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Numerous studies have reported reductions in soil permeability resulting from the use of marginal recycled water for irrigation due to increased Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP). The increase in soil ESP causes the breakdown of soil aggregates, followed by the swelling and dispersion of clay particles which leads to soil crusting, loss of porosity, and reduced permeability. If the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and the EC of the irrigation water are known, the effect of using recycled water on soil permeability (as a proxy for structure) can be predicted using empirical relationships. There is a vast body of literature on the negative impacts of sodium on soil structure. However, emerging research has shown that potassium and magnesium can also impact soil structure negatively and need to be included in irrigation water quality assessment criteria. A new criterion known as the Cation Ratio of Structural Stability (CROSS) is being advocated as a better predictor of potential soil permeability problems arising from the use of recycled water for irrigation. This is because CROSS accounts for the dispersive effects of exchangeable potassium and magnesium. The study objectives were to: 1. Conduct a literature review to document the state of knowledge. 2. Evaluate recycled water quality requirements to minimize long-term impacts on soil structure. 3. Conduct experiments investigating crop/soil/recycled water interactions in greenhouse and laboratory environments. 4. Evaluate the long-term impact of recycled water use for irrigation on commercial fields. 5. Investigate remediation options for sodium-affected soils. 6. Summarize project findings in a final WRF report Key Findings: 1. Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Cation Ratio of Soil Structural Stability (CROSS) were assessed in long-term field experiments, greenhouse studies, and soil columns to determine their effectiveness in predicting the negative impacts of using recycled water for irrigation on soil sodicity. 2. Overall, CROSS proved to be a more reliable tool for predicting the impact of recycled water reuse on soil sodicity and permeability. 3. Continuous irrigation with recycled water having a high CROSS value led to reduced strawberry productivity, and the salt uptake aligned with the cation composition of the water. 4. To reclaim sodic soils effectively, it is recommended to employ a combination of management strategies, such as using chemical amendments (e.g., gypsum) along with soil profile modification or implementing phytoremediation techniques. These approaches enhance the effectiveness of sodic soil reclamation.

Population growth, rapid urbanization, and climate change have been contributing to water scarcity in many regions in the world. Access to adequate and safe freshwater is one of the grand challenges of this time. Accounting for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, agriculture is suffering the greatest impact from the water shortage. To relieve the pressure on water supplies, municipal-treated wastewater (referred to as recycled water here forth) has been recognized as an important alternative source for irrigation water and is increasingly being applied in arid and semi-arid regions. In California, about 46% of treated wastewater is recycled for agricultural use, while in Florida, the fraction accounts for 44%. In China, recycled water irrigation began in 1957 and the reclamation rate of treated wastewater increased to 62% in 2014 in the cities that pioneered the implementation of wastewater reclamation and reuse. Wastewater reuse has been long practiced in the Mediterranean basin, especially in the more water-scarce regions where the treated wastewater reuse is up to 5-12% of the total amount of treated wastewater effluent. Overall, GIS-based analysis has shown that the land area irrigated with recycled water increased from 20 million hectares in 2007 to 36 million hectares in 2017, which represents approximately 10% of the world irrigation area. The Water Research Foundation reuse of treated wastewater offers many potential benefits, such as 1) decreasing stress on freshwater supply; 2) reducing cost and energy consumption; 3) recycling nutrients and helping maintain soil fertility; 4) reducing discharge from sewage treatment plants into the environment; and 5) avoiding the impact of new water supply developments (e.g., dams, reservoirs). Key Findings: 1. New cultivars are needed, and development will be supported by further research into salt tolerant under field conditions and to better characterize plant response to salinity in heterogeneous soil conditions, particularly under microirrigation as salinity in the soil water (ECsw) is continuously changing over space and time. 2. Management practices such as blending, cycling, and sequential use should be adopted when saline-sodic recycled water is used for irrigation. 3. The quality of the recycled water can contribute to the number of heavy metals in agricultural soils affecting the microbiological balance of soils and reducing soil fertility. 4. When agricultural fields are irrigated with recycled water, constituents of emerging concern (CECs) are unlikely to significantly accumulate in the soil, as most CECs are susceptible to degradation in multiple pathways. However, due to the incapacity to evaluate the cocktail effect of CECs, as well as lack of knowledge regarding the toxicity of CEC transformation products, the actual risk may be underestimated. 5. To date, there is little evidence to suggest that adequately treated recycled water poses more risk in terms of waterborne microbial pathogens for produce-related illness or outbreaks than other sources of irrigation water, but epidemiological and quantitative risk assessment models suggest that guidelines for the use of recycled water should be regionally specific and consider overall population health.

Irrigation is vital for Philippine agriculture, particularly in regions like Bohol, where water resources are under pressure due to competing demands and seasonal droughts. Despite introducing automated irrigation technologies designed to enhance efficiency, many areas still need to rely on updated manual methods, leading to water wastage and reduced productivity. This study explores the potential of automated irrigation systems to improve water use efficiency by evaluating soil's physical and electrical properties in Bohol's greenhouses. Specifically, it investigates soil texture, bulk density, pH, moisture content, and the performance of resistive and capacitive soil moisture sensors under varying conditions. Using a randomized complete block design, the research analyzed soil samples from greenhouses in six municipalities: Antequera, Bilar, Calape, Carmen, Jagna, and Loay. Laboratory experiments assessed soil properties, and a custom Arduino-based soil moisture meter was developed for sensor calibration. The study found significant variability in soil properties across locations, with sandy clay loam soils exhibiting the highest electrical resistivity and lower water retention than silty clay and clay soils. The findings highlight that soil pH varied from slightly basic to strongly acidic, and sensor voltage output inversely correlated with soil moisture content, reflecting changes in electrical conductivity. The results underscore the importance of selecting appropriate sensors and calibration methods for accurate soil moisture measurement. Recommendations include further testing for sensor variability, preference for capacitance over resistive sensors, and rigorous calibration procedures. Enhancing these practices will improve the effectiveness of automated irrigation systems and support sustainable agricultural development in Bohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the challenges posed by climate change and population growth, Iraq faces increasing demands for food production and water resources. To enhance agricultural productivity and optimize water management for crop efficiency, this study evaluated various wheat varieties, specifically Mawaddah, Bohuth 10, Aba99, and Babel113, under different irrigation level. These level were based on depletion levels of available water at 40%, 55%, and 70%. Key metrics measured included actual evapotranspiration, water use efficiency (WUE), grain yield, spike number, grains per spike, and the weight of 100 grains over the growing seasons of 2022–2023 and 2023–2024. The findings revealed that water consumption varied with depletion levels for all wheat varieties, amounting to 435.53, 397.13, and 365.13 mm season-1, and 465.7, 422.10, and 385.40 mm season-1 for the respective depletion levels of 40%, 55%, and 70%, across the two seasons. WUE ranged from 1.01 for Babel 113 at the 70% depletion level to 1.85 for Bohuth and Mawaddah at the 40% depletion level. Among the plant traits, Mawaddah had the best performance at the 40% depletion level, while Babel113 had the lowest performance at the 75% depletion level. The drought sensitivity index varied among the varieties due to their genetic differences. Our research supports the feasibility of utilizing water at depletion levels up to 75% when cultivating drought-tolerant wheat varieties in semi-arid and arid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the legal problems and prospects of ensuring the irrigation of agricultural land in conditions of a lack of traditional water resources. Modern hydromelioration reform in the form in which it is currently implemented is not a panacea. It mostly solves property and administrativefunctional issues, but leaves a call for attention to environmental and natural resource problems. In view of the tendency to decrease the quantity and quality of water in the country, the question arises about the prospects of irrigation under such conditions. In recent decades, there has been a constant search for innovative solutions of not only technological, but also legal nature in the world for solving the complex problems of distributing limited resources and providing agriculture with vital moisture for maintaining food security. The objective problem of the lack of water suitable for irrigation against the background of the rapid growth of such needs is getting worse every year and in the long run can endanger the food security of the country. World experience demonstrates the approbation of various approaches to solving the problem of sufficient irrigation. According to the main way of achieving the goal, these approaches are presented by us in the form of three groups: 1) use of alternative sources of water resources (use of underground water, treated wastewater, desalinated salt water); 2) application of alternative irrigation technologies (modernization of irrigation systems; use of micro-irrigation); 3) use of alternative crops (voluntary and mandatory transition). Having analyzed the foreign and domestic experience of the legal regulation of selected methods of solving the problem of water shortage for irrigation, it is possible to trace some general trends: a) self-removal of the state from the implementation of large-scale irrigation projects, the need for which is generated by global environmental challenges; b) slow ecological transformation of legislation regulating agricultural irrigation; c) the predominance of separate legal norms and separate legal mechanisms aimed at regulating alternative irrigation, and the lack of comprehensive regulatory and legal support for the reconstruction of the irrigation system taking into account objective environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted over two seasons to study the effect of drip fertigation levels and foliar nutrition on the growth and yield of cotton-black gram cropping sequences. The treatments comprised three levels of fertigation viz., 50, 75, and 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), combined with and without two levels of foliar spray, drip irrigation with soil surface application of 100% RDF, and surface irrigation with soil surface application of 100% RDF as a control. Drip-irrigated cotton and black gram registered higher yields during both seasons as compared to the surface methods of irrigation. Application of 100% RDF as drip fertigation combined with a foliar spray of 1% urea phosphate registered the highest seed cotton yield of 3598 kg ha−1 and black gram grain yield of 856 kg ha−1, which was significantly superior over the control. Application of nutrients through drip fertigation improved seed cotton yield by 45.2% and blackgram grain yield by 49.8% compared with conventional surface irrigation with soil application of fertilizers. From the results, it could be concluded that drip fertigation at 100% RDF with foliar spray of 1% urea phosphate can be recommended for higher productivity in the cotton-black gram cropping sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles (NPs) have recently begun to be used extensively in many areas of our lives. It is stated that the resulting NPs pollution will affect even the most remote ecosystems on the Earth. Therefore, determining the effects of NPs on diverse ecosystems is a research topic of interest. From this perspective, current researches on NPs affecting forest ecosystems and forest trees are very scarce. The aim of this investigation was to reveal the inhibitory and toxic properties of CuO and ZnO-NPs on oriental beech seed germination parameters and identify the toxic threshold values of CuO and ZnO-NPs. Therefore, the oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) seeds obtained from ten populations (P1 to P10) were treated with CuO and ZnO-NPs as single compounds at concentrations of 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mg/L and germination rate (GR), germination percentage (GP), root collar diameter (RCD), plumula length (PL), radicle thickness (RT) and radicle diameter (RD) were determined for 35 days. The water containing CuO-ZnO NPs as a single compound at 1000 mg/L negatively affected all growth in general. The significant decrease in our study occurred at P9. The CuO-ZnO NPs were reduced in GP, RCD, PL, RT, and RD as 3.5–4.2%; 11.2–0.1%; 9.1–36.4%; 23.07–38.46%; and 39.29–17.86%, while GR enhanced as 21.46–20.09%. It was found that water with a low concentration of NP (200 mg/L) is suitable for irrigation of seeds grown in soil media and does not have a significant toxic effect on the growth and uptake of metal ions. The findings and limitations of the present research allow us to assess the feasibility of reusing NP-contaminated water in agriculture. Nevertheless, further research is needed to understand the toxic effects of NP mixtures on growth and absorption mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst landscape, characterised by drought-prone areas, limited water retention and nutrient-poor soils, pose significant challenges for the sustainability of small-scale agricultural systems. This study investigated the impact of smart precision irrigation (SPI) technology, which integrates drip irrigation (DI) and organic fertilisation, on the growth, physiological performance and water use efficiency of chilli plants cultivated in a karst landscape in Gunungkidul District, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This experiment involved a combination of drip irrigation (D), non-drip irrigation (ND), organic fertiliser (F), and no fertiliser (NF), with a semi-automatically installed SPI system to monitor and adjust soil moisture and watering requirements. The results showed that the combination of drip irrigation and organic fertiliser (D + F) significantly increased plant growth parameters, including plant height, leaf area, and chlorophyll content, and improved physiological traits such as photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and leaf water use efficiency (LWUE). These improvements were attributed to the optimised water distribution and nutrient availability provided by the DI system, which minimised water loss and reduced drought stress, as evidenced by lower proline accumulation and reduced antioxidant enzyme activity in plants. In addition, the D+F treatment resulted in the highest biomass production, fruit yield and water use efficiency, underlining its potential as a sustainable agricultural practice in waterscarce karst environments. The study concludes that adopting organic matter irrigation and fertilisation strategies can improve the productivity and resilience of horticultural crops in areas facing similar environmental constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aral Sea crisis is one of the greatest ecological and socio-economic disasters of the 20th century. The main cause was the large-scale diversion of water for cotton cultivation. This article examines the crisis with a human geography perspective and emphasises the need for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. It highlights the importance of sustainable water management, regional cooperation and active community participation. The study also discusses the role of integrated water and energy management supported by strong policies to prevent future water scarcity and address climate change. Finally, this article emphasises the significance of empowering local communities through traditional ecological knowledge and education to promote resilience and sustainable development. The conclusions focus on solutions to resolve the Aral Sea crisis that would ultimately improve the well-being of people in the region and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of machine learning in salinity tolerance evaluation studies is limited. To address this gap, a pot culture experiment was conducted with six pomegranate cultivars at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, India, in 2020 and 2021. The data were subjected to subordinated function analysis (SFA), random forest regression (RFR), support vector regression (SVR) and general linear modeling (GLM) after 60 and 120 days of first saline water treatment. The SFA identified 'Bhagwa' as the most salt tolerant cultivar, followed by 'Wonderful.' The RFR highlighted leaf K, catalase activity, and relative growth rate (RGR) as key parameters influencing salinity tolerance of the tested cultivars after 60 days. The SVR demonstrated root S content and net assimilation rate as critical factors. After 120 days, both RFR and SVR identified stomatal conductance and relative growth rate as crucial markers displaying salinity tolerance of cultivars. Both RFR and SVR showed high predictive accuracy, especially after 120 days, compared to GLM. However, GLM provided a broader set of variables for a better understanding of the underlying mechanism across different time intervals. Therefore, this research emphasizes the importance of using both machine learning techniques and traditional statistical approaches to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Improving the level of intensive and economical utilization of water resources is an important step towards water and food security. Methods: Based on China's provincial panel data from 2015 to 2021, this study uses a difference-in-differences (DID) model to examine the effect of agricultural water rights trading on intensive and economical utilization of water resources. Results: The results show that agricultural water rights trading can significantly promote an intensive and economical utilization of water resources at the 1% level, and the results remain valid even after a series of robustness tests. Further analysis indicates that agricultural water rights trading can promote better utilization of water resources by significantly reducing agricultural water consumption at the 1% level and reducing the proportion of agricultural water consumption at the 5% level to optimize water use structure. Moreover, in regions with scarce water resources, strong water resource constraints, more farmland water conservancy projects, and greater economic development, the promoting effect of agricultural water rights trading on the intensive and economical use of water resources is more significant. Discussion: This study provides evidence of the impact of China's agricultural water rights trading policy and offers new ideas and experiences to improve China's water resource utilization efficiency. The contributions of this work are mainly threefold. First, this paper clearly distinguishes the intensive conservation of water resources, presents an evaluation index system, and complements the existing literature on measuring the intensive and economical utilization of water resources. Second, the path of agricultural water rights trading is analyzed to improve the level of intensive and economical utilization of water resources, thus enriching related research on transmission mechanisms. Third, the heterogeneity of the influence of different regional conditions on the level of intensive and economical utilization of water resources is discussed to improve relevant policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct planting systems offer several benefits to the soil and plants, as reflected in soil organisms. The Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are extremely sensitive to environmental changes and can be used as indicators of soil quality. This study focused on the native diversity of mycorrhizae in the region. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate mycorrhizal colonization, spore density, soil glomalin content and species diversity in five wheat genotypes under direct and conventional planting systems. This work was carried out in the experimental area of Embrapa Cerrados, Planaltina, DF, Brazil. The rates of mycorrhizal colonization, spore density and easily extractable glomalin were evaluated, and species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were identified in five wheat genotypes under direct and conventional planting. For all the genotypes under conventional planting, there was a decrease in mycorrhizal colonization, the number of spores in the rhizosphere and the amount of easily extractable glomalin. The composition of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community differed among the wheat genotypes and management systems. The richness of morphospecies of AMF in the direct planting system was similar to that in the conventional system, with twelve species each, but the conventional system reduced root colonization and spore density. The most common species were A. scrobiculata, Si. tortuosum and G. macrocarpum, which were found in all the genotypes in both cultivation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] In order to investigate the suitable water-fertilizer combination pattern for selenium melon grown under drip irrigation in the arid zone of central Ningxia. [Method] The local main cultivar "Jincheng 5" was used as the test material, and three irrigation gradients and three fertilizer levels were set up, with a total of nine treatments, to determine the growth indexes of selenium squash, fruit longitudinal and transverse diameters, yields and quality indexes of selenium squash under different treatments. The key indexes were screened by principal component analysis to evaluate the combined effects of irrigation volume and fertilizer application on the indexes of selenium melon. [Result] The results show that irrigation volume, fertilizer application rate, and water-fertilizer interaction effect all affected the yield and quality of selenium melon to different degrees, and the water-fertilizer interaction effect was higher than that of irrigation volume and fertilizer application rate. The W2F2 treatment significantly increased the yield of selenium melon, the content of central and marginal soluble solids, reduced the middle and marginal differences, and made the selenium melon sweetness uniform, which improved the taste and quality of selenium melon. Based on the principal component analysis, 12 indicators of quality index, yield, irrigation water use efficiency and fertilizer bias productivity were converted into 2 independent composite indicators, whose cumulative contribution was as high as 89.244%. The W2F2 treatment had the highest composite score of water-fertilizer coupling effect. [Conclusion] The suitable water-fertilizer combination pattern for selenium melon in the central arid zone of Ningxia was an irrigation watering rate of 210 m³/hm² and a fertilizer application rate of 300 kg/hm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Patients and Methods Results Conclusions To characterise the effect of solitary and serial manual bolus irrigations on intrarenal pressures (IRPs) and observe the clinical consequences.A pressure guidewire was used for IRP measurement during routine flexible ureterorenoscopy for management of renal stone disease, including manual bolus irrigation when required to maintain vision. The fluid bolus was either as a solitary manual bolus or a series of manual boluses in quick succession. The pre‐bolus, maximal and difference between IRPs were calculated.A total of 50 procedures in 46 patients were analysed. In all, 68 solitary manual boluses and 38 serial manual boluses were observed to have been undertaken during these procedures. After a solitary manual bolus, the median (standard deviation [SD], range) increase in IRP was 22.4 (34.0, 0.1–160.8) mmHg, and the mean (SD, range) maximum IRP was 46.1 (41.7, 15.8–190.0) mmHg, with elevated IRPs persisting for a median (range) duration of 19 (4–66) s. After serial manual boluses, the median (SD, range) rise in IRP was 58.4 (64.7, 10.2–242.84) mmHg and the mean (SD, range) maximum IRP reached was 100.8 (69.7, 34.3–303.5) mmHg. The elevated IRPs endured for a median (range) of 42 (9–121 s; P < 0.01 in all comparisons), suggesting a much greater elevation of IRP with instances where serial bolus irrigation was undertaken.Manual bolus irrigation, both solitary but particularly serial boluses, produces significant rises in IRP and could logically result in pyelovenous backflow and sepsis. We suggest that this manoeuvre should be avoided to reduce complications during ureterorenoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grazing livestock emits methane through rumen intestinal activity, however, its impact on plant growth in grassland while grazing still has not been explored in detail. Therefore, the study examined the effects of methane pulse spray (MPS), according to grazing intensity, at four grazing intensities (0, 3.6, 5.0, and 6.5 sheep·hm− 2 yr− 1) on seed germination and seedling growth of common vetch (Vicia sativa), while two irrigation rates (35 and 53 ml d− 1) were employed to simulate the precipitation. Results: The study revealed significant interactions between MPS and irrigation rate on seed germination and seedling growth parameters. Under moderate MPS intensities (0.74 and 1.04 mol m− 2), seed germination rate, potential, index, and vigor index improved, especially at higher irrigation rates (53 ml d− 1). Conversely, excessive MPS (1.33 mol m− 2) inhibited particularly at the germination rate and growth,. The seedling growth dynamics fitted a logistic model, with MPS advancing the rapid growth phase and increasing maximum growth rates. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that low to moderate levels of MPS from ruminants can promote seed germination and seedling growth of common vetch, while excessive MPS inhibits these processes. Irrigation enhances plant sensitivity to MPS, with wetter conditions (620 mm yr− 1) facilitating a more pronounced response. The findings introduce a new model elucidating plant responses to external perturbations, which can inform grazing management strategies in diverse ecosystems. In wetter regions, moderate grazing intensities may leverage MPS benefits, while arid regions require careful grazing regulation to maintain grassland-livestock balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the advantageous effects of using magnetic and electromagnetic treatment (ET) of brackish and saline waters on soil salinity reduction in the root zone were largely reported, more studies are needed to answer questions about the soil salt leaching efficiency and the effect of the duration of the exposure to ET. For this aim, pot experiments were conducted using an Aqua-4DR physical water treatment device. The first experiment included two trials. The first trial considered five concentrations: C0:1.0; C1:4.5; C2:9; C3:13.5; and C4:18 dS m−1. The results revealed that the volume and the salt concentrations of the drained waters were significantly higher under irrigation with ET saline waters than those provided by untreated waters. The drained fraction of water varied from 20 to 26% under irrigation with untreated water and increased from 33 to 56% under irrigation with electro-magnetized water, indicating an improvement in the salt leaching. The second trial was carried out with different irrigation doses. The results showed that the higher the dose, the more obvious and significant the ET effect. The different treatment durations of water exposure revealed that the volume and salinity of drained water significantly increase as the ET duration increases. An increase in the ET duration also induces an increase in the soil water content of around 2.5%. Based on the experimental findings, we may conclude that the ET of saline water can reduce the adverse effect of salinity on the top soil, but these leached salts are carried away in depth and there is no concentration limit of water to the effect of the ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ongoing investments in irrigation technologies highlight the need to accurately estimate the longevity and magnitude of water savings at the watershed level to avoid the paradox of irrigation efficiency. This paradox arises when irrigation pumping exceeds crop water demand, leading to excess water that is not recovered by the watershed. Comprehensive water accounting from farm to watershed scales is challenging due to spatial variability and inadequate socio-hydrological data. We hypothesize that water savings are short term, as prior studies show rapid recharge responses to surface changes. Precise estimation of these time scales and water savings can aid water managers making decisions. In this study, we examined water savings at three 65-hectare sites in Nebraska with diverse soil textures, management practices, and groundwater depths. Surface geophysics effectively identified in-field variability in soil water content and water flux. A one-dimensional model showed an average 80% agreement with chloride mass balance estimates of deep drainage. Our findings indicate that groundwater response times are short and water savings are modest (1–3 years; 50–900 mm over 10 years) following a 120 mm/year reduction in pumping. However, sandy soils with shallow groundwater show minimal potential for water savings, suggesting limited effectiveness of irrigation efficiency programs in such regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is extensively utilized for drinking, irrigation, and industrial activities globally. However, its quality is deteriorating significantly, particularly in coastal regions where saline water infiltration is a major issue. This study investigates the coastal aquifer of Udupi district in Karnataka, India, covering approximately 80 km2, through hydro-geochemical analysis of groundwater samples from 57 spatially distributed locations, pre- and post-monsoon. The major anion and cation parameters analyzed include Cl−, HCO₃−, SO42−, NO₃−, Na+, Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+. The analysis revealed a pH range of 2.9 to 8.3, indicating acidic to slightly alkaline conditions, and total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations ranging from 110 to 6683 mg/L, predominantly showing saline characteristics toward the coastline. Hydrogeochemical assessment, including Chadha's plot, identified Na-Cl type water in most samples, indicating the influence of salinity. Approximately 21% of pre-monsoon and 67% of post-monsoon samples were deemed unsuitable for irrigation based on permeability index values, with 2 to 3% exhibiting high salinity hazards. The variation in correlation coefficients between pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods suggests that saline water intrusion, freshwater recharge, and geochemical interactions influence the coastal groundwater system. The molar ratio of Na⁺ to Cl− suggested a reverse cation exchange process, highlighting the complex interactions between saline and freshwater. Overall, 79% of pre-monsoon and 80% of post-monsoon samples were deemed suitable for irrigation, while 21% and 20% were classified as completely unsuitable, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the water quality for drinking and irrigation purposes on the southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro during the dry season under low flow conditions. Fifty-one samples covering eight different water sources (i.e., stream water from natural and anthropogenic impacted streams, domestic water, spring water, rainfall, groundwater, lake water and water from irrigation canals) were collected in a snapshot sampling campaign over 10 days in February 2023. First, physical, chemical and biological parameters were analysed and compared with Tanzanian and international drinking and irrigation water quality requirements. The samples were then ranked according to their suitability for drinking and/or irrigation using water quality indices (WQI). All drinking water quality parameters except for E. coli and turbidity were within the permissible limits. A generalised problem of faecal contamination was found in the study area, including in domestic water, highlighting the need to identify sources of contamination and remediate them before distribution. The drinking water quality index (DWQI) classified 89% of the samples as unsuitable and 11% as excellent for drinking. Irrigation water quality parameters were within the guidelines of restriction of use except for pH in 5 samples. In contrast to the DWQI, the vast majority of the water samples (88%) can be used for irrigation without restrictions according to the irrigation water quality index (IWQI). The suitability of water for irrigation was also assessed using three indices, i.e., Kelley's Index, Soluble Sodium Percentage and Magnesium Ratio, which indicated potential problems with excess of sodium (about 30% of the samples) and magnesium (about 20%). Further studies combining suitability indices, soil characteristics and crop types are recommended to assess water quality for irrigation use. Article Highlights: The southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro act as a water tower, providing drinking water and irrigation resources for surrounding communities. The drinking water quality was found to be compromised by a widespread presence of E. coli bacteria, which indicates faecal contamination. The irrigation water quality was generally good, although there were indications of sodium and magnesium excess in the central and eastern parts of the study area, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper proposes and tests the hypotheses that (i) a legacy of irrigation agriculture is associated with a greater prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV); and (ii) the presence of loamy soils strengthens this association. The proposed mechanisms are that irrigation agriculture has resulted in a tendency for women to be socially isolated and a cultural acceptance of IPV. We use individual survey data from India and an exogenous measure of historical irrigation. We find empirical support for our hypotheses and proposed mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this in vitro study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of a novel erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser modality, shock wave enhanced emission of photoacoustic streaming (SWEEPS), ultrasonically activated irrigation (UAI), and single needle irrigation (SNI) against old bacterial biofilm. A two-week-old Enterococcus faecalis biofilm was cultivated on transversal dentinal discs made from the middle third of the roots of single-rooted, single-canal premolars. Biofilm growth was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The dentine samples were randomly distributed into three experimental groups and one control group based on the irrigation protocol used: Group 1, SWEEPS; Group 2, UAI; and Group 3, SNI. The root canals were irrigated with a 3% sodium hypochlorite solution. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated quantitatively through bacterial culture and qualitatively through CLSM and SEM. Both SWEEPS and UAI demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in Enterococcus faecalis colony-forming units (CFUs) (p < 0.001), while SNI did not show a statistically significant reduction (p = 0.553). No significant difference was observed between the efficacy of SWEEPS and UAI (p > 0.05). The SWEEPS and UAI techniques were equally effective in eliminating mature E. faecalis biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat landraces are locally adapted populations that are suitable for low-input agronomic management and constraining pedo-climatic conditions. The productivity of landraces under high-input and optimal conditions is usually lower than modern wheat varieties. The present study compared the response of Sicilian wheat landraces and modern varieties to organic management, including organic fertilization, and conventional management, including mineral fertilization and chemical weed control, under rainfed condition and supplementary irrigation in a field trial conducted on a xerofluvent soil in a semiarid Mediterranean climate. Modern varieties were on average more productive than landraces, although certain landraces achieved comparable yields, in particular under organic management. The increase in grain yield under conventional management in comparison with the organic management was higher for modern varieties than landraces. The loss of productivity in rainfed conditions was lower for landraces compared to modern varieties. The grain quality traits were similar between landraces and modern varieties and in both cases the conventional management led to an improvement of the traits. These findings highlight the resilience and adaptability of traditional wheat landraces to low-input agricultural systems and offer valuable insights into improving the sustainability and productivity of wheat production in Mediterranean environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Preharvest granulation of Imperial mandarins is a significant problem for the Australian market. Causes of, and solutions for, this physiological disorder are poorly understood despite decades of research worldwide. Aims: This research aimed to find management practices for growers to reduce granulation. Methods: A 5-year on-farm trial in central Queensland, Australia, compared standard versus deficit irrigation and five rates of winter nitrogen application. Key results: Reducing water (irrigation plus rainfall) in the 16–18 weeks following flowering reduced granulation in 3 of 5 years. Granulation increases with ratio of total water received to evapotranspiration, particularly in low crop load years. Higher nitrogen applications reduced granulation in 4 of 5 years, although treatment means were only significantly different at α = 0.05 in 1 year. Granulation increased with stronger early spring flush growth in a low crop load year and with later spring flush growth in one of two high crop load years. The deficit irrigation treatment had less spring flush growth and higher fruit set than the control in all years. Higher nitrogen treatments had more flush growth in high crop load years and less in low crop load years. Our data suggests competition between flush growth and fruit development for mineral resources and/or carbohydrates is a factor in the variability of granulation from fruit to fruit, but crop load is more important. Conclusions: The three key strategies to minimise granulation are to maintain high crop loads, reduce irrigation after flowering, and apply sufficient nitrogen in winter. Implications: This research will improve fruit quality for the consumer and financial returns to growers. Granulation, a physiological disorder in which citrus fruit are white, dry and tasteless, is a significant problem for Imperial mandarins in Australia. We discovered that excessive irrigation and insufficient nitrogen fertilisation are important causes of granulation and three key strategies to minimise granulation are to maintain high crop loads, reduce irrigation after flowering, and apply sufficient nitrogen in winter. This research will improve fruit quality for the consumer and financial returns to growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: High resolution imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has been established as an important source of information to perform precise irrigation practices, notably relevant for high value crops often present in semi-arid regions such as vineyards. Many studies have shown the utility of thermal infrared (TIR) sensors to estimate canopy temperature to inform on vine physiological status, while visible-near infrared (VNIR) imagery and 3D point clouds derived from red–green–blue (RGB) photogrammetry have also shown great promise to better monitor within-field canopy traits to support agronomic practices. Indeed, grapevines react to water stress through a series of physiological and growth responses, which may occur at different spatio-temporal scales. As such, this study aimed to evaluate the application of TIR, VNIR and RGB sensors onboard UAVs to track vine water stress over various phenological periods in an experimental vineyard imposed with three different irrigation regimes. Methods: A total of twelve UAV overpasses were performed in 2022 and 2023 where in situ physiological proxies, such as stomatal conductance (gs), leaf (Ψleaf) and stem (Ψstem) water potential, and canopy traits, such as LAI, were collected during each UAV overpass. Linear and non-linear models were trained and evaluated against in-situ measurements. Results: Results revealed the importance of TIR variables to estimate physiological proxies (gs, Ψleaf, Ψstem) while VNIR and 3D variables were critical to estimate LAI. Both VNIR and 3D variables were largely uncorrelated to water stress proxies and demonstrated less importance in the trained empirical models. However, models using all three variable types (TIR, VNIR, 3D) were consistently the most effective to track water stress, highlighting the advantage of combining vine characteristics related to physiology, structure and growth to monitor vegetation water status throughout the vine growth period. Conclusion: This study highlights the utility of combining such UAV-based variables to establish empirical models that correlated well with field-level water stress proxies, demonstrating large potential to support agronomic practices or even to be ingested in physically-based models to estimate vine water demand and transpiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspen forests are threatened by the impacts of a changing climate and are showing large-scale mortality with meager natural regeneration to restore these loses. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for high-quality aspen seedlings to assist with forest restoration efforts. Nursery cultural practices can be used to alter aspen seedling traits to improve adaptability to dry planting conditions. In this study, the effects of container size (SC10 and D30; 158 and 490 mL, respectively) and nursery irrigation treatment (high and low irrigation; 90% and 70% container capacity, respectively) on seedling growth and a suite of morphological and physiological traits were investigated. The combination of large container size and low irrigation treatment resulted in seedlings with lowest height-to-diameter ratio and specific leaf area, which are desired traits for seedling performance on dry sites. Additionally, seedlings exposed to low irrigation conditions at the nursery stage had a lower (more negative) osmotic potential at full turgor, suggesting a higher likelihood of drought tolerance. Overall results from this study provide insight into utilizing nursery cultural practices to produce seedlings with target characteristics that may ultimately lead to establishment on harsh, dry planting sites in large-scale reforestation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal manures are increasingly receiving renewed interest as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers. While they may improve ecosystem functions, there is limited information on short-term effects of organic amendments on soil reaction and nutrient dynamics in irrigated mixed dairy pastures, especially in the context of the Tsitsikamma region, South Africa. This study examined the soil fertility status of minimum tilled 6-year-old pasture-mixed dairy farms (F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5) in the Upper (UT) and Lower (LT) Tsitsikamma regions treated with different rates of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer alone or in combination with poultry manure (PM) and/or dairy effluent (DE). Soil samples were collected at 0–15, 15–30, 30–45 and 45–60 cm depth intervals and analysed for soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg. Results of this study revealed variable trends on soil pH and nutrient changes between farms, suggesting an influence of some inherent soil properties in addition to the 6-year applied management practices. When averaged over sampled farms, surface placement of soil amendments and limited soil disturbance resulted in surface stratification of soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg. On the other hand, integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers induced significant changes in nutrient contents and stocks to a depth of 60 cm, especially in the LT region. A combination of NPK fertilizer, PM and/or DE applied in pasture mixtures generally showed potential to improve soil fertility in both regions. As such, adoption of this combination by farmers could cut down reliance on expensive synthetic fertilizers and costs of dairy production. However, studies are still necessary in this region to validate the observed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy seven research papers published from 1986 to 2018 were observed. These papers investigated PTEs (Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Fe, Zn, Ni, and total Cr) in leafy (mint, spinach, coriander, and lettuce) and tuberous (potato, carrot, radish, and onion) vegetables irrigated by wastewater. The studies observed in our paper were conducted in 19 countries. The PTEs concentrations were compared among studies and the human health risk was observed. According to the obtained meta-analysis results, PTEs concentrations (mg/kg) in vegetables were found in the following order Zn (34.216)> Cu (22.581)> Ni (14.056)> Pb (10.173)> Cr (8.308)> Fe(8.130)> As(1.881)> Cd (1.763). Hazard index for children was higher than that for adults and for both groups, the calculated HQ was higher than 1, which indicates that there is a health risk for the consumers. This study provides a comprehensive analysis that demonstrates the urgent necessity for treating PTE pollution in agricultural areas worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Time dependent deposition of two Azospirillum brasilense strains in sand quantified. Three inclusions regimes examined: surface, subsurface and premixed. For surface and subsurface the bacteria accumulated near the point source and remained stagnant in the premixed. The attachment/detachment numerical model found adequate to describe the time dependent deposition profiles of the bacteria. Azospirillum brasilense strains Sp7 and Cd are commonly employed plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) that produce phytohormones and fix nitrogen. The two basic methods of PGPB soil inoculation are direct mixing with the soil and irrigation with liquid inoculants. The integration of drip irrigation with delivering plant growth-promoting bacteria in desert areas with sandy soil is becoming more common. With the drip irrigation system, the mobility of PGPB in the sandy soil determines the range of root zone inoculation. Therefore, we examined the transport and fate of PGPB under transient water flow conditions in a 30-cm high segmented sand column with three sand-inoculation regimes: (1) surface irrigation, (2) subsurface irrigation, and (3) sand premixing. The water, bromide, and bacterial distribution in the sand profile was measured at 2 and 48 h after irrigation. The measured data were described using the attachment/detachment numerical model using the HYDRUS 2/3D code. Results showed that even though A. brasilense Sp7 and Cd exhibit similar hydrophilicities and zeta potentials, their deposition in the sand profile differs. Strain Cd consists of smaller cells that undergo less adsorption and less straining than strain Sp7, and the former's vertical movement therefore reaches greater depths under surface- and subsurface-inoculation regimes. Nevertheless, most of the PGPB accumulated near the water source. In the sand-premixing inoculation regime, the bacteria barely moved at all. Overall, when the target root zone was deep, subsurface-irrigation inoculation worked better than the other two inoculation regimes, because it was more likely to deliver large amounts of PGPB to the root zone. Furthermore, the first-order attachment model optimized two parameters (first-order attachment coefficient and die-off rate) and well simulated the bacterial vertical movement in the surface- and subsurface-inoculation regimes (R2 > 0.91). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion is one of the most significant problems in irrigation systems, and fertigation may increase its damage. One of the solutions to mitigate this phenomenon would be using cathodic protection combined with piping coating, so it is essential to evaluate the type of sacrificial anodes and the cathode/anode area ratio, variables that change the performance of cathodic protection and its application cost. Thus, this study aimed to validate the effect of Al anodes on the protection against the mass loss of galvanized steel used in fertigation with white KCl solution at 10 g L−1 and verify the influence of the cathode/anode area ratio on the galvanized steel protection and anode consumption. Thus, we conducted immersion tests by simulating 10 years of fertigation to determine the mass loss of the galvanized steel and Al anodes. The results showed that Al anodes significantly reduce the mass loss in galvanized steel exposed to KCl solution, but there is no significant difference in its mass loss with the increase in the cathode/anode area ratio. Regarding the Al anodes, there was also no significant difference in mass loss with the increase in the cathode/anode area ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable irrigation water management is achievable only when irrigation scheduling is optimized to conserve water and soil resources in an agricultural setting. This study evaluated the use of remote sensing–based algorithms for determining actual crop evapotranspiration (ETa) mapping to update crop coefficients (kc) of an irrigation scheduler software (WISE). The scheduler's kc values are based on the FAO-56 approach for crop evapotranspiration (ETc) determination. A surface-irrigated (furrow) maize (Zea mays L.) field in Fort Collins, Colorado, was used from July to September 2020 and 2021. An eddy covariance energy balance system (ECSEBS) installed on a tower at 3.5 m above the ground surface was used to determine hourly and daily maize ETa data. These EC-based ETa data were used to evaluate the performance of three approaches for maize ETa estimation and the FAO-56–based ETc predictions from WISE. Microsatellite PlanetScope multispectral imagery, at a 3-m-pixel spatial resolution, provided surface reflectance in the red and near-infrared bands for input in the remote sensing of ETa algorithms. On-site micrometeorological data were measured at the exact location of the ECSEBS tower. Optimization of kc values was done using an ordinary least-squares regression approach. The optimized kc values were calculated for the maize midseason growth stage. Results indicated that using remote sensing of ETa algorithms has excellent potential to improve irrigation scheduling by integrating optimized crop coefficients. WISE overestimated daily maize ETc predictions by as much as 26%. When remote sensing-based optimized kc values were introduced, the overestimation of daily maize ETc was reduced significantly, by 18% to 75%, depending on the remote sensing of the ETa algorithm used. The research findings support the combined use of remote sensing data and the FAO-56 approach for irrigation scheduling to improve agricultural water management at the farm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water shortage is the most critical abiotic stress and adversely impacts crop growth and productivity. Biofertilizers are an environmentally friendly method for sustainable agricultural development and improving plant water deficit tolerance. The effects of biological and chemical fertilizers on yield, yield components, and nutrient absorption of chickpea plants were studied in 2018 and 2019. The main plots were assigned to the irrigation levels [80% (I80) and 50% (I50)] and the subplot was assigned to 13 fertilizer combinations including free-living N-fixing bacteria (NB), potassium solubilizing bacteria (KB), phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PB), common chickpea nutrition program (F; NPK chemical fertilizer), and their combination. The results showed that shoot phosphorus content was increased by 80% when F + NPB (NPK chemical fertilizer and N + P biofertilizers) was applied at I80 compared with the control at I50. Furthermore, I80 and the application of PKB (P + K biofertilizers) and NPKB (N + P + K biofertilizers) obtained the highest shoot K and N concentrations, respectively. The NPKF + B-treated plants (N + P + K chemical fertilizer and N + P + K biofertilizers) demonstrated superior growth attributes such as plant height and the number of sub-branches at I80. The highest grain yield was obtained from the NPKF + B treatment at I80, which was 7.1-fold higher compared with the control at I50. In general, the combined application of biochemical fertilizers mitigated the adverse effect of water deficit and improved nutrient absorption and chickpea yield. The use of biochemical fertilizers can be efficient in reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers and achieving sustainable agricultural goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation can be a strategy to overcome the high mortality and declining vigour of cork oak trees facing increasing drought stress in the Mediterranean basin. Through a three-year irrigation experiment in a semi-arid Mediterranean region, which encompassed two sets of 100 planted individuals that had a 24-year age gap and the direct seeding of 100 acorns, we tested the influence of water irrigation on distinct stages of cork oak establishment and development, namely (1) acorn germination, (2) emerged seedling survival, (3) growth of planted seedlings, (4) vertical and (5) radial growth, and (6) the vigour of 28-year-old trees. Water irrigation significantly improved acorn germination and the growth of both cork oak seedlings and trees but did not affect the survival of emerged seedlings to the dry season. The vigour of 28-year-old trees (height-to-diameter ratio) showed no significant differences between the plants growing in watered and in controlled conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dados - Revista de Ciências Sociais is the property of DADOS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the leading cause of surgical site infections (SSIs) and is capable of biofilm growth on implanted foreign devices. The use of surgical irrigation solutions has become a common strategy to combat bacterial contamination events that occur during surgery. Despite their antimicrobial activity, SSI rates remain consistent, suggesting that low-level contamination persists. In these cases, circulating neutrophils must traffic from the blood to contamination sites to aid in bacterial clearance. The influence of irrigation solutions on neutrophils' ability to engage with bacteria has not been explored. The effects of three commonly used irrigation solutions: Xperience (sodium lauryl sulfate), Irrisept (chlorhexidine gluconate), and Betadine® (povidone-iodine) on nascent S. aureus biofilms alone and in the presence of human neutrophils were assessed at manufactured and diluted concentrations. All three solutions, at a 10% dilution, inhibited bacterial growth as demonstrated by culture assays and confocal video microscopy of bacterial aggregate formation. The effects of 10% dilutions of each of these solutions on neutrophil membrane integrity (by flow cytometry and propidium iodide staining) and motility (by confocal video microscopy of neutrophil track length) were investigated with differing outcomes for each irrigation solution. At this concentration only Irrisept preserved neutrophil membrane integrity and motility. Together, this study examines an overlooked aspect of surgical irrigation solutions by investigating their impact on innate immunity and highlights the feasibility of formulations wherein solution effectiveness is complemented by neutrophil function to reduce risks of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to predict the grain yield of a maize crop from easy-to-measure growth parameters and select the best treatment combinations of biochar, inorganic fertilizer, and irrigation for the maize grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique. Two rates of biochar (0 and 20 t ha−1) and fertilizer (0 and 300 kg ha−1) were applied to the soil, with maize crop planted, and subjected to deficit irrigation at 60, 80, and 100% of full irrigation amounts (FIA). Maize growth parameters (number of leaves—NL, leaf area—LA, leaf area index—LAI, and plant height—PH) were measured weekly. The results showed that the developed principal component regression (PCR) from the easy-to-measure growth parameters were strong and moderate in predicting the maize yield and WUE, with coefficient of determination; r2 values of 0.92 and 0.56, respectively. Using the PCA technique, the integration of irrigation with the least amount of water (60% FAI) with biochar (20 t ha−1) and fertilizer (300 kg ha−1) produced the highest ranking on grain yield and water use efficiency. This optimization technique showed that with the adoption of the integrative approach, 40% of irrigation water could be saved for other agricultural purposes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forecasting of evapotranspiration (ET) in some water-stressed regions remains a major challenge due to the lack of reliable and sufficient historical datasets. For efficient water balance, ET remains the major component and its proper forecasting and quantifying is of the utmost importance. This study utilises the 18-year (2001 to 2018) MODIS ET obtained from a drought-affected irrigation scheme in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This study conducts a teleconnection evaluation between the satellite-derived evapotranspiration (ET) time series and other related remotely sensed parameters such as the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalised Difference Drought Index (NDDI), and precipitation (P). This comparative analysis was performed by adopting the Mann–Kendall (MK) test, Sequential Mann–Kendall (SQ-MK) test, and Multiple Linear Regression methods. Additionally, the ET detailed time-series analysis with the Keiskamma River streamflow (SF) and monthly volumes of the Sandile Dam, which are water supply sources close to the study area, was performed using the Wavelet Analysis, Breaks for Additive Seasonal and Trend (BFAST), Theil–Sen statistic, and Correlation statistics. The MODIS-obtained ET was then forecasted using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for a period of 5 years and four modelling performance evaluations such as the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R) were used to evaluate the model performances. The results of this study proved that ET could be forecasted using these two time-series modeling tools; however, the ARIMA modelling technique achieved lesser values according to the four statistical modelling techniques employed with the RMSE for the ARIMA = 37.58, over the ANN = 44.18; the MAE for the ARIMA = 32.37, over the ANN = 35.88; the MAPE for the ARIMA = 17.26, over the ANN = 24.26; and for the R ARIMA = 0.94 with the ANN = 0.86. These results are interesting as they give hope to water managers at the irrigation scheme and equally serve as a tool to effectively manage the irrigation scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Current Retina Journal / Güncel Retina Dergisi is the property of Anadolu Kitabevi Basim Yayim Medikal Turizm Kirtasiye Tic. Ltd. Sti. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study is an exploratory examination of the effect of the Ghana government's flagship program known as the One-Village-One-Dam (1V1D) initiative on the livelihoods of rural farmers in the five regions of Northern Ghana. A total of 15 constituencies proportionate to the number of constituencies in each of the five beneficiary regions were selected from the region. Data were collected from a total of 1585 respondents, comprising 785 from the control group and 800 from the treatment group. The survey focused on access to water, crop and livestock productivity, income generation, and overall well-being. Four main findings are reported. First, the results show differential effects of the 1V1D initiative. There was an increase in reliance on 1V1D dams for water, particularly in the Northern region, where challenges such as insufficient water storage and poor dam maintenance hindered their effectiveness for irrigation and livestock rearing. Second, the use of water from boreholes was more popular in the other parts of Northern Ghana. Third, the shallowness of most of the dams meant that they dried up during the dry season and, therefore, did not have a significant effect on crops and livestock productivity. Finally, the dams had a marginal effect on food security, income levels of the farmers, and consequently on their overall livelihoods. The findings of this exploratory study will provide insights to enrich further studies based on the second and third rounds of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As freshwater supplies decrease, adopting sustainable practices like water- and energy-efficient irrigation is crucial, particularly in resource-constrained regions. Here, farmers often cannot purchase precision irrigation equipment, which achieves high water and energy efficiencies via full automation. Currently, no irrigation methods exist that combine automatic scheduling of events with manual operation of valves, familiar hardware on low-income farms. This work synthesizes functional requirements for a tool that could address efficiency needs while integrating into current manual practices. Then, a design concept for an automatic scheduling and manual operation (AS-MO) human–machine interaction (HMI) that meets these requirements is proposed. Two design stages of the AS-MO HMI were evaluated by farmers and market stakeholders in three countries. Results show that farmers in Kenya and Jordan valued the proposed AS-MO HMI because they could increase efficiency on their farms without the cost or complexity of automatic valves. In Morocco, a possible market was found, but a majority of participants preferred full automation. Interviewees provided feedback on how to improve the tool's design in future iterations. If adopted at scale, the proposed AS-MO tool could increase efficiency on farms that otherwise cannot afford current precision irrigation technology, improving sustainable agriculture worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modelling at the basin scale offers crucial insights for policymakers as they make decisions regarding the optimal utilization of water resources. This study employed the MIKE HYDRO Basin model to analyse water demand and supply dynamics in the Parvati Basin of Rajasthan, India, for the period 2005–2020. The MIKE11 NAM model showcased strong alignment between simulated and observed runoff during both the calibration (NSE = 0.79, PBIAS = −2%, R2 = 0.79, RMSE = 4.95, RSR = 0.5, and KGE = 0.84) and validation (NSE = 0.67, PBIAS = −12.4%, R2 = 0.68, RMSE = 8.3, RSR = 0.62, and KGE = 0.67) phases. The MIKE HYDRO Basin model also exhibited excellent agreement between observed and simulated reservoir water levels, with R2, NSE, RMSE, PBIAS, RSR, and KGE values of 0.86, 0.81, 3.87, −2.30%, 0.43, and 0.88, respectively. The MIKE HYDRO Basin model was employed to create six distinct scenarios, considering conveyance efficiency, irrigation method, and conjunctive water use, to assess irrigation demands and deficits within the basin. In the initial simulation, featuring a conveyance efficiency of 45%, flood irrigation, and no groundwater utilization, the average water demand and deficit throughout the study period were estimated as 43.15 MCM and 3.45 MCM, respectively, resulting in a sustainability index of 0.506. Enhancing conveyance efficiency to 75% under flood irrigation and 5% conjunctive use could elevate the sustainability index to 0.92. Transitioning to sprinkler irrigation and a lift irrigation system could raise the system's sustainability index to 1. These developed models hold promise for real-time reservoir operation and irrigation planning across diverse climatic conditions and varying cropping patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morocco, like other arid and semi-arid countries, faces a growing water shortage, necessitating the exploration of alternative solutions. This study investigates the potential use of untreated urban wastewater for irrigation and environmental impact mitigation, focusing on El Jadida as a case study. Throughout the year 2023, from January to December, a comprehensive characterization of physico-chemical, heavy metal, and biological parameters of this unconventional water source was conducted to account for seasonal variations, particularly between rainy and sunny periods. Samples were collected at the inlet of the El Jadida wastewater pre-treatment plant (WWTP) to assess the city's net pollution levels. Results indicate high values for chemical oxygen demand (COD = 741 mg/L), biological oxygen demand (BOD5 = 344 mg/L), organic load (BOD5/COD ratio = 2.2), and biodegradability, suggesting a strong need for biological treatment. Despite compliance with discharge standards, concentrations of heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), and fluoride ions (F-) exceed Moroccan irrigation water quality thresholds by 90%, 66.7%, 21.8%, 33.3%, and 86.1%, respectively. Therefore, advanced chemical treatment is highly recommended to mitigate environmental impact and ensure safe reuse for irrigation. The novelty of this study lies in evaluating the suitability of El Jadida's wastewater for irrigation and environmental impact mitigation, underscoring the critical need for effective treatment solutions to enhance water sustainability in Morocco. Future research will focus on optimizing water treatment processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Under water stress conditions, intercropping can be used as a strategy for maximum use of sunlight and limited water resources. Due to the difference in morphological and physiological traits, the two plants corn and mung bean may be suitable for intercropping under drought stress; Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of drought stress on the physiological traits and yield of corn and mung beans in monocultures and intercropping in order to study the possibility of reducing water consumption in this production system. Materials and methods: An experiment was carried out as a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Ilam University during 2019-2020 growing season. The main plot were four water regimes including (40, 60, 80, and 100% of the plant's water requirement) and the subplots were include the planting pattern at four levels (additive intercropping series 100% corn + 50% mung bean, replacement intercropping series 50% corn + 50% mung bean and monocultures of mung bean and corn). The application of drought stress started after the establishment stage of the plant and continued until the harvest. At the end of the growth period, some physiological traits of both plants were measured, including photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, proline amount, leaf relative water content and grain yield. Finally, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using Minitab 14 and SAS 9.1 softwares and the means compared by HSD test at 5% probability level (p≤0.05). Results and discussion: The results showed the highest rate of photosynthesis (25.4 µmol CO2.m-2.s-1) was obtained in the treatment of 100% water requirement and the lowest rate of photosynthesis was obtained in 40% water requirement, which showed a decrease of 68.5% compared to the well-watered conditions. The rate of photosynthesis of corn in the replacement intercropping of 50% corn + 50% mung bean was 18.3% higher compared to monocultures corn. The highest rate of mung bean photosynthesis was observed in replacement intercropping under conditions of 100% water requirement and additive intercropping series under 80% water requirement, and the lowest rate of mung bean photosynthesis was observed in intercropping under conditions of 60 and 40% water requirement. Dehydration stress decreased the amount of total chlorophyll in mung beans and corn. The highest intercellular CO2 concentration (475.5 mmol of CO2.m-2.s-1) and the temperature of the corn leaf (36.7 °C) belonged to the 40% water requirement treatment. The rate of transpiration of corn and mung bean decreased by 55.56 and 61.43% in the condition of 40% water requirement compared to well-watered conditions. Water stress reduced the relative water content of corn and mung bean. The highest proline in corn and mung leaves (46.3 and 45.23 µmol.g-1.FW-1, respectively) was obtained in the treatment of 40% water requirement, which had no significant difference with 60% water requirement. Corn grain yield in the treatment of 40% water requirement showed a decrease of 52.76% compared to 100% water requirement. Monocultures (3945.8 kg.ha-1) and intercropping (3875.1 kg.ha-1) had the highest corn grain yield, and the lowest corn grain yield in replacement intercropping was 2700 kg ha-1. At all irrigation levels, the highest grain yield of mung bean was obtained in monocultures, and the yield decreased in additive and replacement intercropping, and additive intercropping had the lowest grain yield. The values of land equality ratio of all intercropping patterns were greater than one, which indicates the advantage of corn and mung bean intercropping patterns to use land and increase yield. Conclusion: Considering the occurrence of recent droughts in arid and semi-arid regions of the country and the need for forage in these regions, the cultivation of forage plants, especially corn, is inevitable. Therefore, one of the appropriate strategies to protection in management and water consumption is the intercropping of this plant with plants of the legume such as mung bean. Intercropping can partially moderate the effects of drought stress on plant water conditions. In general, it seems that the patterns of intercropping and substitution, due to having higher grain yield potential, is a suitable strategy for producing higher yield and stability of this plant compared to monocultural under well-watered and stress water. Acknowledgments: This research has been carried out using the research credits of Ilam University, by which we express our thanks and appreciation to the respected Assistance of Research and Technology of Ilam University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)