Trace metal enrichments in soil and native maize (Zea mays L.) in Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve was analyzed due to its direct relation with food security. pH and organic matter (OM) content were obtained in soil, concentrations trace metals were determined in agricultural soil and plant collected from 10 maize plots using ICP-OES. Soil contamination was evaluated using contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), and geoaccumulation index (Igeo), plant contamination was evaluated using bioconcentration factor (BCF). Soils characteristics indicates higher pH values (8–8.9), which favors metal’s translocation from soil > plant. Mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Cr (soil: 0.02–0.04; plant: 0–0.01), Fe (soil: 0.77–1.17; plant: 0–0.40), and Zn (soil: 0–0.01; plant: 0–0.01) were within the FAO/WHO and Mexican government soil standards. CF values were classified as “low contamination,” however, Cd, Mn, and Fe indicates “medium contamination” in maize crops. EF values of metals in farmlands were recorded as “lower enrichment values.” BCF showed accumulation of trace metals (especially Fe and Mn) in roots, which acts as a binding element for other trace metals, where OM is low. Overall results in this study suggest that the selected trace metals in the agricultural soils and plant have no appreciable threat to food safety.

This research investigates the quality of water supplied to Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia. The city gets water from 3 springs and 12 dug wells. Fifteen samples were collected from these water sources in the dry and wet seasons and examined according to standard procedures to determine their physicochemical and bacteriological qualities. The mean values of physicochemical parameters (dry and wet seasons) measured include: temperature (26.047 ± 0.71°C and 20.527 ± 0.586°C), pH (7.03 ± 0.58 and 7.13 ± 0.476), electrical conductivity (197 ± 53.78 and 119.144 ± 35.85 µs/cm), total dissolved solid (129.67 ± 34.87 and 70.97 ± 21.48 mg/L), fluoride (0.54 ± 0.263 and 0.21 ± 0.108 mg/L), phosphate (0.544 ± 0.214 and 0.47 ± 0.292 mg/L), nitrate ions (3.16 ± 0.897 and 3.12 ± 1.278 mg/L), total alkalinity (119.22 ± 41.254 and 127.49 ± 32.829 mg/L as CaCO₃), and total hardness (47.6 ± 20.797 and 41.47 ± 24.46 mg/L as CaCO₃) were safe and within the range of WHO and Ethiopian acceptable drinking water quality standards. The mean turbidity (3.37 ± 3.27 NTU) in the dry season was in the permissible limit of Ethiopia and WHO, but the mean turbidity in the wet season (6.88 ± 2.67 NTU) was above the drinking water guideline of WHO and Ethiopia. The bacteriological analyses of mean fecal coliform (10.6 ± 10.01 and 3.2 ± 2.344 CFU/100 mL) and total coliforms (56.8 ± 74.08 CFU/100 mL, too numerous to count CFU/100 mL) in the dry and wet seasons were beyond the WHO and Ethiopian permissible limit. This indicates that the water sources are not safe and consumers are at risk. Therefore, the water sources require treatment before it is distributed to the consumers.

Lakes are essential to global freshwater systems, supporting ecosystem services and ecological processes, but they are increasingly impacted by climate change and human activities. This study examined the long-term dynamics of Lakes Abaya and Chamo in the Ethiopian Rift Valley using Landsat images, altimetry-derived lake level data, and a machine learning method within Google Earth Engine, specifically a Multi-Index-based Random Forest (MIRF) classifier. The MIRF classifier achieved high accuracy, ranging from 97.58% to 99.13%, in extracting lake surface water. Substantial fluctuations in lake areas and lake levels were observed: Lake Abaya’s area decreased from 2000 to 2005 at a rate of 6.67 km²/year, then expanded until 2022 at the same increasing rate; Lake Chamo’s area decreased from 2000 to 2010 at a rate of 1.62 km²/year, then expanded until 2022 at a rate of 2.88 km²/year. The correlation analysis between lake areas and environmental factors such as Rainfall (RF), Temperature (TEMP), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Groundwater Storage (GWS), Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS), and Soil Moisture (SM) revealed important associations. For Lake Abaya, strong correlations were identified with NDVI and TWS, suggesting that vegetation cover and terrestrial water significantly influence its area changes. In contrast, for Lake Chamo, NDVI emerged as the key driver, indicating that vegetation dynamics play a crucial role in the lake’s fluctuations. Furthermore, higher-order polynomial regression models were developed to better capture the complex relationships between lake area and water levels for both lakes. In general, this study integrates remote sensing, machine learning, and cloud computing, offering valuable insights into the lakes’ long-term characteristic and providing critical information for future water resource management strategies.

Evaluating the existing irrigation system efficiency and proposing corrective actions are crucial for enhancing irrigation scheme performance. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ethana small-scale irrigation (SSI) scheme using a set of selected indicators. Relevant data were collected from field measurements and various documents. The scheme’s performance was evaluated by determining water delivery, as well as internal and physical indicators. Flow rates at various off-takes (head, middle, and tail sections of the scheme) were recorded using a current meter and a 2″ Parshall flume. CROPWAT 8.0 computer software was used to determine water demand of selected crops. Data analysis was employed using empirical equations, simple descriptive statistics and GIS software. The result revealed that the overall efficiency of the scheme was 38.5% which is below the recommended value. The mean values of water delivery indicators were as follows: adequacy (0.85), delivery efficiency (0.81), equity (0.24), and dependability (0.29). Hence, adequacy, equity, and dependability were under fair conditions, while delivery efficiency was poor. The values of irrigation ratio (0.85) and sustainability of irrigated areas (0.93) showed that the current irrigated area is below the potential irrigable/command area. Generally, Ethana’s small-scale irrigation scheme has been performing below expectations due to various factors. Therefore, it is recommended to improve awareness of irrigation water users regarding water delivery plan, operation, and maintenance of irrigation structures.

Over exploitation of Ground Water (GW) has resulted in lowering of water table in the Jedeb watershed. In this study, water storage changes with GRACE satellite data and total annual precipitation with CHIRPS data in the Google Earth Engine system were investigated for the Jedeb watershed during 2003–2017. The groundwater recharge is estimated from a time series of groundwater storage using the water table fluctuation method. According to the results obtained from the GRACE satellite data on the fluctuations of annual water storage between 2003 and 2017, it was found that the biggest annual increase in water levels (15 cm) occurred in 2008, 2013, and 2015, and the biggest annual decrease (12.5 cm) occurred in 2012. The obtained net recharge rate varied from 18 to 25 cm/year for a 14-year period, and the average was 21 cm/year. This study indicates that the GRACE-based estimation of groundwater storage changes is skilled enough to provide monthly updates on the trend of groundwater storage changes for resource managers and policymakers in the Jedeb watershed.

Providing an accurate amount of water to crops based on their requirements is the primary objective of irrigated agriculture. The crop evapotranspiration and coefficient of tomato were measured using non-weighing lysimeters. The trial was conducted at the Melkassa Agricultural Research Center’s experimental farmland in Ethiopia. The soil water balance approach was applied to compute tomato crop evapotranspiration, whereas the reference evapotranspiration was computed using the Penman-Monteith method. The crop coefficient was calculated using the ratio between the measured crop evapotranspiration and the reference evapotranspiration. A total of 590.4 and 413.3 mm of tomato seasonal evapotranspiration was recorded in the experimental years 2022 and 2023, respectively. The mean crop evapotranspiration for tomatoes over the two experimental years was 501.83 mm. The mean locally produced crop coefficient values were 0.63 for the initial, 1.18 during the mid, and 0.94 at the end of the season. The FAO-adjusted Kc values were 1.12 during the mid and 0.86 at the end of the season. The FAO-adjusted crop coefficient values differed from the crop coefficient values developed. Hence, to ensure efficient irrigation scheduling and planning, measuring the crop evapotranspiration and coefficient for optimal crop production under specific climatic conditions is vital.

The Lower Jhelum River watershed has variable topography (i.e. northern mountains and southern plains) and a subtropical climate with hot summers and cool winters. This emphasized the extensive use of state-of-the-art POWER reanalysis precipitation product rather than gauge estimates for hydrological investigations (modeling rainfall runoff, floods, and droughts etc.). To understand the consistency and potential of the precipitation values from both sources, the primary objective of this study was to establish a relationship between POWER data and rain gauge data by utilizing 13 rain gauge stations present in the catchment. While analyzing the rainfall data, a relatively weaker linear association (R), ranging from .6, .68 to .78, was found between the ground-based observatories and the POWER product especially for the arid and semi-arid regions. For the mountainous part, covering a wide glacial range, POWER product showed a better match with ground-based observatories that is, R value ranging from .78, .88 to .91. The simulated stream flow results by integrated HEC-HMS model showed that the POWER product can become a good asset in developing the weather data for those areas where the rain gauges are either absent or inaccessible.

The productivity and quality of tomato crops are influenced by nutrient management and soil moisture levels. A study was conducted in Melkassa to find the best nitrogen fertilizer rate and soil moisture level for tomato crops. The experiment employed a split-plot design and was replicated three times. The combined impact of soil moisture and nitrogen levels greatly affects the height, branch count, fruit size, fruit length, marketable yield of tomatoes, tomato fruit quality, nitrogen use efficiency and water use efficiency (p < .05). The optimal combination of 75% ETc and 230 kg/ha resulted in the tallest tomato plant height and the highest branch number. The highest diameter and length of tomato fruits were obtained when 75% ETc and 184 kg/ha were combined. The highest marketable tomato yields were achieved by the interaction of 75% ETc and 184 kg/ha N. Applying 50% ETc with 184 and 138 kg/ha resulted in higher WUE. Interaction of 92 kg/h and soil moisture at all levels results in the maximum AUE. The maximum PFP obtained from 138 and 184 kg/ha with no significant difference. Excessive nitrogen rates (>184 kg/ha) did not increase tomato yield and WUE except for plant height and branch number. In general, the application of 75% ETc and 138 to 184 kg/ha of nitrogen is optimal for tomato production considering the measured parameter to improve water use efficiency and nutrient management in arid and semi-arid environment. The results gave valuable information and direction for the use of organic nitrogen and water in tomato production.

Heavy metals are of great environmental and sanitary importance due to the toxicity they generate; therefore, a wide variety of methods for elimination in water has been studied. One of the approaches employed is bioremediation, which involves the use of biomass (microorganisms or plants), living plants (phytoremediation), or biomaterials to eliminate these elements. In this study, we investigated the technical feasibility of using the Trichonephila clavipes spider web as a biomaterial for iron removal from water by bioremediation. A bibliometric analysis was carried out, where the process variables and experimental design were defined using the Response Surface Methodology, and the iron concentrations were measured before and after the experiment using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy by dispersive energy. The model predicted an iron removal of 91.82% using 28.09 hr, 81.42 ppm of iron, and 0.062 g of spider web, with a relative error of 0.043 of the true value. This work is novel and presents a new methodology for the bioremediation of water contaminated with iron using spider webs. The results indicate a high efficiency in the removal of iron, which could have important implications in solving environmental and health problems associated with the presence of heavy metals in water.

Land degradation and sedimentation are global issues stemming from inappropriate land management practices within watersheds, primarily due to soil erosion. The primary aim of this investigation was to estimate sediment yield, pinpoint erosion-prone areas, and determine effective strategies for reducing erosion and sediment yield within the Mormora watershed utilizing the SWAT model. The performance of the SWAT model was assessed through calibration and validation procedures employing the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting 2 (SUFI-2) algorithm within the SWAT Calibration and Uncertainty Procedures (SWAT-CUP). Calibration was conducted for the period 1993 to 2006, while validation was carried out for 2007 to 2013, focusing on streamflow and sediment yields at gauging station. Various metrics including R², NSE, RSR, and PBIAS were used to assess model performance. All model performance metrics indicated high accuracy. The average annual sediment yield at the outlet of the watershed was 1.19 million t/year with a spatial average of 8.54 t/ha/year. About 47.33% of the watershed was critical areas demanding implementation of soil conservation strategy. The effectiveness of five watershed management scenarios was compared to existing baseline conditions for their effectiveness in sediment yield reduction. The results indicate soil erosion decreased by 28.3% to 55.9% by applying filter strips, 61.7% to 68.4% by grassed waterways, 71.38% by terracing, 62.64% by contouring, and 46.3% by applying stone/soil bunds. Ultimately, terracing emerged as the most effective strategy for mitigating soil erosion within the study area. Consequently, the research outcomes and the developed methodology serve as a valuable resource for decision-makers, experts, and researchers involved in sustainable watershed management.

Recent research has shown that urban rivers often have large amounts of anthropogenic microfiber pollution (i.e. small thread-like pieces of litter that are most often microplastics and are <5 mm in size). However, there is often a limited understanding of how tributaries and streams that flow into urban rivers contribute to these amounts. This study examined how the presence and abundance of anthropogenic microfiber pollution varied in six tributaries of the Cumberland River in Nashville, TN, USA which is a growing city with more than 2 million residents in the metropolitan area. To examine how anthropogenic microfiber pollution levels varied, surface water samples were collected over the course of two months in Spring 2022 from six tributaries in the Richland Creek Watershed (n = 96 samples total). Over the course of the study, anthropogenic microfibers were found in all tributaries and at all time points and at abundances that are similar to many other smaller tributaries and creeks that have been previously studied (mean of 96 samples = 17.4 microfibers/L or 17,400/m³). Interestingly, there were no significant differences between the individual tributaries or across the four sampling time periods in anthropogenic microfiber pollution abundance. However, the consistent levels of anthropogenic microfibers found supports recent research which suggests that this type of pollution represents an important threat in urban aquatic ecosystems.

Lead (Pb(II)) ions in water pose a significant threat to both human health and aquatic ecosystems. Various approaches have been employed for wastewater treatment, but adsorption is often preferred due to its effectiveness. However, its practical application is limited by the large quantities of adsorbent required, which consequently increases operational costs. In this study, orange-modified iron-oxide nanoparticles (O-Fe₃O₄) are synthesized from agro-waste mass (orange peel), and adsorption experiments were conducted for the removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution. Characterization studies confirm that O-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles possess a mesoporous hexagonal nanocrystalline structure, with diameters measuring less than 100 nm. The adsorption process was optimized using a central composite design framework combined with response surface methodology. The analysis of interaction effects demonstrated that they significantly influenced the effectiveness of adsorption removal. The study revealed that an initial concentration of 25 mg/L, a dosage of 0.2 g/L, a contact period of 90 min, and a pH of 5.5 were the optimum conditions to achieve above 95% of Pb(II) removal. The green synthesized O-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, which presented high efficacy, makes it a promising option for implementing the sustainable water purification.

Erosion is the main cause of damage to unpaved roads. This study utilized rainfall simulators to quantify erosion on unpaved roads, controlling variables such as rainfall intensity and slope. A laboratory model of an unpaved road was utilized to evaluate soil loss in an experimental setup. A total of 72 tests were conducted to compare simulated conditions on unpaved roads for three soil types with three slope variations, and eight rainfall intensities. The impact of each variable (soil type, slope, and rainfall intensity) on soil loss was analyzed for 30-minute rainfall events. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to assess soil erosion response to terrain slope for the three soil types, revealing statistical differences in soil loss between low slopes (2%) and steep slopes (7%) with p-values of .04 (sandy soil), .00007 (sandy silt soil), and .00008 (loam silt soil). Correlation analysis demonstrated a strong relationship between rainfall intensity and soil loss (R² = .76) for sandy soil and sandy silt soil. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated a linear relationship between soil loss and rainfall intensity, with significant differences (p < .05). The findings suggest that soil loss on unpaved roads is positively correlated with slope and rainfall intensity. However, this relationship is not always linear; sandy soil exhibited a nonlinear relationship, especially with high rainfall intensities, whereas sandy silt soil showed a linear relationship with evaluated rain intensities. The type of soil influences erosion process, with higher erosion rates observed in sandy silt soils compared to loam silt soils. This paper analyzed the factors essential for addressing erosion on unpaved roads, identifying key elements to minimize soil loss.

Crop production is largely limited by water availability in arid and semi-arid regions of Ethiopia. Changing climate conditions and declining water resources demand appropriate approaches to improve crop yield and water use efficiency through a reduced and more reliable water supply. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of limited irrigation water use on bread wheat production and water use efficiency under the semi-arid climate conditions of Awash basin of Ethiopia. Five irrigation levels, that is, full irrigation (100% ETc/control), 85% ETc, 70% ETc, 55% ETc, and 40% ETc, were evaluated using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. Statistical analysis has shown a significant effect of irrigation levels on wheat grain yield, water use efficiency, economic profit, wheat grain quality, and aboveground biomass. The highest grain yield (5,085 kg ha⁻¹) was obtained from 100% ETc irrigation application (i.e. 417.2 mm of water), and the lowest grain yield was obtained from 40% ETc (i.e. 223.7 mm of water) application. A deficit level of 85% ETc resulted in a yield that was comparable to that of full irrigation. Compared to other treatments, the 70% ETc application produced the highest water use efficiency (1.42 kg m⁻³). Using the saved water obtained from 70% ETc deficit irrigation application, 23.4% more wheat could be produced on 1.38 ha of land, resulting in the highest profit (US$2,563.9) and higher MRR (137%). The yield response factor and crop-water production function indicated that maintaining irrigation at optimal levels can prevent potential yield reductions. Consequently, a 70% ETc deficit irrigation application was found to be optimal for increasing wheat grain yield, water use efficiency, and economic benefits from irrigated wheat production. These results suggest that deficit irrigation for wheat under semi-arid climatic conditions is a viable irrigation management option for enhancing water use efficiency.

In response to Egypt’s escalating water scarcity and pollution, Riverbank Filtration (RBF) technology is emerging as an effective solution to enhance water quality and simplify drinking water provision. This study evaluates RBF at three sites in Upper Egypt by assessing hydrogeological conditions and water quality based on 36 parameters from 2022 to 2023. Findings indicate that RBF efficiently treats infiltrated river water, with all sites meeting turbidity and microbiological standards (Total Bacterial Count and Coliforms), achieving removal rates of approximately 90% and 99%, respectively. Despite these successes, challenges persist in reducing manganese to safe levels, with concentrations at Alsaayda site reaching 0.51 mg/L, over the drinking water safe limit of 0.4 mg/L. To address this, further post-treatment strategies are proposed to remove the excess manganese. A practical application of an Oxidizer at the Bani Murr groundwater treatment plant has demonstrated the effective removal of iron and manganese, bringing their levels down to safe drinking water standards. This case exemplifies a successful solution for iron and manganese removal. This research highlights RBF’s potential in water treatment in developing countries, while emphasizing the need for supplementary measures to manage specific contaminants.

Air quality significantly influences human health and the environment, necessitating a robust monitoring to detect abnormalities. This paper aims to develop a new model to accurately capture air quality data’s structural changes and asymmetrical patterns. We introduce the neo-normal Markov Switching Autoregressive (MSAR) Modified Skew Normal Burr (MSN-Burr) model, called neo-normal MSAR MSN-Burr. This model extends the MSAR normal framework, handling symmetrical and asymmetrical patterns in air quality data. The MSN-Burr distribution is employed for accurate estimation of skewed and symmetric data. The model efficiency is demonstrated through simulation studies generating symmetric data with normal, double exponential, and Student-t distributions, followed by application to real air quality data using Stan language. The proposed model successfully adapts to asymmetric structural changes, as evidenced by creating the Highest Posterior Distribution (HPD) for upper and lower limits. The model identifies two regimes representing normal and abnormal air quality conditions, with modes of 8 and 19 µg/m³, respectively. The MSAR-MSN-Burr model exhibits a 32.27% RMSE improvement in simulations and a 16.4% RMSE improvement in real air quality data over the normal-MSAR model. The proposed neo-normal MSAR MSN-Burr model is significantly enhancing the accuracy of air quality monitoring, providing a more efficient tool for detecting air quality abnormalities.

The Muri region of Qinghai Province is not only the source of important water sources, but also one of the key areas targeted by the ecological environment restoration project. The study of the Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of grassland in the Muri region is of great importance in order to gain insight into the health of grassland ecosystems and to assess the carbon sink capacity. In this study, the net primary productivity (NPP) and NEP of the grassland in the Muri region from 2000 to 2022 were calculated using remote sensing data, meteorological data and land cover data, coupled with Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) model and soil heterotrophic respiration model. The spatial and temporal patterns of NEP of grassland ecosystems over different periods from 2000 to 2022 were assessed following accuracy tests. The drivers affecting the spatial and temporal changes in NEP of grasslands in the Muri region were then explored with the help of Geogdetector. The study indicated that: (1) From 2000 to 2022, the mean annual NEP of grassland in the Muri region was 138.23 gC/m², exhibiting a significant increasing trend (p < 0.01). (2) Spatially, the NEP of grassland showed a pattern of distribution from south-east to north-west, from the center to either side and from high to low values, with 91.58% of grassland showing an increasing trend in all growth periods. (3) Climatic factors, altitude and slope are important drivers of changes in the NEP of grassland, with altitude being the most important factor influencing the NEP of grassland in this region. This study can provide valuable references for assessing the carbon sequestration capacity of grassland ecosystems and monitoring the health of grassland ecosystems in the Muri region, as well as for formulating future ecological protection policies and directions in the Muri region.

The concept of water quality has often generally revolved around the all-round safety of water for human consumption. The quality of much of the 3% of the earth’s humanly consumable water classed as freshwater is under threat of climate change, rising population numbers, indiscriminate land usage, detrimental agricultural practices and contamination from poor waste management. The need for optimal water quality enhancement has become more germane to sustainable socio-economic development. This paper examines the evolution of efforts made by the scientific community over the years to ensure water quality can be characterized and properly managed to ensure the global ever-growing demand for clean water for human consumption is continually met. The development of state-of-the-art computational decision support systems (DSS) should play a vital role. However, efforts in this regard are currently bedevilled by major challenges such as quantifying, measuring, processing and controlling the numerous metrics of water quality, as well as their adaptation and integration into a fully developed universal water quality model. In addressing these challenges, a shift towards simpler modelling approaches and the integration of uni-purpose models which can be cascaded into decision-making systems is being popularly proposed. However, with technological advancements already stimulating a water quality management revolution, there is a shift in paradigm to more universal modelling attempts with great optimism towards overcoming the challenges of developing universal water quality models and DSS. The prospects and opportunities of a water quality management renaissance offered by radical scientific innovations look promising, as the world races with time to provide support systems that can help deal better with the dynamics of sustainable water supply in increasingly contaminable environments and progressively unpredictable climates.

Amidst a global water crisis, Jordan is an example of extreme water scarcity. With one of the world’s lowest per capita freshwater availability, Jordan’s growing population and limited resources create a dangerous balance. This research paper investigates into the vital role of renewable energy in addressing Jordan’s water woes and proposes a sustainable path for the future. Through a comprehensive case study, integrating renewable energy and water desalination in arid regions represents a promising pathway for sustainable water management and environmental conservation. By harnessing abundant renewable resources, arid regions can address their pressing water needs, mitigate climate change, and reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources. Overcoming economic barriers and optimizing technology will be crucial in fully unlocking the potential of this innovative approach for a water-secure and environmentally conscious future.

This study aims to find a more realistic management approach to Municipal solid waste (MSW), focusing on Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State, Nigeria. It employs a combination of geospatial analyses and laboratory examination of water samples from three borehole locations congruent to landfills in the study area. GPS-measured positions of the five landfill sites were plotted on the topographic plan of the study area and analysed. This landfills’ location, which is the southeastern part of the area, is a lowland. By hydraulic gradient and flow pattern of the area deducted from DEM, these landfills are within the pathway of major groundwater resources. Proximity analyses with 5 to 10 km buffer zones show that most of the topographic features are at risk of considerable pollution due to landfill’s leachate into the surrounding area. Groundwater vulnerability map shows 21.5% of the studied area at a high risk of contamination, 7.5% at medium, and ~71% at low risk. The Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels from the three boreholes were significant, suggesting severe pollution, and pointing to the landfill as the main cause. Colour showed an unobjectionable state and signified pollution of the wells. Temperature (0°C) ranged from 20 to 26°C, much higher than the 5°C limit, set by the WHO and NSDWQ. The water pH ranges from 6.05 to 7.02, suggesting traces of heavy metals in water samples. Nitrate and nitrite have values ranging from 5.0 to 6.162 and 0.251 to 0.455 mg/l, suggesting the water samples contain some contaminants. Lead (Pb) (from 0.25 to 0.65 mg/l) is practically beyond the WHO and NSDWQ permissible limits for heavy metals. The accumulation of lead in landfills has substantial effects on groundwater pollution. The Heavy Metal Index Calculation scale rated the result of heavy metals analyses as ‘VI,’ representing a ‘Seriously Affected’ water supply system.

BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH AIMS: Most of volcanic landscapes on Java, Indonesia, are increasingly being used for agriculture. As a consequence, high rate of soil erosion due to agricultural cultivation cannot be avoided. Agricultural reservoir is one of methods to maintain soil loss due to erosion. Most research to date, however, have been based on the function of the reservoirs rather than on the arrangement of the reservoirs which are usually locally specific. Thus, an evaluation of the arrangement for agricultural reservoir becomes a crucial innovation. This study was aimed at examining the effectiveness of agricultural reservoir arrangement along rill erosion in reducing runoff volume as well as erosion rate, and increasing sediment trapped.

METHODS: The research was conducted using the field survey method at a key sampling area by considering the dominant relief and land cover on the volcanic landscape of the Sumbing Volcano. Data collected includes soil properties (texture, organic matter, porosity, soil pore distribution, permeability, and soil infiltration rate), runoff discharge, runoff volume, and sediment delivery. Research started by determining the points for placing the agricultural reservoirs along the rill erosion and continued with field and laboratory measurements.

RESULTS: Our results showed that placing agricultural reservoirs along the rill erosion effectively reduced erosion by 99.97%. Consequently, the erosion rate was only 5.5 × 10⁻⁴ ton ha⁻¹. The effectiveness of agricultural reservoirs in reducing runoff volume and sediment delivery was 99.72% and 94.15%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Agricultural reservoirs that are placed along the rill erosion effectively trap sediment and reduce runoff so that erosion rates decrease.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION: Placing agricultural reservoirs along rill erosion can improve the effectiveness of reservoirs in decreasing the erosion rate. This strategy helps reduce runoff and sediment to maintain the productivity of agricultural land. Finding a suitable strategy for the evaluation of erosion and sedimentation processes has important implications for soil and water conservation.

The effective management of solid waste presents a pressing challenge within the environmental sector, given its adverse impacts on health and the environment (water, soil, air). This global concern is particularly relevant for cities striving to implement efficient waste management strategies. This study explores the factors that impact environmental awareness and solid waste management practices in Bogota, offering valuable insights for designing and implementing effective public policies and environmental management strategies. By understanding the drivers of environmental behavior among city residents, local authorities can devise more precise interventions and implement environmental education and awareness programs aimed at fostering sustainable waste management practices. The city of Bogota faces unique challenges in waste management, considering that the amount of waste generated per capita has increased fivefold in recent years, coupled with being a densely populated city. Data from the 2021 Environmental Culture Survey conducted by Bogota’s Mayor’s Office, consisting of 266,994 entries, was analyzed using LASSO regularized logistic regression. LASSO offers advantages such as automatic feature selection, multicollinearity reduction, regularization to prevent overfitting, computational efficiency, and flexibility in a variety of modeling problems. The study provides significant insights into waste separation behaviors in Bogota, Colombia. The algorithm, with a 70% accuracy coefficient, indicates a direct correlation with the number of years individuals have resided in the city, demonstrating a 3.2% increase in the probability of consistently separating waste. Residents of Usaquén, Chapinero, Barrios Unidos, Bosa, and Teusaquillo exhibit higher probabilities of consistent waste separation, while those in San Cristóbal, Usme, Suba, Antonio Nariño, Rafael Uribe Uribe, and Ciudad Bolívar tend to have lower probabilities. Confidence in the recycling process significantly impacts behavior, with a 62.7% increase in the probability of consistently separating waste among those assured of the process. The study also highlights the importance of recycling bin availability, as individuals with only one bin in the kitchen show an 81.2% likelihood of almost never separating waste. The discoveries from this study regarding the factors influencing household waste separation and recycling practices offer valuable insights for enhancing environmental education and promotion strategies. By delving into the intricate dynamics of sociodemographic, geographical, and attitudinal elements, this research sheds light on the complexities of waste separation behaviors. These insights are pivotal for crafting tailored policies that can yield greater effectiveness in promoting sustainable practices and facilitating environmental conservation.

Most urban water catchments are confronted with the challenges of eutrophication and other anthropogenic-related pollutants that can pose human health threats. To assess the suitability of using such anthropogenically polluted dam water for agricultural purposes the study monitored the co-existence of microcystins (MCs), metal pollutants, and anionic surfactants in irrigation canals and farm dams around Roodeplaat and Hartbeespoort Dams in South Africa. Field sampling was conducted four times between June 2019 and March 2021. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, a Hanna (HI96769) anionic surfactant portable photometer, and the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), were used to detect and quantify microcystins (MCs), anionic surfactants, and metals respectively. The results indicated that the water exceeded the guidelines for pH, EC, TDS, and nitrates. Eutrophication-related parameters such as MCs, chlorophyll a, and anionic surfactants were also relatively high. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed the co-occurrence of MCs with EC, TDS, Pb, Cu, Al, and Ni in Hartbeespoort Dam-derived water, whereas pH and turbidity co-occurred with MCs in Roodeplaat Dam water. Such co-occurrences suggest that these parameters can be routinely monitored in place of MCs and this can be crucial in developing countries where resources and skilled manpower could be lacking.

For effective water and land resource management in data-scarce areas, it is imperative to investigate the spatial variability of sediment yield using a rapid, reliable, and affordable approach. The current study demonstrated the use of tools and models viz. Geographic Information System (GIS), Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), and Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) based approach for the assessment of soil loss and sediment yield rate in Lake Hawassa Sub-basin. Input data used were soil, rainfall, digital elevation model (DEM), and land use and land cover change (LULC) maps. The result of the study showed that there was significant and widespread soil loss and sediment yield on cultivated land dominated by moderate, steep and very steep slopes with little vegetation and barren areas. An estimated mean of 16.36 t/ha/year, or 1.97 million tonnes of soil is lost annually by sheet and rill erosion across the Sub-basin. The sediment delivery ratio (SDR) at the outlet of the lake sub-basin was 0.249. Accordingly, the quantified sediment yield at the sub-basin outlet, taking into account the average-based soil loss and sediment delivery ratio, was found to be 4.07 t/ha/year. The annual siltation rate of the lake from these two forms of erosion was found to be 1.01 cm/year. Therefore, depending on the severity of the soil loss, appropriate Best Management Practices (BMP) should be applied to reduce the rate of soil loss and sediment yield to protect the lake and its ecosystem.

Soil water is the main water source for plants, which is replenished by rainfall in the water-limited agricultural systems. Quantifying temporal dynamics of water soil deficit and its replenishment by rainfall can evaluate whether soil water meet the water demand for plants. This would provide accurate guide for when and how the irrigation practices conducted. However, this topic has not been deeply elucidated. In this study, soil water content at varied soil depths and precipitation were continuously monitored during two growing seasons in an apple orchard in the Loess Plateau of China. Soil water storage, soil water deficit and replenishment were also quantified. The results showed that soil water content varied temporally due to the impacts of rainfalls. Soil water storage at 0 ~ 200 cm depth ranged from 272.5 mm to 355.6 mm and the degree of soil water deficit ranged from 0.34 to 0.53 correspondingly. Meanwhile, replenishment of soil water by rainfall was 13.00% in 2017 and 9.78% in 2018, respectively. The qualitative relationship between monthly rainfalls and replenishment indicated that soil water was replenished by rainwater only at soil layers shallower than 160 cm. From the temporal dynamics of soil water content and deficit conditions, soil water could meet the water demand at the fruit expanding stage of apple trees. Irrigation measures should be taken to reduce the soil drought stress at this stage. This study provided an effective hydrological basis to improve the irrigation management of orchards and the efficiency of water resource.

A study was conducted with the objective of determining the effect of deficit irrigation on maize (Zea mays L.) under conventional, fixed, and alternate furrow irrigation. The experiment was conducted at Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC) in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 dry periods. Nine treatments of different deficit irrigation levels were factorial combined and randomized in plots, and all cultural practices were done. The crop water requirement was calculated using the CROPWAT8.0 program. Yield and growth parameter data were recorded, and analyzed using SAS software. The two-year over-all statistical analysis result showed that, different deficit irrigation levels had a significant effect (p<0.05) on grain yield, ear height, fresh biomass, 100 seed weight, girth, and water productivity. However, there was no significant effect (p > 0.05) on plant height and internode length. The result revealed that 100% ETc conventional furrow gave the highest grain yield (106.1 Qun/ha), followed by 75% ETc conventional furrow (101.23 Qun/ha) and 50% ETc conventional furrow (81.86 Qun/ha). The minimum yield of 55.64 Qun/ha was obtained at a fixed 50% furrow irrigation, and there was a 52.44% yield improvement. The maximum fresh biomass of 196.5 Qun/ha was obtained from 100% conventional furrow, and the minimum 103.40 Qun/ha was at 50% fixed furrow irrigation. The maximum and minimum water productivity of 8.007 and 2.8 kg/m³ were obtained at 75% conventional and 100% fixed furrow irrigation, respectively. Considering the water productivity, net economic benefit and sustainable production of the crop in the agroecology of the study area, combination of 55% up to 85% of deficit irrigation level with conventional furrow irrigation system could be recommended for the production of maize in a deficit furrow irrigation method. Based on the observations made and the statistical analysis done, fixed furrow irrigation was not recommended for the study area.

Currently, the demand for water is rising, and as a result, the groundwater is declining. Water supplies are not sufficient for agricultural productivity, environmental preservation, or ecosystem services, resulting in an unbalanced water budget in the basin. The goal of this paper is to assess the groundwater recharge in the Jedeb sub-basin using WetSpass-MODFLOW coupling. A spatially distributed water balance model is developed to simulate long-term average recharge depending on land cover, soil texture, topography, and hydro meteorological parameters. The groundwater model is iteratively connected to the recharge model in order to simulate recharge. This means that the depth of the groundwater affects the recharge estimate and vice versa. The average yearly evapotranspiration, surface runoff, and groundwater recharge were determined using WetSpass-M to be 574, 898, and 99 mm, respectively. Groundwater recharge accounted for 6.3% of precipitation, while actual evapotranspiration and surface runoff accounted for 36.4% and 57% of precipitation, respectively. In such seasonal variations, the groundwater level in the Jedeb Sub-basin was studied under various stress conditions (dry season, wet season, and annually). The groundwater level distribution varied from 2,052.3 to 3,063.06 m in the summer stress period (recharge). While in the winter stress period (recharge), the groundwater level varied from 2,051.41 to 3,061.92 m, and the groundwater level due to the annual stress period (recharge) varied from 2,053.76 to 3,064.5 m. With a correlation coefficient of .89, which is an acceptable fit between the simulated and observed heads in steady state for all stress periods (summer, winter, and annual recharge). The contribution of this study could be used as baseline information for regional water resource experts, policymakers, and researchers for further investigation.

Sedimentary prokaryotes are primarily responsible for metabolic activity in rivers. They are subjected to a variety of natural and anthropogenic pressures, allowing us to use the composition and diversity of their communities as indicators of ecological health. For our investigation, we looked at sediments from three ecologically critical streams in the Lower Tallapoosa River Basin (Choctafaula, Uphapee, and Cubahatchee Creeks). The prokaryotic community was characterized using molecular approaches, and elemental concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. This research demonstrated that Proteobacteria (45.02–80.73%), Bacteroidetes (1.98–26.52%), Firmicutes (1.36–50.67%), Actinobacteria (1.55–16.81%), and Acidobacteria (0.13–8.77%) were the most prevalent phyla. Key physicochemical parameters, core communities at multiple taxonomic levels, and several pathogenic genera shifted radically between streams. Weighted and unweighted unifrac distance metrics based PCoA plots indicated the structural and membership similarity of samples from specific creek ecosystems. Based on our research findings, it is evident that the composition and diversity of prokaryotic communities in sediment could serve as significant indicators in stream ecosystems. Further investigation and application of these indicators could prove valuable in assessing the health of streams, particularly in light of the accelerated changes resulting from climate change within a condensed timeframe.

BACKGROUND: The challenges of third-world countries toward curbing indoor air pollution seem insurmountable as its solution is closely linked to their economic incapacities, lifestyle, and existing outdoor air quality. The economic incapacities include types of the cookstove, fuel sources, types of insecticides and pesticides, building patterns, indoor fermentation activities (such as leaving dirty plates and biological waste in the house for a long time), and regulation on the use of deodorants. Aside from the common pollutants from these sources, the reactive chemistry of pollutants leads to other kinds of pollutants which have been reported to be short-lived but dangerous.

OBJECTIVES:The objectives of the study are to: profile emerging indoor pollutants; examine the pollutant dynamics and their impact on unplanned regions of developing countries; offer solutions to curb indoor pollution in the identified region; elaborate on the cost analysis of existing solutions and how irrelevant they may be due to the rising poverty index; and project how government policies could help in reducing indoor pollution.

DESIGN: This paper is a review that wholistically examined indoor pollution. A total of fifty-six articles was reviewed in addition to the data obtained from MERRA-2.

RESULTS: The study observed that indoor air pollution dynamics are more complex—compared to outdoor air pollution. It was observed that the possibility to control indoor air pollution is based on the type of pollutants, the reactive chemistry of the pollutants, and ventilation in the building. This review shows that poverty is one of the many reasons why indoor air pollution would be a source of menace for a long time in third-world countries. Several solutions to curbing indoor air pollution were considered with a principal focus on cost and availability.

LIMITATIONS: Most experimental results that were used to corroborate postulates were obtained from the literature. The accuracy of those experiments and the sensitivity of the equipment used cannot be verified.

CONCLUSION: The plant-based technique was identified as a perfect solution to indoor air pollution control in third-world countries but the local architecture and lifestyle of most third-world countries constitute a threat to its adoption. It was observed that less than 8% of third-world countries have specific Air Quality Acts which have not been amended for decades. Most third-world countries have a general Environmental Act with air quality as a sub-section in the Act with very low fines for violators. The inclusion of indoor air quality as a vital public health issue in third-world countries is necessary for the preservation of lives and posterity.