenhouse Conditions

The experiment was conducted in a cooled plastic tunnel greenhouse during March-August of 2022 and 2023 to study the effect of drip irrigation intervals and fertigation frequency on yield and yield components of cucumber under greenhouse conditions at Kassala State, Sudan. Seedlings of the most popular cucumber hybrid (Fatin) were planted on 40cm and 50 cm inter and intra-row spacing, respectively. The experiment was composed of two factors; irrigation intervals (every day, every 2 days and every 3 days) and fertigation frequencies applied at (one dose per week, two doses per week and 3 doses per week). The results showed that drip irrigation every day had recorded highest yield and yield components in both seasons. Maximum yields of cucumber were recorded with fertigation at three dose/week compared to fertigation at one dose/week in both seasons. Moreover, the highest values of yield, yield components, water productivity, economic water productivity and partial factor productivity of nitrogen were obtained under drip irrigation every day with fertigation at 3 dose/week on both seasons.

Enhancing the sustainability of cowpea production through the integrated use of fish effluents and animal manure

AbstractThe integration of aquaculture and agriculture in arid and semi‐arid environments is crucial for maximizing water and land productivity, especially considering the increasing global water scarcity and the simultaneous use of water for crop and fish production. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of fish effluent on the growth, yield parameters, and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). The experiment involved 13 fertilization treatments, including three types of irrigation water (river water—control, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), African sharp‐toothed catfish (Clarias gariepinus), four fertilizers (poultry, cattle, and sheep manures at 10 t ha−1), recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer (150 kg ha−1 of NPK 6‐20‐10), and six mixed treatments with fish effluent and 50% of the applied rate of manure alone (5 t ha−1). The combined use of C. gariepinus effluent + 50% poultry manure significantly increased stem diameter, nodules per plant, pods per plant, and seed yield compared to NPK treatments. The shortest days to reach 50% flowering were obtained with the effluent of O. niloticus + 50% sheep manure, C. gariepinus/O. niloticus + 50% poultry manure, and 10 t ha−1 poultry manure. However, fertilization treatments did not significantly influence the number of branches, pod and root length, number of pods per plant, 100‐seed weight, and leaf chlorophyll concentrations. This study suggests that fish effluents, when combined with manure, can improve plant growth and seed yield, providing a cost‐effective alternative to inorganic fertilizers for smallholder farmers.

The association between dietary knowledge based on the Chinese Dietary Guidelines and adherence to healthy dietary habits: a large-scale cross-sectional study

IntroductionPrevious systematic review has shown that individuals with more comprehensive dietary knowledge tend to engage in healthier eating patterns among American or European population. However, research on the association between dietary knowledge based on the Chinese Dietary Guidelines and healthy dietary behaviors, particularly among adolescents and college students in China, is lacking. This study aimed to examine the association between dietary knowledge based on the Chinese Dietary Guidelines and adherence to healthy dietary behaviors among adolescents and college students in China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in China in August and October 2023. The study involved 527 adolescents and 11,856 college students. A convenience and cluster sampling methodology was employed to select one or two grades from 33 different university majors. The dietary behaviors of college students were evaluated by assessing their consumption of nine food groups: water, eggs, milk and milk products, vegetables, fruit, red meat, soy and soy products, seafood, and sugar-sweetened beverages. The dietary behaviors of adolescents were evaluated by assessing their consumption of five food groups: fast food, salty snack foods, fruits, vegetables, and soft drinks and sugared fruit beverages. The participants’ dietary knowledge was assessed using the Chinese Dietary Guidelines. The relationship between dietary knowledge and behaviors was examined using a multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe questionnaire response rate was 100.0%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between dietary knowledge and the likelihood of exhibiting diverse dietary behaviors among college students. After adjusting for gender, age, family income, place of residence, and parents’ education levels, the results demonstrated a positive association between dietary knowledge and adherence to 4–8 eating habits among college students. In contrast, similar association was not observed among adolescent.ConclusionThis study revealed a significant association between dietary knowledge based on the Guidelines and adherence to healthy dietary behaviors among college students in China. That is to say, the higher the level of dietary knowledge based on the Guidelines among college students, the healthier the dietary behaviors they tend to adopt in their daily lives. These findings indicate the necessity of developing educational interventions based on the Guidelines to enhance dietary knowledge among individuals with limited dietary knowledge. Such interventions could facilitate the acquisition of essential health-related knowledge and strengthen motivation to engage in healthy dietary behaviors. Future studies should employ longitudinal prospective designs or randomized controlled trials in order to establish a causal association between dietary knowledge based on the Guidelines and healthy dietary behaviors.

Spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem service bundles and the driving factors in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Defining a multi-service spatial pattern and ecosystem packages is the key to ensuring regional ecological security and sustainable development. Ecosystem service bundles can effectively discern the interactions among multiple services and regionalize ecological functional zones. Aiming at a range of environmental and ecological challenges in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, such as water scarcity, soil erosion, land degradation, poor forest and grassland quality, and shrinking agricultural land, the spatial pattern and driving forces of eight crux ecosystem services, including product supply, soil conservation, water conservation, carbon storage, sand fixation, environment purification, biological diversity and recreation culture, were analyzed by combining multiple model algorithms. Additionally, spatial system clustering was employed to identify ecosystem services bundles and optimize the ecological functional zoning. The results revealed significant spatial heterogeneity of the eight ecosystem services in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. High product supply concentrated in plain regions, while the rest seven ecosystem services were dominant in in mountainous areas. The region can be classified into four service bundles: ecological conservation service (ECS), ecological restoration service (ERS), product supply service (PSS) and ecological fragile service (EFS). ECS and ERS are dominated by regulating and supporting services, which are primarily driven by climatic factors and NDVI. ERS exhibits relatively low service level and is the crucial area for future ecological restoration. PSS is dominated by food supply, with land use change being the primary driving force. At present, with the rapid urbanization, various ecosystem services provided by EFS is inadequate. In the future, urban ecological construction should be strengthened to enhance regional ecosystem services capabilities.

Plastic mulching enhances maize yield and water productivity by improving root characteristics, green leaf area, and photosynthesis for different cultivars in dryland regions

Uneven precipitation during the growing season and frequent seasonal droughts on the Loess Plateau in Northwest China adversely affect crop production and water use efficiency. While plastic mulching (PM) has been used to alleviate water stress, few studies have examined the traits maize cultivars need to adapt to the altered water environment under PM and achieve high yields. A two-year field experiment was conducted to assess the root characteristics and aboveground growth traits of three widely used high-yielding maize cultivars—Zhengdan 958 (ZD), Huanong 138 (HN), Heboshi 122 (HBS)—under no mulching (NM) and PM conditions. Among the three cultivars, HBS had the highest root system indices—root length density (RLD), root surface area density (RSD), and root biomass—in the topsoil (0–40 cm), followed by ZD and HN under both NM and PM conditions. Under NM, HBS_NM treatment exhibited strong water absorption, improving photosynthesis and yield, making it suitable for drought conditions. Under PM, topsoil moisture increased significantly, with root system indices increasing by 22.5–36.1 % for RLD, 30.2–36.1 % for RSD, and 25.2–36.5 % for root biomass across the cultivars compared to NM. While ZD_PM did not have the highest root system indices under PM, it exhibited higher green leaf area index (4.5–7.5 %), chlorophyll content (2.8–8.6 %), and photosynthetic rate (6.0–14.5 %), resulting in the highest aboveground biomass and yield among the treatments. These findings suggest ZD is better adapted to the enhanced soil moisture under PM. Future research should focus on breeding genotypes that thrive under PM conditions, emphasizing traits such as larger leaf areas and higher photosynthetic rates to boost crop productivity in rainfed areas.