Source Of Irrigation Research Articles

Bioaccumulation and Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Metals in Citrus Limetta & Citrus Sinensis Irrigated by Wastewater.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different irrigation sources on the levels of potentially toxic metals (Cd, Cr, Fe and Mn) in the edibles of citrus fruits (Citrus sinensis and Citrus limetta). The samples of fruit, soil and water were collected from two locations (fresh water irrigated-FW I and sewage water irrigated-SW II) within the city of Sargodha. The samples utilized in the study for metal analysis were prepared utilizing the wet acid digestion method. Metal determination was performed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The potentially toxic metal values in the citrus samples ranged from 0.010 to 0.063, 0.015 to 0.293, 6.691 to 11.342 and 0.366 to 0.667mg/kg for Cd, Cr, Fe and Mn, respectively. Analysis of Citrus limetta and Citrus sinensis indicated that the highest concentration of Cr, Fe and Mn is observed at the sewage water irrigation site (SW-II), whilst the minimum levels of Cr, Fe and Mn were observed at the fresh water irrigation site (FW-I). The results show that the levels of these metals in soil and fruit samples meet the acceptable guidelines outlined by USEPA and WHO. It was found that the metal pollution constitutes a potential threat to human health due to the HRI values for Cd, Cr, and Fe being above 1, despite the DIM values being below 1. Regular monitoring of vegetables irrigated with wastewater is highly recommended in order to minimise health risks to individuals.

ANALYSIS OF GROUNDWATER USE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CROPS IN PAKISTAN: EVIDENCE FROM BALOCHISTAN PROVINCE

Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of area, and most of its population depends on agriculture. It has an arid/semi-arid climate with frequent drought and dry spells. Almost half of the cultivated area is irrigated, and the primary source of irrigation is groundwater. Indus water available in Balochistan remains underutilized. Drought and tube well subsidy and other factors have resulted in over-exploited groundwater and unsustainable groundwater table. This situation affects agriculture, hence the livelihood of the residents. The study focused on analyzing the impact of using groundwater for irrigation on agricultural productivity and farmer’s livelihood in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. For this purpose, five villages were randomly selected from the district Quetta, where groundwater was the only source for irrigation. In each village, 20 farmers were interviewed through well-structured and pre-tested questionnaires. For each significant crop cultivated in the area, ‘Water Productivity’ was measured as Yield ⁄ Volume of water required in cubic meter/acre, ‘Crop Profitability’ was analyzed using ‘Benefit-Cost Ratio’ and ‘Impact of Groundwater Use on Gross Value Product’s was estimated using double log model. Results revealed that the net revenue generated from cropping was Rs. 32168 per month, whereas the monthly household expenditure of the farmers was Rs.33960, on average. Cropping alone cannot sustain the households’ livelihoods. With net income from livestock and non-farm income, farmers can meet their monthly household expenditure. Results of BCR show that all the crops are profitable, but this profitability is at the expense of over-fetching scarce groundwater. Wheat is the only crop with more than 1.19 kg/meter water productivity. Crops’ water productivity may decline if the water table keeps reducing. GVP of wheat and maize is negatively affected by the cost of groundwater. Cost sensitivity can be decreased if cost-efficient methods of irrigation are available. The government should regularize groundwater use through proper legislation and provide infrastructure/incentives for using other sources of water for irrigation as well. Availability of good quality seed to farmers should be ensured to enhance crop yield.

Assessing the Impact of Brackish Water on Soil Salinization with Time-Lapse Inversion of Electromagnetic Induction Data

Over the last decade, electromagnetic induction (EMI) measurements have been increasingly used for investigating soil salinization caused by the use of brackish or saline water as an irrigation source. EMI measurements proved to be a powerful tool for providing spatial information on the investigated soil because of the correlation between the output geophysical parameter, i.e., the electrical conductivity, to soil moisture and salinity. In addition, their non-invasive nature and their capability to collect a high amount of data over broad areas and in a relatively short time makes these measurements attractive for monitoring flow and transport dynamics, which are otherwise undetectable with conventional measurements. In an experimental field, EMI measurements were collected during the growth season of tomatoes and irrigated with three different irrigation strategies. Time-lapse data were collected over three months in order to visualize changes in electrical conductivity associated with soil salinity. A rigorous time-lapse inversion procedure was set for modeling the soil salinization induced by brackish irrigation water. A clear soil response in terms of an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) in the upper soil layer confirmed the reliability of the geophysical tool to predict soil salinization trends.

Purchasing Behaviour and Satisfaction Level of Farmers Regarding Groundnut Seeds

India's agricultural sector is a vital pillar of the economy, contributing significantly to the nation's GDP. As the world's largest producer of various commodities like pulses, milk, tea, and spices, and ranking second in fruits, vegetables, and grains, India's agricultural prowess is undeniable. One of the pivotal reasons to this success is the role of seeds, serving as the genetic foundation for plant growth and development. The Indian seed industry, valued at nearly 9000 crores and growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.43%, reflects the nation's commitment to agricultural innovation and advancement. Hybrid seeds, occupying 65% of the market share, are preferred over open-pollinated varieties, driving growth and efficiency in crop production. The study was undertaken with aim and objectives to study the socio-economic profile, purchasing behaviours, satisfaction level and problem faced by the farmers during groundnut crop establishment. A survey of 200 respondents from 10 villages of Dhoraji Taluka, Rajkot district, Gujarat, provides insights into the diverse agricultural community. The study covers demographics, education, income, landholding, cropping patterns, gender distribution, family types, irrigation sources, seed procurement, awareness of agricultural products, promotional influences, factors affecting seed purchases, satisfaction levels, and challenges in crop establishment. Respondents had income mostly between 1-5 lakhs per year. Landholding of the respondents was 1-5 acres. Groundnut was cultivated mainly in the kharif season. Farmers were using various irrigation sources like tube well, open well and canal. Seeds were mainly purchased through various channels like retailers, Agricultural universities, owned seeds and cooperative societies and oil mills. Farmers were facing major problems like higher input costs and prevalence of various disease & pest attack on groundnut crop.

ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF TURMERIC GROWERS

A study conducted in Belagavi district during 2018-19 examined the economic performance of turmeric growers using an ‘Ex-post facto’ research design. Two top turmeric-growing blocks were selected through multistage proportional sampling, with six villages chosen from each block based on irrigation sources. Data from 120 respondents across 12 villages was collected using pretested structured interviews. The cost of cultivation was estimated using the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices’ principles (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3). Labour was the most extensively used input, with an average of 134 man-days acre -1 . Canal/borewell farms (CBF) used more labour (137.5 man-days acre -1 ) compared to river basin farms (RBF - 130.50 man-days acre -1 ). The average cost of turmeric cultivation was Rs. 138010.78 per acre, with A1 cost at Rs. 91494.09 acre -1 and A2 cost at `95128.09 acre -1 . Mean gross returns were `194943.03 acre -1 . Net returns varied, with `100159.56 acre -1 at cost ‘A’, `82157.09 acre -1 at cost ‘B2’, and `56932.25 acre -1 at cost ‘C3’. CBF had higher net returns (`70099.83 acre -1 ) than RBF (`44390.73 acre -1 ). The benefit-cost ratio at cost ‘C3’ was 1:1.41 for the district, with CBF (1.49) outperforming RBF (1.33).

Internalizing the carbon footprint in rice cultivation through solar irrigation - an economic study in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, India

This study attempts to highlight the comparative economic and environmental advantages of solar powered irrigation in terms of cost, energy and carbon footprint over the existing electric operated pumping system in rice cultivation. Multi-stage and snowball sampling methods were used in this study. This study was conducted in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu purposively, as the district has the largest number of energized pumps adopted for irrigation in the state and it will be considered as a second stage. The total sample size of 90 was allotted with a quota of 45 each under electric operated well (EOW) and solar operated well (SOW) category. The cost of irrigation water, energy and carbon footprints were indirectly assessed in this study using some imputation procedures. The hours of irrigation were higher in the case of solar due to lesser horse powered motors and energy rationing is not the binding constraint in SOW unlike EOW. The per liter cost of water output was higher in the case of electric with subsidy and same was higher in the case of solar in without subsidy scenario comparisons. The hours of pumping and imputed energy consumption were higher for rice in the case of SOW compared to EOW. The energy consumption per ha decreased with increasing HPs both in the case of SOW and EOW due to economies of scale operation. The inclusion of social carbon cost in the economic analysis showed that the net income in SOW was higher without any compromise in rice production. In with social carbon cost / benefit scenario, the irrigation cost share was lesser in SOW compared to EOW. Hence it was construed that the SOW internalize the carbon footprints and serve as an important mitigating tool in confronting upcoming climate change risks. The policy makers must pay attention in promoting the subsidized SOW in agriculture, considering the negative and positive externalities involved in these two sources of irrigation.

Climate change impact assessment on the hydrological response of the Tawa basin for sustainable water management

Sustainable water resources planning and management are essential for meeting the needs of both current and future generations while mitigating environmental impacts. River basins, integral components of ecosystems, are pivotal in implementing well-balanced and responsible management strategies. River basins serve as crucial sources for freshwater supply, irrigation, hydropower generation, and industrial activities. In the face of climate change, it becomes imperative to prioritize the hydrological impact assessment of river basins. This prioritization aims to ensure the resilience of water systems, recognizing the heightened challenges posed by changing climatic conditions. The present study examines the projected changes in the mean and high flow of Tawa River, an important Narmada River tributary that is critical for agriculture and hydropower generation using two conceptual lumped hydrological models, MIKE 11 NAM and GRJ4 respectively, and thirteen CMIP6 global climate models (GCMs) for two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs), SSP2-45 and SSP5-85, in the near (2030–2060) and far (2070–2100) futures. Our findings reveal a significant rise in both mean monthly and extreme discharge levels for two scenarios: SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. Notably, the projections indicate that the mean annual discharge, extreme discharge levels, and their frequency are anticipated to rise considerably more dramatically in the period of far future (2070–2100), particularly under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. This study underlines the importance of establishing a mitigation strategy for sustainable water resources and increased community resilience to climate change in the Tawa River Basin.

Heavy metal toxicity induced by sewage water treatment in three different vegetables (lettuce, spinach and cabbage) was alleviated by brassinosteroid and silicon supplementation

Purpose: Heavy metal stress due to the application of sewage water is considered a leading factor for constrained plant growth. Therefore, Current study was performed in the field to investigate the interactive influence of two irrigation sources (canal and sewage) and exogenous application of brassinosteroid (BRs) and silicon (Si) at different rates on growth, photosynthetic and physiological attributes of three leafy vegetables (lettuce, cabbage, and spinach). Methods: Three treatments were applied such as control, BRs and Si with three replications under split plot factorial design. Results: The results indicated that all the growth parameters including fresh biomass of plants and roots, dry biomass of plant and root, leaf area (LA), photosynthetic traits, chlorophyll contents, water use efficiency (WUE), activity of antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), Catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and uptake of silicon except Cd and Pb contents were improved significantly with the foliar spray of BRs and Si over control treatment under both types of irrigation sources. However maximum improvement in leafy vegetables was recorded when the foliar spray of BRs and Si were applied under canal water irrigation. Conclusions: The foliar application of BRs and Si was proved as an ameliorating strategy for improving tolerance mechanisms associated with heavy metal stress. The major restoring mechanism was the restricted translocation of Cd and Pb leading to better growth and physiology under sewage water. Thus the application of BRs and Si reduced the detrimental effect of Cd and Pb led to improve the growth and physiological traits of leafy vegetables under irrigation with sewage water.

Enhancing Tomato Production by Using Non-Conventional Water Resources within Integrated Sprinkler Irrigation Systems in Arid Regions

This research evaluated the importance of establishing an integrated sprinkler irrigation design connected to fish farm ponds in order to achieve environmental and financial benefits. To achieve the aim of the study, two field experiments were conducted at a private farm in the Nubaria area of Beheira Governorate during the 2022 and 2023 seasons to quantify all the benefits from using fish water effluent (FWE) in irrigation. The obtained results indicated that the effluent could represent a good source of irrigation and bio-fertilization. The yield of tomato was higher when using FWE for irrigation compared with using groundwater for irrigation (IW). This was due to the additional amounts of dissolved bio-nitrogen along with other nutrients present in the FWE. The proportion of dissolved nitrogen added by using FWE was 22.3 kg nitrogen per hectare in 2022 and 24.6 kg nitrogen per hectare in 2023, in addition to some other major elements such as phosphorus and potassium, which are also among the main nutrients needed by crops. It has also been noticed that the fertility of the sandy soil increased with the use of FWE for irrigation. One of the most important results was the possibility of reducing the addition of nitrogen mineral fertilizers by 25%, thus saving on N fertilizers when growing tomato. In addition to the vitality of the FWE and its macro- and microelements, algae, microorganisms, and other organic materials, the use of this type of water as an alternative source for irrigation, along with the reduction in the amount of added mineral fertilizers, will reduce the degree of groundwater contamination with mineral fertilizers and increase the income of farmers. It was also observed that the air temperature decreased during the growing season when compared with the temperature of uncultivated surrounding areas.

Socio - economic impact of farm mechanization on farmers

The present investigation was conducted in Chandur Bazar taluka of Amravati district (Vidarbha region) of Maharashtra state. The main objective of the study was to assess the relationship between the profile of the farmers and socio-economic impact of farm mechanization. A pre – structured interview schedule was used to collect data from 120 respondents from 12 villages which were selected by using exploratory design of the social research during 2023-24. The statistical methods such as frequencies, percentage, mean, standard deviation and correlation were used. The data of research study show that education, age ,size of family, land holdings, source of irrigation, cropping pattern, Annual income, source of information, and risk preference were found to be significantly related.

Remediation potential of arsenic in the alluvial aquifers in the Bengal Basin: insights from simulations and time estimates

ABSTRACT Arsenic is found in significant quantities within the alluvial aquifers. Bangladesh heavily relies on the alluvial aquifers of the Bengal Basin as a source of irrigation and drinking water. Due to the flat topography, arsenic within an aquifer is not easily flushed out of the system. Additionally, continuous, unregulated pumping causes arsenic from deeper aquifers to migrate to shallower levels. This study simulates groundwater and contaminant transport in the alluvial aquifers of the Bengal Basin by comparison between two scenarios prior to human intervention with different sea levels, employing a combination of MODFLOW, MODPATH and MT3DMS. The simulations demonstrate that the hydraulic gradient and flow rates were higher during periods of considerably lower sea levels than they are at present. Additionally, it would require 5,600 years for the Holocene aquifer and 3,300 years for the Last Glacial Period aquifer to flush arsenic to the Bangladesh standard concentrations in drinking water in a 100-m-thick contaminated aquifer. This implies that if the sea level continues to rise with climate change, it will be difficult to remove arsenic from the alluvial aquifers in the Bengal Basin by natural flushing, which means artificial interventions need to be done in that region in the interest of the nation's health.

Transfer of heavy metals from soil to vegetables: A comparative assessment of different irrigation water sources

This study aimed to assess the transfer factor (TF) of heavy metals (HMs) from soil to commonly consumed vegetables irrigated with different water sources. The field study covered 36 m2 of agricultural land in Kermanshah province, Iran, divided into nine equal-sized plots. Coriander, basil, and radish were the three types of vegetables cultivated and subjected to irrigation over two months, utilizing three different water sources: treated wastewater effluent (TWE), river water (RW), and well water + nitrogen fertilizer (WWF). After the irrigation and harvesting stages, soil samples from the cultivation area and harvested vegetables were collected. These samples underwent analysis using the ICP-OES method to assess HM levels and subsequent calculation of the TF of HMs from soil to plants. The results revealed that the TF levels indicated plants' relatively weak response (TF < 1) to the absorption of HMs. For non-toxic elements (Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni), TF values were generally higher than those for toxic elements (Cd, As, Pb) across all three vegetable types and irrigation treatments. The study's findings suggest that the TF of HMs in the studied vegetables varied based on the irrigation source and vegetable type. Various factors, including the type of irrigation source and vegetable, influenced the TF of HMs, each having different impacts on the transfer rate of each HM. The study highlights the importance of monitoring irrigation water and soil quality to prevent the accumulation of HMs in cultivated vegetables, thereby mitigating potential risks to human health.

The possible application of fly ash (FA) to ameliorate acid mine water (AMD) for irrigation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Some areas in Johannesburg abounds with mine wastes namely, acid mine drainage (AMD) as well as fly ash (FA), which are by-products of gold mining and coal burning, respectively. Studies show that a solution formed through mixing these wastes neutralises the acidity of AMD and is an alternative source of irrigation. While studies show improved growth and yield of plants irrigated with fly ash-amended AMD, there are rarely sufficient studies conducted in South Africa showing evidence of altered pH of AMD and that food crops irrigated with fly ash-amended AMD exhibit improved concentration of essential nutrient elements. In this study, AMD was sourced from a gold mine in Johannesburg and fly ash collected from a coal-burning power station in the Mpumalanga Province, mixed at 1:0, 1:1, and 3:1 (w/v) of fly ash to AMD and used to irrigate potatoes. The objective was to assess whether the solutions of FA-amended AMD alter the pH of the AMD and to evaluate if irrigating potatoes with the aforementioned improve the concentration of essential nutrient elements and heavy metals in the tubers. Results show that the pH of AMD was increased in the 1:0 and 1:1 solutions but decreased in the 3:1 solution. The concentrations of Pb and Co were decreased in tubers irrigated with the 50 % AMD and 75 % AMD while that of Ni and Cd were markedly increased in tubers irrigated with solutions of fly ash-amended AMD. In the main, the potato tubers exhibited significantly higher concentrations of Al, Mo, Cu, Ca, Mg, and Zn when irrigated with fly-ash-amended AMD. The pH range levels from FA-AMD treated samples were within the acceptable pH range (5.5–6.5) which is acceptable for water that could be used for irrigation of crops. Also, the decreased Co and Pb and improved concentration of essential nutrient elements indicate that the constituents absorbed large quantities of the heavy metals while releasing the nutrients. In conclusion, the selected fly ash has proven as an alternative low-cost readily-available, affordable, and accessible adsorbent that neutralize the acidity of AMD, decrease the concentration of heavy metals, and increase the concentration of essential nutrient elements. Importantly, the liming potential among other traits of the fly ash improved the quality of the AMD such that the wastes were proven in this study suitable to irrigate potatoes.

Strategic Integration of Catchment Level Natural and Structural Methods of Sustainable Flood Management: A Case Study of River Wharfe Catchment Area

Water has a crucial place in the advent of humankind the flourishing of mega population centres, and is an essential source of food, water transportation, and irrigation. The anthropogenic activities in taming the natural water streams to the optimum benefit of human beings disturb natural flood plains, ecology and habitat. The channelisation of streams and hydromodifications in dams, barrages or reservoirs result in climatic variations locally/ regionally and impact transborder stream flow. Researchers have been endeavouring to restore the flood plains to their natural conditions. Still, huge hydromodifications and the development of megacities right in the flood plains or adjacent to the streams have resulted in irreversible disturbances to the natural lay of ground/ landscape. Therefore, to avoid flooding disasters, further structural interventions are undertaken to augment the natural flood prevention methods using advanced materials like cement concrete, steel, and polymers rather than increasing the emissions of greenhouse gases. Considering the strategic necessity of engineering structures as an integrated catchment level solution to augment the natural methods, the researchers/ engineers are now focussing on the use of sustainable, eco-friendly materials and demountable/ hydraulic structures to minimise the carbon footprints of hydromodifications and to decrease the obstruction to the natural flow of streams by using the flood prevention structures/ gates/ walls/ reservoirs only in case of disastrous flooding and otherwise keeping them unemployed during normal stream discharges. This study has been used to review sustainable flood management using natural and structural techniques in the Wharf River catchment in the UK, reviewing the existing research/ flood management schemes giving the pictorial coverage. The study suggests that natural flood management techniques have restricted application parameters and must be augmented by engineering structures to achieve effective flood management against heavy flooding. Low CO2 embodied greener infrastructure structural materials containing supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) can be a beneficial option for an environmentally friendly flood management strategy.

Assessment of Leaf Area Index and its Relationship with Growth and Yield of Fodder Cowpea as Influenced by Sources of Irrigation and Nutrients

Background: Fodder cowpea is an important leguminous, short duration, warm season crop widely cultivated. Though India ranks first in livestock population, the productivity is found lesser than the world average due to deficiency in availability of green fodders. As fresh water application usage is increasing for the cultivation of field crops and high value crops, fodder crops are found negligible crops but responds well to water and nutrients. Leaf area index is one of the determinative parameters for the increased yield, an attempt was made to determine the relationship between the growth and yield of fodder cowpea with the application of domestic sewage water and nutrients. Methods: studies were conducted during 2019 and 2020 to study the relationship between different sources of irrigation water and nutrients on the growth and yield of fodder cowpea. Treatments in main plot consists of irrigation with water using well water (I1), domestic sewage water (I2) and well water and domestic sewage water alternatively (I3). Treatments in sub plot consists of no nutrient (N1), Farm Yard manure alone (N2), Farm Yard manure + NPK (N3) and NPK alone (N4), in split plot design and replicated thrice. The leaf constant was determined graphically plotted in regression and used for calculation of leaf area. The relationship between leaf area index and the growth and yield parameters of fodder cowpea were determined. Result: Our investigation concluded that the application of domestic sewage water along with farmyard manure + NPK significantly increased plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area and leaf area index of fodder cowpea. The data also reveals that leaf area index correlated positively with plant height, number of leaves per plant, biomass per plant and yield of fodder cowpea.

Assessment of the surface water quality and primary health risk in urban wastewater and its receiving river Kathajodi, Cuttack of eastern India.

Kathajodi, the principal southern distributary of the Mahanadi River, is the vital source of irrigation and domestic water use for densely populated Cuttack city which receives anthropogenic wastes abundantly. This study assesses the contamination level and primary health status of urban wastewater, and its receiving river Kathajodi based on the physicochemical quality indices employing inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy and aligning with guidelines from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and WHO. The high WQI, HPI, and HEI in the catchment area (KJ2, KJ3, and KJ4) indicate poor water quality due to the influx of domestic waste through the primary drainage system and effluents of healthcare units. A high BOD (4.33-19.66mg L-1) in the catchment indicates high organic matter, animal waste, bacteriological contamination, and low DO, resulting in deterioration of water quality. CR values beyond limits (1.00E - 06 to 1.00E - 04) in three locations of catchment due to higher Cd, Pb, and As indicate significant carcinogenic risk, while high Mn, Cu, and Al content is responsible for several non-carcinogenic ailments and arsenic-induced physiological disorders. The elevated heavy metals Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn, in Kathajodi, could be due to heavy coal combustion, vehicle exhaust, and industrial waste. On the other hand, Cu, Fe, K, and Al could be from agricultural practices, weathered rocks, and crustal materials. Positive significant (p ≤ 0.05) Pearson correlations between physicochemical parameters indicate their common anthropogenic origin and similar chemical characteristics. A strong correlation of PCA between elements and physiological parameters indicates their role in water quality deterioration. Assessing the surface water quality and heavy metal contents from this study will offer critical data to policymakers for monitoring and managing public health concerns.

The role of institutional diversity in sustainable water use: Performance comparison among water user organizations

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare the performance of water user organizations (WUOs) in the agricultural sector in terms of their managerial efficiency. A survey was carried out across the study area to evaluate 67 WUOs, including irrigation cooperatives, municipalities, village legal entities (VLEs) and water user associations (WUAs). The findings were then used to create a management performance index. It has been determined that municipalities excel in terms of physical performance, irrigation cooperatives in enterprise and social performance and WUAs in institutional and investment performance. The general management performance index revealed that the most successful WUOs in the Konya closed basin were WUAs. Therefore, proposals have been put forward to begin institutionalization processes in other institutions to attain the successful institutionalization in WUAs. Additionally, the shift towards prepaid systems is recommended to mitigate collection problems, while water should be priced according to the full cost method. Finally, supporting the use of alternative energy sources for irrigation is crucial.

Impact on sulfadiazine bio-accessibility in soils through organic diffusive gradients in thin films (o-DGT): Differentiation based on microplastic polymers, aging, and soil properties

Due to the similar sources of swage irrigation, organic fertilizer, and sludge application, microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics coexist inevitably in the agriculture soils. However, the impacts of MPs with different polymer types and aging status on the bio-accessibility of co-existing antibiotics in soils remained unclear. Therefore, we using the diffusive gradients films for organic compounds devices (o-DGT) to evaluated the distribution of sulfadiazine (SDZ) in both paddy soil and saline soil amended with 0.5 % (w/w) MPs. Four polymer types (polyethylene: PE, polypropylene: PP, polyamide: PA, and polyethylene terephthalate: PET) and two aging statuses (aged PE and aged PP) of MPs were used in this study. Results showed that soil properties significantly influence the partition of SDZ in soil and soil solution, and SDZ gained a lower degradation rate but higher mobility in saline soil. MPs pose different impacts on partition of SDZ between paddy soil and saline soil. Notably, PP reduced the labile solid phase-solution phase partition coefficient (Kdl) by 17.7 % in paddy soil, while PE, PP, and aPE increased the Kdl value by 2.00, 1.62, and 2.81 times in saline soil. Besides, in saline soil, all the MPs reduced the SDZ concentration in the soil solution, while significantly increased the SDZ in o-DGT phase. Conversely, MPs did not impact the SDZ's o-DGT concentration in paddy soil. Additionally, MPs increased the R value of SDZ in two soils, especially in saline soil. It suggested that MPs could potentially enhance the resupply of SDZ from soil to plants, particularly under saline conditions. Furthermore, aged MPs had a more pronounced effect on these indicators compared to virgin MPs in saline soil. Therefore, MPs in soil poses a potential risk for biota's uptake of SDZ, particularly in fragile environment. Moreover, the risk intensifies with aged MPs.

Distribution of mercury contamination on paddy fields in various levels of soil depth in gold mine area at Sub-District Hutabargot, Mandailing Natal Regency, Indonesia

Unauthorised Gold Mining in Mandailing Natal Regency could serious problems for the environment and human health. It is because waste from the amalgamation process contains mercury released into the waterways that are irrigation sources. The main damage impact from the mercury waste released into irrigation canals would be seen on the paddy field. For this reason, it is necerssary to tests and studies to see the contaminated level of mercury on paddy fields. This research was conducted from June to July 2023 in Sub-District Hutabargot, Mandailing Natal Regency by took soil sampling in the 0-10 cm, 11-20 cm, 21-20 cm, 31-40 cm, 41-50 cm, 51-60 cm, 61-70 cm, 71-80 cm, 81-90 cm, and 91-100 cm on soil depth in 7 sampling points. The resulting study obtained at least 170 amalgamation points that the waste released into the waters. The mercury content on the paddy soil in Sub-District Hutabargot which is irrigation irrigated by amalgamation process exceeding the threshold. There is an increase of mercury content in the 30 cm soil depth and then decreases with increasing soil depth. For a depth of more than 60 cm, the mercury content on the paddy soil is under the threshold.

Distribution and source of contamination of heavy metal mercury at paddy field in Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatera, Indonesia

Mandailing Natal Regency is administratively located in North Sumatera Province with 662,070 hectares width and a paddy field area of 40,051 hectares. Batang Gadis River stream is 180 KM long and became the source of livelihood for people in Mandailing Natal Regency as the source of drinking water, irrigation, and protein food source such as fish. Unlicensed Gold mining (PETI) occurred massively in Mandailing Natal Regency precisely at Sub-District Muara Sipongi, Sub-District Ulu Pungkut, Sub-District Huta Bargot, and Sub-District Naga Juang. The use of mercury for the amalgamation process in gold mining produces mercury waste which the run-off stream to the irrigation canals and at the end stream to Batang Gadis River Flow. This research conducted the distribution and source of contamination of heavy metal mercury at paddy fields in Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatera, Indonesia. The research was conducted to take soil sample analysis from paddy fields as much as 100 points from 20 paddy field locations near the amalgamation place or the water source for irrigation from Batang Gadis River that spread in five sub-districts. The soil sample analysis took for 25 cm depth. The results showed that the mercury concentration in all rice fields studied exceeded the quality standard threshold with the highest concentration found in Sub-District Naga Juang as much as 11.47 ppm followed by Sub-District Hutabargot with 10,77 ppm concentration. The factor that determines the paddy soil contamination by the mercury was the amalgamation waste which directly streams to irrigation canals compared with the paddy field with irrigation canals direct from the Batang Gadis River.