Strategies For Sustainable Production Research Articles

Hydroxyl-Bonded Co Single Atom Site on Boroncarbonitride Surface Realizes Non-sacrificial H2O2 Synthesis in the Near-Infrared Region.

Photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from O2 and H2O under near-infrared light is a sustainable renewable energy production strategy, but challenging reaction. The bottleneck of this reaction lies in the regulation of O2 reduction path by photocatalyst. Herein, we construct the center of the one-step two-electron reduction (OSR) pathway of O2 for H2O2 evolution via the formation of the hydroxyl-bonded Co single-atom sites on boroncarbonitride surface (BCN-OH2/Co1). Our experimental and theoretical prediction results confirm that the hydroxyl group on the surface and the electronic band structure of BCN-OH2/Co1 are the key factor in regulating the O2 reduction pathway. In addition, the hydroxyl-bonded Co single-atom sites can further enrich O2 molecules with more electrons, which can avoid the one-electron reduction of O2 to •O2 -, thus promoting the direct two-electron activation hydrogenation of O2. Consequently, BCN-OH2/Co1 exhibited a high H2O2 evolution apparent quantum efficiency of 0.8% at 850nm, better than most of the previously reported photocatalysts. This study reveals an important reaction pathway for the generation of H2O2, emphasizing that precise control of the active site structure of the photocatalyst is essential for achieving efficient conversion of solar-to-chemical. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The Effects of Climate Change on Streamflow, Nitrogen Loads, and Crop Yields in the Gordes Dam Basin, Turkey

The Mediterranean region is highly vulnerable to climate change. Longer and more intense heatwaves and droughts are expected. The Gordes Dam in Turkey provides drinking water for Izmir city and irrigation water for a wide range of crops grown in the basin. Using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), this study examined the effects of projected climate change (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) on the simulated streamflow, nitrogen loads, and crop yields in the basin for the period of 2031–2060. A hierarchical approach to define the hydrological response units (HRUs) of SWAT and the Fast Automatic Calibration Tool (FACT) were used to reduce computational time and improve model performance. The simulations showed that the average annual discharge into the reservoir is projected to increase by between 0.7 m3/s and 4 m3/s under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate change scenarios. The steep slopes and changes in precipitation in the study area may lead to higher simulated streamflow. In addition, the rising temperatures predicted in the projections could lead to earlier spring snowmelt. This could also lead to increased streamflow. Projected nitrogen loads increased by between 8.8 and 25.1 t/year. The results for agricultural production were more variable. While the yields of poppy, tobacco, winter barley, and winter wheat will increase to some extent because of climate change, the yields of maize, cucumbers, and potatoes are all predicted to be negatively affected. Non-continuous and limited data on water quality and crop yields lead to uncertainties, so that the accuracy of the model is affected by these limitations and inconsistencies. However, the results of this study provide a basis for developing sustainable water and land management practices at the catchment scale in response to climate change. The changes in water quality and quantity and the ecological balance resulting from changes in land use and management patterns for economic benefit could not be fully demonstrated in this study. To explore the most appropriate management strategies for sustainable crop production, the SWAT model developed in this study should be further used in a multi-criteria land use optimization analysis that considers not only crop yields but also water quantity and quality targets.

A Polyzwitterionic@MOF Hydrogel with Exceptionally High Water Vapor Uptake for Efficient Atmospheric Water Harvesting.

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is considered a promising strategy for sustainable freshwater production in landlocked and arid regions. Hygroscopic salt-based composite sorbents have attracted widespread attention for their water harvesting performance, but suffer from aggregation and leakage issues due to the salting-out effect. In this study, we synthesized a PML hydrogel composite by incorporating zwitterionic hydrogel (PDMAPS) and MIL-101(Cr) as a host for LiCl. The PML hydrogel was characterized using various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The swelling properties and water vapor adsorption-desorption properties of the PML hydrogel were also assessed. The results demonstrate that the MIL-101(Cr) was uniformly embedded into PDMAP hydrogel, and the PML hydrogel exhibits a swelling ratio of 2.29 due to the salting-in behavior. The PML hydrogel exhibited exceptional water vapor sorption capacity of 0.614 g/g at 298 K, RH = 40% and 1.827 g/g at 298 K, RH = 90%. It reached 80% of its saturated adsorption capacity within 117 and 149 min at 298 K, RH = 30% and 90%, respectively. Additionally, the PML hydrogel showed excellent reversibility in terms of water vapor adsorption after ten consecutive cycles of adsorption-desorption. The remarkable adsorption capacity, favorable adsorption-desorption rate, and regeneration stability make the PML hydrogel a potential candidate for AWH. This polymer-MOF synergistic strategy for immobilization of LiCl in this work offers new insights into designing advanced materials for AWH.

Weed and disease management strategies for sustainable sugar cane production

Weed and disease management strategies for sustainable sugar cane production

Evaluation of N nutrition and optimal fertilizer rate for ridge-furrow mulched maize based on critical N dilution curve under different water conditions

Optimizing nitrogen (N) management based on the critical N dilution curve (NCDC) has been proven a precision fertilization strategy to diagnose crop N nutrition status. However, few explorations have been done to establish a NCDC for dryland maize under double ridge-furrow mulching, a planting system that has been widely adopted in semi-arid areas. Moreover, the influences of various rainfall conditions on NCDC remain unclear. Therefore, a 9-yr field nitrogen fertilization experiment from 2013 to 2021 (five nitrogen rates: 0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 kg N ha–1, respectively, represented by N0, N0.25, N0.50, N0.75, and N1) was applied to established the NCDC under two planting systems (Flatting without mulching, CK; Double ridge-furrow with mulching, DRFM) and two rainfall types (rainfall season and drought season). Compared with CK, DRFM significantly increased plant dry matter (PDM, 5.5–12.8%) and N concentration (4.2–6.9%), ultimately improved grain yield (+16.9%), cumulative nitrogen recovery efficiency (CNRE, +9.8%) and crop water productivity (WPc, +26.3%). Rainfall from jointing to silking stage was an important contributor to grain yield. Compared with rainy season, drought season triggered a 51.7% yield loss and 17.1% reduction in NRE, respectively. The NCDC of the CK and DRFM were Nc=36.6×PDM−0.37 and Nc=38.4×PDM−0.36 in rainy season, respectively; the NCDC of the CK and DRFM were Nc =34.5×PDM−0.27 and Nc=37.3×PDM−0.30 in drought season, respectively. The nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) and plant nitrogen requirement (PNR) based on the NCDC intuitively recorded the N nutritional status. The improved soil micro-environment, PDM and N uptake was recorded in N0.75 (225 kg N ha–1 yr–1) under wet season and in N0.50 (150 kg N ha–1 yr–1) under drought season, respectively, which brought an increase in crop productivity with a suitable N nutrition status. The findings highlight an accurate and effective method for assessing the N nutrition status of rainfed maize, and optimize fertilization strategy for sustainable production in semi-arid regions.

Effects of slow-release nitrogen and urea combined application on soil physicochemical properties and fungal community under total straw returning condition

Under the system of full straw returning, the relationship between soil fungal community diversity and soil physiochemical properties, and the combined application of slow-release nitrogen and urea is unclear. To evaluate its effect and provide an effective strategy for sustainable agricultural production, a 2-year field positioning trial was conducted using maize as the research object. The experiment was designed with two factors: straw treatment(S) and nitrogen fertilizer treatment(N),Six experimental treatments were set up,S1N0,S1N1,S1N2,S1N3,S1N4,S0N2,respectively.Analysis of 54 soil samples revealed 15 fungal phyla and 49 fungal classes. The composition of fungal communities in each treatment was basically the same, but there were significant differences in species abundance. Under total straw returning conditions, the combined application of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and normal nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased the relative abundance of Ascomycota. During the jointing stage, tasseling stage and maturity stage, S1N4, S1N3 and S1N2 increased by 25.76%, 22.97%, 20.74%; 25.11%, 30.02%, 23.64% and 22.47%, 28.14%, 22.71% respectively compared with S0N2.The relative abundance of Basidiomycota was significantly reduced. Alpha diversity analysis showed that the straw returning mode significantly increased the Shannon index and decreased the Simpson index, which was obvious in the jointing stage and tasseling stage. The principal coordinate analysis analysis results showed that the fungal communities formed different clusters in the horizontal and vertical directions at the three growth stages of corn jointing, tasseling and maturity. At the jointing stage and tasseling stage, the communities of the straw return treatment and the straw removal treatment were separated, and the community distribution of each treatment was not significantly different in the mature stage. Total straw returning combined with slow-release fertilizer significantly (P＜0.05) increased the soil organic carbon, nitrate nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen content in each growth period, and increased the soil total nitrogen and hydrolyzable nitrogen content (P＞0.05).After the straw was returned to the field, the combined application of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and common urea had a significant impact on soil urease, catalase, and sucrase activities. Among them, the three enzyme activities were the highest in the S1N3 treatment at the jointing stage and maturity stage, and the S1N4 treatment at the tasseling stage had the highest enzyme activity. Fungal community composition is closely related to environmental factors. Soil organic carbon, urease and catalase are positively correlated with Ascomycota and negatively correlated with Basidiomycota.

CO Cofeeding Affects Product Distribution in CH3Cl Coupling over ZSM‐5 Zeolite: Pressure Twists the Plot

AbstractC1 coupling reactions over zeolite catalysts are central to sustainable chemical production strategies. However, questions persist regarding the involvement of CO in ketene formation, and the impact of this elusive oxygenate intermediate on reactivity patterns. Using operando photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy (PEPICO), we investigate the role of CO in methyl chloride conversion to hydrocarbons (MCTH), a prospective process for methane valorization with a reaction network akin to methanol to hydrocarbons (MTH) but without oxygenate intermediates. Our findings reveal the transformative role of CO in MCTH at the low pressures, inducing ketene formation in MCTH and boosting olefin production, confirming the Koch carbonylation step in the initial stages of C1 coupling. We uncover pressure‐dependent product distributions driven by CO‐induced ketene formation, and its subsequent desorption from the zeolite surface, which is enhanced at low pressure. Inspired by the above results, extension of the co‐feeding approach to CH3OH as another simple oxygenate showcases the additional potential for improved catalyst stability in MCTH at ambient pressure.

CO Cofeeding Affects Product Distribution in CH3Cl Coupling over ZSM-5 Zeolite: Pressure Twists the Plot.

C1 coupling reactions over zeolite catalysts are central to sustainable chemical production strategies. However, questions persist regarding the involvement of CO in ketene formation, and the impact of this elusive oxygenate intermediate on reactivity patterns. Using operando photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy (PEPICO), we investigate the role of CO in methyl chloride conversion to hydrocarbons (MCTH), a prospective process for methane valorization with a reaction network akin to methanol to hydrocarbons (MTH) but without oxygenate intermediates. Our findings reveal the transformative role of CO in MCTH at the low pressures, inducing ketene formation in MCTH and boosting olefin production, confirming the Koch carbonylation step in the initial stages of C1 coupling. We uncover pressure-dependent product distributions driven by CO-induced ketene formation, and its subsequent desorption from the zeolite surface, which is enhanced at low pressure. Inspired by the above results, extension of the co-feeding approach to CH3OH as another simple oxygenate showcases the additional potential for improved catalyst stability in MCTH at ambient pressure.

Aging Increases Global Annual Food Greenhouse Gas Emissions up to 300 Million Tonnes by 2100.

The dietary preferences of the elderly population exhibit distinct variations from the overall averages in most countries, gaining increasing significance due to aging demographics worldwide. These dietary preferences play a crucial role in shaping global food systems, which will result in changed environmental impacts in the future such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We present a quantitative evaluation of the influence of population aging on the changes in GHG emissions from global food systems. To achieve this, we developed regional dietary coefficients (DCs) of the elderly based on the Global Dietary Database (GDD). We then reconciled the GDD with the dataset from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to calculate the food GHG emissions of the average population in each of the countries. By applying the DCs, we estimated the national food GHG emissions and obtained the variations between the emissions from aged and average populations. We employed a modified version of the regional integrated model of climate and the economy model (RICE) to forecast the emission trends in different countries based on FAO and GDD data. This integrated approach allowed us to evaluate the dynamic relationships among aging demographics, food consumption patterns, and economic developments within regions. Our results indicate that the annual aging-embodied global food GHG emissions will reach 288 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2e) by 2100. This estimation is crucial for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and researchers as it provides insights into a potential future environmental challenge and emphasizes the importance of sustainable food production and consumption strategies to GHG emission mitigations associated with aging dietary patterns.

An overview on major diseases, damage pattern, and management of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit and tree

Mango is one of the most important tropical fruits grown throughout the world particularly in Asia with high economic and nutritional value. However, several diseases and pests cause significant damages to different parts of mango trees and mango fruits, resulting in severe economic losses to farmers and the agricultural sector. Some of the major mango diseases are anthracnose, powdery mildew, die back, and mango malformation. These diseases affect various parts of mango tree, including leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, and roots. The causative organisms of mango diseases include fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Of these, the majority is caused by fungi. Some of the common fungal diseases of mango include anthracnose, powdery mildew, stem-end rot, and sooty mould. Therefore, it is a pressing need to accurately identify the causative organisms for determination of the best management strategy for an effective control. To manage mango diseases, farmers and researchers use several approaches, including cultural practices, chemical control, biological control, and genetic resistance. In this article, the major mango diseases, damage patterns, and management strategies for sustainable mango production has been critically reviewed and presented.

Genetic characterization of a novel Salinicola salarius isolate applied for the bioconversion of agro-industrial wastes into polyhydroxybutyrate

BackgroundPolyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) has emerged as a promising eco-friendly alternative to traditional petrochemical-based plastics. In the present study, we isolated and characterized a new strain of Salinicola salarius, a halophilic bacterium, from the New Suez Canal in Egypt and characterized exclusively as a potential PHB producer. Further genome analysis of the isolated strain, ES021, was conducted to identify and elucidate the genes involved in PHB production.ResultsDifferent PHB-producing marine bacteria were isolated from the New Suez Canal and characterized as PHB producers. Among the 17 bacterial isolates, Salinicola salarius ES021 strain showed the capability to accumulate the highest amount of PHB. Whole genome analysis was implemented to identify the PHB-related genes in Salinicola salarius ES021 strain. Putative genes were identified that can function as phaCAB genes to produce PHB in this strain. These genes include fadA, fabG, and P3W43_16340 (encoding acyl-CoA thioesterase II) for PHB production from glucose. Additionally, phaJ and fadB were identified as key genes involved in PHB production from fatty acids. Optimization of environmental factors such as shaking rate and incubation temperature, resulted in the highest PHB productivity when growing Salinicola salarius ES021 strain at 30°C on a shaker incubator (110 rpm) for 48 h. To maximize PHB production economically, different raw materials i.e., salted whey and sugarcane molasses were examined as cost-effective carbon sources. The PHB productivity increased two-fold (13.34 g/L) when using molasses (5% sucrose) as a fermentation media. This molasses medium was used to upscale PHB production in a 20 L stirred-tank bioreactor yielding a biomass of 25.12 g/L, and PHB of 12.88 g/L. Furthermore, the produced polymer was confirmed as PHB using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) analyses.ConclusionsHerein,Salinicola salarius ES021 strain was demonstrated as a robust natural producer of PHB from agro-industrial wastes. The detailed genome characterization of the ES021 strain presented in this study identifies potential PHB-related genes. However, further metabolic engineering is warranted to confirm the gene networks required for PHB production in this strain. Overall, this study contributes to the development of sustainable and cost-effective PHB production strategies.

Bacterial polyynes uncovered: a journey through their bioactive properties, biosynthetic mechanisms, and sustainable production strategies.

Covering: up to 2023Conjugated polyynes are natural compounds characterized by alternating single and triple carbon-carbon bonds, endowing them with distinct physicochemical traits and a range of biological activities. While traditionally sourced mainly from plants, recent investigations have revealed many compounds originating from bacterial strains. This review synthesizes current research on bacterial-derived conjugated polyynes, delving into their biosynthetic routes, underscoring the variety in their molecular structures, and examining their potential applications in biotechnology. Additionally, we outline future directions for metabolic and protein engineering to establish more robust and stable platforms for their production.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of land use and cropping systems in the young meghna estuarine floodplain

To explore long-term changes in land use and land cover (LULC), cropping systems, and driving forces of LULC change, a study was carried out in Subarnachar upazila under the Young Meghna Estuarine Floodplain in Bangladesh. For studying LULC change and cropping systems, images from Landsat (TM) of 1989, Landsat (ETM+) of 2000 and 2010, and Landsat (Oli) of 2019 were used. A focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted to gather information on actors driving LULC changes. In the study area, five LULC categories—cropland, accreted land, settlements, mangrove forests, and water bodies were found. It reveals that cropland increased by 0.20% annually, while water bodies, accreted land, and mangrove forest decreased by 0.29, 0.17, and 0.23%, respectively. Settlements grew relatively at a faster rate (0.49%). The major land conversions between 1989 and 2019 were cropland to settlement (10.2%), mangrove forest to settlement area (3.2%), and mangrove forest to cropland area (4.0%). Other transformations included the shifting of accreted land to cropland and water bodies to settlements. From 1989 to 2019, double cropland increased by 0.71% annually due to the conversion of single to double cropland. Increased population pressure, especially for those displaced by the threat of river erosion, was a major factor in the conversion of cropland and mangroves into settlements. Due to the high demand for food in the study area, mangrove forests were converted to cropland and single cropland to double cropland more rapidly. These findings will assist farmers, stakeholders, and planners in developing and implementing optimal land use planning and sustainable agricultural production strategies in the region.
 Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2023) 27 (1) : 1-15

Optimizing maize productivity: A sustainable approach integrating straw derivatives and film mulching in rainfed agriculture

Context or problemResource-use inefficiency, environmental degradation and food security are forcing a transformation from conventional to organic and sustainable agriculture. Objective or research questionRealizing synergistic use of light, water, and nitrogen resources for spring maize in a more circular straw utilization model, while comprehensively evaluating the sustainability of the scheme is the key to solving the above problems in rainfed areas, but there are few reports. MethodsAccording to a crop-livestock-biogas digester straw recycling model, straw can be returned to the field directly or in the form of cattle manure after fattening, or cattle manure can continue to be recycled by the digester as the only fermentation substrate, and ultimately returned to the field indirectly in the form of biogas residue. Therefore, according to different levels of straw recycling, four treatments were set up in this study: straw (S), cattle manure (M), biogas residue (BR) and control (CK) for a comparative study of water use efficiency, net solar radiation use efficiency, photosynthetic and leaf characteristics post-anthesis, annual nitrogen balance, spring maize yield, and sustainability index. ResultsThe results showed that straw and its derivatives effectively improve the utilization efficiency of light and water, potentially reducing the adverse effects of factors on yield variability. Maintaining high levels of photosynthetic activity after anthesis was mainly due to the positive effects of organic amendments on nitrogen content per unit leaf area. This led to significant increases in grain yield and harvested index by 5.95% to 13.22% and 3.41% to 6.37%, respectively. However, exogenous organic N addition promoted N2O emission and NH3 volatilization, resulting in a higher N surplus. The sustainable index of each treatment was in the following order: BR>M>CK>S. ConclusionsLong-term organic amendments, especially BR, can effectively improve the utilization and synergistic effects of critical production resources, constituting a high-yielding, efficient and sustainable spring maize population, which is consistent with our hypothesis that the sustainability index is higher in more circular straw utilization. Implications or significanceThis study provides a new plastic film cultivation strategy and evaluation perspective for sustainable spring maize production in the study area or similar areas.

Valorization of durian peel as a carbon feedstock for a sustainable production of heterogeneous base catalyst, single cell oil and yeast-based biodiesel

The present study reports a successful attempt to produce single cell oil (SCO), heterogeneous base catalyst and yeast-based biodiesel from durian peel as a promising carbon feedstock by means of the waste-to-energy concept. For this purpose, first, durian peel (DP) was hydrolyzed by dilute sulfuric acid to obtain xylose-rich DP hydrolysate (XDPH) and post-hydrolysis DP solid residue (DPS). Candida viswanathii PSY8, a newly isolated oleaginous yeast, showed high SCO accumulation (5.1 ± 0.1 g/L) and SCO content (35.3 ± 0.13 %) on undetoxified XDPH medium. A novel heterogeneous base catalyst (DPS-K) prepared from DPS by wet impregnation technique with KOH, exhibited considerable catalytic activity to convert SCO-rich wet yeast of C. viswanathii PSY8 into yeast-based biodiesel (FAME) via direct transesterification with a maximum FAME yield of 94.3 % under optimal conditions (6 wt% catalyst, 10:1 methanol to wet yeast ratio, 75 °C, and 2 h). Moreover, most of the yeast-based biodiesel properties obtained from the FAME profiles were correlated well with the biodiesel standards limit of Thai, ASTMD6751 and EN 14214. Additionally, the energy output of FAME produced about 37.5 MJ/kg was estimated. Thus, this present finding demonstrated the favorable strategy for sustainable and eco-friendly production of new generation biodiesel.

Treatment of nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage tailwater in paddy rice wetlands: concept and environmental benefits.

Domestic sewage tailwater (DSTW) reuse for crop irrigation is considered a promising practice to reduce water demand, mitigate water pollution, and substitute chemical fertilization. The level of the above environmental benefits of this water reuse strategy, especially when applied to paddy wetlands, remains unclear. In this study, soil column experiments were conducted to investigate the nitrogen and phosphorus fate in paddy wetlands subjected to different tailwater irrigation and drainage strategies, specifically, (i) TW1 and TW2 for regular or enhanced irrigation-drainage without N fertilization, (ii) TW3 and TW4 for regular irrigation with base or tillering N fertilizer, (iii) conventional fertilization N210, and (iv) no-fertilization controls N0. The results showed that the total nitrogen (TN), nitrate (NO3-), and total phosphorus (TP) removal rates from the paddies irrigated by DSTW ranged between 51.92 and 59.34%, 68.1 and 83.42%, and 85.69 and 86.98% respectively. Ammonia emissions from the DSTW-irrigated treatments were reduced by 14.6~47.2% compared to those paddies subjected to conventional fertilization (N210), similarly for TN emissions, with the exception of the TW2 treatment. Overall, it is established that the paddy wetland could effectively remove residual N and P from surface water runoffs, while the partial substitution of chemical fertilization by DSTW could be confirmed. The outcome of this study demonstrates that DSTW irrigation is a promising strategy for sustainable rice production with a minimized environmental impact.

Utilization of Stenotrophomonas koreensis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens for Improving Growth, Reducing Nitrogen Fertilization and Controlling Bipolaris sorokiniana in Wheat

Wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.), a vital cereal, faces significant challenges from common root rot and spot blotch diseases caused by <em>Bipolaris sorokiniana</em>. This study aimed to explore the potential of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to enhance wheat growth, reduce fertilizer input, and combat <em>Bipolaris </em>diseases. Two PGPR isolates, selected for their superior antagonistic properties, were identified as <em>Stenotrophomonas koreensis</em> RB11 and <em>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens </em>RB12. These PGPR strains displayed multiple plant growth promoting and biocontrol attributes, including phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid production, nitrogen fixation and antagonism against <em>B. sorokiniana</em> and other fungi. Wheat seed priming with the PGPR significantly improved germination, plant growth, nutrient content and biomass carbon accumulation in the rhizosphere soil. Importantly, the application of RB11 and RB12 allowed for a 25% and 50% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer usage, respectively, without compromising the yield. RB11 and RB12 also demonstrated potent inhibitory effects on <em>B. sorokiniana</em> conidial germination and significantly controlled common root rot and spot blotch in wheat, similar to those observed with the fungicide Protaf 250EC. Overall, this study underscores the multifaceted roles of <em>S. koreensis</em> RB11 and <em>B. amyloliquefaciens</em> RB12 in promoting wheat growth, reducing fertilizer inputs and effectively suppressing wheat pathogens. These findings contribute to the development of PGPR-based strategies for sustainable crop production and disease control.

Valorization of Food Waste into Single-Cell Protein: An Innovative Technological Strategy for Sustainable Protein Production.

The rapidly increasing population and climate change pose a great threat to our current food systems. Moreover, the high usage of animal-based and plant-based protein has its drawbacks, as these nutritional sources require many hectares of land and water, are affected by seasonal variations, are costly, and contribute to environmental pollution. Single-cell proteins (SCPs) are gaining a lot of research interest due to their remarkable properties, such as their high protein content that is comparable with other protein sources; low requirements for land and water; low carbon footprint; and short production period. This review explores the use of food waste as a sustainable feedstock for the advancement of SCP processes. It discusses SCP studies that exploit food waste as a substrate, alongside the biocatalysts (bacteria, fungi, yeast, and microalgae) that are used. The operational setpoint conditions governing SCP yields and SCP fermentation routes are elucidated as well. This review also demonstrates how the biorefinery concept is implemented in the literature to improve the economic potential of "waste-to-protein" innovations, as this leads to the establishment of multiproduct value chains. A short section that discusses the South African SCP scenario is also included. The technical and economic hurdles facing second-generation SCP processes are also discussed, together with future perspectives. Therefore, SCP technologies could play a crucial role in the acceleration of a "sustainable protein market", and in tackling the global hunger crisis.

Reuse of coir, peat, and wood fiber in strawberry production.

Production of strawberries in greenhouses and polytunnels is gaining popularity worldwide. This study investigated the effect of reuse of coir and peat, two substrates commonly adapted to soilless strawberry production, as well as stand-alone wood fiber from Norway spruce, a promising substrate candidate. The experiment was performed in a polytunnel at NIBIO Apelsvoll, Norway, and evaluated both virgin substrates, as well as spent materials that were used in one or two years. Yield, berry quality and plant architecture of the strawberry cultivar 'Malling Centenary' were registered. In addition, chemical and physical properties of virgin and reused substrates were investigated. While plants grown in peat and wood fiber had highest yield in the first year of production, the berry yield was slightly reduced when these substrates were utilized for the second and third time. However, yield was comparable to the yield level attained in new and reused coir. Interestingly, berries grown in wood fiber had a tendency to a higher sugar accumulation. This substrate also produced the highest plants. Stand-alone wood fiber was the substrate with the highest accumulation of nitrogen during the three consecutive production cycles. All three investigated materials revealed a trend for decreased potassium accumulation. Wood fiber is characterized by the highest percentage of cellulose, however after three years of production the cellulose content was reducedto the same levels as for coir and peat. Implementation of wood fiber as a growing medium, as well as general practice of substrate reuse can be therefore an achievable strategy for more sustainable berry production.

Preparation of Co-W-P-O/NF catalyst with crystalline-amorphous phase structure by electrodeposition and study on its water splitting properties

The development of renewable clean energy is imminent as global warming and environmental pollution become more serious issues today. Hydrogen energy has been widely studied as an ideal green energy source. Among several common hydrogen production methods, hydrogen production by electrolysis of water is considered an efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable hydrogen production strategy. Transition metal phosphates have outstanding electrocatalytic conductivity and high catalytic efficiency, thus exhibiting catalytic effects similar to noble metals. To further enhance the catalytic activity of the transition metal phosphates, in this paper, the cauliflower-like Co-W-P-O4/NF catalyst based on three-dimensional nickel foam was prepared by the method of element doping. The catalyst exhibited good bifunctional catalytic activity in alkaline solution. The prepared Co-W-P-O4/NF has a unique crystalline-amorphous phase structure with abundant active sites at the interface. In addition, W atoms can interact with Co atoms to co-optimise the electronic structure, enabling the Gibbs free energy of hydrogen adsorption (ΔGH*) to be close to 0, which is conducive to improving the performance of water electrolysis. To achieve a current density of 10 mA·cm−2, the Co-W-P-O4/NF required overpotentials of 42.1 mV for HER and 348.2 mV for OER in 1 M KOH solution, with the Tafel slopes being 48.0 and 83.6 mV·dec−1, respectively. When Co-W-P-O4/NF was used as both cathode and anode for water splitting, the two-electrode electrolyzer could achieve 10 mA·cm−2 with only 1.62 V, along with good stability.