Water Consumption Characteristics Research Articles

Water Management of Arabica Coffee Seedlings Cultivated with a Hydroretentive Polymer

The production of high-quality coffee seedlings is essential to meet the demands of the coffee sector, requiring more efficient and sustainable water management practices. In this context, the use of hydroretentive polymers, particularly biodegradable ones, emerges as a promising alternative to optimize water use, reduce the environmental impact associated with synthetic polymers, and improve the agronomic traits of seedlings. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different irrigation intervals and hydroretentive polymer doses on the water consumption and agronomic characteristics of Coffea arabica L. seedlings. This study was conducted in a protected environment using a randomized block design with split plots and four replicates. The plots consisted of two irrigation intervals (2 and 4 days), and the subplots included four doses of hydroretentive polymer (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1%), applied in 0.5 dm3 polypropylene bags. Results showed that the 0.5% polymer dose combined with a 2-day irrigation interval resulted in the highest water consumption, while the combination of 0% polymer and a 4-day irrigation interval led to the lowest water consumption. The 0.25% hydroretentive polymer dose with irrigation every 2 days showed the best performance in gas exchange, promoting photosynthesis without causing water saturation. This management also promoted better seedling growth, increasing biomass, height, leaf area, and root volume compared to longer irrigation intervals. The crop coefficients (Kc × Ks) were 0.20, 0.28, and 0.45 during the periods of 0–50, 51–80, and 81–150 days after sowing, respectively. A dose of 0.25% hydroretentive polymer with a 2-day irrigation interval is recommended for the production of Arabica coffee seedlings, contributing to agricultural practices aligned with environmental preservation and productive efficiency.

Understanding Agricultural Water Consumption Trends in Henan Province: A Spatio-Temporal and Determinant Analysis Using Geospatial Models

In the context of water scarcity, understanding the mechanisms influencing and altering agricultural water consumption can offer valuable insights into the scientific management of limited water resources. Using Henan Province as a case study, this research applies the Mann–Kendall test method, the spatial Markov transfer chain model, the optimal parameter geo-detector model, and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition method to investigate the evolution characteristics of agricultural water consumption in Henan Province and its key influencing factors. The findings revealed the following: (1) Agricultural water consumption has shown a significant decline from 1999 to 2022. (2) According to observations, the stability of agricultural water consumption exceeds the spillover effect, and cross-border grade transfer is challenging. Moreover, this phenomenon is influenced by the neighboring regions. (3) The key influencing factors of added agricultural value are the sown area of food crops, total sown area, irrigated area, and average annual air temperature. (4) Among the decomposition effects on agricultural water consumption, the contribution of each decomposition effect to changes in agricultural water consumption and the role of spatial distribution exhibit notable differences. Overall, these findings provide theoretical references for the efficient use of agricultural water resources and sustainable development in the region.

DETERMINATION OF WATER CONSUMPTION OF THE RED PIGEON ( Combretum Lanceolatum Pohl )

The Pantanal is located in the Upper Paraguay Depression and is characterized by being the largest flooded plain in the world, with alternating floods and droughts. During the last decades, economic changes and political demands have increased the pressure on the Pantanal and its watershed, due to changes in land use and occupation with agriculture and livestock. Its natural fields have a great diversity of habitats that include pastures, savannas and forests under different flood regimes. These conditions directly contribute to the development of Combretum lanceolatum Pohl, also known as Pombeiro Vermelho, which is considered a monodominant species and has seen a considerable increase in the fields of the Pantanal. Knowing the characteristics of water consumption of this species in response to atmospheric demand effectively contributes to understanding its physiological characterization and, mainly, its management. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the water consumption of Combretum lanceolatum Pohl (Pombeiro Vermelho). The study was conducted in an area adjacent to the Pe. Ricardo Remeter Meteorological Station, part of the INMET network, in Santo Antônio de Leverger-MT, which provided daily macrometeorological data: maximum and minimum temperatures, wind speed, rainfall, sunlight and evaporation. Water consumption (evapotranspiration) was measured by the constant water table lysimeter method, where there were six pots containing Pombeiro Vermelho plants, whose values ​​were modeled by multiple linear regression together with estimates of Reference Evapotranspiration from the Penman-Moteith aerodynamic method and with the leaf area. The evapotranspiration rates had a greater correlation with the leaf area index than with the reference evapotranspiration.

Effective management of urban water resources under various climate scenarios in semiarid mediterranean areas

Climate change has a significant impact on water resources, making it essential to re-evaluate water management strategies and incorporate climate scenarios in assessments. The Municipal Department of Aigeiros is located in the northern part of Greece. Water consumption is high in Aigeiros and the increased future temperatures projected during the summer period will create significant pressures on water resources. The water resources management study of the region is carried out using the simulations of the RCA4 Regional Climate Model (RCM) driven by the HadGEM-ES global climate model of the Met Office Hadley Centre (MOHC) under 3 different climate emission scenarios, namely RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. For the simulation of the urban water balance of Aigeiros, Komotini, Greece and the assessment of water demand and supply for three climate scenarios (RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5) over a 30-year period, the Aquacycle software was used. The data used in the assessment included projected climatic conditions for the area (i.e., precipitation and evapotranspiration), domestic water consumption, and natural and spatial characteristics. The results indicate that drinking water demand is likely to increase in the coming decades for RCP 4.5 (1323 m3/d for 2041–2050) and RCP 8.5 (1330 m3/d for 2041–2050) scenarios compared to 2020 (1320 m3/d). However, simulations for water supply suggest an increase in groundwater recharge in the future, but also the potential for long drought periods during summer months in RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. The simulation results show both the current situation and the climate scenarios and can be the reference basis for recording the different types of water consumption in urban areas. Therefore, it is possible to control and predict how much of the total consumption is due to the consumer usage profile within a household or to the irrigation needs of green areas in line with the climatic conditions, consumer behavior and technical parameters.

Remote sensing monitoring of irrigated area in the non-growth season and of water consumption analysis in a large-scale irrigation district

Globally, water scarcity threatens food security, especially in arid and semi-arid food-producing regions, such as the Hetao Irrigation District (HID), where the water consumption during the non-growth season (spring irrigation, autumn irrigation) accounts for more than 30 % of the total irrigation volume. Meanwhile, mapping the characteristics of spatial and temporal evolution of the area of cropland irrigated in the spring and autumn and the pattern of water consumption is crucial for strengthening the management of agricultural water use. Evaporation and infiltration of irrigation water are difficult to capture in time due to insufficient timeliness or accuracy of single remote sensing data. This study integrates seven remote sensing datasets (Landsat5, Landsat7, Landsat8, HJ-1A/B, GF-1, Sentinel-2 and MODIS) for the first time to build a high spatial-temporal resolution dataset, and combines the water index NDWI and MNDWI to extract the maximum water range formed after irrigation by manually adjusting the threshold method. In addition to the global land use/cover dataset (GLC FCS30–1985_2020), the cropland layer was superimposed to accurately identify the cropland spring irrigation and autumn irrigation range from 2000 to 2021 in the HID. In the past 20 years, spring-irrigated (SI) areas increased by 1012.60 km2 (+49.96 %), and the autumn-irrigated (AI) areas decreased by 512.63 km2 (-11.02 %). Combined with the quantity of water diversion and displacement, the characteristics of irrigation water consumption in the non-growth season were further analysed. The results showed that the water consumption of spring irrigation increased by 0.67×108 m3 (+22.26 %), and that of autumn irrigation increased by 4.34×108 m3 (+38.82 %). The decrease of autumn- irrigated area and the increase of water consumption were mainly related to the stability of autumn irrigation water, imperfect irrigation and drainage conditions and insufficient field water management. In 2020­2021, the area of non-growth “autumn irrigation - spring irrigation” repeated irrigation is about 1271.52 km2, which can be used as a key control area. This study provides a theoretical basis and direction for rational water use in non-growth seasons of irrigation districts.

A stepwise optimization method for topology structure of fluid machinery network

A stepwise optimization method for topology structure of fluid machinery network

Application of the Machine Learning Methods to Assess the Impact of physico-chemical characteristics of water on Feed Consumption in Fish Farms

Machine learning (ML) methods, which are one of the subfields of artificial intelligence (AI) and have gained popularity in applications in recent years, play an important role in solving many challenges in aquaculture. In this study, the relationship between changes in the physico-chemical characteristics of water and feed consumption was evaluated using machine learning methods. Eleven physico-chemical characteristics (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, salinity, Nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, total phosphorus, total suspended solids, and biological oxygen demand) of water were evaluated in terms of fish feed consumption by using ML methods. Among all the measured physico-chemical characteristics of water, temperature was determined to be the most important parameter to be evaluated in fish feeding. Moreover, pH2, eC2, TP2, TSS2, S2 and NO2 parameters detected in the outlet water are more important than those detected in the inlet water in terms of feed consumption. In the regression analysis carried out using ML techniques, the models developed with RF, GBM and XGBoost algorithms yielded better results.

WATER CONSUMPTION AND FAECAL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN COCKERELS FED DIETARY INCLUSION LEVELS OF FERMENTED CASSAVA TUBER WASTES (FCTW)

Water consumption and faecal physical characteristics of cockerels fed fermented cassava tuber wastes (FCTWs) were investigated in a-sixteen-week study. The FCTWs were inoculated with two Lactobacilli (L. delbrueckii and Lcoryneformis) and a fungus (Aspergillus fumigatus) for their protein enrichment and fibre degradation. Seven experimental diets (control diet and Six (FCTW-based diets) designated as: D1 (Control Diet), D2, D3 and D4 (diets with inclusion of 20%, 40% and 60% Microbially Fermented Cassava peel [MFCP]) and D5, D6 and D7 (diets with inclusion of 20%, 40% and 60% Microbially Fermented Cassava Starch Residue [MFCSR] respectively), were fed to the cockerel birds. Daily water consumption of the birds was recorded for both the starter and finisher phases. Faecal parameters like consistency, volume, output and density were also determined for the two growth phases. The results showed that the total water intake (TWI) and the average water intake of the starter phase were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the experimental diets with T2 (3412.50 46.03ml) and T6 (3012.30+95.76ml) having the highest and least total water intake respectively. Water comsumption at the finisher phase was however highest (10264.00+1198.70ml) in T7 and lowest(7631.40±838.08ml) in T4. The water intake decreased as the inclusion rate of FCTWs increased i.e from T1 T4 and also from T5 T6. Faecal physical characteristics were only significantly (P<0.05) influenced in terms of fresh faecal weight, faecal dry matter and faecal volume which were relatively higher in the CTW diets than in the Control at both the starter and finisher phases. The weight of the faecal dry matter increased with increasing dietary levels of the CTW. The faecal volume and density did not follow a particular trend with dietary treatments applied. This experiment showed that cassava tuber wastes could be incorporated into the diets of cockerel birds without deleterious effects on the water consumption and faecal physical characteristics but a tendency towards decrease in water consumption with increasing dietary levels of fermented CTW and a corresponding increase in faecal dry matter was observed.

Improvement of grain weight and crop water productivity in winter wheat by light and frequent irrigation based on crop evapotranspiration

Efficient use of scarce water resources to maximize yield and crop water productivity (WPc) is a common goal of sustainable and ecological agriculture in the North China Plain. To clarify whether light and frequent (LF) irrigation under the same or reduced amount of irrigation is beneficial to achieve this goal, and to further tap the water saving potential. Based on drip irrigation conditions, a three–year (2020–2023) field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of four irrigation treatments (CK, conventional irrigation at the jointing and anthesis stages; LF1, 100 % ETc, ETc is the crop evapotranspiration; LF2, 75 % ETc, LF3, 50 % ETc) on yield, water consumption characteristics, leaf photosynthetic physiology and grain filling process. The results showed that compared with CK, LF1 and LF2 significantly increased the photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content of flag leaves at 18 days after anthesis, promoted grain filling, and finally enhanced dry matter accumulation after anthesis, 1000–grain weight (TGW) and grain yield. LF irrigation management mode also increased the consumption of deep soil water (1.4–2.0 m), reduced soil water consumption and evapotranspiration, and significantly improved WPc and irrigation water productivity. However, LF1 and LF2 did not have significant yield enhancement in the wet year, but had one less irrigation than in the normal year. The LF2 achieved the highest WPc in three years (2.1 kg m–3), in the 25 % (37.5 mm) and 40 % (60 mm) less irrigation water in the normal and wet years, respectively. Meanwhile, the LF3 treatment reduced the number of spikes, TGW and dry matter accumulation to different degrees in three years, resulting in significantly lower yields (13.9 %–18.4 %), which cannot be used as a reference for an efficient irrigation system. Therefore, LF irrigation based on 75 % ETc is the best irrigation strategy to improve water utilization and yield in the North China Plain.

Nitrogen reduction by 20 % with green manure retention reduces soil evaporation, promotes maize transpiration and improves water productivity in arid areas

ContextThe contradiction between high agricultural yields and water resource shortages is becoming increasingly serious. Reducing nitrogen appropriately with green manure retention can ensure high agricultural yields, but it remains unclear whether it can optimize crop water consumption characteristics and improve water productivity (WPc). ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effect of green manure retention combined with nitrogen reduction on water use characteristics of maize and its potential mechanisms. MethodsA field experiment was conducted at Wuwei Oasis Agricultural Experimental Station in China from 2020 to 2022, with five treatments: (i) traditional nitrogen application with green manure retention (N100), (ii) nitrogen reduction by 10 % with green manure retention (N90), (iii) nitrogen reduction by 20 % with green manure retention (N80), (iv) nitrogen reduction by 30 % with green manure retention (N70), and (v) nitrogen reduction by 40 % with green manure retention (N60). ResultsThe results showed that compared with the N100 treatment, 0−50 cm maize root biomass (RB), biomass accumulation (BA), and canopy cover (CC) were not significantly reduced in the N80 treatment. This model ensured a stable grain yield (GY) and improved 0−50 cm soil water storage (SWS) by 7.1−13.1 %. It effectively suppressed soil evaporation (E), promoted maize transpiration (T), reduced maize evapotranspiration (ET) by 4.8 %, and increased WPc by 1.8−26.6 %. Structural equation modeling (SEM) suggests that RB was the most important factor for improving WPc. In addition, this system ensures that economic benefits did not decrease. ConclusionIt can be seen that nitrogen reduction by 20 % with green manure retention is a reasonable nitrogen fertilizer management system to alleviate the contradiction between high maize yield and water resource shortages in the region. ImplicationsThe results of this study provide valuable insights into alleviating the contradiction between agricultural production and regional water resource scarcity.

Water use characteristics and the mechanism of water uptake in two typical sand-fixing species in Mu Us sandy land

Understanding water absorption mechanisms of sand-fixing plants is important for the rational establishment of plant community structures, thereby providing a scientific basis for desertification control and the efficient utilization of water resources in sandy areas. Based on the hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of precipi-tation, soil water, xylem water, and groundwater, coupled with soil water-heat dynamics, annual water consumption characteristics of vegetation, using the multi-source linear mixing model (IsoSource), we analyzed the differences in water sources between Salix psammophila and Artemisia ordosica, during winter and the growing season. We further examined the effects of groundwater depth (2 m and 10 m), soil freezing-thawing, and drought on their water utilization to elucidate water absorption mechanisms of those species. The results showed that: 1) During soil freezing-thawing period (January to March), S. psammophila mainly utilized soil water in 60-120 cm depths below the frozen layer (69.1%). In the green-up season (April and May), soil water from the 0-60 cm layers could satisfy the water demand of S. psammophila (30.9%-87.6%). During the dry period of the growing season (June), it predominantly utilized soil water at the depth of 120-160 cm (27.4%-40.8%). Over the rainy season (July and September), soil water in 0-60 cm depths provided 59.8%-67.9% of the total water required. A. ordosica, with shallow roots, could not utilize soil water after complete freezing of root zone but could overwinter by storing water in rhizomes during autumn. During the growing season, it primarily relied on 0-40 cm soil layer (23.4%-86.8%). During the dry period, it mainly utilized soil water from 40-80 cm and 80-160 cm soil layers, with utilization rates of 14.6%-74.4% and 21.8%-78.2%, respectively. 2) With decreasing groundwater depth, vegetation shifted its water absorption depth upward, with water source of S. psammophila transitioning from 120-160 cm to 60-160 cm layers, while A. ordosica shifted water absorption depth from 80-160 cm to 0-40 cm. S. psammophila's utilization of soil water is influenced by transpiration, adopting an "on-demand" approach to achieve a balance between water supply and energy conservation, whereas A. ordosica tends to utilize shallow soil water, exhibiting a higher depen-dence on water sources from a single soil layer.

Effects of the Plastic Mulching System and Fertilizer Application on the Yield of Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) and Water Consumption Characteristics in a Semi-Arid Area

Although plastic film mulching is commonly utilized to enhance crop water use efficiency (WUE) in semi-arid areas, the combined effect of plastic film mulching and fertilizer application on Tartary buckwheat yield is still unknown. To address this gap, a four-year field experiment was conducted from 2018 to 2021 to investigate the effect of plastic film mulching and fertilizers on the soil water storage, plant growth, yield, and WUE of Tartary buckwheat in semi-arid environments. The treatments comprised traditional planting without fertilizer (TNF), traditional planting with fertilizer application (N–P2O5–K2O: 40–30–20 kg ha−1) (TF), plastic film mulching with fertilizer application (N–P2O5–K2O: 40–30–20 kg ha−1) (MF), and plastic film mulching without fertilizer (MNF). The results indicated that MF treatment significantly increased leaf area index and SPAD values compared to the other treatments. The yield of Tartary buckwheat under the film mulching increased by 23.3% in comparison to no-mulching treatments, and under fertilizer application it increased by 18.2% compared to no fertilizer. WUE under film mulching exhibited an increase of 3.1% in 2018, 34.9% in 2019, 45.5% in 2020, and 34.6% in 2021, respectively, compared to no mulching. The impact of film mulching on WUE was more significant in years with lower precipitation compared to those with normal or higher precipitation levels. Overall, MF significantly enhanced both the yield and WUE of Tartary buckwheat. This approach proved to be an effective strategy for bolstering drought-resistant yield and optimizing resource efficiency in Tartary buckwheat cultivation in semi-arid regions. Moreover, the positive effects of plastic mulching and fertilizer application on grain yield and water use efficiency were more pronounced in drier years.

The Effect of Irrigation Techniques on Sustainable Water Management for Rice Cultivation System - A Review

Rice serves as a fundamental sustenance for approximately half of the global population, particularly in Asia. Nevertheless, the cultivation of rice demands a substantial water supply, and the challenges associated with water deficits have been exacerbated by irregular rainfall patterns induced by global warming. Consequently, there is a critical need to reassess irrigation techniques to effectively tackle these issues. In this comprehensive review, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) method was employed to systematically explore literature on irrigation techniques aimed at fostering sustainable water management in rice cultivation systems. The primary components of the framework encompass water consumption and water-related characteristics, soil-related characteristics, and plant-related characteristics, encompassing relevant components and indicators. Two alternative irrigation methods, namely alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and saturated soil irrigation (SSI), have been proposed to enhance water use efficiency (WUE) in rice cultivation compared to traditional continuous flooding (CF). These alternative irrigation methods do not adversely affect rice yield, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Furthermore, these alternative irrigation approaches have the potential to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly methane emissions, in rice production. This review underscores the significance of data on alternate irrigation systems, providing valuable insights for researchers and policymakers in formulating strategies that align at every level for practical implementation. This is crucial as it is relevant to multiple organizations and stakeholders. Moreover, in the face of inclement weather conditions resulting from climate change, the study's findings indicate that research on farmers' adaptation, plant stress, and resilience within the rice cultivation system is still in its nascent stages. This highlights the pressing need for further exploration and advancement in these areas to develop effective strategies for coping with the challenges posed by climate change.

Sap flow of two typical woody halophyte species responding to the meteorological and irrigation water conditions in Taklimakan Desert

Understanding plant water consumption is crucial for artificial afforestation under drought environments and water stress in desert regions. However, the water consumption characteristics of desert species responding to the irrigation regimes are often neglected. By conducting a field test in the Taklimakan Desert Highway shelterbelt, this study examines the sap flow traits of two typical woody halophyte species (Calligonum mongolicum and Haloxylon ammodendron) and how they react to weather conditions and watering practices. Under the same irrigation treatment, the stem flux of C. mongolicum on sunny days was 1.5–5.3 times that on dusty days, while the stem flux of H. ammodendron on sunny days was 3.5–5.5 times that on dusty days. Both species demonstrated some sap flow during the night, representing 14.3%–24.9% and 7.3%–10.4% of the total sap flow for C. mongolicum and H. ammodendron, respectively. H. ammodendron maintained a higher stem flow during daytime and was more drought resistant than C. mongolicum. The daily sap flow patterns of these two species varied, showing both ‘single’ and ‘double peak’ curves depending on the watering conditions. A delay was also observed between the sap flow of these two species and the environmental factors. The factors influencing plant sap flow were found to be in the order of solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity, and saturated water vapor pressure difference. A BP-neural network proved highly effective for accurately simulating the sap flow of these two species. This research provides insights into how two common desert tree species adapt their water use in response to drought conditions, which is vital for artificial forest creation in desert areas.

A dataset of carbon and water fluxes in the sample plots of natural regeneration at Puding Station of Guizhou Province (2015–2019)

Targeting the Shawan natural regeneration ecosystem (converted from farmland in 2010) in Puding County, we adopted the eddy covariance (EC) system to carry out long-term positioning observations of carbon and water fluxes during the natural regeneration of ecosystems after farmland conversion in karst areas. Puding Station belongs to the National Field Scientific Observation and Research Network and the China Ecosystem Research Network. Based on the data processing requirements of the ChinaFLUX, we compiled in this dataset the carbon and water fluxes as well as conventional meteorological data in Shawan from 2015 to 2019, including net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE), ecosystem respiration (Re), gross primary productivity (GPP), latent heat flux (LE), sensible heat flux (H), air temperature, air relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, total solar radiation, net radiation, precipitation and so on. This dataset can provide observational evidence for the study of the carbon sink capacity and water consumption characteristics of the ecosystem at the early stage of natural regeneration after the conversion of sloping farmland to forest in karst areas in southern China, as well as their response to climate change.

Application of Organic Fertilizers Optimizes Water Consumption Characteristics and Improves Seed Yield of Oilseed Flax in Semi-Arid Areas of the Loess Plateau

Organic fertilizers are an important source of nutrients for improving farmland fertility. To explore high-yield, efficient and green production technology for oilseed flax in dryland agricultural areas, a field split plot experiment was conducted in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau in northwest China from April to August in 2020 and 2021. The study compared and analyzed the effects of different nutrient sources and their application rates on water consumption characteristics, grain yield and water use efficiency of oilseed flax. The main plots were fertilizer types (sheep manure, chicken manure and chemical fertilizer), while the subplots were fertilizer application rates (sheep manure: S1-12,500 kg·hm−2 and S2-25,000 kg·hm−2; chicken manure: C1-5800 kg·hm−2 and C2-11,600 kg·hm−2; chemical fertilizer: F1-N 112.5 kg·hm−2, P 75 kg·hm−2, K 67.5 kg·hm−2 and F2-N 225 kg·hm−2, P2O5 150 kg·hm−2, K2O 135 kg·hm−2). The results showed that compared with chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers significantly increased the soil water storage capacity of the 0–160 cm soil layer during the whole growth period of oilseed flax and significantly reduced water consumption. During two growing seasons, the application of 25,000 kg·hm−2 sheep manure significantly reduced water consumption during the seedling-bud period and green fruit period-maturity period of oilseed flax by 16.13% and 23.19% compared with CK, respectively. Thousand-grain weight, yield and water use efficiency were significantly increased by 14.70%, 48.32% and 61.29%, respectively. These results indicate that the application of 25,000 kg·hm−2 sheep manure can significantly increase soil water storage capacity of the 0–160 cm soil layer, reduce water consumption during the whole growth period of oilseed flax and thus improve grain yield and water use efficiency of oilseed flax. It is a suitable fertilization technology for the high-yield, efficient and green production of oilseed flax in the semi-arid areas of northwest Loess Plateau.

Efficient Energy Management for the Smart Sustainable City Multifloor Manufacturing Clusters: A Formalization of the Water Supply System Operation Conditions Based on Monitoring Water Consumption Profiles

This study is devoted to improving the energy efficiency of urban infrastructure systems (UISs), in particular, the centralized water supply of a city multifloor manufacturing cluster (CMFMC), by developing the principles of effective energy consumption management. The CMFMCs are located in the residential area of a megapolis and include manufacturing and service enterprises, residential and non-residential buildings, and a city logistics node. Demand monitoring and identification of the influence of seasonal and social environmental factors on its fluctuations is considered as a tool for identifying changes in the operating conditions of the water supply system (WSS) for the CMFMC facilities. To identify the typical operating conditions of water supply facilities, an approach is proposed that involves the analysis of daily water consumption profiles (WCPs). The formation of a database, the formation of groups of the same type of daily WCPs, and the construction of typical daily WCPs for typical groups and their description are the main stages of the proposed approach. The database contains a set of classification characteristics that describe the daily water consumption and its unevenness, as well as the shape of the daily WCP. The principal component analysis was applied to determine the dominant components of daily water consumption. A set of morphometric parameters was used to describe the shape of the daily WCPs. The methods of cluster and discriminant analysis were used to identify the influence of seasonality and social factors on water consumption and to form groups of the same type of daily WCPs. The analysis of sets of similar type of daily WCPs for typical days of typical seasons was carried out for a formalized description of the typical operating conditions of water supply facilities. The results of the analysis are the clarification of the equations of the dominant components of daily water consumption, the determination of the average values of the characteristics of daily water consumption, and the construction and description of typical daily WCPs for typical operating conditions of water supply facilities. The research results were obtained on the basis of the data of the monitoring systems for water supply enterprises in Ukraine and Poland in 2021–2022. The obtained results are the basis for planning the water supply process and adjusting the operation modes of WSS pumping stations for the CMFMC, as well as planning power consumption for typical operating conditions, which will contribute to increasing the efficiency of water and electricity use.

Sustainable Analysis of Maize Production under Previous Wheat Straw Returning in Arid Irrigated Areas

Conservation tillage is widely recognized as an important way to improve soil quality, ensure food security and mitigate climate change. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the subject in terms of sustainable evaluation of environmental and economic benefits of the combination of no tillage and straw returning for maize production in arid irrigated areas. In this study, grain yield (GY) and water use efficiency based on grain yield (WUEGY), soil carbon emission characteristics and economic benefits were investigated, and a sustainability evaluation index based on the above indicators was assessed in maize production under a wheat–maize rotation system from 2009 to 2012. Four wheat straw returning approaches were designed: no tillage with 25 to 30 cm tall wheat straw mulching (NTSMP), no tillage with 25 to 30 cm tall wheat straw standing (NTSSP), conventional tillage with 25 to 30 cm tall wheat straw incorporation (CTSP), and conventional tillage without wheat straw returning (CTP). The results showed that NTSMP treatment could effectively regulate water consumption characteristics of maize fields and meet the water conditions for high grain yield formation, thus gaining higher GY and WUEGY. NTSMP increased GY and WUEGY of maize by 13.7–17.5% and 15.4–16.7% over the CTP treatment, and by 5.6–9.0% and 2.3–11.2% over the CTSP treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, compared with CTP, the NTSMP treatment could effectively reduce carbon emissions from maize fields, where average soil carbon emission fluxes (ACf), carbon emission (CE) and water use efficiency based on carbon emission (WUECE) were reduced by 17.7–18.9%, 11.1–11.2% and 8.8–12.8% and carbon emission efficiency (CEE) was increased by 10.2–14.7%. In addition, the NTSMP and NTSSP treatments could effectively increase total output and reduce human labor and farm machinery input, resulting in higher economic benefit. Among them, the NTSMP treatment was the most effective, net income (NI) and benefit per cubic meter of water (BPW) were increased by 16.1–34.2% and 19.1–31.8% over the CTP treatment, and by 13.2–13.3% and 9.8–15.6% over the CTSP treatment, respectively. The sustainability analysis showed that the NTSMP treatment had a high sustainability evaluation index and was a promising field-management strategy. Therefore, no tillage with 25 to 30 cm tall wheat straw mulching is a sustainable maize-management practice for increasing economic benefits and improving environmental impacts in arid irrigated areas.

Performance of an adiabatic pre-cooling system for concentrating solar power plants in arid areas

An adiabatic pre-cooling (AP) mechanical draft system for concentrating solar power (CSP) plants in arid regions is investigated. The cooling system amalgamates advantages of both dry and adiabatic cooling into a single system. We aim to demonstrate the system’s potentially advantageous spray water consumption characteristics and cooling performance, as it compares to conventional dry and wet-cooling, for arid-area CSP plants. This is done by investigating the AP system’s performance in isolation, via simulation and experimental validation, and a case study simulating performance of a 100 MW arid-area CSP plant with AP, dry and wet-cooling. Our primary contributions entail: analysing AP, dry and wet-cooling and CSP performance with hourly temporal resolution, from which annual hourly statistical summaries are presented, and quantifying AP and CSP performance in response to AP target saturation levels. Our performance assessment ambit includes: power cycle thermal efficiency, cooling or spray water consumption, gross output, parasitic consumption, plant capacity factor and intensive capital expenditure. Our main results show that: increased AP saturation beyond ≈80 % yields insignificant power cycle thermal efficiency enhancement, with gross output stabilising at >70 % saturation. Nonetheless, at 99 % saturation, AP boosts power cycle thermal efficiency by 1.61 % above dry-cooling, consumes 14.61 % less water than wet-cooling, and can increase power block capital cost by 14.19 % before the plant’s intensive capital expenditure equals that with dry-cooling. Furthermore, a 10 percentage point increase in AP saturation level increases the intensive cooling water consumption by ≈26.75 % on average, reduces the cooling parasitic energy consumption by ≈5.37 % on average, and raises the plant capacity factor by ≈0.35 % on average.

Differences in Water Consumption and Yield Characteristics among Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties under Different Irrigation Systems

To discuss the water consumption patterns of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and the difference in yield traits among varieties under different irrigation systems, three field water treatments were established (jointing water, W1, CK; jointing water + flowering water, W2; and rising water + booting water + filling water, W3). Two winter wheat varieties (Hengmai4399 and Hengguan35) were selected in 2020–2021, and three (Hengmai4399, Hengguan35, and Hengmai28) were selected in 2021–2022 to investigate the impact of the irrigation amount on water consumption and its interaction with the varieties on yield traits of winter wheat. The results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between soil water consumption and soil moisture reserve presowing; the correlation was the strongest in the 150–200 cm layer. The response of the yield of the three varieties to irrigation was Hengmai4399 > Hengmai28 > Hengguan35, and the drought resistance was Hengguan35 > Hengmai28 > Hengmai4399. When the soil water storage presowing was insufficient, Hengmai4399 combined with the W3 treatment achieved the highest yield and water use efficiency; when the soil water storage presowing was sufficient, Hengmai28 combined with the W2 treatment achieved a high-level yield and the highest WUE.