Search Results (1,604)

In the waxy maize production of Zhejiang Province, China, conventional straw management often causes planting difficulties and nutrient competition. Although no-till with straw retention is known to benefit soil structure, its long-term impacts on local soil health and productivity remain poorly understood. Hence, a six-year field experiment (2016–2021) was conducted with four treatments, i.e., no-till with residue retention (NTRR), no-till with residue removal (NTR0), plow tillage with residue incorporation (PTRR), and plow tillage with residue removal (PTR0), to investigate the long-term effects of tillage and residue management. The results demonstrated that plow tillage (PT) significantly improved soil physical properties, reducing soil compaction and decreasing bulk density compared to no-till (NT) practices. Meanwhile, residue retention (RR) enhanced soil chemical fertility, increasing soil organic matter by 7.8–9.8% and substantially improving available potassium levels. The PTRR treatment achieved the most favorable soil conditions with the lowest compaction and bulk density values among all treatments. PTRR consistently yielded the highest maize production, showing a 1.7–6.9% advantage over PTR0 and a substantial 15.4% yield increase in spring maize compared to residue removal (R0) treatments. Correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between soil quality and productivity, with the Soil Quality Index (SQI) showing strong positive correlations with both yield (r = 0.74, p < 0.01) and economic returns (r = 0.67, p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that PTRR represents an optimal agricultural management strategy for simultaneously enhancing soil health and ensuring sustainable crop production in fresh maize cultivation. Full article

Eutrophication, driven by excessive nutrient inputs from agriculture, wastewater, and aquaculture, remains a pressing challenge for freshwater ecosystems. In response, the EU Nature Restoration Law (2024) sets ambitious targets for restoring degraded ecosystems, emphasizing the need for effective and scalable lake management strategies. In this study, we assessed current water quality in Lake Simnas (Lithuania) and applied dynamic modeling to evaluate two in-lake restoration scenarios: removing scum-forming cyanobacteria and harvesting emerged macrophytes. While both interventions reduced local biomass, neither led to substantial improvements in chlorophyll-a concentrations or total phosphorus levels. Macrophyte harvesting was particularly ineffective because of the low phosphorus content, limited spatial coverage, and slow growth. In contrast, simulations showed that a 50% reduction in external phosphorus inputs led to a significant improvement in water quality, including a 58% drop in mean TP and a 47% decrease in peak chlorophyll-a. These findings support prioritizing catchment-scale nutrient reduction over isolated biomass removal and highlight the importance of sustained monitoring and integrated management for restoring shallow eutrophic lakes. Full article

In aquaculture systems, a high proportion of nutrients end up in the water as a by-product of metabolic processes. These must be neutralized through filtration, but to increase efficiency, the integration of some aquatic plants is advisable. Through the nutrient uptake capacity of these plants, the environmental impact of aquaculture systems can be decreased, so they become more sustainable. In this experiment, common duckweed (Lemna minor) was used under different harvesting protocols (control, and 25% and 50% of surface area harvested) to examine the nutrient uptake capacity of the plant and the effects on fish (common carp—Cyprinus carpio) production parameters. It can be concluded that the treatments used did not have a significant effect on fish production parameters. However regular duckweed harvesting had a positive effect on the plant’s biomass production and daily growth rate. By the end of the experimental period, the harvested groups had accumulated more biomass than the control group, though there was no difference between the 25% and 50% harvest rates. In our experiment, the control group achieved a yield of 17.9 t/ha/year, while the regularly harvested (25% and 50%) treatments achieved yields of 23.4–24 t/ha/year (based on extrapolated data). Regular harvesting of duckweed resulted in lower ammonia levels, as the free water surface available to the plants after harvesting allowed for more intensive growth, enabling them to absorb more organic matter. The dynamics of nitrite, nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations are primarily determined by the internal biochemical processes of the system and temporal development, while treatments such as duckweed harvesting had no direct effect on these parameters. Full article

Wastewater generated by academic institutions poses an environmental burden due to its composition, including household, food-related waste, and potential microcontaminants such as pharmaceutical and laboratory chemicals. This study evaluated wastewater from eleven academic institutions. Horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSFCWs) filled with locally sourced volcanic gravel were tested for treatment performance at a selected site, the University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology (UR-CST). Six HSFCWs operated continuously for four months: two planted with Cyperus latifolius, two with Juncus effusus, and two unplanted. Academic wastewater showed average concentrations of 715 mg/L COD, 54 mg/L NH₄⁺-N, 9 mg/L NO₃⁻-N, and 32 mg/L PO₄³⁻-P. A 4-day hydraulic retention time was effective for the treatment process. The HSFCWs achieved removal efficiencies of 69–82% (COD), 66–87% (NH₄⁺-N), 69–90% (NO₃⁻-N), and over 90% for TSS and PO₄³⁻-P, emphasizing the strong physical and chemical purification capacity of volcanic gravel as confirmed by XRF analysis. Juncus effusus outperformed Cyperus latifolius in biomass (6667 vs. 4389 g/m²) and nutrient assimilation per unit area, removing 3.75× more TP and 1.46× more TN. The desorption capacity of the substrate enabled potential phosphorus recovery of up to 50%. Volcanic gravel-based CWs offer an effective, low-cost, and sustainable approach to wastewater treatment with potential for nutrient recovery. Full article

Moss in container seedling nurseries competes with seedlings for water and nutrients while blocking light, thereby inhibiting growth. This study aimed to address this issue by evaluating the moss control efficacy of 11 chemical compounds, including terpinyl acetate (TA), limonene, and Hinoki essential oil (HEO). The plate experiment results led to the selection of 6 substances (TA, limonene, HEO, pine leaf extract, baking soda, pelargonic acid) that stably controlled both Polytrichum commune Hedw. and Marchantia. Polymorpha L. When TA, limonene, and HEO were combined with surfactants, moss control rates increased and showed stable performance. In the container seedling experiment, TA, limonene, and HEO demonstrated high moss control effects while exhibiting low growth inhibition. When these three substances were combined with surfactants, the electrolyte leakage index (ELI) decreased, indicating minimal cell membrane damage. Additionally, TA treatment maintained stable soil physicochemical properties with no significant changes in pH or nutrient levels. Microscopic analysis of moss cells showed cell wall deformation and expansion of intercellular spaces in the three substance treatment groups. Future verification of long-term effectiveness, expansion of application targets, and assessment of economic feasibility could lead to the development of eco-friendly moss removal agents for improving container seedling quality. Full article

Soft robots demonstrate great potential for underwater exploration, particularly in tasks such as locomotion and biological sampling in fragile marine habitats. However, developing new forms of interaction with underwater life remains a challenge due to inadequate soft mechanisms for studying the behavior of marine invertebrates. We present a 7-cm in diameter anemone robot (“Soromone”) capable of performing biological sea anemones’ wiggling behavior under the water. Inspired by the body forms of adult cnidaria, we developed a morphing mechanism that serves as both structure and actuator for the Soromone’s behavior using a soft tectonics approach—a multistep, multiscale, heterogeneous soft material fabrication technique. As an actuator, the morphing mechanism can precisely control the Soromone via a fluid system; as a structure, it can reinstate the Soromone’s original shape by incorporating various degrees of stiffness or softness into a single piece of material during fabrication. Our study demonstrates the advantages of applying a Soromone under water, including increasing water flow for enhanced nutrient uptake, waste removal, and gas exchange. This cnidaria-inspired soft robot could potentially be adapted for interaction with coral reef ecosystems by providing a safe environment for diverse species. Future soft robotics design paradigms based on a soft tectonics approach could expand the variability and applicability of soft robots for underwater exploration and habitation. Full article

The microbial removal of antibiotics is an environmentally friendly solution to antibiotic contamination in water. However, the main limitations for its application are the difficulty of direct utilization of antibiotics by bacteria and incomplete removal. In this study, a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis ZY that removed tetracycline (TC) as a sole carbon source was applied. Strain ZY was able to remove 50 mg/L TC at an efficiency higher than 70%, while the removal efficiency was increased to 100% after the immobilization by Loofah (Lfr). Meanwhile, the removal time was shortened from 6 to 4.5 d. Compared with the free ZY, the TC removal efficiency of Lfr-ZY was significantly improved under various conditions (temperature, pH and NaCl concentration). The removal efficiency of Lfr-ZY was still higher than 50% after 11 cycles, with strong removal ability and stability. In addition, the enhancement of TC bio-removal by Lfr-ZY involved the combination of the protection, adsorption, detoxification, putative nutrient release and solubilization effects of Lfr. The promising results suggest that the Lfr-based strategy has the potential for solving the problems of a lack of nutrient substrate for TC removal and the inability to remove it completely. Full article

The cardinal Physiology of Gut Health in monogastric animals such as swine and poultry is vital. It is critical for digestive efficiency, immune status, and production levels. This system is related not only to the digestion and absorption of nutrients from feed ingredients contributing to growth and feed utilization efficiency but also to having a strategic microbiota that supports immunity and pathogen resistance, as well as metabolic support. Gut disease, for example, bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection, diet, or stress, can reduce nutrient digestion and absorption. They can also suppress the immune system and render patients more prone to disease. These are efficiency degradations and increase veterinary and husbandry costs. In addition, nutrient absorption because of deteriorated gut health can affect the environment in different ways: removal of nutrients through leaching and the release of gases (including CH₄ and NH₄). These pressures have led to a focus on the gut in animal research to improve the welfare of animals and ensure sustainable practices in animal production. Recent studies have included the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and other feed additives to enhance the positive effects of the gut microbiota. These are also intervention points to increase nutrient absorption and animal well-being, in turn sustainability. Such approaches are expected to promote a stable microbial community with less dependence on the use of antibiotics, less waste generation, and less environmental impact from animal farming. This review provides a critical evaluation of the current literature on gut health in monogastric livestock, with pigs and poultry as the principal focus. We also considered the impact of gut health on production efficiency and Environmental sustainability. Current progress in nutritional modulation of gut health for increased productivity, enhanced animal welfare, and better profitability are presented. Gut-related biological mechanisms are linked to practical nutritional strategies, and subsequently to animal welfare, production efficiency, and environmental effects, offering a coherent concept for moving from mechanism to system-level sustainability. Full article

Spartina alterniflora has become one of the most serious invasive species and competes with native Phragmites australis and Suaeda salsa in northern China. This study conducted controlled container experiments with no competition, intraspecific competition, two-species competition, and three-species competition to compare the growth conditions of Spartina alterniflora (ramet, genet, and mixture), Phragmites australis, and Suaeda salsa. Results showed the following: (1) Spartina alterniflora exhibited obviously stronger interspecific competitiveness than that interspecific competition (RY_ab > 1), with significant differences in height, basal diameter, number of blades, fresh weight, and dry weight (p < 0.05); (2) among reproductive strategies, Spartina alterniflora competitiveness followed the order of ramets > genets > mixture; (3) under multispecies competition, height, basal diameter, and number of blades of Spartina alterniflora showed significant differences (p < 0.05); (4) the competitiveness of Spartina alterniflora in height, basal diameter, and number of blades on native species followed the order Suaeda salsa > Phragmites > Suaeda salsa + Phragmites > competition > no competition. This study suggests the following: (1) controlling established ramets should be prioritized; (2) genet seedlings should be removed within the same year; (3) monitoring of genets should be strengthened. Furthermore, container conditions in this study may not fully capture field environments. Future research should integrate long-term field experiments, tidal gradients, and nutrient manipulations. Full article

This study assessed the effects of tetracycline (TC) on growth of Lemna aoukikusa and Spirodela polyrhiza under batch conditions. The duckweeds were exposed to a range of 0.0–5.0 mg L⁻¹ of TC for 7 days in a medium containing 10 mg L⁻¹ total nitrogen (TN) and 1 mg L⁻¹ total phosphorus (TP). The relative growth rate (RGR) of each species was determined from the frond area measurement using image analysis. The EC₅₀ values as the TC concentrations causing a 50% reduction in RGR, were 4.4 mg L⁻¹ for L. aoukikusa and 0.65 mg L⁻¹ for S. polyrhiza. At 5.0 mg L⁻¹ TC, TP removal decreased to 60% in the L. aoukikusa culture and 77% in the S. polyrhiza culture, compared to 85–91% and 96%, respectively, under lower TC exposure. Nevertheless, TN and TP removals were not significantly impaired at TC concentrations found in swine wastewater. The TC removals were 76–94% for the L. aoukikusa culture and 68–91% for the S. polyrhiza culture, which were attributed to adsorption and plant uptake. These findings highlight the feasibility of duckweed-based stabilization ponds for simultaneous antibiotic attenuation and nutrient removal. Full article

This study presents a cost-effective and accurate method for assessing nitrogen concentration in vermicompost fertilizer using a low-cost TCS3200 color sensor and a K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) machine learning model. The objective was to evaluate the performance of four different color spaces—RGB, Lab, LCh, and CMYK—identify the most effective feature representation for a multi-class classification task based on accuracy and theoretical robustness to ambient light variations. A total of 2400 data points were collected from a standard chemical test kit and processed. A rigorous 60-fold cross-validation approach was used to determine the optimal model hyperparameters and to ensure the robustness of the findings. The results demonstrate that the model trained on the LCh color space achieved the highest classification accuracy of 0.9708 with an optimal K-value of 6, significantly outperforming Lab (0.9688), RGB (0.9625), and CMYK (0.9583). A detailed analysis of the confusion matrix revealed that the model successfully classified the ‘High’ and ‘Medium’ nitrogen levels with near-perfect accuracy, while minor misclassifications occurred between the ‘Low’ and ‘Trace’ categories (5 Low ⟶ Trace, 6 Trace ⟶ Low). The proposed system offers a practical, robust, and accessible tool for precision agriculture, enabling farmers to make informed decisions regarding fertilization, and directly supporting sustainable agriculture and responsible resource management. The findings indicate that the LCh color space is highly effective for this application, providing a viable solution for the rapid and reliable assessment of vermicompost quality. Most importantly, this inexpensive, on-site system removes the need for costly, time-consuming laboratory analyses, giving farmers and compost users the instantaneous, accurate nitrogen data they need to maximize crop yield, optimize nutrient application, and significantly reduce input costs from overfertilization. Full article

Plant-derived wastes are increasingly explored as organic matter sources for sustainable agriculture. Tea waste, a by-product of industrial tea processing, is often regarded as an environmental pollutant, yet its potential for agricultural use remains conditional and requires careful evaluation. This study examined the effects of factory-derived tea waste on kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) under drought stress. Plants were grown in soils amended with 5% or 10% tea waste and subjected to mild (75% field capacity) and moderate (50% field capacity) water deficits, compared with full irrigation (100% field capacity). Fifteen morphological and physiological parameters were assessed, and data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation heatmaps to identify trait associations and stress markers. Drought stress significantly reduced all growth and yield traits, with stronger effects under more severe water deficit. Tea waste generally exacerbated stress impacts, increasing damage indices, reducing plant height, and lowering chlorophyll values. However, 10% tea waste under non-stress conditions increased plant and root dry weights without negatively affecting other traits, suggesting a partial nutrient contribution. In contrast, 5% tea waste aggravated stress effects, likely due to phenolic and caffeine toxicity. Overall, raw tea waste was found to be unsuitable for kale production under drought conditions. To harness its potential, bioactive compounds must be degraded or removed, and the material stabilized through composting or biochar conversion for safe integration into drought-resilient systems. Full article

Eutrophication of freshwater bodies is primarily caused by excessive nitrogen and phosphorus, resulting in significant environmental challenges, including harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. This review examines the potential for natural and modified zeolites to act as adsorbents and regulate nutrient concentrations in eutrophic freshwater ecosystems, excluding applications for wastewater or industrial water effluents. Natural zeolites are effective adsorbents of ammonium, whereas modified zeolites (with aluminum, iron, calcium, and many others) have been noted to have enhanced phosphate adsorption and a higher overall nutrient removal efficiency. The application of modified zeolites for controlling eutrophication in freshwater bodies has proven to have high efficiency in adsorbing nitrogen and phosphorus, resulting in reduced nutrient release from sediments and improved water quality in shallow lakes and reservoirs. This review describes the adsorption mechanisms and modification methods, with an appreciation for the multifunctional role of zeolites in nutrient immobilization and capping sediments. Finally, it presents the potential to use zeolite-based materials in eutrophic freshwater restoration through sustainable circular economy approaches. Zeolite materials present ample environmental applications for cost-effective and targeted mitigation approaches to freshwater eutrophication. Full article

Background and Objectives: Dynamic nutrient profiling represents a paradigm shift in personalized nutrition, integrating real-time nutritional assessment with individualized dietary recommendations through advanced algorithmic approaches, biomarker integration, and artificial intelligence. This comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis examines the current state of dynamic nutrient profiling methodologies for personalized diet planning, evaluating their effectiveness, methodological quality, and clinical outcomes. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar) from inception to December 2024. The protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (Registration: CRD42024512893). Studies were systematically screened using predefined inclusion criteria, quality was assessed using validated tools (RoB 2, ROBINS-I, Newcastle–Ottawa Scale), and data were extracted using standardized forms. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed where appropriate, with heterogeneity assessed using I² statistics. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger’s test. Results: From 2847 initially identified records plus 156 from additional sources, 117 studies met the inclusion criteria after removing 391 duplicates and systematic screening, representing 45,672 participants across 28 countries. Studies employed various methodological approaches: algorithmic-based profiling systems (76 studies), biomarker-integrated approaches (45 studies), and AI-enhanced personalized nutrition platforms (23 studies), with some studies utilizing multiple methodologies. Meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in dietary quality measures (standardized mean difference: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.89–1.59, p < 0.001), dietary adherence (risk ratio: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.18–1.52, p < 0.001), and clinical outcomes including weight reduction (mean difference: −2.8 kg, 95% CI: −4.2 to −1.4, p < 0.001) and improved cardiovascular risk markers. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies (I² = 78–92%), attributed to methodological diversity and population characteristics. AI-enhanced systems demonstrated superior effectiveness (SMD = 1.67) compared to traditional algorithmic approaches (SMD = 1.08). However, current evidence is constrained by practical limitations, including the technological accessibility of dynamic profiling systems and equity concerns in vulnerable populations. Additionally, the evidence base shows geographical concentration, with most studies conducted in high-income countries, underscoring the need for research in diverse global settings. These findings have significant implications for shaping public health policies and clinical guidelines aimed at integrating personalized nutrition into healthcare systems and addressing dietary disparities at the population level. Conclusions: Dynamic nutrient profiling demonstrates significant promise for advancing personalized nutrition interventions, with robust evidence supporting improved nutritional and clinical outcomes. However, methodological standardization, long-term validation studies exceeding six months, and comprehensive cost-effectiveness analyses remain critical research priorities. The integration of artificial intelligence and multi-omics data represents the future direction of this rapidly evolving field. Full article

Coagulation–flocculation, historically reliant on simple inorganic salts, has evolved into a technically sophisticated process that is central to the removal of turbidity, suspended solids, organic matter, and an expanding array of micropollutants from complex wastewaters. This review synthesizes six decades of research, charting the transition from classical aluminum and iron salts to high-performance polymeric, biosourced, and hybrid coagulants, and examines their comparative efficiency across multiple performance indicators—turbidity removal (>95%), COD/BOD reduction (up to 90%), and heavy metal abatement (>90%). Emphasis is placed on recent innovations, including magnetic composites, bio–mineral hybrids, and functionalized nanostructures, which integrate multiple mechanisms—charge neutralization, sweep flocculation, polymer bridging, and targeted adsorption—within a single formulation. Beyond performance, the review highlights persistent scientific gaps: incomplete understanding of molecular-scale interactions between coagulants and emerging contaminants such as microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and engineered nanoparticles; limited real-time analysis of flocculation kinetics and floc structural evolution; and the absence of predictive, mechanistically grounded models linking influent chemistry, coagulant properties, and operational parameters. Addressing these knowledge gaps is essential for transitioning from empirical dosing strategies to fully optimized, data-driven control. The integration of advanced coagulation into modular treatment trains, coupled with IoT-enabled sensors, zeta potential monitoring, and AI-based control algorithms, offers the potential to create “Coagulation 4.0” systems—adaptive, efficient, and embedded within circular economy frameworks. In this paradigm, treatment objectives extend beyond regulatory compliance to include resource recovery from coagulation sludge (nutrients, rare metals, construction materials) and substantial reductions in chemical and energy footprints. By uniting advances in material science, process engineering, and real-time control, coagulation–flocculation can retain its central role in water treatment while redefining its contribution to sustainability. In the systems envisioned here, every floc becomes both a vehicle for contaminant removal and a functional carrier in the broader water–energy–resource nexus. Full article