An in situ reactive zone approach using calcium peroxide for the remediation of benzene and chlorobenzene in groundwater: A field study.

There is a gap in understanding the different contributions of biodegradation and free radical oxidation using calcium peroxide (CaO) for the remediation of mixed contaminants of benzene and chlorobenzene in groundwater. In this study, the remedial efficiency and mechanisms of benzene and chlorobenzene co-contaminants using CaO were explored by an integrated approach of field study and laboratory validation. It was found that in the field demonstration program, the radius of influence for each injection point using Geoprobe direct-push was larger than the designed value of 0.

Microplastics Generate Less Mineral Protection of Soil Carbon and More CO Emissions.

Microplastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems threatens to destabilize large soil carbon stocks that help to mitigate climate change. Carbon-based substrates can release from microplastics and contribute to terrestrial carbon pools, but how these emerging organic compounds influence carbon mineralization and sequestration remains unknown. Here, microcosm experiments are conducted to determine the bioavailability of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) in soils and its contribution to mineral-associated carbon pool.

Optimizing nutrient management for Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) in the Alfisols of Southern India through modeling soil, plant, and fertilizer interactions.

Balanced nutrition will be rewarding to profitable and sustainable yield of Kodo millet. In this context, soil test crop response (STCR) experiments on kodo millet were conducted from 2020 to 2022 to assess relationships between yield, soil, plant, and fertilizer nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and calibrate optimum nutrient doses for attaining yield targets. The Basic parameters, i.

Response of soil organic carbon and soil aggregate stability to changes in land use patterns on the Loess Plateau.

Land use change can significantly alter the proportion of soil aggregates, thereby influencing aggregate stability and distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, there is minimal research on the variations in the distribution of soil aggregates, aggregate stability, and SOC in soil aggregates following land use change from farmland (FL) to forest and grassland in the Loess Plateau region of China. Select six land use patterns (farmland (FL), abandoned cropland (ACL), Medicago sativa (MS), natural grassland (NG), Picea asperata Mast.

Enhanced NSGA-II algorithm based on novel hybrid crossover operator to optimise water supply and ecology of Fenhe reservoir operation.

Reservoir-operation optimisation is a crucial aspect of water-resource development and sustainable water process management. This study addresses bi-objective optimisation problems by proposing a novel crossover evolution operator, known as the hybrid simulated binary and improved arithmetic crossover (SBAX) operator, based on the simulated binary cross (SBX) and arithmetic crossover operators, and applies it to the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms-II (NSGA-II) algorithm to improve the algorithm. In particular, the arithmetic crossover operator can obtain an optimal solution more precisely within the solution space, whereas the SBX operator can explore a broader range of potential high-quality solutions.

Mitigating saturation effects in rice nitrogen estimation using Dualex measurements and machine learning.

Nitrogen is essential for rice growth and yield formation, but traditional methods for assessing nitrogen status are often labor-intensive and unreliable at high nitrogen levels due to saturation effects. This study evaluates the effectiveness of flavonoid content (Flav) and the Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI), measured using a Dualex sensor and combined with machine learning models, for precise nitrogen status estimation in rice. Field experiments involving 15 rice varieties under varying nitrogen application levels collected Dualex measurements of chlorophyll (Chl), Flav, and NBI from the top five leaves at key growth stages.

A framework of ecological security patterns in arid and semi-arid regions considering differences socioeconomic scenarios in ecological risk: Case of Loess Plateau, China.

Understanding the establishment of ecological security patterns in arid and semi-arid regions is critical for global ecological risk prevention, control, and sustainable development. Nonetheless, there remains a relative deficiency in ecological risk assessment and construction of Ecological Security Patterns (ESP) in these areas, along with insufficient verification regarding the changes in ecological security patterns under diverse scenarios. This study employs Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) to identify ecological sources and utilizes circuit theory alongside Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) to delineate ecological corridors.

Have human activities been accurately evaluated in sediment yield changes in the middle reaches of the Yellow River?

The middle reaches of the Yellow River (MRYR) in China are some of the most severely eroded areas in the world. Knowledge of the changes in sediment yield in the MRYR is of great significance for understanding the impact of human activities on soil erosion and sediment transport. Using data from the MRYR and 13 sub-basins, this study aims to evaluate the actual contributions of human activities to sediment yields and to examine whether the widely used Mann-Kendall test has underestimated this contribution.

Improved methodology for tracing a pulse of 13C-labelled tree photosynthate carbon to ectomycorrhizal roots, other soil biota and soil processes in the field.

Isotopic pulse-labelling of photosynthate allows tracing of carbon (C) from tree canopies to belowground biota and calculations of its turnover in roots and recipient soil microorganisms. A high concentration of label is desirable, but is difficult to achieve in field studies of intact ecosystem patches with trees. Moreover, root systems of trees overlap considerably in most forests, which requires a large labelled area to minimize the impact of C allocated belowground by un-labelled trees.

[Impacts of freeze-thaw process on soil microbial nutrient limitation in slope farmlands of the Chinese Mollisol region].

Understanding the impacts of freeze-thaw action on soil microbial nutrient limitation can provide important support for sustainable utilization of black soil resources. We analyzed the impacts of freeze-thaw action on soil microbial nutrient limitation on a slope farmland located in a typical thick Mollisol region of Keshan County, Heilongjiang Province. We examined the responses of soil microbial nutrient limitation to soil erosion rates through measuring soil nutrient, soil microbial biomass, and soil enzyme activities before and after freeze-thaw under natural conditions, and estimated the soil erosion rates by Cs tracing technology.

Tire Wear Particles Exposure Enhances Denitrification in Soil by Enriching Labile DOM and Shaping the Microbial Community.

Tire wear particles (TWP) are emerging contaminants in the soil environment due to their widespread occurrence and potential threat to soil health. However, their impacts on soil biogeochemical processes remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of TWP at various doses and their leachate on soil respiration and denitrification using a robotized continuous-flow incubation system in upland soil.

In-use dissipation of technology-critical elements from vehicles and renewable energy technologies in Vienna, Austria: A public health matter?

The rollout of electric vehicles and photovoltaic panels is essential to mitigate climate change. However, they depend on technology-critical elements (TCEs), which can be harmful to human health and whose use is rapidly expanding, while recycling is lacking. While mining has received substantial attention, in-use dissipation in urban areas has so far not been assessed, for example, corrosion and abrasion of vehicle components and weather-related effects affecting thin-film photovoltaic panels.

[Mechanisms of Rhizosphere Microorganisms in Regulating Plant Root System Architecture in Acidic Soils].

Red soil occupies an important position in China's agriculturally cultivated land resources. However, its low pH value, high aluminum concentration, and inefficient phosphorus utilization limit the productivity of acidic red soil farmland. Plant roots exhibit remarkable plasticity, capable of absorbing water and nutrients and modulating root system architecture in response to biotic and abiotic stresses, either autonomously or through rhizosphere microorganisms.

[Impact of Organic Amendment on the Bacterial Community and Rice Yield in Paddy Soil].

In this investigation, the influence of organic amendment on the structural and functional dynamics of soil microbial communities and its effect on rice productivity were examined. Five fertilization treatments from a 40-year field experiment were selected： no fertilizer （CK）, inorganic NPK fertilizer （NPK）, inorganic NPK combined with green manure （NG）, inorganic NPK combined with green manure and pig manure （NGM）, and inorganic NPK combined with green manure and rice straw （NGS）. The findings revealed that the organic amendment enhanced the soil organic carbon （SOC）, total nitrogen （TN）, and total phosphorus （TP） levels, alongside an increase in rice yield； notably, the most significant improvements were observed with the NGM treatment.

Depth weakens effects of long-term fertilization on dissolved organic matter chemodiversity in paddy soils.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is pivotal for soil biogeochemical processes, soil fertility, and ecosystem stability. While numerous studies have investigated the impact of fertilization practices on DOM content along soil profiles, variations in DOM chemodiversity and the underlying factors across soil profiles under long-term fertilization regimes remain unclear. Using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) and high-throughput sequencing, this study investigated DOM composition characteristics and microbial community compositions across different soil layers (0-20, 20-40, 40-60, and 60-100 cm) in paddy soil under different long-term fertilization treatments, including Control (no fertilizer), NPK (mineral NPK fertilizer), NPKHS (NPK fertilizer with half straw return), and NPKS (NPK fertilizer with full straw return).

Vertical and horizontal variabilities of ammonia in an agricultural area of Southeast China.

Ammonia (NH) plays a crucial role in the global nitrogen cycle, the increased NH emissions from agricultural activities impacting air, soil, water quality, and human health. Accurately estimating both the vertical and horizontal transport distances of NH are important for effective pollution control. Therefore, we used a helium-filled balloon mounted sampler to analyze the vertical profiles of NH emissions and their seasonal variations in an agricultural area of southeast China.

Enhancing Nitrogen Nutrition Index estimation in rice using multi-leaf SPAD values and machine learning approaches.

Accurate nitrogen diagnosis is essential for optimizing rice yield and sustainability. This study investigates the potential of using multi-leaf SPAD measurements combined with machine learning models to improve nitrogen nutrition diagnostics in rice. Conducted across five locations with 15 rice cultivars, SPAD values from the first to fifth fully expanded leaves were collected at key growth stages.

Optimizing soil remediation with multi-functional L-PH hydrogel: Enhancing water retention and heavy metal stabilization in farmland soil.

Agricultural soils face severe challenges, including water scarcity and heavy metal contamination. Optimizing soil remediation efficiency while minimizing inputs is essential. This study assessed the water retention and heavy metal adsorption properties of L-PH hydrogel through aqueous experiments.

Effect of AM fungi on the growth and powdery mildew development of Astragalus sinicus L. under water stress.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widely existing soil microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plants. They are important for enhancing adversity resistance, including resistance to disease and water stresses. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether the benefits can be maintained in regulating the occurrence of plant diseases under drought, flooding stress and during water restoration.

GLR36 Mutation of Casuarina equisetifoli Is Associated With a Decreased JA Response to Insect Feeding by Lymantria xylina.

Lymantria xylina is the most important defoliator, damaging the effective coastal windbreak tree species Casuarina equisetifolia. However, the underlying genetic mechanisms through which C. equisetifolia responds to L.

Effects of Vegetation Restoration Type on Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Associated Microbial Regulation on the Loess Plateau.

Investigating responses of soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to vegetation restoration is important for global warming mitigation. On the Loess Plateau, a wide range of vegetation restoration strategies have been implemented to control land degradation. However, the thorough quantification of soil GHG emissions triggered by different modes of vegetation restoration is insufficient.

Paddy-upland rotation combined with manure application: An optimal strategy for enhancing soil multifunctionality.

Promoting soil multifunctionality is pivotal for maintaining agricultural productivity and sustainable agriculture, especially with the increasing global population and food demand. The effectiveness of different agricultural practices in enhancing soil multifunctionality and how the combination can maximize soil multifunctionality remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the different impacts of rotation (paddy-upland rotation and dryland rotation) combined with fertilization (chemical fertilizer and manure) on soil multifunctionality, microbial community structure, and microbial networks.

Microbial functional genes play crucial roles in enhancing soil nutrient availability of halophyte rhizospheres in salinized grasslands.

Land degradation due to salinization threatens ecosystem health. Phytoremediation, facilitated by functional microorganisms, has gained attention for improving saline-alkali soils. However, the relationship between the functional potential of rhizosphere microbes involved in multi-element cycling and soil nutrient pools remain unclear.