Summer-autumn Season Research Articles

Plankton and contour algal communities in the Ukrainian section of the Western Bug River and its tributaries

The paper deals with spatial dynamics of cell count, biomass, dominant species complexes, information diversity of planktonic and contour algal communities in the Western Bug River and its tributaries. The trophic state and water quality of the rivers under study have been assessed. The spatial heterogeneity of phytoplankton, microphytobenthos and phytoperiphyton brought about high cell count and biomass values during the low-water summer-autumn season. The cell count and biomass have been shown to increase from the upper reaches downstream, correlating with the river bed width. High quantitative diversity of algal communities was due to Bacillariophyta dominance. Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta were recorded as subdominants. The trophic state of the aquatic ecosystems under study varied between oligotrophic and eutrophic. The Shannon’s index made up 1.58–4.62 bit/cell and 1.60–4.40 bit/mg. The trophic state and information diversity assessed according to contour algal communities were higher than according to phytoplankton. This is indicative of the clear water regime forming in the rivers under study during the low-water summer-autumn season. The obtained findings differ from the data, published earlier for the Kaniv Water Reservoir, where the primary role belonged to phytoplankton. The spatial heterogeneity of algal communities is related to the dominant complexes structure. As a rule, these are monodominant Bacillariophyta complexes or oligodominant Bacillariophyta – Cyanobacteria or Bacillariophyta – Chlorophyta complexes. The water quality assessment according to the abiotic variables and saprobiologic characteristics has shown that the modal classes of water quality are the 2nd–3rd classes (clean waters – satisfactory clean waters). Therefore, the water quality of the Ukrainian section of the Western Bug River and its tributaries does not pose any substantial hazard to the adjacent European countries.

Annual and seasonal mean daily discharge in natural and regulated rivers in Northern Finland: variability, trends, and links to climate teleconnections

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate long-term (1969–2023) variability and trends in annual mean daily discharge (AMDD) and seasonal mean daily discharge (SMDD) in 10 rivers throughout Northern Finland in connection to climate teleconnections. The lowest AMDDs were mostly recorded during the first 12 years (1969–1980) of our study period, while the highest ones were during the last 12 years (2012–2023). Significant trends in AMDD were found only in three natural rivers of Tornionjoki, Simojoki, and Kuivajoki during 1969–2023. Such variations and trends in AMDD were most significantly associated with the Scandinavia (SCA) pattern, which is also an influential climate teleconnection for annual precipitation anomalies across Northern Finland. The highest (lowest) SMDDs were experienced in spring (winter). Only increasing trends in SMDD were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Such substantial increases in SMDDs were detected in winter, spring, and summer (autumn) in association with the Arctic Oscillation or AO and the North Atlantic Oscillation or NAO (East Atlantic/West Russia or EA/WR). Generally speaking, recent milder and wetter climatic conditions in association with strong positive AO and NAO (negative EA/WR) phases could increase SMDD for winter, spring, and summer (autumn) seasons. Hence, both AMDD and SMDD in rivers throughout Northern Finland were primarily influenced by precipitation.

A Spatial–Seasonal Study on the Danube River in the Adjacent Danube Delta Area: Case Study—Monitored Heavy Metals

Monitoring and protecting flowing watercourses is a complex and challenging task that requires the collaboration and coordination of various stakeholders such as governments, industries, farmers, consumers and environmental groups. The study of the dynamics of the concentration of polluting factors and especially the concentrations of heavy metals and highlighting a seasonal variation is a necessary element from this point of view. In this article, we present the results of our analyses carried out in two measurement campaigns executed in 10 monitoring points along the Danube River, between Braila city and Isaccea city in the pre-deltaic area, during the summer season and autumn season 2022. The importance of this area is given by the fact that the Danube Delta is part of the UNESCO heritage, and the monitoring of polluting factors is a necessity in the desire to protect this area. The data measured during the July and August 2022 campaign cover a wide range of chemical species: Phosphate, CCO, CBO5, NH4+, N-NO2, N-NO3−, N-Total, P-PO4 3−, SO42−, Cl−, phenols, as well as metals with a harmful effect: Al, As, Cd, Cr, Fe. The study includes an evaluation based on the statistical approach of the results to highlight the significant correlations and differences identified between the two data sets. Next, to highlight the obtained results, a numerical model was considered using HEC-RAS and ESRI ArcGIS applications in a two-dimensional unsteady flow model in order to obtain the non-homogenous concentrations’ distributions in the studied area. These two-dimensional models have been less studied in the specialized literature. In this way, interesting results could be obtained, and prediction methods regarding the dynamics of metal concentrations could be structured. The data obtained were used for the terrain model from the USGS service, and the flows of the Danube and its two tributaries were simulated using the data provided by the national services. In this work, we present the results obtained for the dynamics of the concentrations of the metals Al, As, Cd, Cr and Fe and the evaluation of the specific absorption coefficients for the explanation and correlation with the results of the measurements. Except for the numerical model presented, we would like to highlight the existence of some contributions of the main tributaries of the Danube in the study area. Such a systematic study has not been carried out due to conditions imposed by the border authorities. From this point of view, this study has an element of originality. The study is part of a more complex project in which the spatio-temporal distribution of the polluting factors in the water was evaluated, and the habitats in the study area were inventoried—especially those of community interest. In this way, we were able to expose the self-purification capacity of the Danube and highlight the existence of a concentration reduction gradient along the course of the river. The aspects related to the influence of the distribution of polluting factors on the state of health will be the subject of another article.

Baroclinic responses of Qiongzhou Strait throughflow to different forcings

The Qiongzhou Strait (QS) throughflow is affected by the seasonal circulation in both the northern South China Sea (SCS) shelf and the Beibu Gulf. The water masses with distinct properties between these two regions signify the baroclinic processes in the QS. In this study, a high-resolution unstructured-grid Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) was used to investigate the features and dynamic mechanisms of baroclinic-induced currents (BCC) in the QS. Different forcings were considered such as tides, river discharges, winds, and remote forcings (low-frequency sea surface level and current variations). The model results indicate that the volume transport of the BCC contributes to 31.26% of the total in the QS, determining the transport direction in summer. The baroclinic response to low-frequency remote forcings is most pronounced during the summer-autumn season, but less than winds during the winter-spring season. This finding underscores the importance of low-frequency remote forcings on the QS throughflow, which has often been overlooked in previous studies. Momentum balance suggests that the BCCs are predominantly driven by both the barotropic and baroclinic pressure gradient forces. Decrease (increase) in either of these two forces will lead to an intensified eastward (westward) flow. The contribution of the horizontal advection is relatively weak but cannot be ignored. This study highlights the baroclinic responses of QS throughflow to different forcings, which is important when investigating the circulation in the northern SCS, especially in the Beibu Gulf.

Improved method for cropland extraction of seasonal crops from multi-sensor satellite data

ABSTRACT Monitoring agricultural land over vast geographical areas presents challenges due to the absence of accurate, comprehensive and precise data, which has become a complex process that is difficult to do in terms of both timespans and consistency. Hence, this study presents an improved approach for the identification of agricultural land by utilizing the capabilities of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites with a variety of vegetation and non-vegetation indices and machine learning algorithms. The Multispectral Correlation Mapper (MCM) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms are adopted to train different agricultural lands, crop types and sowing and cultivation seasons. The 45-bands mega-file data cube (MFDC) fusion for each season incorporates essential indices and features derived from the Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 datasets for both seasons, i.e. Rabi (winter-spring season) and Kharif (summer-autumn season). The proposed method demonstrated resilience when applied to satellite datasets while effectively reducing the impact of non-agricultural elements such as shrubs, grass, bare soil and orchards. The results demonstrate a notable ability to differentiate between the Rabi and Kharif seasons, resulting in a high level of precision in measuring the extent of cultivated land during the Rabi and Kharif seasons with an area of 626,947 acres and 590,858 acres, respectively. The total land area, ascertained from the observation of the comprehensive cropping pattern and agricultural modifications during the entire year (June 2021–May 2022) is 635,655 acres. The validation exercise shows the higher accuracy of this method for cropland, with an overall accuracy of 98.8%, kappa of 0.97, user accuracy of 98.69% and producer accuracy of 99.13%. Additionally, it was spatially compared with the ESRI, ESA and MODIS cropland layers and government statistical data. Furthermore, the research investigates the temporal dynamics of agricultural growth phases using spectral bands and indices. This approach improves the accuracy of precise cropland identification and provides useful insights into crop phenology.

Integrated analysis of remote sensing with meteorological and health data for allergic rhinitis forecasting in Tianjin.

Long time series of vegetation monitoring can be carried out by remote sensing data, the level of urban greening is objectively described, and the spatial characteristics of plant pollen are indirectly understood. Pollen is the main allergen in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Meteorological factors affect the release and diffusion of pollen. Therefore, studying of the complex relationship between meteorological factors and allergic rhinitis is essential for effective prevention and treatment of the disease. In this study, we leverage remote sensing data for a comprehensive decade-long analysis of urban greening in Tianjin, which exhibits an annual increase in vegetative cover of 0.51 per annum, focusing on its impact on allergic rhinitis through changes in pollen distribution. Utilizing high-resolution imagery, we quantify changes in urban Fractional Vegetation Coverage (FVC) and its correlation with pollen types and allergic rhinitis cases. Our analysis reveals a significant correlation between FVC trends and pollen concentrations, with a surprising value of 0.71, highlighting the influence of urban greenery on allergenic pollen levels. We establish a robust connection between the seasonal patterns of pollen outbreaks and allergic rhinitis consultations, with a noticeable increase in consultations during high pollen seasons. our findings indicate a higher allergenic potential of herbaceous compared to woody vegetation. This nuanced understanding underscores the importance of pollen sensitivity, alongside concentration, in driving allergic rhinitis incidents. Utilizing a Generalized Linear Model, significant features influencing the number of visits for allergic rhinitis (P < 0.05) were identified. Both GLM and LSTM models were employed to forecast the visitation volumes for rhinitis during the spring and summer-autumn of 2022. Upon validation, it was found that the R² values between the simulated and actual values for both GLM and LSTM models surpassed the 95% confidence threshold. Moreover, the R² values for the summer-autumn seasons (GLM: 0.56, LSTM: 0.72) were higher than those for spring (GLM: 0.22, LSTM: 0.47). Comparing the errors between the simulated and actual values of GLM and LSTM models, LSTM exhibited higher simulation precision in both spring and summer-autumn seasons, demonstrating superior simulation performance. Overall, our study pioneers the integration of remote sensing with meteorological and health data for allergic rhinitis forecasting. This integrative approach provides valuable insights for public health planning, particularly in urban settings, and lays the groundwork for advanced, location-specific allergenic pollen forecasting and mitigation strategies.

Mechanized wet direct seeding for increased rice production efficiency and reduced carbon footprint

Crop establishment is one of the major rice production operations that strongly affects rice production, productivity, and environmental impacts. This research introduced a new technology and provided scientific evidence for the benefits of mechanized wet direct seeding (mDSR) of rice as compared with the other crop establishment practices commonly applied by farmers for wet direct seeded rice in Mekong River Delta in Vietnam, such as seeding in line using drum-seeder (dDSR) and broadcast seeding (bDSR). The experiment was implemented across two consecutive rice cropping seasons that are Winter-Spring season and Summer-Autumn season in 2020–2021. Treatments included (1–3) mDSR with seeding rates of 30, 50, and 70 kg ha− 1, (4) dDSR with 80 kg ha− 1 seed rate, and (5) bDSR as current farmer practice with seeding rate of 180 kg ha− 1. The fertilizer application was adjusted as per seeding rate with 80:40:30 kg ha− 1 N: P2O5: K2O with lower seed rate 30 and 50 kg ha− 1 in mDSR; 90:40:30 kg ha− 1 N: P2O5: K2O with medium seed rate of 70 to 80 kg ha− 1; and 115:55:40 kg ha− 1 N: P2O5: K2O with high seed rate of 180 kg ha− 1 in bDSR. Mechanized wet direct seeding rice with a lower seed rate of 30 to 70 kg ha− 1 and fertilizer rate by 22–30% reduced variation in seedling density by 40–80% and in yield by 0.1 to 0.3 t ha− 1 and had similar yield to bDSR. In consequence, N productivity was 27 and 32% higher in mDSR as compared to bDSR during the Winter-Spring season and Summer-Autumn seasons, respectively. The use of lower seed rate and fertilizer in mDSR also led to higher income and lower carbon footprint (GHGe per kg of paddy grains) of rice production than the currently used practices of bDSR. Net income of mDSR was comparable to that of dDSR and higher by 145–220 and 171–248 $US than that of bDSR in Winter-Spring season and Summer-Autumn, respectively. The carbon footprint of mDSR rice production compared to bDSR was lower by 22–25% and 12–20% during the Winter-Spring and Summer-Autumn seasons, respectively. Given the above benefits of farming efficiency, higher income, and low emission, mDSR would be a technology package that strongly supports sustainable rice cultivation transformation for the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam.

Plankton and contour algal communities in the ukrainian section of the Western Bug River and its tributaries

The taxonomic diversity of algae in the Western Bug River and its tributaries during the low-water summer-autumn season comprised 303 species (318 intraspecies taxa, ist) from 131 genera, 74 families, 45 orders, 16 classes and 8 phyla. Bacillariophyta dominated, Chlorophyta were recorded as subdominants. The phytoplankton taxonomic diversity included 140 ist, microphytobenthos – 191, phytoperiphyton – 172. The floristic nucleus of algal communities was formed by 17 families. In phytoplankton the highest rank belonged to Scenedesmaceae, while in contour algal communities – Naviculaceae. The highest floristic similarity was observed for microphytobenthos and phytoperiphyton, and the highest dissimilarity – for phytoplankton and phytoperiphyton. The spatial differentiation between contour and plankton communities during the low-water period, rather high similarity of their floristic structure indicate the unity of structural organization of algae from different ecological groups as an important component of biodiversity in the transboundary rivers. According to geographic distribution cosmopolites dominated; according to flow and oxygen regime – indifferents; according to pH preference – alkaliphilic and indifferent species; according to salinity preference – indifferent species; according to saprobiological characteristics – χ-ο- and β-mesosaprobic species. According to biotopic preference eurytopic and benthic forms prevailed. The dialectic unity between contour algal communities and phytoplankton to a great extent depends on morphometric and hydrological characteristics of the rivers under study. High taxonomic diversity, clearly marked spatial differentiation between planktonic and contour communities, interesting species of Bacillariophyta – all these features are indicative of the uniqueness and importance of algae in forming the biodiversity of the transboundary Western Bug River and its tributaries as the components of the EU hydrological network.

Profiling the Bioactive Compounds in Broccoli Heads with Varying Organ Sizes and Growing Seasons.

Broccoli is a rich source of diverse bioactive compounds, but how their contents are influenced by different growing seasons and variations in broccoli head sizes remains elusive. To address this question, we quantified sixteen known bioactive compounds and seven minerals in broccoli with varying head sizes obtained in two different growing seasons. Our results suggest that the contents of vitamin C, total phenols, carotenoids, and glucoraphanin were significantly higher in samples from the summer-autumn season, showing increases of 157.46%, 34.74%, 51.80%, and 17.78%, respectively, compared with those from the winter-spring season. Moreover, chlorogenic acid is a phenolic compound with relatively high contents among the six detected, while beta-sitosterol is the sterol with relatively high contents. Further, principal component analysis was conducted to rank the comprehensive scores of the profiles of phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and minerals, demonstrating that the broccoli samples grown during the summer-autumn season achieved the highest composite scores. Our results indicate that broccoli heads from the summer-autumn season are richer in a combination of bioactive compounds and minerals than those from the winter-spring season based on the composite score. This study extends our understanding of the nutrition profiles in broccoli and also lays the foundation for breeding broccoli varieties with improved nutrition quality.

Оценка климатического и антропогенного вкладов в многолетние колебания сезонного стока рек бассейна р. Урал

The analysis of long-term fluctuations in seasonal runoff of the Ural basin rivers is performed, statistical relationships between runoff and the main meteorological factors (air temperature and precipitation) are estimated. Weather stations with the highest correlation between the main meteorological factors and seasonal runoff of the Ural, Sakmara, and Ilek rivers are selected. Empirical dependences of seasonal runoff on air temperature and total precipitation are substantiated for three hydrological stations located on these rivers during the period with minimum anthropogenic load on water resources (slightly disturbed runoff). Their statistical and graph-analytical analysis showed that they have a fairly high correlation for the period of spring flooding and the summer-autumn season, and the dependences for the period of winter low water are much less accurate. Based on the constructed dependencies for a period of significant anthropogenic load on the water resources of the region, a comparative analysis of the calculated (undisturbed) seasonal runoff of the Ural, Sakmara, and Ilek rivers with the observed one is performed.

ФИЗИОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ СОРТОВ ГРУШИ НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ КРАСНОДАРСКОГО КРАЯ

The search for new promising pear varieties with high adaptation and production potential is an important aim of modern breeding for the southern regions of the Russian Federation. In present study, the results of the physiological characteristics of four pear varieties during the summerautumn season 2022-2023 are presented. Pear trees were planted in the territory of the Prikubanskaya fruit growing in the Krasnodar Region. Three varieties Leven, Lyuberskaya, Flamenco of Russian breeding and the American variety Devo were used. The pear leaves were selected three times during the summer months and in September. The content of soluble sugars and total phenols, as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes – superoxide dismutase and peroxidase – were determined in the plant material. It was established that an increase of the level of the primary and secondary metabolites accumulation and an increase of enzymatic activity by ~20-75 % occurred in the hotter and drier 2023. The content of soluble sugars significantly increased to ~12.0 mg/g fresh weight in the leaves of the varieties Devo and Leven. The accumulation of phenolic compounds increased in all pear varieties by more than 30 % with values exceeding 27,0 mg/g fresh weight. The level of superoxide dismutase activity in 2023 averaged 13.4 unit/mg protein, which is slightly higher than the values of 2022. Peroxidase activity increased 2-4 times with maximum values of more than 8,0 unit/mg protein per min. in the varieties Leven and Lyuberskaya. In conclusion, the data obtained indicate that the drier and hotter conditions of 2023 were not critical for the normal growth and development of the studied pears varieties, but only initiated the activation of the defense antioxidant system in plant cells. Key words: PEAR, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY METABOLITES, ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME ACTIVITY

Lipid profile of parr and smolts of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) reared in aquaculture under various lighting regimes

The study of the biochemical mechanisms of the effect of additional lighting on the growth and early development of salmonids in aquaculture allows to identify patterns of slow or accelerated growth, as well as the onset of the smoltification. In this study, the results of changes in lipid status in parr and smolts of Atlantic salmon after the “winter window” (December-January) are presented. These results were obtained from three experimental groups exposed to different lighting and feeding regimes at the fingerlings stage. The changes in lipid composition of the studied young salmon indicate the onset of smoltification in all experimental groups. However, this effect is the most pronounced in the fish previously reared under continuous lighting during the summer-autumn season.

Estimation of Norovirus infections in Japan: An application of wastewater-based epidemiology for enteric disease assessment

Noroviruses of genogroup I (NoV GI) and NoV GII are the primary causes of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in developed countries. However, asymptomatic and untested NoV infections lead to an underestimation of AGE cases, and the lack of mandatory viral identification in clinical cases hinders precise estimation of NoV infections. Back estimation of NoV infections in the community using a wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approach can provide valuable insights into the disease's extent, progression, and epidemiology, aiding in developing effective control strategies. This study employed a one-step reverse transcription-quantitative PCR to quantify NoVs GI and GII in wastewater samples (n = 83) collected twice a week from June 2022 to March 2023 in Japan. All samples from the Winter-Spring (n = 27) tested positive for NoV GI and GII RNA, while 73 % and 88 % of samples from the Summer-Autumn (n = 56) were positive for NoV GI and NoV GII RNA, respectively. Significantly higher concentrations of NoV GI/GII RNA were found in the Winter-Spring season compared to the Summer-Autumn season. NoV RNA was consistently detected in wastewater throughout the year, demonstrating the persistence of AGE cases in the catchment, suggesting an endemic NoV infection. Estimates of NoV infection incorporated viral RNA concentrations, wastewater parameters, and signal persistence in a mass balance equation using Monte Carlo Simulation. The median estimated NoV GI infections per 100,000 population for Summer-Autumn was 133 and for the Winter-Spring season, it was 881. Estimated NoV GII infections were 1357 for Summer-Autumn and 11,997 for the Winter-Spring season per 100,000 population. The estimated NoV infections exceeded by 3.2 and 23.9 folds than the reported AGE cases in Summer-Autumn and Winter-Spring seasons, respectively. The seasonal trend of estimated NoV infections closely matched that of AGE cases, highlighting the utility of WBE in understanding the epidemiology of enteric infections.

Targeted amplicon sequencing facilitated a novel risk assessment framework for assessing the prevalence of broad spectrum bacterial and coronavirus diseases

How to effectively leverage wastewater data to estimate the risk of various infectious diseases remains a great challenge. To address this issue, we conducted continuous wastewater surveillance in Dalian city during the summer-autumn seasons of 2022, targeting coronavirus and bacterial diseases. The surveillance included daily sampling at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and weekly sampling in three sewersheds. Targeting the bacteria's 16S rRNA gene and the coronavirus's RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene, we first employed RT–PCR and amplicon sequencing techniques to analyze the presence and phylogenetic relationship of detected coronavirus and bacterial pathogens. Next, qPCR was used to quantify the abundances of detected coronavirus and bacterial species. Based on the daily shedding dynamics of SARS-CoV-2, a novel model was developed to predict daily new cases. Based on the medium shedding density of 12 pathogens, two thresholds of sewage pathogen load (indicating 0.1 % and 1 % infection rates) were proposed. Our PanCoV RT–PCR detected coronavirus on 12th August and from 26th August to 12th September 2022. Targeted amplicon sequencing further identified human coronavirus OC43 (hCoV-OC43) on 12th August and the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant since 26th August in samples from WWTPs and sewersheds. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that hCoV-OC43 from this study belonged to genotype K and suggested a close relationship between the amplified coronavirus sequences from wastewater and clinical samples in a local COVID-19 outbreak on 26th August. Amplicon sequencing targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene also revealed the presence of several bacterial pathogens. Finally, we assessed the microbial risk of specific pathogens in sewersheds and identified a number of pathogens that reached high (>1 % prevalence) and medium risk levels (>0.1 % prevalence) at sewershed B. Our findings underline wastewater surveillance as a valuable early warning system for coronavirus and other waterborne bacterial diseases, complementing public health response measures.

Data on hunting use of waterfowl resources in Yakutia

Scientific information on waterfowl harvesting in Yakutia is mostly outdated. The lack of reliable bag data prevents the establishment of sustainable use of waterfowl resources under the conditions of massive shooting and a modified legislation base. This research aimed to collect and analyze contemporary information on the hunting take of waterfowl (Anatidae, Coot, loons, and grebes) in Yakutia. We used data from the State Hunting Registry (2017–2022) to estimate the total harvest. Species-specific shares in hunting bags were identified using digital photographs of shot birds collected from the Internet in 2015, 2017, and 2018 (around 1000 photos). The distribution and results of traditional spring hunting of scoters were studied through a survey of hunters conducted in 2015. On average, 18,400 geese and 200,000 ducks were shot during the summer-autumn season, whereas 26,600 geese and 160,500 ducks were shot during the spring season. Overall, 23 waterfowl species were identified, namely three species of geese, 17 species of ducks, Coot, Arctic Loon, and Red-necked Grebe. The autumn bag included 22 species, of which the bean goose, mallard, Eurasian wigeon, and common teal were the most abundant. Spring bags consisted of 14 species with prevailing bean geese, common teals, northern pintails, and mallards. Based on “least concern” international and national conservation status we suggest to exclude the Chinese Spot-billed Duck, Gadwall, Common Scoter and Coot from the Red Data Book of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and resume their hunting use.

Intervalo de recirculação da solução nutritiva na aclimatização hidropônica de mudas de bananeira

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the technical viability of using longer recirculation intervals of nutrient solution than those conventionally used for the acclimatization of Prata-Ana banana seedlings grown under hydroponic system. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse of a banana plantlet production biofactory, in Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil, in a randomized block design with four replications. The use of longer recirculation intervals of nutrient solution (0.75, 3.75, 5.75, 11.75, and 23.75 hours) than those commonly used for vegetables (0.25 hour) was evaluated in the present study in two seasons: winter and summer-autumn. The effect of increasing the interval of nutrient solution recirculation on plant growth was more pronounced when the temperature was higher, during the summer-autumn season. Considering the plant growth period between 15 and 20 days after transplanting, there was no effect of the recirculation frequency, showing the viability of using lower recirculation frequencies or only one recirculation per day in the first 15 days of plant growth. However, the use of shorter intervals after this period is needed because the use of intervals equal to or higher than 0.75 hour decreased plant growth in both seasons. Thus, the use of a 23.75-hour interval in the first 15 days and a 0.25-hour interval after this period allows a decrease in energy consumption, compared to the use of a 0.25-hour interval during the whole plant cycle.

მინიმალური ხარჯების შედარებითი ანალიზი ეკოლოგიური ხარჯის განსაზღვრისათვის მდ. ალაზნის (შაქრიანი); მტკვრისა (ხერთვისი) და ფარავნის (ხერთვისი) მაგალითზე

Minimal runoff plays a crucial role in designing industrial and domestic water supply, to determine minimal discharge of water in rivers observation data of winter and summer-autumn seasons are used. There are selected the stations of rivers which have the longest observed data series. These rivers are Alazani (H/S shakriani), river Mtkvari (H/S Khertvisi), river Paravani (H/S Khertvisi). As a result of actual observed data of minimum discharges were allocated to the research rivers, such as: · 30-day minimum discharge (non-calendar year) · Instantaneous minimum discharge · Minimum discharge taken from daily average data. Nowadays, in Georgia there is no legal basis and corresponding normative-technical documentation for determining the normative values of discharge of water discharged for ecological purposes which of course is the cause of numerous problems in terms of conservation and use of water resources. Therefore, it is crucially important to take into consideration the complex relationship between minimum and environmental flows.

Applying the SIMPLE Crop Model to Assess Soybean (Glicine max. (L.) Merr.) Biomass and Yield in Tropical Climate Variation

Soybean Glicine max. (L.) Merr. is one of the most major food crops. In some areas, its responses to different climates have not been well studied, particularly in tropical countries where other crops are more dominant. Accordingly, we adopted the SIMPLE crop model to investigate the responses of soybeans to the climate. We conducted two experiments on crop growth in the Summer–Autumn season of 2020, and Winter–Spring 2021 in the Hoa Binh Commune, in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, which is an area that is vulnerable to climate change impacts, to obtain data for our model input and assessment. The assessment was concerned with the effects of climate variables (temperature and CO2) on soybean biomass and yield. The results indicated that the SIMPLE model performed well in simulating soybean yields, with an RRMSE of 9–10% overall. The drought stress results showed a negative impact on the growth and development of soybeans, although drought stress due to less rainfall seemed more serious in Spring–Winter 2021 than in Summer–Autumn 2020. This study figured out the trend that higher temperatures can shorten biomass development and lead to yield reduction. In addition, soybeans grown under high CO2 concentrations of 600 ppm gave a higher biomass and a greater yield than in the case with 350 ppm. In conclusion, climate variance can affect the soybean yield, which can be well investigated using the SIMPLE model.

Seasonal incidence and source of the panicle rice mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley (Acari: Tarsonemidae) in paddy fields of Central Vietnam

The panicle rice mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is the most important and destructive mite species attacking rice crop in Vietnam. Field surveys were carried out in Thua Thien Hue province, Central Vietnam during 2021-22 to investigate the seasonal incidence of S. spinki on commonly used rice varieties and the importance of ratoon rice plants and weeds found on paddy fields as possible sources of S. spinki to infest rice plants in next crop seasons. The panicle rice mites were recorded at all growth stages of investigated rice varieties grown during summer-autumn and winter-spring rice seasons. Incidences of S. spinki were more during the summer-autumn season than during the winter-spring season. Among the seven investigated rice varieties, TH5 and HAPHAT3 recorded higher infestation by S. spinki. Ratoon rice plants in the fallow season (Sept.-Dec.) were survival habitats and maintenance of the panicle rice mite between the two rice seasons. Seven weed species, including Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv., Fimbristylis sp., Eleocharis sp. and Eschaemum rugosum Salisb. were found as alternative hosts and important sources of infestation of S. spinki. Therefore, the removal of ratoon and weed plants during the crop-free seasons is good field practice in integrated pest management for S. spinki in Central Vietnam.

Risk Assessment of Buildings due to Lightning Impulses: A Case Study at College of Science and Technology

Lightning Impulse protection has become important aspect of any electrical installation due to its destructive impacts. Due to changing weather patterns the intensity of lightning has been increasing over the years. The impacts due to lightning impulses usually in domestic installations are destructive and often the electrical supply lines are damaged with service interruptions. College of Science and Technology (CST), is located at foothills of the Himalayas with sub-tropical climate and it experiences minimum of 12-16 lightning events per square kilometers per year. Therefore, the region experiences severe lightning events especially in the late spring, summer and early autumn seasons. In this research a risk assessment of building electrical installations is being analyzed to manage and mitigate the impacts due to lightning impulses by using IEEE 62305 standard to evaluate the risks. The risk assessment for case study location at College of Science and Technology, shows that the earth resistance is beyond the permissible limit as per national and international standards and lightning protection systems are being proposed at various locations in the campus. The current study does not include all the buildings of the CST campus but only selected buildings are assessed for impacts due to lightning impulses.