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Introduction: Maturation in seawater-adapted (smoltified) male Atlantic salmon is undesirable yet frequently reported in fish weighing up to 1 kg reared under intensive conditions in land-based facilities. Although the photoperiod regulates both smoltification and maturation, the optimal post-smoltification regimen for the prevention of maturation is unclear. Methods: In this study, mixed-sex Atlantic salmon weighing 95 g were exposed to three different photoperiod regimes: continuous daylength, gradually decreasing daylength, and short-to-long daylength after the induction of smoltification by the "winter signal" (12 h:12 h light:dark). Fish were maintained under these conditions in triplicate for 18 weeks in a brackish water flow-through system at 12℃ and with a salinity of 20 ppt. This initial phase was followed by a grow-out period (1 kg-2.5 kg) in seawater (32-ppt salinity) at 13℃ for 11 weeks, with exposure to decreasing daylength. Throughout the 29-week study, body condition, gonad development, and morphological traits were assessed. Additionally, during exposure to brackish water, serum 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) levels were quantified, and the testes were examined histologically. Upon termination of the study, the maturation rate was determined. Results: This study exclusively detected maturation among male salmon. Under continuous light exposure, the number of fish initiating maturity steadily increased from week 8 and continued to increase in the subsequent samplings. In the short-to-long daylength group, a subset of male fish showed elevated 11-KT levels at week 14, although their gonadal development and morphological changes were not evident until week 18. Male fish exposed to decreasing daylength showed no substantial increase in 11-KT levels, although a few fish exhibited advanced gonad development by week 18. At the end of the trial, markedly lower percentages of maturing and fully mature male fish were observed among those fish previously exposed to decreasing daylength. The maturation rates at study termination were 44.4% for the short-to-long daylength group, 29.4% for the continuous daylength group, and 4.3% for the decreasing daylength group. Discussion: These results show that photoperiod can be utilized to regulate maturation in male Atlantic salmon. In addition, decreasing the photoperiod after smoltification seems to limit early sexual maturation without compromising body size development. Thus, decreasing the photoperiod could be utilized to limit maturation in the production of post-smolt salmon or salmon in landbased facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane technology is promising route in converting brackish water into freshwater via the removal of salt and salt ions. Natural waste-based nanomembranes provide preferable properties to resolve salt-based issues and is still not yet acknowledged. Therefore, it is global need for the researchers to optimize such type of materials and corresponding technique which can promote the rectification of this global water-based issues. This review provides a comprehensive and scientific approach regarding the potential fabrication of natural waste-based graphene nanomembranes used for the removal of salt and salt ions from brackish water. The removal mechanism is concisely discussed, which reveals the overall transport of salt and salt ions onto membrane surface in correlation with the acceptor sites of membrane surface and its selectivity process. Furthermore, the limitations, challenges, and future perspectives of natural waste-based graphene nanomembranes are briefly presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition towards a sustainable society involves the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable feedstock for materials, fuel, and base chemicals. Lignocellulose consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, forming a complex, recalcitrant matrix where efficient enzymatic saccharification is pivotal for accessing its valuable components. This study investigated microbial communities from brackish Lauwersmeer Lake, in The Netherlands, as a potential source of xylan-degrading enzymes. Environmental sediment samples were enriched with wheat arabinoxylan (WAX) and beechwood glucuronoxylan (BEX), with enrichment on WAX showing higher bacterial growth and complete xylan degradation compared to BEX. Metagenomic sequencing revealed communities consisting almost entirely of bacteria (>99%) and substantial shifts in composition during the enrichment. The first generation of seven-day enrichments on both xylans led to a high accumulation of Gammaproteobacteria (49% WAX, 84% BEX), which were largely replaced by Alphaproteobacteria (42% WAX, 69% BEX) in the fourth generation. Analysis of the protein function within the sequenced genomes showed elevated levels of genes associated with the carbohydrate catabolic process, specifically targeting arabinose, xylose, and xylan, indicating an adaptation to the primary monosaccharides present in the carbon source. The data open up the possibility of discovering novel xylan-degrading proteins from other sources aside from the thoroughly studied Bacteroidota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-stain-negative, obligately aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain designated SJW1-29T was isolated from brackish water samples collected from the Seomjin River, Republic of Korea. The purpose of this study was to characterize strain SJW1-29T and determine its taxonomic position as a potential new genus within the family Spirosomaceae. The strain grew within the range of 10–30 °C (optimum, 25 °C), pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum, 7.0), and 1–4% NaCl (optimum, 3%). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene revealed that strain SJW1-29T belongs to the family Spirosomaceae and is closely related to Persicitalea jodogahamensis Shu-9-SY12-35CT (91.3% similarity), Rhabdobacter roseus R491T (90.6%), and Arundinibacter roseus DMA-K-7aT (90.0%), while the similarities to strains within the order Cytophagales were lower than 90.0%. The genome is 7.1 Mbp with a G+C content of 50.7 mol%. The use of genome-relatedness indices confirmed that this strain belongs to a new genus. The major polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, and MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH, and C16:0, representing more than 80% of the total fatty acids. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genetic, and phylogenetic properties suggest that strain SJW1-29T represents a novel species within a new genus in the family Spirosomaceae, for which the name Salmonirosea aquatica gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Salmonirosea aquatica is SJW1-29T (=KCTC 72493T = NBRC 114061T = FBCC-B16924T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) can tolerate brackish water conditions besides their ability to grow under intensive farming systems. This study tested the growth performance, body composition, and blood variables of Nile tilapia juveniles cultivated in RAS with brackish water. Fish were allocated in 16 plastic tanks (1000 L) at 200 fish per tank with an average weight of 14.34 ± 0.47 g/fish, subdivided into four groups where each group was replicated in four tanks. Nile tilapia juveniles in the four groups were kept at different levels of salinities (0, 5, 10, and 15 ppt). After 70 days, the growth performance and feed efficiency ratio were significantly lower in Nile tilapia grown at 15 ppt than those reared at 0, 5, and 10 ppt (P <.05). The Nile tilapia reared at 15 ppt had significantly lower total protein and lipid contents in the carcass than those reared at 0, 5, and 10 ppt (P <.05). The glucose content was higher while the protein profile was lower in fish reared at 15 ppt than those reared at 0, 5, and 10 ppt (P <.05). The superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase were higher while the malondialdehyde level was lower in fish reared at 15 ppt than those reared at 0, 5, and 10 ppt (P <.05). The results indicated that brackish water (5 –10 ppt) is suitable for farming Nile tilapia under RAS conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity in Tunisia's semi-arid regions necessitates advanced brackish water desalination solutions. This study evaluates the long-term performance and fouling characteristics of the largest brackish water reverse osmosis desalination plant in southern Tunisia over a period of 5026 days. The plant employs two-stage spiral-wound membrane elements to treat groundwater with a salinity of 3.2 g L−1. The pre-treatment process includes oxidation, sand filtration, and cartridge filtration, along with polyphosphonate antiscalant dosing. Membrane performance was assessed through the analysis of operational data, standardization of permeate flow (Qps) and salt passage (SPs), and the calculation of water (A), solute (B), and ionic (Bj) permeability coefficients. Over the operational period, there was an increase in operating pressure, pressure drop, and permeate conductivity, accompanied by a gradual increase in SPs as well as in the solute B and ionic Bj permeability coefficients. The average B increased by 82%, reflecting a decrease in solute rejection over time. Additionally, the ionic permeability coefficients for both SO42− and Cl− ions increased, with Cl− showing an 88% increase and SO42− showing an 87% increase. The produced water's salinity increased by 67%, indicating a significant loss of membrane performance. To identify the cause of these problems, membrane characterization was analyzed using visual inspection, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The characterization revealed the complex nature of the foulants, with a predominant presence of calcium sulfate, along with minor quantities of calcite, dolomite, and silica. The extent of CaSO4 deposition suggests poor antiscaling efficiency, highlighting the critical importance of selecting an effective antiscalant to mitigate membrane fouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, the effect of using a hybrid solar thermal-activated adsorption desalination system for brackish water is evaluated under the climatic conditions of the Brazilian semiarid region. The proposed theoretical model utilizes climatic data from the meteorological station in Campina Grande, PB, and adsorptive kinetics data of Fuji Davison RD 260 silica gel to predict the performance indices of the specific daily water production (SDWP), specific cooling power (SCP), and coefficient of performance (COP) performance coefficients over a characteristic day. The SDWP value of 6.26 m3/ton, SCP ranging from 50 to 300 W/kg, and an average COP of 0.5 were obtained, considering variations in global horizontal irradiance in the ACDS system and transient ambient temperature. It was observed that both the production of desalinated water and the refrigeration effect increase with the rise in daily solar irradiance. The variation in the number of solar collectors used in the system and their optimality, as well as the variation in the salinity index of the feed source, impacted the evaluated performance coefficients.

Abstract Soil salinity and freshwater scarcity are among the major global threats to sustainable development owing to their adverse impacts on agricultural productivity especially in arid and semi-arid regions. There is a need to find sustainable alternatives such as salt-tolerant crops and fish to improve people’s livelihoods in marginal areas. This study aimed to maximize the growth and yield of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) cultivated under a biosaline integrated aquaculture–agriculture system. The study was laid in a randomized completely block design of three saline effluent treatments under three replicates: 5000 ppm (T1), 10,000 ppm (T2), 15,000 ppm (T3), and control (T0). Agro-morphological and physiological attributes of quinoa were measured. The crop yield in biomass and mineral element composition was also studied. Additionally, fish growth performance parameters such as feed intake and efficiency, growth, and survival rate were also calculated. Our results indicated that irrigating quinoa with saline aquaculture effluents above 10,000 ppm enhanced the plant growth, yield, and nutrient content of seeds. Furthermore, rearing striped catfish in saline water reaching up to 15,000 ppm did not have adverse impacts on the growth and survival of fish. Overall, integrating catfish and quinoa production under a salinity regime of 10,000 ppm could be a potential solution to ensuring alternative food sources in marginal areas.

Water resource shortage has become an important factor limiting agricultural sustainability in China. In addition, the development and utilization of unconventional water resources are greatly important for alleviating agricultural water resource deficit. The Pakchoi was cultivated by using the surface soil (0–20 cm) from the field in this pot experiment. The experiment lasted for approximately 1 month to study microbial community structure variation under brackish water and reclaimed water irrigation. The 16S rDNA high-throughput assays revealed that soil bacteria mainly consisted of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria at the Phylum level, along with Arenimonas and Nocardioides at the Genus level under mixed irrigation with brackish water and reclaimed water. In summary, irrigation with pure reclaimed water promoted part of microbial communities and irrigation with pure brackish water inhibited the growth and activities of certain microbial communities. We found that mixed irrigation improved the microbial community structure diversity compared with that in response to pure brackish water irrigation, while decreased the community structure diversity compared with that in response to fresh water irrigation and pure reclaimed water irrigation.

Abstract The present work’s objective is to give a comprehensive overview of the quality of groundwater in Qatar in terms of heavy metals content as well as investigating the cause and effect of the elevation in their levels above the WHO/US-EPA standards. The scope of the study included (1) physical and chemical analysis of 82 groundwater samples collected from various locations around Qatar, (2) development of ArcGIS maps depicting the variations in the levels, (3) assessment of the human health risks associated with the existing levels using three of the most used models which are: Hazard index (HI), Nemerow comprehensive pollution index (NCPI) and Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR). There is no extensive study ever reported to assess the health risks linked with the consumption of groundwater characterized with such heavy metals levels in Qatar. The chronic daily intake (CDI) of the investigated heavy metals (Ag, Mn, Cr, V, Mo and Sr) through ingestion and dermal pathways had a range of 1.4 × 10–5–6.7 × 10–1 mg/kg/day while the NCPI’s range was reported at 0–4.39. Moreover, the HI and ILCR were found to have a range of 0–3.2 and 5.6 × 10–4–5.5 × 10–2, respectively. The assessment of health risks, conducted in the present work, could be beneficial in building the baseline of heavy metals levels in groundwater in Qatar. This will also help in the determination of any future contamination of groundwater.

Abstract In this study, composite electrodes with metal–organic framework (MOF) for brackish water desalination via capacitive deionization (CDI) were developed. The electrodes contained activated carbon (AC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and zinc-benzene tricarboxylic acid (Zn-BTC) MOF in varying proportions, improving their electrochemical performance. Among them, the E4 electrode with 6% Zn-BTC MOF exhibited the best performance in terms of CV and EIS analyses, with a specific capacity of 88 F g−1 and low ion charge transfer resistance of 4.9 Ω. The E4 electrode showed a 46.7% increase in specific capacitance compared to the E1 electrode, which did not include the MOF. Physicochemical analyses, including XRD, FTIR, FESEM, BET, EDS, elemental mapping, and contact angle measurements, verified the superior properties of the E4 electrode compared to E1, showcasing successful MOF synthesis, desirable pore size, elemental and particle-size distribution of materials, and the superior hydrophilicity enhancement. By evaluating salt removal capacity (SRC) in various setups using an initially 100.0 mg L−1 NaCl feed solution, the asymmetric arrangement of E1 and E4 electrodes outperformed symmetric arrangements, achieving a 21.1% increase in SRC to 6.3 mg g−1. This study demonstrates the potential of MOF-incorporated electrodes for efficient CDI desalination processes.

In the coming decades, there will be a significant issue with the availability of drinkable water as a result of population growth, present consumption patternsand climate change. This issue will have a similar social impact to rising energy prices. By far the most prevalent and easily accessible source of freshwater is groundwater, which is then followed by lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and wetlands. But it contains low concentrations of chemical or microbial contaminants. Simultaneously; Ferrous iron (Fe2+), manganese (Mn2+), and ammonia (NH4+) are always present at the same time in the majority of anaerobic groundwater sources, due to natural processes and anthropogenic activities, posing a serious threat to the safety of drinking water supplies. Excessive levels of Fe2+ and Mn2+ in water supplies lead to problems, such as undesirable taste, brown colour, pipeline clogs, and a risk to the public's health owing to possible nervous system damage.Consuming high levels of NH4+ is also linked to major health hazards for people, including ionic balance disruption in cells that could cause convulsions. Additionally, the transformation of NH4+ into cancer-causing trihalomethanes and organochlorines is possible. in order to solve these issues, Various techniques have been developed to remove Fe2+, Mn2+, and NH4+ from drinking water sources. This study focuses on the use of an ultrafiltration membrane as a pretreatment for a reverse osmosis membrane to treat brackish groundwater.

The need for fresh water production is especially high in hot dry climates without any sources of drinking water but with an abundance of sea and underground water. The solution is water desalination with efficient solar-powered water treatment plants. This article proposes a new modification of a basin made of thin-finned corrugation with 43°-angle-inclined sides, equal to the region's latitude, which provide strong heating. The experiments were carried out in the hot climate of Aktau city (43°49′ N, 51°1′ E). The study's outcomes can be useful for regions with drinking water scarcity. To define the level of the corrugated basin's efficiency, two versions (SS-1, SS-2) of experiments were carried out on a two-slope distiller, complete with two basins. In SS-1, basin-2 was heated by air. By 15:00, basin-2 had heated up to 98.5 °C, and the acrylic cover above had heated up to 101.6 °C, which led to its "deformation". By 12.00 p.m., the temperature differentials between the glass (40.7 °C), the air–water mixture (57.3 °C), and basin-1 (61.1 °C) were 16.6 °C and 20.4 °C. This resulted from the wind speed increasing up to 5.9 m/s. The large temperature differential contributed to the condensate yield increasing from 0.128 kg at 11 o'clock to 0.293 kg at 12 o'clock. The throughput capability of basin-1 per day was equal to 2.094 kg. Basin-2's input to the performance in SS-1 was only the thermal effect. In SS-2, basin-2 was used as a regular basin. The plexiglass temperature was lower than the temperatures of the water and basin-2. The temperature differential between the glass and air–water mixture at 10:00 a.m. was 20 °C; at 12:00 p.m. it was 30.6 °C; and a value of 30.6 °C was recorded at 3:00 p.m. The thermal differential between the glass and the air-water mixture provided the highest condensate yield of 1.114 kg at 3.00 p.m. The condensate yield from the basins in SS-2 was 8.72 kg, including 3.5 kg from basin-1, which is 1.7 times more than from basin-1 in SS-1. The experimental results are consistent with the equations coming from the models of Clark J.A. and Dunkle R.V. Tcondensation ≠ Tevaporation is an irreversible process. When the basins are heated, the heat is consumed; when the glass cools down, the heat is given off. Heat losses are minimized due to the "gap" and positive energy is provided. The still's throughput capability can be made larger by increasing the basin's area, reducing the water layer thickness, and regulating the flowrate of the desalinated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Brackish waters including saline groundwater and treated wastewater have been increasingly used as a complimentary irrigation water resource in regions where freshwater is scarce. In the paper we investigate the effect of various concentrations of saltine irrigation water on photosynthetic characteristics of winter jujube. [Method] The experiment was conducted in 2020 in a jujube orchard, with the winter jujubes irrigated by mixtures of saltine groundwater and freshwater at concentrations of 1 (S1), 2 (S2), 3 (S3), 4 (S4) and 5 g/L (S5), respectively. In each treatment, we measured the spaciotemporal changes in soil water and salt, as well as the photosynthetic traits of the jujubes. [Result] Net photosynthetic rate, transpiration and stomatal conductance of the plant leaves varied with irrigation salinity nonlinearly, all peaking in S3 or S4. Compared with other treatments, S3 and S4 reduced the SPAD, maximum fluorescence and maximum quantum efficiency significantly. Compared to S1, S3 and S4 increased the apparent quantum efficiency, maximum net photosynthetic rate, light compensation point, and dark respiration rate, but reduced the light saturation point. These indicate that, although S3 and S4 reduced the range of available light intensity, they improved the physiological activity and efficient photosynthesis of the jujube leaves. [Conclusion] Irrigating the winter jujubes with saline water at concentration of 1-3 g/L during the fruit enlargement period can prevent light reaction inhibition and promote efficient photosynthesis. However, irrigation with water salinity exceeding 4 g/L led to salinity stress, thereby significantly reducing light energy utilization efficiency. To minimize soil salt accumulation and improve growth and development of the winter jujube, maintaining irrigation water salinity around 3 g/L is most beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant viruses, categorized under Nucleocytoviricota, are believed to exist ubiquitously in natural environments. However, comprehensive reports on isolated giant viruses remain scarce, with limited information available on unrecoverable strains, viral proliferation sites, and natural hosts. Previously, the author highlighted Pandoravirus hades, Pandoravirus persephone, and Mimivirus sp. styx, isolated from brackish water soil, as potential hotspots for giant virus multiplication. This study presents findings from nearly a year of monthly sampling within the same brackish water region after isolating the three aforementioned strains. This report details the recurrent isolation of a wide range of giant viruses. Each month, four soil samples were randomly collected from an approximately 5 × 10 m plot, comprising three soil samples and one water sample containing sediment from the riverbed. Acanthamoeba castellanii was used as a host for virus isolation. These efforts consistently yielded at least one viral species per month, culminating in a total of 55 giant virus isolates. The most frequently isolated species was Mimiviridae (24 isolates), followed by Marseilleviridae (23 isolates), Pandoravirus (6 isolates), and singular isolates of Pithovirus and Cedratvirus. Notably, viruses were not consistently isolated from any of the four samples every month, with certain sites yielding no viruses. Cluster analysis based on isolate numbers revealed that soil samples from May and water and sediment samples from January produced the highest number of viral strains. These findings underscore brackish coastal soil as a significant site for isolating numerous giant viruses, highlighting the non-uniform distribution along coastlines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing soil salinity and degraded irrigation water quality are major challenges for agriculture. This study investigated the effects of irrigation water quality and incorporating compost (3% dry mass in soil) on minimizing soil salinization and promoting sustainable cropping systems. A greenhouse study used brackish water (electrical conductivity of 2010 µS/cm) and agricultural water (792 µS/cm) to irrigate Dundale pea and clay loam soil. Compost treatment enhanced soil water retention with soil moisture content above 0.280 m3/m3, increased plant carbon assimilation by ~30%, improved plant growth by >50%, and reduced NO3− leaching from the soil by 16% and 23.5% for agricultural and brackish water irrigation, respectively. Compared to no compost treatment, the compost-incorporated soil irrigated with brackish water showed the highest plant growth by increasing plant fresh weight by 64%, dry weight by 50%, root length by 121%, and plant height by 16%. Compost treatment reduced soil sodicity during brackish water irrigation by promoting the leaching of Cl− and Na+ from the soil. Compost treatment provides an environmentally sustainable approach to managing soil salinity, remediating the impact of brackish water irrigation, improving soil organic matter, enhancing the availability of water and nutrients to plants, and increasing plant growth and carbon sequestration potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the chemical characteristics, origin and utilization potential of brackish water in the oasis area of Yuli County, Xinjiang, and promote the utilization of unconventional water resources and rational allocation of water resources, Piper three-line analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, Gibbs map, ion ratio method, water balance and other methods were used to analyze and calculate the groundwater quality and water quantity.The results show that the chemical types of brackish water in this area are mainly SO4·Cl-Na, SO4·Cl-Na·Ca and SO4·Cl-Na·Mg. Evaporation-concentration is the main factor of brackish water formation, followed by rock weathering. The brackish water distribution area covers 3 851.35 km², which accounts for 56.18% of the total study area. The available volume is estimated at 192.37 million m3 per year, indicating significant mining potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the rational utilization method of brackish water and formulate a reasonable sprinkler irrigation mechanism of brackish water, based on the experimental station in Hebei low-plain salt water area, the effects of freshwater sprinkler irrigation, 2 g / L and 3 g / L salinity brackish water sprinkling irrigation on the leaf photosynthesis characteristics, root distribution and yield of winter wheat were studied through two consecutive years of field plot experiment. The results showed that compared with freshwater sprinkler irrigation(CK), the leaf net photosynthetic rate(Pn ), transpiration rate (Tr), leaf water use efficiency (LWUE) and limited value of stomatal (Ls) of winter wheat in grain-filling stage in 2020 and 2021 in the brackish water sprinkling irrigation treatments with the mineralization degree of 2 g / L and 3 g / L all decreased than those in freshwater sprinkler irrigation(CK). Compared with freshwater sprinkler irrigation, 2 g / L brackish water treatments had no significant effect on the growth and yield of winter wheat, while 3 g / L saline water treatment significantly inhibited the growth and yield of winter wheat, and the accumulation of salt further inhibited the growth of winter wheat in the second year. The research results indicated that the application of brackish water sprinkler irrigation could alleviate the effects of drought stress on the production of winter wheat in the lowplain areas of Hebei which was lack of freshwater resources to a certain extent. 2 g / L The saline water sprinkler irrigation with the mineralization degree of 2 g / L could relieve the water shortage in agriculture, but it also could reduce the inhibition of salt accumulation on the growth and yield of winter wheat, and ensure normal agricultural production activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater scarcity, salinity, and poor soil fertility are the major challenges affecting both food and feed productions in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Utilization of brackish water in the production of saline-tolerant fish and valuable field crops under an integrated system is promising in the maximization of yield per crop. The aim of this study, therefore, was to (1) assess the effect of saline aquaculture wastewater on the growth, yield, forage quality, and nutritive composition of sorghum seeds and (2) assess the effect of different water qualities on the survival, growth performance, and health status of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. The experiment was conducted in a randomized completely block design of four salinity treatments with three replicates, i.e., control (freshwater mixed with inorganic fertilizers), 5000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, and 15,000 ppm. Our results indicated that although the control exhibited the highest growth (plant height, leaf number, internode number, leaf area, and soil–plant analysis development), grain, and forage yield, no significant differences were noted among the treatments. Likewise, no significant difference in the grain nutrient composition was noted among all the treatments. Assessment of the forage quality revealed improved crude protein content in the control compared to the saline treatments. However, no significant differences in the leaves and stalks fiber fractions were noted among all the treatments. Furthermore, rumen fermentation in terms of in vitro digestibility indicated no significant differences in the in vitro digestible dry matter, digestible organic matter, metabolic energy, net energy, microbial protein, short-chain fatty acids, and total dissolved nutrients among the treatments. However, rearing P. hypophthalmus in water salinities exceeding 10,000 ppm reduced the growth performance and health status of fish. Therefore, the integration of sorghum and P. hypophthalmus production in water salinities not exceeding 5000 ppm is a viable alternative to maximize brackish water productivity in freshwater-scarce regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is a common form of land degradation in coastal regions. The Yellow River Delta is a typical coastal saline‐alkali soils distribution region, with saline‐alkali soils accounting for nearly half of the total area of the region. In view of the lack of fresh water in the region, the use of brackish water and biochar made from agricultural waste to improve coastal saline‐alkali soils has a good application prospect, but there are fewer studies on this at present. To explore water conservation, fertilization, and yield enhancement solutions appropriate for saline‐alkali soils in the Yellow River Delta region, this study focused on investigating the impact of biochar addition on the fertility, enzyme activity, and winter wheat yield in saline‐alkali soils under brackish water irrigation conditions. The research was conducted through outdoor potting experiments, utilizing a local moderately saline‐alkali soil as the subject of study. The study design established three different irrigation water mineralization levels (0, 2, and 4 g L−1) during the research. Two types of biochar, wheat straw biochar (WB) and corn straw biochar (CB) were used with four different applications (0, 5, 10, and 20 t ha−1). There were 21 treatments; each replicated three times. The research findings indicated that brackish water irrigation adversely affected soil fertility and soil alkaline phosphatase activity and soil sucrase activity but increased soil urease activity and soil peroxidase activity. In contrast, biochar application improved soil fertility and enzyme activities. The soil fertility and enzyme activities of K2Y10 treatment was higher than that of CK (fresh water, no biochar application) except for soil total nitrogen, which increased by 5.5%–71.2%. While brackish water irrigation decreased winter wheat yield. Biochar application increased winter wheat yield, with the K2Y10 treatment showing the highest yield under brackish water irrigation conditions, and increased by 17.7% compared to CK. In conclusion, the study recommends a combination of water‐saving measures, fertilizer cultivation, and yield increase strategies to improve saline‐alkali soils in the Yellow River Delta region effectively. Specifically, irrigating with 2 g L−1 brackish water and application 10 t ha−1 of CB demonstrated greater efficacy in addressing the challenges of saline‐alkali soils in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sturgeon, a key species in fisheries and aquaculture due to their high economic and ecological value, face numerous challenges in their natural habitats. The spawning grounds in rivers, essential for sturgeon reproduction, are often compromised by the blockage of migration routes caused by various obstacles. Lagoons, providing favorable conditions for fish growth, are also hunting grounds for predatory fish species. The Küçükçekmece Lagoon, located within İstanbul's borders in Türkiye, stands as one of the most significant lagoons in the region, especially noted for its position on the bird migration route. However, it has been suffering from unplanned urbanization, leading to a notable decline in water quality due to improper urban planning and industrial activities over the years. This decline is aggravated by waste drainage into the lagoon's wetland area. Notably, the last sturgeon sighting in the Küçükçekmece Lagoon was in 1986. After approximately 35 years, the discovery of two deceased beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) in the lagoon, which connects to the Marmara Sea in Türkiye, marked a significant event. This study aims to investigate the causes behind the death of these beluga sturgeons and also proposes potential solutions for enhancing the ecosystem's vitality of the lagoon. These solutions include addressing waste drainage, ensuring shoreline compliance, improving the sediment structure laden with organic matter, and artificially introducing fresh water. Such measures are crucial for the restoration and maintenance of the ecological balance in the Küçükçekmece Lagoon, which is vital for the survival of significant species like the sturgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study involves the utilization of Iron Oxide and Thespesia populnea plant leaves as a protective coating for TMT rod surfaces in marine environments. Initially, the inhibitor was extracted from Thespesia populnea plant leaves using ethanol, and subsequently, Iron Oxide nanoparticles (FeNPs) were synthesized. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using a chemical precipitation process and their size effects were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Fourier ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Visible), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nanoparticle solutions were prepared and coated on the TMT rod and exposed to marine environment corrosion. At ten Coatings of FeNPs, the corrosion inhibition rate reached a maximum of 91.2% for 8mm rods, 95.4% for 10mm rods, and 98.7% for 16 mm rods respectively. The inhibition results showed that the FeNPs followed a physical adsorption process since they obeyed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophytes vary in their ability to utilize carbon in the form of HCO3− and/or CO2 for photosynthesis. Some functional groups that solely use CO2 for photosynthesis could receive competitive advantages from the predicted increase in CO2 compared to groups with efficient carbon acquisition strategies of HCO3−. The aim of this study was to identify carbon use strategies in the common macrophytes (macroalgae, charophytes, seagrass, and other angiosperms) that represent a broad range of functional traits to CO2 concentrations in the northeastern Baltic Sea. Mechanistic assessment of the carbon physiology of macrophytes was used to predict productivity and competitive interactions between different functional groups under future climate. Carbon use strategies in macrophytes were determined by analysing the carbon isotopes (δ13C), pH drift experiments, and photosynthesis versus dissolved inorganic carbon. In addition, habitat mapping data was used to interpret the potential implications of the elevated CO2 to this coastal ecosystem. The results suggested that the primary productivity of macrophytes is often limited by carbon availability, and the increasing CO2 concentrations in the brackish Baltic Sea are expected to enhance photosynthetic production. While all species tested showed evidence of carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), differential levels of CCM activity indicate varying levels of competitive fitness in a future high-CO2 environment. Overall, macrophytes which inhabit the shallowest and deepest parts of the vegetated zone are expected to experience physiological benefits under future CO2 conditions, while intermediate communities dominated by the perennial brown alga Fucus vesiculosus may experience loss of fitness. These fitness differences have implications for competitive interaction and species range under future climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to optimize the nitrogen management for cotton production under film-mulched drip irrigation with brackish water. A three-year nitrogen application levels experiment was conducted in Korla, Xinjiang, from 2017 to 2019. Xinluzhong cotton was taken as the test material. Nitrogen application levels were set at 0 (NF0), 150 (NF1), 250 (NF2), 300 (NF3), 350 (NF4), and 450 (NF5) kg/hm², where each treatment was received 487.5 mm of irrigation water. A systematic analysis was made to explore the effects of nitrogen application rate on the aboveground dry matter of cotton, nitrogen accumulation, yield, and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency. A new model was constructed for the critical nitrogen dilution curve under film-mulched drip irrigation with brackish water. Results indicated that the aboveground dry matter increased with the nitrogen application rate early in the growing season. While there was the trend of increasing and then decreasing later stage. Nitrogen accumulation in cotton increased, as the growing season progressed. The critical nitrogen concentration was correlated with the maximum aboveground dry matter, following a power function. Both agronomic and apparent nitrogen use efficiencies showed a quadratic polynomial relationship with the nitrogen application rate. While the linear relationship was found in the physiological nitrogen use efficiency and partial factor productivity. These efficiencies increased with the decreasing nitrogen nutrition index at different growth stages. In the critical nitrogen concentration dilution curve model, parameters a and b were 3.967 and -0.227, respectively. The model was also fitted for cotton nitrogen concentration in 2018 and 2019. There was a linear relationship with the actual nitrogen concentration, with the root mean square error and standardized root mean square error of 0.085% and 3.645%, respectively. The nitrogen nutrition index indicated that the insufficient nitrogen supply was observed in the NF1, NF2, and NF3 treatments, thus limiting cotton growth. NF4 and NF5 shared the nitrogen nutrition index close to 1, indicating better nitrogen nutrition status. But NF5 treatment presented the lower yield and nitrogen use efficiency, compared with NF4. The highest yield and nitrogen use efficiency were achieved in the NF4 treatment. Therefore, the nitrogen application rate of 350 kg/hm² was recommended for cotton under film-mulched drip irrigation with brackish water in southern Xinjiang. The dilution curve of critical nitrogen concentration and nitrogen nutrition index can be expected to diagnose the nitrogen nutrition for the optimal nitrogen application in cotton field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse osmosis desalination is an effective technology for supplying potable water to regions facing water stress. However, this process consumes a significant amount of energy, limiting its widespread adoption globally. This study aims to analyze the variations in specific energy consumption (SEC) in the reverse osmosis desalination process for brackish water at a plant in Morocco, considering the feed water parameters. Additionally, the study examines energy consumption with and without the implementation of energy recovery devices at this plant, which produces 10 million cubic meters of water annually. A genetic algorithm is utilized to identify the optimal combination of design and operational parameters to achieve the lowest SEC. The findings indicate that incorporating energy recovery devices in the future design of the plant could reduce the SEC by up to 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Not only is solving freshwater resource shortages effective but also an important measure for realizing the sustainable development of agriculture through the development and use of unconventional water resources. This pot experiment investigated the role of exogenous silicon in the risk of secondary soil salinization and the growth physiology of Lvxiu pakchoi cabbage under irrigation by using brackish water alone (BW), reclaimed water alone (RW), and compound irrigation with brackish water and reclaimed water at a ratio of 1:1, as well as the distribution of silicon in a soil–crop system. The results showed that with the extension of the spraying period of silicon fertilizer, the electrical conductivity (EC) decreased under 1:1 compound irrigation. The pH values in all treatments ranged from 7.95 to 8.10 without a potential risk of alkalization. Spraying silicon fertilizer had a positive effect on increasing the ratio of exchangeable potassium to sodium in soil. Spraying silicon fertilizer significantly reduced the percentage of exchangeable sodium (ESP) and the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) in soils irrigated using BW, and increased the soil ESP and SAR under compound irrigation and RW irrigation, but these factors did not exceed the threshold of soil salinization. The proper application of silicon fertilizer had no significant effect on the total silicon content in the soil but increased the total silicon content in the plants to some extent. In addition, the yield was improved through proper silicon fertilizer application. In summary, exogenous silicon has positive effects on soil physical and chemical properties and crop growth, and relieves secondary salinization risk under compound irrigation via brackish water and reclaimed water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to FAO, water scarcity is now affecting all five continents and is expected to intensify in the coming years as the water demands of the growing population increase and the impacts of climate variability become more pronounced. The existing unevenness of water resource availability and insufficient investment in relevant infrastructure have forced the water sector to recognize the importance of nonconventional water resources (NWR) in planning for a sustainable water future. The purpose of this review is to highlight the available and potentially available NWR and to discuss the future application of these water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water cycle is greatly affected by climate change, leading to prolonged droughts that have a significant impact on communities' economic and social aspects. To mitigate these effects, desalination of sea and brackish water is a promising solution. However, the success of this approach depends on the efficiency of pre-treatment processes to ensure optimal water quality. This study aims to identify best practices for pretreatment processes of marine and brackish waters. This will contribute to make an inventory of a wide range of pretreatment categories, their associated techniques and the expected performances according to the literature, creating a reference for designing pretreatment processes. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, the steps for the elaboration of a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) were followed. A list of 526 scientific articles collected on this topic was used as input to the review process. The obtained results led to an examination of the different techniques used for the pretreatment and their performances, which allowed us to have a clear idea on the techniques to be integrated and area for further research that we would choose depending on their performances and the characteristics of the water to be pretreated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted through seven surveys from October 2021 to July 2023, in five estuaries of Thanh Hoa province, including Cua Hoi, Lach Truong, Lach Ghep and Lach Bang. As a result, 5 species were identified belonging to 3 genera in Terapotidae; one species (Pelates quadrilineatus) has been added compared to previous studies of Duong Quang Ngoc (2007), Nguyen Xuan Huan et al. (2014). Compared to number of species in Vietnam, the species composition of the Terapotidae in the study area is quite diverse, accounting for 63% of the currently known species in Vietnam.

The performance of three anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) in the fluoride ions reduction by electrodialysis (ED) is performed on real and synthetic water. The electric potential method measures the potential difference (PD) between two synthetic anion solutions separated by ACS, AFN and AXE membranes. The selectivity of these three AEMs coupled with the membrane CMX, is a cation-exchange membrane (CEM) towards different ions. The removal rate is influenced by the thickness of the polarization layer (PL) which reduces the material transfer and provides an additional barrier. The greater the thickness δ of the PL, the longer the passage time and consequently the removal rate of anions is small. Using the unstirred layer model, δ for each ion will be determined. According to the potential measurement method, none of the tested AEMs are selective to fluoride ions and the order of selectivity is as follows: AFN> AXE> ACS. Best membrane couple selected for fluoride ion removal is ACS/CMX and ion selectivity follows the order: Cl−> NO−3>F−> HCO−3> SO42−. For ACS membrane, both the demineralization rate (DR) and δ of fluoride ions are influenced by the initial concentration of the co-ion according to the following order: NO−3> Cl−> HCO−3> SO2−4. HIGHLIGHTS The typical ED process was used to remove fluoride from synthetic and brackish water. Two experimental methods were used to select the optimum anion exchange membrane.; Selectivity was identified by three AEMs coupled to the CMX membrane, which is a cation exchange membrane.; The removal rate influenced by the thickness of the polarization layer (PL), which could reduce material transfer and provide an additional barrier, was clarified.;

Abstract Background As unicellular eukaryotes, ciliates are an indispensable component of micro-ecosystems that play the role of intermediate nutrition link between bacteria or algae and meiofauna. Recent faunistic studies have revealed many new taxa of hypotrich ciliates, indicating their diversity is greater than previously thought. Here we document an undescribed form isolated from an artificial brackish water pond in East China. Examination of its morphology, ontogenesis and molecular phylogeny suggests that it represents a new species. Results The morphology and morphogenesis of the new brackish-water deviatid ciliate, Heterodeviata nantongensis nov. sp., isolated from Nantong, China, were investigated using live observations and protargol staining. The diagnostic traits of the new species include three frontal cirri, one buccal cirrus, one or two parabuccal cirri, an inconspicuous frontoventral cirral row of four to six frontoventral cirri derived from two anlagen, three left and two right marginal rows, two dorsal kineties, dorsal kinety 1 with 9–14 dikinetids and dorsal kinety 2 with only two dikinetids, and one to three caudal cirri at the rear end of dorsal kinety 1. Its main morphogenetic features are: (i) the old oral apparatus is completely inherited by the proter except undulating membranes, which are reorganized in situ; (ii) anlagen for marginal rows and the left dorsal kinety develop intrakinetally in both proter and opisthe; (iii) dorsal kinety 2 is generated dorsomarginally; (iv) five cirral anlagen are formed in both proter and opisthe; (v) in the proter, anlagen I and II very likely originate from the parental undulating membranes and the buccal cirrus, respectively, anlage III from anterior parabuccal cirrus, anlage IV originates from the parental frontoventral cirri and anlage V from the innermost parental right marginal row; and (vi) anlagen I–IV of the opisthe are all generated from oral primordium, anlage V from the innermost parental right marginal row. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data were performed to determine the systematic position of the new taxon. Conclusions The study on the morphology, and ontogenesis of a new brackish-water taxon increases the overall knowledge about the biodiversity of this ciliate group. It also adds to the genetic data available and further provides a reliable reference for environmental monitoring and resource investigations.

The current study delves into the impact of irrigation using two distinct water sources (freshwater and brackish water) in conjunction with three salt-tolerant fodder crops (Sesbania, Guar, and Pearl millet) within arid dry-land environments for two year experiments. Brackish water irrigation impedes the growth of all three plant species and reduces water consumption relative to freshwater irrigation. Logistic growth prediction equations for plant height, stem diameter, and the number of branches per plant are formulated across different water qualities irrigation against planting days. Biomass water use efficiency all three plant species having lower under brackish water irrigation. Consequently, the introduction of salt-tolerant plant species under brackish water irrigation presents an eco-friendly approach to harness arid dry-land for agricultural production. Furthermore, the predicted growth equations also provide, crucial insights for enhancing production in dry-land conditions by improving water use efficiency under different water irrigation.

Global warming have been serious problems worldwide. They have resulted in the saline intrusion reaching farther into the inland water system region, which negatively influences the aquatic environment and ecosystems. Our study assessed the tolerant capacity of a freshwater micro-alga, Scenedesmus protuberans, isolated from Vietnam to the salinity of 2 ‰, 4 ‰, and 8 ‰. We also evaluated the nitrate and phosphate uptake by the alga in different salinity of 0 ‰, 2 ‰, and 4 ‰. To address these two research questions, two experiments were conducted. The first experiment spanned 12 days and aimed to assess the salinity tolerance capacity of S. protuberans. The second experiment lasting for 20 days focused on investigating the nutrient (nitrate and phosphate) uptake by the alga under three different salinity levels. In the first experiment, we found that the S. protuberans could adapt and grow at the salinity up to 4 ‰ of incubation. In the second one, the micro-alga in the salinity of 0 ‰, 2 ‰, and 4 ‰ could uptake 88 %, 75 %, and 54 % of phosphate and remove 39 %, 56 %, and 36 % of nitrate from the water environment, respectively. Our results reveal a high potential for developing and validating the nutrient removal capacity of S. protuberans when applied to treat nutrients in polluted water, both in freshwater and brackish water systems, aligning with the net zero emission approach.

Drip irrigation with brackish water increases the risk of soil salinization while alleviating water shortage in arid areas. In order to alleviate soil salinity stress on crops, polymer soil amendments are increasingly used. But the regulation mechanism of a polymer soil amendment composed of polyacrylamide polyvinyl alcohol, and manganese sulfate (PPM) on rapeseed photosynthesis under drip irrigation with different types of brackish water is still unclear. In this field study, PPM was applied to study the responses of the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) phenotype, photosynthetic physiology, transcriptomics, and metabolomics at the peak flowering stage under drip irrigation with water containing 6 g·L−1 NaCl (S) and Na2CO3 (A). The results showed that the inhibitory effect of the A treatment on rapeseed photosynthesis was greater than that of the S treatment, which was reflected in the higher Na+ content (73.30%) and lower photosynthetic-fluorescence parameters (6.30–61.54%) and antioxidant enzyme activity (53.13–77.10%) of the A-treated plants. The application of PPM increased the biomass (63.03–75.91%), photosynthetic parameters (10.55–34.06%), chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (33.83–62.52%), leaf pigment content (10.30–187.73%), and antioxidant enzyme activity (28.37–198.57%) under S and A treatments. However, the difference is that under the S treatment, PPM regulated the sulfur metabolism, carbon fixation and carbon metabolism pathways in rapeseed leaves. And it also regulated the photosynthesis-, oxidative phosphorylation-, and TCA cycle-related metabolic pathways in rapeseed leaves under A treatment. This study will provide new insights for the application of polymer materials to tackle the salinity stress on crops caused by drip irrigation with brackish water, and solve the difficulty in brackish water utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most annual studies of tintinnid and phytoplankton in coastal habitats are influenced by alien species introduced by water masses exchange, and therefore cannot be used as direct evidence for exploring the mechanism of annual succession in indigenous community. For brackish communities, very limited annual studies exist because of the difficulty of conducting stable sampling in the transition between freshwater and seawater. The special topography of Xiangshan Bay isolates the external water mass and provides a suitable habitat for exploring the annual succession mechanism of the brackish tintinnid community. In this study, samples were collected from seven stations in Tie Harbor, Xiangshan Bay (East China Sea) during 10 months from 2022 to 2023. A total of 23 tintinnid species of five genera were identified throughout the year. These tintinnid species can be clustered into four seasonal groups, winter, summer, autumn and spring-autumn, with three temperature preferences. The Lorica Oral Diameter (LOD) size-class of each tintinnid species, which determines the food item size of tintinnid, separated their different ecological niches within each seasonal group. The seasonal succession of tintinnid community in Xiangshan Bay was organized by both temperature preference and LOD size of the tintinnid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study investigates the impact of cooling methods on the performance of a basin solar still integrated with a condensation chamber wall. Two different cooling techniques of the condensation chamber, namely water cooling and radiative cooling, were tested in Algerian climatic conditions. The findings revealed that the type of cooling system significantly affects the temperature of different components of the solar still. Moreover, the output of Peltier‐cooled still was better on the basin side, while the water‐cooled still was better on the condensation chamber side. The solar stills equipped with Peltier and water cooling produced 2.95 and 2.44 kg/m2 day, respectively. Additionally, the use of radiative cooling increased the solar still production by 43% compared to water cooling. The cost analysis indicated that the radiative‐cooled solar still is more cost‐effective with a cost of $0.09237 per liter of freshwater produced, compared to $0.29320 per liter produced by the water‐cooled still over the 15‐year system lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutrophication, climate-induced warming, and salinity fluctuations are altering the fatty acid profiles and the availability of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in marine zooplankton communities. Limnocalanus macrurus Sars G.O., 1863 is a large calanoid copepod inhabiting the low-salinity areas in the Baltic Sea, where it is a major source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to commercially important fish. L. macrurus is sensitive to warming, eutrophication and hypoxia. As an opportunistic feeder, it is capable of dietary shifts, which affects its fatty acid profiles. Although much studied in boreal lakes, there are only a few studies on the fatty acid profiles of the Baltic Sea populations. This study aimed to compare the fatty acid profiles of L. macrurus in three basins of the Baltic Sea, in relation to the community fatty acids and environmental variables. We collected samples of L. macrurus and filtered plankton community for gas chromatographic fatty acid analyses in August 2021 on R/V Aranda. The nutritional quality of L. macrurus to consumers was lower in the Gulf of Finland (GoF) compared to the Gulf of Bothnia, indicated by the low levels of DHA and EPA, as well as the low n-3/n-6 ratio of PUFAs. The lower ratio of 18:1n-7 to 18:1n-9 implied higher degree of omnivory in GoF. In contrast, a diatom marker 16:1n-7 had high proportion in the Bothnian Bay. High temperatures in GoF may have restricted feeding in the upper water column, possibly forcing a shift towards cyanobacteria or seston-based diet, as interpreted from a high proportion of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3. We conclude that the ability of L. macrurus to utilize multiple food sources increases its resilience to environmental change, while the consequences on the nutritional quality may have further cascading effects on the food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is an effective way to reduce heavy metal content in agricultural soil. The effects of brackish water irrigation on phytoremediation efficiency of plants have not yet been completely understood. In this study, the effects of brackish water irrigation on cadmium (Cd) uptake by maize as the phytoremediator were investigated. In a pot experiment, maize seedlings were grown in soil with exogenously added Cd (0, 5, 10, or 15 mg kg−1) and irrigated with deionized water (T1), natural brackish water (T2), or water with NaCl with salinity equal to that of natural brackish water (T3). Salt stress and cation antagonism caused by brackish water affected maize plant growth and Cd uptake. Under 5, 10, and 15 mg kg−1 Cd, Cd accumulation in maize shoots was 5.55, 7.08, and 5.71 μg plant–1; 4.08, 3.04, and 5.38 μg plant–1; and 2.48, 3.44, and 5.33 μg plant–1 under the T1, T2, and T3 treatments, respectively. Cd accumulation in the shoots was significantly lower under the T2 and T3 treatments than under the T1 treatment at 5 and 10 mg kg−1 Cd; however, no significant differences were observed among all treatments at 15 mg kg−1 Cd. These findings indicated that phytoremediation efficiency decreased in response to both salt stress and cation antagonism caused by brackish water under low soil-Cd concentrations; however, this effect was negligible under high soil-Cd concentration. Therefore, brackish water irrigation can be considered for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with high Cd levels to save freshwater resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its separation from Stauroneis in 1999, several new species of Craspedostauros were discovered in a variety of habitats and geographic locations, adding morphological and phylogenetic data to the investigations of the genus. In a survey of littoral diatoms of Sweden, both on the west and east coasts, two epiphytic stauros-bearing species were encountered and assigned to Craspedostauros following the characteristic features of this genus, including the possession of a stauros narrower than the central area and cribrate areolae. One species is described as new to science; Craspedostauros lateralis sp. nov., and the other is of uncertain identity but bears morphological similarity to C. laevissimus. Caspedostauros lateralis is a marine epiphytic species found in the west coast of Sweden, off Gothenburg city. Based on light and electron microscopy, a detailed description of the morphological and ultrastructural features of these species is given and a comparison of the distinguishing characters with allied species is discussed. Some ecological data and the occurrence of associated species on the host macrophyte are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As unicellular eukaryotes, ciliates are an indispensable component of micro-ecosystems that play the role of intermediate nutrition link between bacteria or algae and meiofauna. Recent faunistic studies have revealed many new taxa of hypotrich ciliates, indicating their diversity is greater than previously thought. Here we document an undescribed form isolated from an artificial brackish water pond in East China. Examination of its morphology, ontogenesis and molecular phylogeny suggests that it represents a new species. Results: The morphology and morphogenesis of the new brackish-water deviatid ciliate, Heterodeviata nantongensis nov. sp., isolated from Nantong, China, were investigated using live observations and protargol staining. The diagnostic traits of the new species include three frontal cirri, one buccal cirrus, one or two parabuccal cirri, an inconspicuous frontoventral cirral row of four to six frontoventral cirri derived from two anlagen, three left and two right marginal rows, two dorsal kineties, dorsal kinety 1 with 9–14 dikinetids and dorsal kinety 2 with only two dikinetids, and one to three caudal cirri at the rear end of dorsal kinety 1. Its main morphogenetic features are: (i) the old oral apparatus is completely inherited by the proter except undulating membranes, which are reorganized in situ; (ii) anlagen for marginal rows and the left dorsal kinety develop intrakinetally in both proter and opisthe; (iii) dorsal kinety 2 is generated dorsomarginally; (iv) five cirral anlagen are formed in both proter and opisthe; (v) in the proter, anlagen I and II very likely originate from the parental undulating membranes and the buccal cirrus, respectively, anlage III from anterior parabuccal cirrus, anlage IV originates from the parental frontoventral cirri and anlage V from the innermost parental right marginal row; and (vi) anlagen I–IV of the opisthe are all generated from oral primordium, anlage V from the innermost parental right marginal row. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data were performed to determine the systematic position of the new taxon. Conclusions: The study on the morphology, and ontogenesis of a new brackish-water taxon increases the overall knowledge about the biodiversity of this ciliate group. It also adds to the genetic data available and further provides a reliable reference for environmental monitoring and resource investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, nine fabrics have been tested for brackish water treatment with the aim of industrial application under the concept of zero liquid discharge (ZLD). Moisture content was determined, where it was observed that the lignocellulosic fabrics had a moisture content ranging from 2.5 to 8.5%. The wetting contact angle showed that the flax with polylactic acid (LPLA) was the most hydrophobic. The determination of the liquid absorption capacity showed that, of the synthetic fabrics, the one with the highest absorption, both in distilled water and in brackish water, was the polyester (PES) fabric with an absorption of 816% compared to its initial weight. In the natural fabrics, the highest absorption capacity was shown by the wet-laid without treatment (WL-WT) fabric for both distilled water and brackish water, although it required several cycles of operation to maintain this stable absorption. Exposure to brackish water improved the absorption capacity of all samples. Mechanical and thermal characterization showed that the synthetic fabrics were more resistant than the natural fabrics, although they may compete in terms of applicability. The capillarity study showed that the most hydrophilic fabrics completed the test the fastest. Finally, the composting degradation test showed that those fabrics with polylactic acid (PLA) content degraded faster in the first 14 days and thereafter the degradation of the lignocellulosic content showed a slower degradation until 112 days. The Bam fabric did not degrade during the course of the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate water-saving and yield-enhancing improvement programmes suitable for saline-alkali soils in the Yellow River Delta region, this study conducted outdoor pot experiments utilizing local moderately saline-alkali soils as research subjects. The primary focus was to examine the impact of biochar addition on water and salt distribution in saline-alkali soils and its effect on winter wheat growth under brackish water irrigation conditions. The study design established three different irrigation water mineral concentrations (0, 2 and 4 g L-1) during the research. Two types of biochar, wheat straw biochar (WB) and corn straw biochar (CB), were used with four different applications (0, 5, 10 and 20 tha-1). There were 21 treatments; each replicated three times. These findings demonstrated that brackish water irrigation and biochar application contributed to a notable increase in soil water content (SWC), with increases ranging from 12.8 to 83.9% across treatments. Using brackish water for irrigation increases soil salt content (SSC) and exacerbates soil salinization. However, the application of biochar counteracts this effect by reducing soil salinity and mitigating the degree of salinization. Treatments applying biochar mostly increased SSC, but proper application had a salinity-reducing effect, reducing SSC by up to 15.2%. And biochar reduced the soil sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), mitigating the adverse effects of high salinity on winter wheat. Finally, the application of biochar promoted the growth of winter wheat and increased yield, with the treatment applying 10 tha-1 of CB (K2Y10) producing the greatest yield under brackish water irrigation conditions and increased by 18% compared with the treatment without biochar (CK0). In summary, considering the aspects of water conservation, salt reduction and yield increase, the most effective saline land improvement programme for this region involved using 2 g L-1 brackish water for irrigation in combination with applying K2Y10. This approach balances addressing soil salinity, enhancing water conservation and maximizing crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition towards a sustainable society involves the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable feedstock for materials, fuel, and base chemicals. Lignocellulose consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, forming a complex, recalcitrant matrix where efficient enzymatic saccharification is pivotal for accessing its valuable components. This study investigated microbial communities from brackish Lauwersmeer Lake, in The Netherlands, as a potential source of xylan-degrading enzymes. Environmental sediment samples were enriched with wheat arabinoxylan (WAX) and beechwood glucuronoxylan (BEX), with enrichment on WAX showing higher bacterial growth and complete xylan degradation compared to BEX. Metagenomic sequencing revealed communities consisting almost entirely of bacteria (>99%) and substantial shifts in composition during the enrichment. The first generation of seven-day enrichments on both xylans led to a high accumulation of Gammaproteobacteria (49% WAX, 84% BEX), which were largely replaced by Alphaproteobacteria (42% WAX, 69% BEX) in the fourth generation. Analysis of the protein function within the sequenced genomes showed elevated levels of genes associated with the carbohydrate catabolic process, specifically targeting arabinose, xylose, and xylan, indicating an adaptation to the primary monosaccharides present in the carbon source. The data open up the possibility of discovering novel xylan-degrading proteins from other sources aside from the thoroughly studied Bacteroidota.

Water scarcity in Tunisia’s semi-arid regions necessitates advanced brackish water desalination solutions. This study evaluates the long-term performance and fouling characteristics of the largest brackish water reverse osmosis desalination plant in southern Tunisia over a period of 5026 days. The plant employs two-stage spiral-wound membrane elements to treat groundwater with a salinity of 3.2 g L−1. The pre-treatment process includes oxidation, sand filtration, and cartridge filtration, along with polyphosphonate antiscalant dosing. Membrane performance was assessed through the analysis of operational data, standardization of permeate flow (Qps) and salt passage (SPs), and the calculation of water (A), solute (B), and ionic (Bj) permeability coefficients. Over the operational period, there was an increase in operating pressure, pressure drop, and permeate conductivity, accompanied by a gradual increase in SPs as well as in the solute B and ionic Bj permeability coefficients. The average B increased by 82%, reflecting a decrease in solute rejection over time. Additionally, the ionic permeability coefficients for both SO42− and Cl− ions increased, with Cl− showing an 88% increase and SO42− showing an 87% increase. The produced water’s salinity increased by 67%, indicating a significant loss of membrane performance. To identify the cause of these problems, membrane characterization was analyzed using visual inspection, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The characterization revealed the complex nature of the foulants, with a predominant presence of calcium sulfate, along with minor quantities of calcite, dolomite, and silica. The extent of CaSO4 deposition suggests poor antiscaling efficiency, highlighting the critical importance of selecting an effective antiscalant to mitigate membrane fouling.

This article presents a theoretical analysis of the feasibility to use membrane technologies, based on the example of the reverse osmosis process in Poland's public water supply system. Barriers to the potential implementation of the reverse osmosis process into the national public water supply system were defined according to the characteristics of the systems currently in operation, as process pressure, percentage of wastewater and physico-chemical parameters of the feed water. For the purposes of the analysis, water quality data were used from the central Hydrogeological data-base, for underground intakes in central Poland where higher chloride concentrations were diagnosed. To analyse process pressure, recovery rate and process efficiency, a calculation programme from a membrane module manufacturer was used. A comparative study of the amount of water generated as a reject from the reverse osmosis process in relation to classical filtration processes was also carried out. The results showed a classification system for water types with elevated chloride concentrations according to values limiting the use of dedicated membrane processes in Polish drinking water supply systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the isolation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dag-1 (OQ107063.2) from the seawater of the Caspian Sea, specifically from the coastal territory of the Samursky Reserve, Republic of Dagestan, Russia. The strain’s diagnostic and genetic characteristics are provided. Morphological features of the S. cerevisiae Dag-1 include round cells measuring 5.0×5.0 and 1.0×1.0 µkm in size. On Sabouraud’s media, it forms round, convex, opaque, creamy, glossy colonies with a diameter of 3-5 mm. The isolated strain demonstrates the ability to thrive in seawater with a salinity ranging from 12.8-13.0‰, across various temperature ranges (0 –+10, 23- 28, 35-40, 30-37°C), and under different pH conditions (5.6; 8.4-8.5). Additionally, it utilizes monomeric sugars (L-glucose, D-mannose, D-sucrose, D-arabinose, D-cellobiose, and D-xylose) as a source of carbon and energy, also metabolizing alcohols such as D-sorbitol, D-mannitol, and Dinositol (vitamin B8). The strain does not absorb the amino acids lysine and ornithine, and it is catalase-, amylase-, and β-glucosidase-positive while being urease-, oxidase-, and β-galactosidasenegative. Moreover, the strain exhibits high sensitivity to the antibiotics of ketoconazole, nystatin, clotrimazole, fluconazole, and itraconazole. Resistance is observed against the inhibitor potassium tellurite and pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aurens, and Klebsiella oxitoka. These findings contribute to expanding our understanding of the ecological distribution of marine yeasts and the isolation of an S. cerevisiae strain possessing characteristics of industrial microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]