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Water scarcity is a global issue that presents significant challenges to sustainable development. Recent Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) evaluations revealed a concerning trend: more than half of agricultural water is wasted. The widespread use of manual irrigation systems, combined with diminishing water resources, necessitates efficient and effective irrigation methods. This study aims to address this issue by introducing a novel irrigation control system based on an Arduino mechanism. The goal of this research is to design and test an efficient and sustainable irrigation system that maximizes water usage, minimizes waste, and reduces electricity consumption. The study used an Arduino-controlled irrigation system equipped with soil moisture sensors. These sensors were strategically placed to monitor soil moisture levels and trigger irrigation when necessary. The system's performance was evaluated using a series of experimental trials on small and medium-sized farm plots. The system required approximately 20% less water than traditional manual irrigation methods. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in electricity consumption for water pumps, with an average 20% savings per year. The ease of integration into existing farm setups and the reduction in manual labor are also significant benefits. This system assists to conserve vital water resources and promotes sustainable agricultural development by optimizing water use and reducing electricity consumption. Practical Applications: This study demonstrates a low-cost automated irrigation system for small and medium-sized farms that uses an Arduino control system. The system uses soil moisture sensors to ensure that plants receive optimal water exactly when they need it, thereby improving water efficiency and plant health. The use of a control system provides flexible programming options, making it simple to expand and integrate new control features. The system's adaptability enables the simple integration of automation into existing farm setups, and the number of soil moisture sensors can be increased to cover larger farm areas. This intelligent irrigation solution not only conserves water resources but also reduces the amount of electricity required to power water pumps, resulting in lower operating costs and maintenance needs. Therefore, implementing the proposed automated control system can significantly reduce water usage, maintenance efforts, and electricity consumption, providing farmers with a long-term and efficient irrigation solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainwater harvesting systems (RWHs) are identified as an alternative technology that is important for sustainable stormwater management through reuse, conservation, and reduce runoff. In recent years there has been a growth of studies on the effectiveness of RWHs. However, analyses of the system performance based on the site specific conditions are still limited. The aim of the study was to assess of the potential for rainwater reuse (householder’s interest) and reduction of roof runoff by RWHs (an environment’s perspective) assumed in a single- family building. Two performance indicators have been calculated i.e. water saving potential (WSE) and overall efficiency (OE). Four realistic scenarios (S1–S4) and three main non-potable water requirements were defined. The results of the study showed that WSE and OE varied depending on the type and size of the tank, the economic purpose, and the amount and irregularity of precipitation. The potential for the use of water stored in above-ground tanks for plant watering ranged from 62 to 82%. Underground reservoirs, with a larger capacity, were able to cover water requirements for this purpose up to 100%. However, the OE of tanks receiving runoff from the entire roof area were at low levels. Values of OE ranged from 3.7 to 6.8%, from 5.5 to 9.2%, and from 42.9 to 71.0%, for above-ground (S1 and S2) and underground (S3) and (S4) tanks, respectively. The results of the study may be useful for planning domestic rainwater harvesting systems and for comparison with practices in other countries.

It is predicted that the majority of the world's population will live in cities in 2050. Rapid population growth in cities brings environmental problems. All these problems change the climate negatively. Changes and decreases in the precipitation regime due to climate change cause drought problems. Considering the world average, it is seen that 70% of usable water is consumed for irrigation purposes. Türkiye's average is 72%. As the development level of countries increases, water consumption for irrigation purposes decreases. It is known that a large amount of water consumed for irrigation purposes is used in green areas in urban landscaping works. For this reason, developed countries have started to apply techniques such as limited irrigation and rational use of water in their parks and gardens. They had to tend to use the less water consumed by plants in larger areas, reduce the usage areas of plants that consume more water, and use plants in planting areas by zoning them according to their water needs. The highest water consumption is from grass plants and seasonal flowers, which are indispensable for green areas in cities. Although the highest water consumption is in green areas where ornamental plants are used in urban areas, very few academic studies have been conducted on water shortage in ornamental plants. The purpose of this research; The aim of the study is to observe the change in the development parameters of the Antirrhinum majus plant, the most commonly used seasonal flower that causes excessive water consumption in green areas in cities, by subjecting it to restricted irrigation. In this context; Four different irrigation rates were applied: 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. 18 development parameters were examined to determine the effect of different irrigation applications. As a result of the research; It was observed that in Antirrhinum majus plant, 17 out of 18 growth parameters showed more development in 75% water application than in 100% water application. These results show that the 75% (25% reduction) application is more advantageous. When using the Antirrhinum majus plant in urban areas, it is recommended to reduce water by 25%. In this case, significant water savings will be achieved in the urban landscape. It is recommended that Antirrhinum majus plants, whose development is not affected by water shortages, are frequently used in urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to study the impact of microalgae fertilizer on soil nutrients, water conservation and crop yield and quality while also determining the optimal ratio of microalgae fertilizer to chemical fertilizer. Using "Xinoufen No.9" tomatoes as the test subject, we conducted pot experiments with four different treatments: control with 100% chemical fertilizer (CK), T1 (25% microalgae fertilizer + 75% regular chemical fertilizer), T2 (75% microalgae fertilizer + 25% regular chemical fertilizer) and T3 (100% microalgae fertilizer). The results show that an increased application of microalgae fertilizer enhanced the soil organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium content. T3 showed the most improvement followed by T2. The co-application of microalgae fertilizer with chemical fertilizer can significantly increase the stem girth, plant height and yield of tomatoes. At the same time, microalgae fertilizer effectively regulates leaf stomatal conductance, promoting tomato leaf respiration. As the stomatal conductance increases, the transpiration rate and net photosynthesis rate of all treatments improve, followed by a decline in intercellular CO2 concentration, with T2 exhibiting the best performance. Among all treatments, T2 treatment yielded the highest per-plant production (0.630 kg), followed by T3 (0.521 kg). This is because the microalgae fertilizer promotes the distribution of photosynthetic products to the fruit, enhancing the yield and quality of tomatoes. Additionally, the microalgae fertilizer also increases the content of soluble sugars, soluble protein, vitamin C and lycopene in the fruit while reducing the nitrate content. Compared to the control group CK, T2 increases the content of soluble sugars, vitamins and lycopene by 26.74%, 39.29% and 158.31%, respectively. Microalgae fertilizer also helps to improve soil water and thermal conditions, enhancing the water-use efficiency of tomatoes. Compared to CK, the water-use efficiency of T2 treatment increased by 54.05%. Correlation analysis indicates that water and fertilizer factors significantly affect tomato yield, with a correlation exceeding 70%. The net photosynthesis and transpiration rates significantly influence fruit quality, with correlations above 80%. By applying microalgae fertilizer, the efficiency of water and fertilizer use can be effectively improved, thus achieving the goal of water conservation and quality enhancement. Therefore, through comprehensive analysis, using the membership function method of indicators such as soil environment, crop yield, fruit quality and water-use efficiency, it is concluded that T2 is the optimal fertilization treatment. This study provides theoretical support for the application of microalgae biofertilizer technology in the cultivation of tomatoes and other vegetables in the northern, cold and arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality and quantity of drinking water are critical for the growth and health of pigs. Traditional bowl-type drinking fountains are associated with several issues, including the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria due to feed residue and water wastage resulting from pigs playing in the water. To address these issues and enhance piggery management, there is a need for innovative, water-saving, and hygienic smart drinking devices. This study aimed to address the shortcomings of traditional bowl-type drinking fountains by developing and evaluating an intelligent water-saving drinking bowl for pigs. We incorporated PLC control modules, water level detection, drinking recognition, and precise water quantity measurement into the intelligent drinking bowl. This system ensured the rational and accurate supply of water to pigs and features an automatic residue cleaning function within the bowl. To evaluate the impact of this intelligent drinking bowl on pig production performance, water consumption, drinking behavior and the hygienic quality of drinking water, we conducted an experiment involving 100 fattening pigs in good physiological condition, with an average body weight of 85.87 ± 15.80 kg. Then, the pigs were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: one with traditional drinking bowls and the other with intelligent drinking bowls. Each group had 5 replicates, with 10 pigs per replicate, and the entire experiment was conducted over a period of 35 days. Our results revealed that both types of bowls demonstrated two distinct peaks in drinking activity, occurring at approximately 09:00 and 15:00. When comparing the smart drinking bowl group to the traditional bowl group, the group using smart drinking bowls showed a 3% increase in daily weight gain, a 0.7% reduction in feed intake, and a 5% decrease in the feedto-weight ratio. However, none of these differences were statistically significant. Meanwhile, the two types of drinking bowls had no significant effect on the drinking behavior, such as the frequency and duration of drinking. Significant differences were noted in water consumption and wastage. The average daily water consumption was 11.14 ± 0.46 L/d for the traditional drinking bowl group and 10.05 ± 0.46 L/d for the intelligent drinking bowl group, with a highly significant difference (P < 0.01). Water wastage was 0.89 ± 0.13 L/d for the traditional bowl and 0.25 ± 0.13 L/d for the intelligent bowl, with a highly significant difference (P < 0.01). The intelligent drinking bowl reduced water wastage by 60.9% to 79.5% compared to the traditional bowl. Additionally, total coliform counts in the residual water were 83.00 ± 3.46 MPN/100 mL for the traditional drinking bowl group and 68.33 ± 4.04 MPN/100 mL for the intelligent drinking bowl, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). The total coliform bacteria count in residual water within smart drinking bowls used by fattening pigs was reduced by 16.3% to 19.2% compared to traditional drinking bowls. Economic analysis indicated that the cost savings from reduced water usage alone can offset the initial investment in smart drinking bowls within approximately one year. This study demonstrated that the intelligent drinking bowl effectively reduced water wastage and improved the hygienic quality of drinking water, thereby supporting better animal welfare and offering practical benefits for piggery management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether informative feedback on consumption can nudge water saving. We launched a five-month online information campaign which involved around 1,000 households located in the province of Milan (Italy) with a smart meter. A group of households received monthly reports via email on their per capita daily average water consumption, including a social comparison component. The Intention to Treat (ITT) analysis shows that, compared to a benchmark group, the units exposed to the intervention reduced their per capita water consumption by around 6% (25.8 liters per day or 6.8 gallons). Being able to observe the email opening rate, we find that the ITT effect is mainly driven by complying units. Through an Instrumental Variable approach, we estimated a Local Average Treatment Effect equal to 54.9 liters per day of water saving. A further Regression Discontinuity Design analysis shows that different feedback on consumption class size differentially affected water saving at the margin. We also found that the additional water saving increased with the number of monthly reports, though it did not persist two months after the campaign expired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Trakya Journal of Education is the property of Trakya Journal of Education 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.)

Current innovations in microalgae technology include the use of wastewater as a cultivation medium for renewable energy generation and wastewater treatment. In this study, thermal pyrolysis was performed on a co-culture of Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis grown in winery wastewater fed continuously into a membrane photobioreactor. The yield and composition of the reaction gases, reaction liquids, and solid residues collected at different reaction times and pyrolysis temperatures were compared with those of the same co-culture grown in its conventional medium. In general, the gaseous fraction resulted rich in combustible compounds. The highest yield in liquid products (55 %) was obtained by thermal pyrolysis of the co-culture grown in winery wastewater at 500 °C. Liquid fraction was made up of a mixture of oxygenated and nitrogenated compounds that are suitable as chemical intermediates and can therefore contribute to making the pyrolysis treatment economically feasible. For example, this fraction resulted particularly rich in crotonic acid, useful for the synthesis of copolymers (crotonic acid-vinyl acetate) and probably derived from the thermal cracking of polyhydroxy alkenoate. The results of this study suggest that thermal pyrolysis may be a good strategy to recover the energy potential of microalgae co-cultures used to treat wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is used for various religious purposes, including ablution for billions of Muslims around the world. Water savings in ablution can make a positive contribution towards achieving the water-related sustainable development goals (SDGs). A survey-based study was conducted at St Mary's Mosque in Sydney, Australia, to understand the water usage during ablution and how water can be saved by Muslims in mosques. It has been found that the participants of the survey use 4 to 8 L of water to perform one ablution. About 82% of the participants are careful about saving water in ablution. It has also been found that about 70% of the participants believe that wastage of water during ablution is 'haram' (unlawful). Some 95% of the participants believe that religious motivation can play a significant role in saving water during ablution, and Imams can make a notable positive difference by encouraging their followers to save water during ablution. It has also been found that 64% of the participants are willing to use harvested rainwater for ablution. The findings of this study will help Muslims in Australia and around the globe to save water and contribute to the circular economy, as saving potable water (by reducing water use during ablution and using harvested rainwater at the source of water collection) saves energy and encourages responsible consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Sciences Studies is the property of Social Sciences Studies 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.)

Rainwater harvesting systems (RWHs) are identified as an alternative technology that is important for sustainable stormwater management through reuse, conservation, and reduce runoff. In recent years there has been a growth of studies on the effectiveness of RWHs. However, analyses of the system performance based on the site specific conditions are still limited. The aim of the study was to assess of the potential for rainwater reuse (householder's interest) and reduction of roof runoff by RWHs (an environment's perspective) assumed in a singlefamily building. Two performance indicators have been calculated i.e. water saving potential (WSE) and overall efficiency (OE). Four realistic scenarios (S1-S4) and three main non-potable water requirements were defined. The results of the study showed that WSE and OE varied depending on the type and size of the tank, the economic purpose, and the amount and irregularity of precipitation. The potential for the use of water stored in above-ground tanks for plant watering ranged from 62 to 82%. Underground reservoirs, with a larger capacity, were able to cover water requirements for this purpose up to 100%. However, the OE of tanks receiving runoff from the entire roof area were at low levels. Values of OE ranged from 3.7 to 6.8%, from 5.5 to 9.2%, and from 42.9 to 71.0%, for above-ground (S1 and S2) and underground (S3) and (S4) tanks, respectively. The results of the study may be useful for planning domestic rainwater harvesting systems and for comparison with practices in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-saving irrigation (WI) is a crucial agricultural management with the benefits to save irrigation water, reduce energy consumption, and suppress methane emissions from paddy lands. Classifying WI practices from traditional flooding irrigation (FI) is a key component in detecting the rice irrigation status, which is significant to estimate the total agriculture-associated greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we developed an automatic method to map irrigation regimes across Chinese paddy lands. First, we used seven variables related with irrigation facility or vegetation cover as proxy to generate representative WI and FI samples. Besides, we composited 123 features of optical bands and synthetic aperture radar from MODIS and Sentinel-1 data. Then, we trained a random forest model for each province with these samples. Finally, we applied the trained model to generate maps of WI/FI practices at 500 m resolution. Comparisons of the resultant maps with census data indicated highly accurate estimations of the WI area at a city- or province-level, with a R2 higher than 0.92. The overall accuracy of the classification was approximately 0.73, as validated through ground truth samples. Additionally, we also conducted a data quality analysis and confirmed the classification results were reliable in main rice production area of China. With the push towards carbon neutrality goals and the increasing demand for clean management practices, we developed and demonstrated an advanced method to produce near real-time maps of irrigation regimes and provide crucial data support for agricultural emissions reduction and irrigation management decisions.

Addressing agricultural water scarcity poses a current challenge of growing concern, exacerbated by climate change. This is particularly relevant for stone fruit trees, such as apricot, cultivated in semi-arid zones, where regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies are gaining attention to tackle the challenge. The RDI method involves optimizing various factors based on how the plant responds physiologically to indicators of its water needs. Among these indicators, water potential is considered the most reliable and influential measure. For numerous apricot varieties and diverse geographic locations, research consistently shows that implementing water reduction strategies during non-critical developmental stages of floral bud development or fruit growth does not significantly impact crop yield. However, it does lead to reduced vegetative growth, which could offer additional benefits in crop management. Furthermore, the implementation of RDI strategies leads to advantageous improvements in fruit quality, particularly storage capacity and morphometric and chemical fruit characteristics, such as total soluble solids content. This scoping review study suggests that RDI is a feasible strategy to address water scarcity in apricot cultivation; however, further studies focused on continuous water monitoring alternatives are necessary to optimize RDI techniques. Future research should prioritize optimizing RDI for different growth stages, exploring advanced technologies for precise implementation, and assessing environmental impacts, while addressing research gaps including the influence of climate variability and the interaction with other agronomic practices, to refine RDI strategies and enhance apricot orchard sustainability and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to study the ability to deploy concentrated solar energy systems, specifically the solar power tower in Jordan, to promote the development of Jordan by utilizing the abundant solar radiation present in the region and taking advantage of available open spaces. This work used the SAM software to conduct a simulation for the Gemasolar power plant located in Spain, in the south of Jordan. Three different cooling systems were implemented. The application of this plant aims to utilize the benefits of energy storage through molten salt, enabling energy production in the absence of sunlight. It was also found that implementing the Gemasolar plant in the southern region of Jordan increases energy production by 8.1% compared to its implementation in Spain, highlighting the success of this system in Jordan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbic Acid (AsA) is a water-soluble antioxidant that makes plants resistant to environmental stresses by neutralizing free radicals. However, it is unknown to what extent this antioxidant may help Improve Irrigation Water Use Efficiency (IWUE) and reduce the adverse effects of water deficit on mung bean growth and yield. In an attempt to clarify whether exogenous application of this antioxidant could alleviate the adverse effects of water deficit on mung bean plants, two seasons (2019 and 2020) of field experiments were conducted using twelve combinations of three AsA levels (distilled water as a control and 10 and 20 mM of AsA) and four irrigation water amounts (25, 50, 75, and 100% of the plant water requirement). Based on the results, the maximum IWUE was obtained with W50AsA50 in the two seasons. The beneficial effect of AsA application on IWUE was determined under water stress conditions (W50). High water deficit (W50) plus applying 50 mM ascorbic acid, i.e. W(50)AsA(50) treatment, improved seed yield about 43.7% as in the two seasons compared to high water deficit without ascorbic acid, i.e. W(50)AsA(0). In 2019 and 2020, water saving in W(50)AsA(20) compared to the control, was equal to 50% (2,550 and 2,500 m3 ha-1, respectively). In W(50)AsA(20) treatment, the increase of seed yield ranged between 79-107% in both seasons. Thus, the results reveal the potency of AsA to save water under low water supply and increase yield in mung bean fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regions where water is a limited resource, lettuce production can be challenging. To address this, water management strategies like deficit irrigation are used to improve water-use efficiency in agriculture. Associating this strategy with silicon (Si) application could help maintain adequate levels of agricultural production even with limited water availability. Two lettuce crop cycles were conducted in a completely randomized design, with a factorial scheme (2 × 3), with three irrigation levels (60%, 80% and 100%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and with and without Si application. To explore their combined effects, morphological, productive, physiological and nutritional parameters were evaluated in the crops. The results showed that deficit irrigation and Si application had a positive interaction: lettuce yield of the treatment with 80% ETc + Si was statistically similar to 100% ETc without Si in the first cycle, and the treatment with 60% ETc + Si was similar to 100% ETc without Si in the second cycle. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, transpiration rate and total chlorophyll content increased under water-stress conditions with Si application; in the first cycle, the treatment with 80% ETc + Si increased by 30.1%, 31.3%, 7.8%, 28.46% and 50.3% compared to the same treatment without Si, respectively. Si application in conditions of water deficit was also beneficial to obtain a cooler canopy temperature and leaves with higher relative water content. In conclusion, we found that Si applications attenuate water deficit effects and provide a strategy to ameliorate the yield and water productivity in lettuce crops, contributing to more sustainable practices in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable frequent drought periods in Vojvodina region (the southeastern part of the Pannonian Plain, Serbia), severely limit maize (Zea mays L.) production under rainfed conditions. A four-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of sprinkler deficit irrigation and plant density on yield and water use efficiency of maize grown on silty clay loam soil under temperate continental climate. The experiment included fully irrigated crop (I1), three deficit irrigation treatments (I2, I3 and I4 corresponding to 80, 50 and 40 % of crop evapontranspiration, respectively) and non-irrigated treatment (I0), and three plant densities (LPD: 54,900 plants ha–1; MPD: 64,900 plants ha–1; HPD: 75,200 plants ha–1) in four replicates. The results showed that grain yield, CWP (crop water productivity) and IWP (irrigation water productivity) varied significantly with irrigation amounts, plant densities and seasons. The irrigation rates and plant density interact significantly. MPD and HPD differed significantly from LPD in almost all seasons. With increasing irrigation and plant density, yield and CWP showed an increasing trend. The relative values of IWP increased with the rise of plant density and decreased with the amount of irrigation. The highest four-year average yield (15.03 t ha–1) was obtained in the I1-HPD treatment, while the lowest (9.30 t ha–1) was obtained in the I0-HPD treatment. The highest average values of CWP and IWP were recorded at I3-HPD or/and I2-HPD. The lowest CWP and IWP values were determined for I4-HPD and I4-MPD, respectively. In the pedo-climatic conditions of Vojvodina and similar regions, we recommend growing maize under the I1-HPDtreatment to achieve high yields. Under the water shortage conditions, the application of I2-HPD treatment is a favorable strategy saving 37 % of irrigation water, while reducing maize grain yield by ∼10 %.

This study presents a novel method for selecting irrigation canals for rehabilitation based on implementation priorities. The method integrates factors such as canal condition, water demand, environmental considerations, and socioeconomic aspects to identify canals that require immediate attention. The study outlines a step-by-step process and discusses its potential benefits in guiding decision-making for effective canal rehabilitation programs. The methodology explores beneficiaries' satisfaction with their canal performance and applies the “project execution priority index” concept to the network of understudy irrigation canals. Results show that only one of the 11 canals with the highest priority was rehabilitated, while five were executed despite being included in the second priority. Three canals were implemented, and these canals deserve the third priority, indicating the success of the “Project Execution Priority Index” concept in prioritizing field implementation processes. This approach can guide decision-making for effective canal rehabilitation programs and improve the current situation.

Humanity is currently facing one of its greatest challenges a shortage of renewable and accessible water resources. One of the best and most cost-effective solutions for sustainable water resource utilization is rainwater harvesting system (RWS). Rooftops of buildings can act as water micro-catchment surfaces and store rainwater before it turns into runoff losses. In order to investigate the potential of rainwater conservation and recycling, in this study, the feasibility of utilizing rainwater harvesting from rooftops of public and large buildings of Ahvaz city was evaluated. To achieve the goal, we utilized annual precipitation data, the Statistical Yearbook of the Ahvaz Metropolitan Area, and satellite imagery from Google Earth. Large buildings were categorized into 6 groups, and the total rooftop area suitable for implementing a rainwater harvesting system was estimated. It was calculated that approximately 222,708 m3 of rainwater could be harvested annually from the rooftops of these buildings. The volume of harvestable water was distributed among different building categories, with industrial sites having the largest share, followed by governmental offices and educational centers. The results form the Sotnikova equations showed that by help of RWS could meet 11.42% of Ahvaz's industrial water demand, leading to a reduction in dependency on external water sources and economic savings. Recycled rainwater could supply up to 34.56% of the water demand for urban parks in Ahvaz.

[Objective] The aim of this study was to reveal the pattern of change of water resource efficiency in cascade hydropower development, in order to improve the water resource efficiency of cascade hydropower development and promote water-saving development. [Methods] We employed the panel data of 22 hydropower development basins in China from 1996 to 2020, including 331 large and medium-sized hydropower stations. Using fixed effects and moderating effects models, this study analyzed the impact of the cascade hydropower development scale on its water resource efficiency, and tested the moderating mechanism of the development mode in the process. [Results] This research found that: (1) With the increase of cascade hydropower development scale, water resource efficiency showed a U-shaped trend of decreasing first and then increasing. (2) For the U-shaped correlation between cascade hydropower development scale and water resource efficiency, intensive development mode and diverse development mode all had a positive moderating effect, and diverse development mode showed a stronger positive moderating effect. (3) There was a positive correlation between basin water resource endowment and water resource efficiency of cascade hydropower development, and the diverse development mode was more conducive to strengthening this positive correlation when comparing with the intensive development mode. [Conclusion] These results prove that watershed cascade hydropower development can save water, but only when the development scale exceeds the threshold of 59%, the water-saving effect is stable and obvious. In order to promote water-saving development, intensive development mode should be implemented in the initial stage of cascade development, the diverse development mode should be implemented when the development scale exceeds the threshold, and the diverse development mode is more suitable for the rivers where water resource is scarce.

The effects of the co-location of energy production from a photovoltaic (PV) plant and aromatic crops (thyme, oregano, and Greek mountain tea) in a hot and dry environment have been investigated in Enel Green Power PV plant located in Kourtesi (Greece). The study was aimed at evaluating the influence of the PV plant on microclimate, on soil temperature and water potential, and on the crops' growth in a testing area (the corridors between two modules rows) compared to a full sunlight control area. The net radiation and of the wind speed recorded in the testing area showed a 44% and 38% reduction respectively, compared to the control area, while air temperature and relative humidity did not show any difference. Among crop/soil monitored parameters, cumulative reference evapotranspiration (ET0) and the average soil temperature were found 29% and 8% lower in the testing area, conversely the soil water potential (SWP) was 34% higher compared to control area. No significant differences in the plant growth have been detected between testing and control areas, except for oregano whose weight was higher in testing area. The results suggest that in hot and dry climatic conditions, the reduction of climatic stress could compensate the decrease of photosynthesis due to the shading effect of the PV modules, thus not damaging crops' growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water management requires the participation of individuals who still seem to be reluctant to perform water-saving behaviours. Considering their country-specific water contexts, we analyse whether individuals' water-saving behaviours depend on their resistance to change. Argentines and Spaniards (n = 1068) participated in two online surveys conducted using two panels and individuals whom interviewers recruited. Both resistance to change and perceived risk positively and significantly affect individuals' water-saving behaviours. By contrast, the country of origin does not moderate water-saving behaviours. We discuss these findings' scholarly and water policy implications at the national and supranational levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the growing disparity between the supply and demand of water resources, the Chinese government has piloted a more binding and reformed water resources tax to realize the sustainable utilization of water resources. However, reasonable tax standards and their water-saving effects and economic benefits are important and worthy of attention. Therefore, in this study, we combine the virtual water theory with the price input–output model to discuss the impact of water resources taxation on the economy and its water-saving effects. The results show the following: (1) A water resources tax has a significant water-saving effect, and is predicted to save 33.12 billion cubic meters of virtual water. (2) Consumers' expected reductions in spending on food and tobacco manufacturing and agriculture are predicted to save more virtual water at a lower economic cost. (3) The collection of water resources taxes can actively and simultaneously guide water savings in terms of consumption and production. The water consumption of the construction industry is worthy of attention. The expected output value reduction accounts for 67.2% of the total output value reduction, and its water savings account for 96% of the total water savings. Other service sectors also have ample room to optimize the utilization of their water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) modules have emerged as a promising technology in the realm of sustainable energy solutions, specifically in the harnessing of solar energy. Photovoltaic modules, which use solar energy to generate electricity, are often used on terrestrial platforms. In recent years, there has been an increasing inclination towards the installation of photovoltaic (PV) modules over water surfaces, including lakes, reservoirs, and even oceans. The novel methodology introduces distinct benefits and complexities, specifically pertaining to the thermal characteristics of the modules. In order to accomplish this objective, a photovoltaic (PV) module system with a capacity of 1 MW was developed as a scenario in the PVsyst Program. The scenario simulation was conducted on the Mamasın Dam, situated in the Gökçe village within the Aksaray province. To conduct the efficiency analysis, a comparative evaluation was conducted between bifacial and monofacial modules, which were installed from above the water at 1 m. The comparison was made considering two different types of modules. Additionally, the albedo effect, water saving amount, and CO2 emissions of the system were also investigated. Albedo measurements were made in summer when the PV power plant will operate most efficiently. As a result of the simulations, it was found that bifacial modules produce 12.4% more energy annually than monofacial modules due to the albedo effect. It is estimated that PV power plant installation will save 19,562.695 and 17,253.475 tons of CO2 emissions in bifacial and monofacial systems, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has resulted in enormous achievements, which can be evidenced by the wide area of applications and the steady increase in the market share of LIBs. LIBs have emerged as the dominant force in the battery industry, driven by the global shift toward electric transportation. This surge in demand for LIBs has prompted exploration of alternative strategies to reduce the cost of LIB production. In line with this goal, here, a successful upscaling of the Spontaneous Exothermic Process (SEP), to a pilot plant implementation, is reported. The progressive procedure to prepare LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 cathode active involves several key steps: the dissolution of precursors in water, an exothermic reaction of the dissolved precursors within a high-temperature conveyor furnace, a subsequent ball milling stage, and culminating in calcination. Moreover, an extensive techno-economic assessment has been carried out, which reveals that the SEP methodology boasts exceptional efficiency in terms of time, cost, and energy. This techno-economic analysis demonstrates the advantages of SEP, highlighting its potential to disrupt the market with its quick reaction time (< 1 min), 100% reaction efficiency, less than 2L of water usage for 1 kg of cathode production, and cost-effectiveness. In essence, the SEP approach emerges as a potent catalyst poised to make significant contributions to the advancement and expansion of LIB manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 Engineer Military Bulletin / Muszaki Katonai Közlöny is the property of National University of Public Service 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.)

Irrigated agriculture from now on should be implemented under water scarcity. Hence, this research was designed to determine the optimal interaction between irrigation water-rationing strategy (deficit irrigation), irrigation techniques, and soil mulching to improve water use efficiency and maintaining plant performance as well as yield productivity of tomatoes. The experiment was set up during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 growing seasons. Three factors were studied: two drip irrigation techniques, surface (SI) and subsurface (SSI) irrigation, and two irrigation rates, 100% ETc for full irrigation (FI) and 60% ETc for deficit-irrigation (DI) along with three treatments of soil mulching, bare soil (BS), organic mulch (OrM) and black polyethylene mulch (BPE). The results demonstrated that applying the absolute regular DI regime significantly reduced vegetative growth, fruit yield, and yield component along with water productivity. Also, it reduced the physiological function measures, and nutrient content of the tomato leaf. Meanwhile, applying the DI regime via the SSI technique and integrated with BPE soil mulching proved the best optimization of the DI negative effect followed by applying the DI regime through either SSI or SI technique combined with OrM or BPE soil mulching, respectively. As a result, it is advisable to use the integration of DI via the SSI accompanied by BPE soil mulching since this is considered a good method for conserving irrigation water from being lost by both evaporation and seepage out of the root zone improving water use efficiency without significantly reducing tomato yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red radish is a nutritious root vegetable crop that has a short production cycle. Water deficit limits plant productivity, affecting its quantity and quality. Compost amendment offers a potential solution to mitigate water deficit effects. This study assessed the impact of compost manure rates (0%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and irrigation treatments (40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of evapotranspiration) on 'Crimson Giant' red radish production. Significant differences in growth and quality were observed among these treatments. Compost rates of 75% and 100% improved leaf gas exchange, plant growth (leaf count, fresh weight, dry weight, and area; stem length), root development, total yield (root fresh weight, dry weight, diameter, and length), and root quality (vitamin C and total soluble solid and titratable acidity). The 100% compost and 100% irrigation combination achieved the highest yields. Under water deficit, applying 75% or 100% compost with 80% irrigation conserved 20% of water while maintaining radish output. Overall, compost amendment effectively enhanced red radish growth and production under water deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diversitas Journal is the property of Diversitas 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 News of Kazakhstan Science / Novosti nauki Kazahstana is the property of NCSTE (JSC National Center for State Scientific and Technical Evaluations) 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.)

Amidst increasing water resource instability in various regions, the necessity for water demand-side management (WDM) to ensure sustainable water use has grown. Recent advancements in technology have revealed the potential of various methodologies. This study examined the effect of financial incentives in the form of rebates for water conservation and nudges using a public goods approach, as well as a combination of the two, on water-saving behaviors, assuming a temporary water resource shortage. We utilized visual nudges as an intrinsic motivation recognizing water as a public good. The findings revealed that financial incentives reduced water usage in low-consumption households but had no discernible effect in high-consumption households. Although financial incentive and nudge were not synergistic, they showed negative interaction effects in high-consumption households. Participants from low-consumption households conserved water to save money on their water bills, with their already low water consumption likely due to their desire to keep their bills low. Consequently, a financial incentive in the form of a rebate for water conservation might further decrease water use. In a follow-up experiment to determine the cognitive mechanism, economic interventions like raising water tariffs significantly increased the motivation of low-consumption households to reduce their future water use. Recognizing the complexity of effective WDM, further accumulation of knowledge is needed for effective WDM.

Study region: Beijing Region Study focus: Limited studies have yet been done on regionalization of multi-performances of rainwater harvesting systems (RHS). In this study, the daily rainfall records from 77 stations are used, and a hydro-economic model is adopted to examine regional water saving, stormwater control and economic performances of RHS by proposing a regionalization approach. New hydrological insights for the region: Higher water saving efficiency (WSE) and reliability (R) of RHS are linked with lower water demand, larger tank size and greater rainfall conditions. Differently, higher stormwater capture efficiency (SCE) is related to higher water demand, larger tank size and lower rainfall. The WSE and R of RHS demonstrate substantial regional differences; their maximized obtainable values closely depend on water demand scenarios and range from 9% to 99%, with smaller values in western mountain area but larger values in northeast suburban and central urban areas. The maximum obtainable values of SCE range from 61% to 100%, with higher values in western mountain area, but lower values in northeast suburban and central urban areas. A 10 m3 tank size can provide the highest benefit-cost ratio of RHS across the Beijing region. The regionalization approach proposed is a useful guidance for the implementation of RHS and sustainable urban water management, and thus it has the potential for wide uses in other regions with high rainfall gradients.

Water-saving irrigation is becoming more important in the upper Yellow River basin (YRB) due to reduced water allocation and growing water scarcity. However, drip irrigation as an efficient irrigation method, has not gained as much acceptance as one might expect. In this study, integrated approaches involving field experiments, agro-ecosystem modeling, and financial analysis were proposed to evaluate the multiple benefits of two irrigation methods. Field experiments on maize irrigated with border irrigation and drip irrigation under plastic mulching (i.e., BI-M and DI-M) were conducted in the Hetao Irrigation District (Hetao) of the upper YRB during 2021 and 2022. The AHC model was calibrated and validated using two-year experimental data, performing well in simulations of soil water-salt-nitrogen (N) dynamics and crop growth. An irrigation scheduling module was newly incorporated into AHC. Then the model was applied to analyze scenarios consisting of three classes of groundwater depth (GWD) and five N application levels. Optimal irrigation and N-fertilization strategies were suggested; and DI-M showed significant advantages over BI-M in terms of water-saving (56–66 mm), labor-saving, environmental benefits (50 kg ha−1 less N fertilizer and 19–25 kg ha−1 less N loss), and crop yields (

A water-saving cooling tower was proposed in the power plant to save water resources. In this paper, the multiphase flow model and the species transport model in FLUENT software are used to simulate the condensation process of wet air, and the performance of the water-saving device is studied. Comparing the experimental results with the simulation results, the relative error of the cooling tower outlet temperature is 0.15%, and the relative error of the cooling tower outlet humidity is 4.65%. We use the mixture model in the multiphase flow model and the species transport model to consider the wet air as a mixture of air and water vapor and ignore the effect of the liquid film on heat transfer. This modeling approach enables the study of humidity variations in wet air condensation and is suited for studying cooling tower water-saving devices. The study results show that an optimum channel length gives the device the best water-saving performance, with a relative channel length of 0.6. In addition, decreasing the cold air inlet temperature by 12 K reduces the cooling tower outlet humidity by 1 g/kg, while increasing the cold air inlet velocity by 6 m/s leads to a reduction in the cooling tower outlet humidity by 1 g/kg.

ABSTRACTThe decreasing in water availability due to climate change can affect agricultural production. The water shortage problem led to the development of several water saving techniques. One of the waters saving techniques in irrigation is the partial root-zone drying (PRD) method. Tow field experiments accompanied by a modeling study were carried out during seasons 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, respectively, using four deficit irrigation strategies [FI (100% of full irrigation), DI1 (0.75FI), DI2 (0.5FI) where water was supplied to both sides of the mango trees and DI3 (Partial Root-zone Drying, PRD = 0.5FI) where water was supplied to a single side of each tree in an alternating manner)]. The four irrigation methods were designated as the study’s major plots. Then, for the purpose of adding compost, each main plot was divided into four smaller plots [NC (No-Compost), C12 (12 ton ha−1), C18 (18 ton ha−1) and C24 (24 ton ha−1)] to investigate the effects of such treatments on increasing water productivity, yield, and the quality of mango fruits. The results indicated that adding compost with PRD irrigation method decreased water stress throughout the root zone and increased the yield, water productivity and fruit quality. Compost addition C24 (24 ton ha−1) with PRD irrigation increased the amount of soil organic matter and microorganism activity when compared to other treatments. Additionally, C24 treatment improved mango quality under both FI and PRD treatments, the PRD technique enhanced fruit yields by 3.8% and 7.3% and water productivity by 51.6% and 53.8% for 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively, compared to FI, while reducing the applied irrigation water by 50% for each season. In comparison to other irrigation strategies, the PRD strategy had shown superior outcomes in enhancing the yield, water productivity, and quality of mango yield. With the use of compost “C24” as organic matter fertilizer, PRD proved to be an effective dual technique to save water and increase productivity. Under both current and future water scarcity caused by climate change, it could be a successful adaptation technique. The SALTMED model produced accurate simulations of the soil moisture content, mango production, and water productivity during the two seasons.

We aim to study the impact of microalgae fertilizer on soil nutrients, water conservation and crop yield and quality while also determining the optimal ratio of microalgae fertilizer to chemical fertilizer. Using “Xinoufen No.9” tomatoes as the test subject, we conducted pot experiments with four different treatments: control with 100% chemical fertilizer (CK), T1 (25% microalgae fertilizer + 75% regular chemical fertilizer), T2 (75% microalgae fertilizer + 25% regular chemical fertilizer) and T3 (100% microalgae fertilizer). The results show that an increased application of microalgae fertilizer enhanced the soil organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium content. T3 showed the most improvement followed by T2. The co-application of microalgae fertilizer with chemical fertilizer can significantly increase the stem girth, plant height and yield of tomatoes. At the same time, microalgae fertilizer effectively regulates leaf stomatal conductance, promoting tomato leaf respiration. As the stomatal conductance increases, the transpiration rate and net photosynthesis rate of all treatments improve, followed by a decline in intercellular CO2 concentration, with T2 exhibiting the best performance. Among all treatments, T2 treatment yielded the highest per-plant production (0.630 kg), followed by T3 (0.521 kg). This is because the microalgae fertilizer promotes the distribution of photosynthetic products to the fruit, enhancing the yield and quality of tomatoes. Additionally, the microalgae fertilizer also increases the content of soluble sugars, soluble protein, vitamin C and lycopene in the fruit while reducing the nitrate content. Compared to the control group CK, T2 increases the content of soluble sugars, vitamins and lycopene by 26.74%, 39.29% and 158.31%, respectively. Microalgae fertilizer also helps to improve soil water and thermal conditions, enhancing the water-use efficiency of tomatoes. Compared to CK, the water-use efficiency of T2 treatment increased by 54.05%. Correlation analysis indicates that water and fertilizer factors significantly affect tomato yield, with a correlation exceeding 70%. The net photosynthesis and transpiration rates significantly influence fruit quality, with correlations above 80%. By applying microalgae fertilizer, the efficiency of water and fertilizer use can be effectively improved, thus achieving the goal of water conservation and quality enhancement. Therefore, through comprehensive analysis, using the membership function method of indicators such as soil environment, crop yield, fruit quality and water-use efficiency, it is concluded that T2 is the optimal fertilization treatment. This study provides theoretical support for the application of microalgae biofertilizer technology in the cultivation of tomatoes and other vegetables in the northern, cold and arid regions.

Plastic mulches play an important role in reducing water consumption. An experiment was conducted at Research Greenhouse, Razi University, Iran. The experiment was a completely randomized design with three treatments and three replications. Plants used for testing were barley and oat. Treatments included control (without plastic mulch), transparent plastic mulch with half coverage and plastic mulch with almost full coverage. This study aimed at determining the percentage of the plastic cover that had the highest dry matter production and water use efficiency. Results showed that treatment of plastic mulch with almost full coverage had the lowest water consumption and the treatment without the plastic mulch had the highest water consumption. The treatment of barley with full coverage had a water-saving of almost 40 percent compared to control. Water use efficiencies for both plants treated with almost full coverage were highest among treatments. There was no significant difference between plastic mulch treatments in terms of leaf relative water content, fresh and dry weight of stem, fresh and dry weight of leaves, plant height, and leaf area in oat and barley. In this way, by applying a coating on the soil surface and preventing the loss of soil moisture, water consumption can be significantly reduced, while the dry matter produced is not reduced.