Small hydropower plants affect aquatic community diversity: A longitudinal study under ecological flow.

Small hydropower plants (SHPs) play a crucial role in clean energy production, yet they also disrupted river ecosystems. To achieve a balance between energy production, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem integrity, it is essential to study how aquatic organisms respond to SHP operations. Prior researches had shown that SHP operations have the most significant impact in dewatering sections, but studies often overlook the influence of ecological flows.

Differential impacts of small hydropower plants on macroinvertebrate communities upstream and downstream under ecological flow.

Hydropower dams influence freshwater biodiversity by altering river flow patterns and habitat conditions. With the global surge in small hydropower plants (SHPs), their impacts on aquatic ecosystems have become increasingly recognized. However, most previous studies did not consider the recently implemented ecological flows.

Predicting the governing factors for the release of colloidal phosphorus using machine learning.

Predicting the parameters that influence colloidal phosphorus (CP) release from soils under different land uses is critical for managing the impact on water quality. Traditional modeling approaches, such as linear regression, may fail to represent the intricate relationships that exist between soil qualities and environmental influences. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the major determinants of CP release from different land use/types such as farmland, desert, forest soils, and rivers.

Different facets of alpha and beta diversity of benthic diatoms along stream watercourse in a large near-natural catchment.

Understanding the processes and mechanisms that shape the distribution patterns and variations of biodiversity along spatial gradients continues to be a priority for ecological research. We focused on the biodiversity of benthic diatom communities within a large near-natural watershed. The objectives are: (1) to explore the overall spatial patterns of benthic diatom biodiversity; (2) to investigate the effects associated with watercourse position and environmental variables, as well as both common and rare species on two facets (i.

Comparison of different macroinvertebrates bioassessment indices in a large near-natural watershed under the context of metacommunity theory.

The metacommunity theory proposes that community structure and biodiversity are influenced by both local processes (such as environmental filtering) and regional processes (such as dispersal). Despite the extensive use of traditional bioassessments based on species-environment relationships, the impact of dispersal processes on these assessments has been largely overlooked. This study aims to compare correlations between various bioassessment indices, including Shannon Weiner (H'), Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP), average score per taxon (ASPT), biotic index (BI), and EPT taxa index (EPT), based on macroinvertebrates collected from 147 sampling sites in a subtropical Chinese near-natural catchment.

Seed nano-priming with multiple nanoparticles enhanced the growth parameters of lettuce and mitigated cadmium (Cd) bio-toxicity: An advanced technique for remediation of Cd contaminated environments.

Seed nano-priming can be used as an advanced technology for enhancing seed germination, plant growth, and crop productivity; however, the potential role of seed nano-priming in ameliorative cadmium (Cd) bio-toxicity under Cd stress has not yet been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, in this study we investigated the beneficial impacts of seed priming with low (L) and high (H) concentrations of nanoparticles including nSiO (50/100 mg L), nTiO (20/60 mg L), nZnO (50/100 mg L), nFeO (100/200 mg L), nCuO (50/100 mg L), and nCeO (50/100 mg L) on lettuce growth and antioxidant enzyme activities aiming to assess their efficacy for enhancing plant growth and reducing Cd phytotoxicity. The results showed a significant increase in plant growth, biomass production, antioxidant enzyme activities, and photosynthetic efficiency in lettuce treated with nano-primed nSiH + Cd (100 mg L), nTiH + Cd (60 mg L), and nZnL + Cd (50 mg L) under Cd stress.

A critical review on selenium removal capacity from water using emerging non-conventional biosorbents.

Anthropogenic-driven selenium (Se) contamination of natural waters has emerged as severe health and environmental concern. Lowering Se levels to safe limits of 40 μg-L (recommended by WHO) presents a critical challenge for the scientific community, necessitating reliable and effective methods for Se removal. The primary obectives of this review are to evaluate the efficiency of different biosorbents in removing Se, understand the mechanism of adsorption, and identify the factors influencing the biosorption process.

Effect of foliar application of nanoparticles on growth, physiology, and antioxidant enzyme activities of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants under cadmium toxicity.

Nanotechnology has attracted the interest of scientists due to its wide range of application specifically in agriculture. Nanoparticles (NPs) may act as a promising materials to alleviate cadmium (Cd) stress in plants. This study aims to assess the impact of multiple nanoparticles including nSiO (50 mg L:100 mg L), nTiO (20 mg L:60 mg L), nZnO (50 mg L:100 mg L), nFeO (100 mg L:200 mg L), nCuO (50 mg L:100 mg L), and nCeO (50 mg L:100 mg L) in combination with CdCl (5 µM) to mitigate Cd toxicity in lettuce through foliar application in hydroponic solution.

Biochar-coupled organic fertilizer reduced soil water-dispersible colloidal phosphorus contents in agricultural fields.

Soil water-dispersible colloidal phosphorus (WCP) presents high mobility, however, the regulatory effect of biochar-coupled organic fertilizer is rarely known, especially under different cropping patterns. This study investigated the P adsorption, soil aggregate stability, and WCP in three paddy and three vegetable fields. These soils were amended with different fertilizers (chemical fertilizer, CF; substitution of solid-sheep manure or liquid-biogas slurry organic fertilizer, SOF/LOF; substitution of biochar-coupled organic fertilizers, BSOF/BLOF).

Improved phosphorus availability and reduced degree of phosphorus saturation by biochar-blended organic fertilizer addition to agricultural field soils.

Phosphorus (P) availability and loss risk are linked to P species; however, their alternations in the soil amended with biochar-blended organic fertilizer is not well known, particularly under contrasting soil properties and land management. In this study, the variance of soil P species extracted by sequential chemical extraction (SCE) and P NMR techniques, as well as the degree of P saturation (DPS), were investigated throughout three paddy and three vegetable fields. These fields were amended with three different fertilizers at the same P application rate: chemical fertilizer (CF), organic fertilizer substitution (sheep manure/biogas slurry, SM/BS), and biochar-blended organic fertilizer substitution (BSM/BBS).

Nano and fine colloids suspended in the soil solution regulate phosphorus desorption and lability in organic fertiliser-amended soils.

Mobile colloids impact phosphorus (P) binding and transport in agroecosystems. However, their relationship to P-lability and their relative importance to P-bioavailability is unclear. In soils amended with organic fertilisers, we investigated the effects of nano (NC; 1-20 nm), fine (FC; 20-220 nm), and medium (MC; 220-450 nm) colloids suspended in soil solution on soil P-desorption and lability.

Nano and micro manure amendments decrease degree of phosphorus saturation and colloidal phosphorus release from agriculture soils.

The manure fertilizer increases the phosphorus (P) saturation of soils and the colloidal P release to water bodies. Manure of different particle-sizes may have different effects on colloidal P release by soil, and to date there is limited knowledge on colloidal P release from soils amended with different size manures. We produced sheep micro- (S) and nano-manure (S), and poultry micro- (P), nano-manure (P) from bulk samples by wet fractionation method.

Qualitative and quantitative investigation on adsorption mechanisms of Cd(II) on modified biochar derived from co-pyrolysis of straw and sodium phytate.

Developing effective modification methods and obtaining a comprehensive understanding of adsorption mechanisms are essential for the practical application of biochars for the removal of heavy metals from solutions. In this study, rice straw was impregnated with sodium phytate and pyrolyzed at 350 °C, 450 °C, and 550 °C to synthesize modified biochars (i.e.

Pteris vittata plantation decrease colloidal phosphorus contents by reducing degree of phosphorus saturation in manure amended soils.

The agricultural use of manure fertilizer increases the phosphorus (P) saturation of soils and the risk of colloidal P (P) release to aquatic ecosystems. Two experiments were conducted to identify whether Pteris vittata plantation can decrease P contents in two soils (Cambisol and Anthrosol) amended with various manure P rates (0, 10, 25, and 50 mg P kg of soil). The total P contents in manured soil without P.

Phytate exudation by the roots of Pteris vittata can dissolve colloidal FePO.

Phosphorus (P) is limiting nutrient in many soils, and P availability may often depend on iron (Fe) speciation. Colloidal iron phosphate (FePO) is potentially present in soils, and we tested the hypothesis that phytate exudation by Pteris vittata might dissolve FePO by growing the plant in nutrient solution to which FePO was added. The omission of P and Fe increased phytate exudation by P.

Synthesis of a novel Fe-Mn binary oxide-modified lava adsorbent and its effect on ammonium removal from aqueous solutions.

Ammonium is strongly related to eutrophication and a key control of eutrophication in aquatic systems, especially in agricultural runoff. In this study, a novel Fe-Mn binary oxide-modified lava (FMML) granular adsorbent was synthesized for ammonium removal from aqueous solutions by co-precipitation method. The kinetic data were described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model well and intraparticle diffusion had effects on ammonium adsorption.

Effect of sheep manure-derived biochar on colloidal phosphorus release in soils from various land uses.

Colloidal phosphorus (CP) as an additional route of P mobilization in soil solution has gained much attention. A batch experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sheep manure-derived biochar (SMB) on CP release from various land uses (paddy, vegetable, tea, and citrus) at a rate of 0% as a control treatment (CK), 1% as a low (L) level, 2% as a middle (M) level, and 4% as a high (H) level of SMB application. The CP and MRP in the solution increased from 30.

Synergistic effects of anionic polyacrylamide and gypsum to control phosphorus losses from biogas slurry applied soils.

Excessive application of phosphorus (P) fertilizer to the agriculture soil can lead to the P loss to the aquatic ecosystem. Three soils from different land use (tea, paddy, and vegetable soils) were treated with biogas slurry (BS) at rate of 79.8 kg ha, anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) at rate of 12.