Environmental Technology & Innovation最新文献

Air pollution stands out as one of the most alarming environmental challenges. It poses significant risks to human health and the environment. Accurate forecasting of air pollutant concentration levels is crucial for effective air quality management and timely implementation of mitigation strategies. In this paper, the transfer learning technique is investigated using the artificial neural network (ANN), also called multi-layer perception (MLP), to transfer knowledge across different air pollutants forecasting, and therefore, to generalize over a large set of air pollutants in the same air monitoring station. By leveraging the knowledge learned from a source forecasting task, transfer learning allows us to reduce the data requirements, speed up the training of the models, and enhance the predictive performance for different air pollutants for the target forecasting task. We present a comprehensive analysis of the transfer learning across different air pollutants in the same air monitoring station on a large dataset of air quality measurements. Our results demonstrate that transfer learning significantly improves forecasting accuracy with fewer fine-tuning data, particularly when limited labeled data is available for the target task. The findings of this study contribute to the advancement of air pollution forecasting methodologies, facilitating better decision-making processes and proactive air quality management.

A significant amount of tailings rich in heavy metals is left behind after mining, causing environmental pollution due to long-term storage. In recent years, microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has shown potential to solidify and stabilize heavy metal-contaminated soils. However, high concentrations and complex mixtures of heavy metals have toxic effects on microorganisms, resulting in decreased carbonate yield. Additionally, tailings sand often has a small particle size and poor permeability, which significantly reduces the solidification uniformity when using traditional grouting methods. To address these challenges, a low pH treatment method using PEG-MICP was proposed. This method increased the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of tailings sand by 2.5 times and significantly improved soil uniformity while substantially reducing exchangeable heavy metal ions. Microscopic analysis showed that the introduction of PEG modifies the morphology of calcium carbonate, transforming calcite from a mineral to sheet-like and faceted forms, thus enhancing solidification efficiency. This study suggests that PEG-MICP has broad application prospects for solidifying heavy metal-contaminated tailings sand.

Chicken manure, corn straw and oyster shell powder (OSP) were used as raw materials for organic-inorganic combined composting. Experiments were designed by adding different amounts of OSP (0 %, 20 %, and 40 %), designed as CK, T1, and T2, respectively. In final composts, the pH value increased to 8.72–9.08, and the electrical conductivity ranged from 2.08–3.82 mS·cm⁻¹. The co-composting could effectively reduce ammonia emissions by 54.65 % and could activate the calcium component by 37.5 %. Addition of OSP promoted the humification and the humic acid could increased 86.1 %. This calcium-based compost of oyster shells (OSs) activated by composting was used to plant Brassica napus by pot experiment. Compared with the addition of OSP after composting, the calcium-based compost activated by composting significantly promoted the growth of Brassica napus because of more nitrogen, humus and available calcium in the calcium-based compost. In addition, this calcium-based compost significantly increased pH, organic matter (OM) and exchangeable calcium content in the acidic soil. In general, composting is an effective method to realize the fertilizer utilization of OSs. This composting process could make full use of calcium in oyster shells to achieve nitrogen retention and humification enhancement during composting, meanwhile calcium morphology in oyster shells can be activated and high-quality acidic soil conditioner can be obtained.

The persistence and slow rate of natural attenuation of genotoxic and endocrine-disrupting aromatic pollutants has impacted the soil heath of agro-ecologies leading to various health and environmental issues. Ecotoxic-xenobiotic compounds degradation property along with plant growth promoting traits of microbes are beneficial for devising strategies for improved agricultural soil health and its clean-up. Present study assessed the multipartite plant growth promoting-, biocontrol- and niche adaptive- traits of five aromatic degrading soil bacteria viz. Pseudomonas bharatica CSV86^T, Pseudomonas sp. C5pp, Pseudomonas sp. PP4, Pseudomonas sp. PPD and Acinetobacter sp. ISP4. Solubilization of rock phosphate (P) and feldspar (K), production of plant growth hormone (auxin; IAA), ammonia, siderophores and ACC deaminase by strain CSV86^T, C5pp and PP4 were observed. Similarly, high fusaric acid resistance (MIC: 1–1.2 mg mL⁻¹) and tolerance to salinity (5–7.5 %) was observed. In vitro application of CSV86^T, C5pp, PP4 and ISP4 as consortium resulted in significant increase (P < 0.05) in the seedling shoot length (15–37 %), root length (65–150 %) and biomass (30–40 %) of wheat, mung bean and fenugreek. In-soil microcosm assay confirmed the plant growth promoting and phytoprotective ability of this consortium against toxicity of aromatics in contaminated soil. Antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi Magnaporthe oryzae and Aspergillus spp., ability to produce lytic enzymes and HCN suggests their biocontrol potential. Four aromatic degrading bacteria (as a consortium) exhibiting plant growth promotion and biocontrol activity could be used as an eco-friendly bioremediator-biofertilizer-biocontrol agent (bioformulation) for restoration of agricultural soil with improved crop productivity.

Soil contamination with cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) pose serious threats to food safety and ecosystem stability. In current study, pristine biochar (BC) and iron-modified biochar (Fe-BC) were prepared, and the potential of BC and Fe-BC to reduce the bioavailability of Cd and Cr in soil, their uptake, toxicity in rapeseed (Brassica napus L) and the mechanisms involved were examined. In a pot experiment varying levels of BC and Fe-BC were applied to Cd and Cr-contaminated soil. The results indicated that soil supplementation with the highest level of Fe-BC (2 %) incremented the dry weights of roots, shoots, and seeds by 65 %, 33 %, and 149 %, respectively. Additionally, Fe-BC (2 %) treated rapeseed plants showed highest increase in photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ emissions, and chlorophyll contents by 43.2 %, 39.5 %, 33.5, 36.9 % and 28 %, respectively. Plants treated with Fe-BC (2 %) showed amplified superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. The results regarding saturated and unsaturated fatty acid contents of seeds showed that Fe-BC (2 %) treatment exhibited the greatest increase in linolenic acid, oleic acid, erucic acid, and linoleic acid contents, increasing these acids by 21 %, 6.5 %, 53 %, and 14.5 %, respectively. Moreover, Fe-BC (2 %) treated seeds depicted increased oil and protein contents by 14 % and 29 %, respectively. Soil application of Fe-BC (2 %) dramatically decreased Cd and Cr levels in the roots, shoots, and seeds by 21 %, 44 %, 88 %, 16 %, 38 %, and 57 %, respectively. The addition of Fe-BC significantly lowered the concentration of exchangeable (Exc) and bound to carbonate (B-C) fractions of Cd and Cr in the soil, while increasing that of iron-manganese (B-Fe-Mn) bounded and residual (Res) fractions. In conclusion, soil application of the Fe-BC amendment could be used as a sustainable approach to reduce the ecological and environmental risks associated with soils contaminated with Cd and Cr, and ensure safer crop production.

Soils contaminated with microplastics have disorganized pore structure, which reduces soil fertility. However, few studies have focused on morphological characteristics and connectivity of soil pores under microplastic enrichment. This study evaluates how different concentrations of polyvinyl chloride microplastics (0 %, 2 %, and 4 %) affect the pore structure characteristics (pore distribution and porosity, pore characterization parameters, and pore connectivity) of soils with different textures (sandy, sandy loam, and loamy). Computed tomography were used to reassemble images of soil micropores following microplastics enrichment. The pore network model, Euler characteristics number, and tortuosity were used to characterize the complexity of connected pores. The results revealed that the effects of microplastics on pore structure varied substantially depending on soil texture, with sandy and sandy loam soils rapidly reducing or eliminating connected pores after introducing microplastics. However, loamy soils could still maintain a certain degree of pore connectivity. Adding microplastics reduced the porosity of all three soils, with sandy soil showing the most significant drop (89.51 %) at 4 % microplastics concentration dramatically. The overall impact of microplastics on the pores of loam soil is minimal. As the microplastics abundance increased, the pore network model of loam-connected pores became simpler. Under a 4 % microplastics enrichment, the loam soil’s Euler characteristic number of connected pores grew by 91.17 % In summary, even though the overall structure of the pores of soils of different textures differed due to microplastics addition, microplastics deposition would still severely disrupt the connectivity of soil pores and reduce soil infiltration capacity regardless of soil texture.

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) are widely used in a variety of industries due to their unique structural characteristics. It is essential to comprehend the environmental behavior and toxicological impacts of these substances to address potential risks caused by LDH release into the environment. In this study, CuFe and Cobalt (Co)-doped CuFe LDHs were synthesized and their toxicities to Chlorella vulgaris were investigated. In the scanning electron microscope images, the Co-doped and undoped catalysts appeared as uniformly dispersed flakes. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the Co-doped CuFe LDH confirmed the successful incorporation of Co into the crystalline lattice of the LDH. The growth of C. vulgaris was negatively affected by the presence of 1 mg/L LDHs, with membrane damage and cell wrinkling observed with 20 mg/L. The CuFe LDH-exposed algae exhibited a significantly greater decline in chlorophyll content compared to that of the Co-doped LDH-exposed algae. However, superoxide dismutase activity was elevated in algal cells exposed to the Co-doped CuFe LDH. Catalase activity increased up to 20 mg/L, followed by a decline at higher doses in CuFe LDH-exposed cells. From an ecological perspective, the lack of increased toxicity after Co doping is favorable for aquatic life. The extensive characterization, together with a rigorous toxicity assessment, provides new information about the environmental safety of cobalt doping to aid in the development of safer and more sustainable LDH-based products.

Bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) are an increasingly important source of nutrients in agriculture, promoted by the new EU fertilizer regulation aiming to enable a circular bioeconomy. Predicting the mineralization-dependent nutrient release of BBFs is critical for their appropriate use and to minimize environmental losses. We assessed mineralizable nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) of a representative selection of 32 BBFs and evaluated a set of chemical extraction methods to predict their N mineralization dynamics. In 84-day aerobic incubations, cumulative mineral N release varied between −13 and 100 % of amended N. Mineralized C ranged from 10 % to 117 % of amended C. Based on the dynamics of N and C mineralization, BBFs were classified into five significantly different groups. Among the tested chemical indicators of N mineralization from BBFs, cold and hot water presented the lowest extraction intensities, followed by hot potassium chloride and hot sulfuric acid extractions, while C:N ratio is based on total contents. Mineral N released almost immediately was best predicted by cold water extractable N, while hot sulfuric acid extractable N and C:N ratio predicted N released after the first two weeks and after 84 days, respectively. The combination of these three indicators was able to discriminate BBFs into four out of five mineralization classes. Such a cost-effective yet accurate estimation of N mineralization dynamics from BBFs can therefore be used as a basis to inform farmers on suitable timing and amount of BBF application, improving the synchrony between N release from BBFs and crop N demand.

With its direct or indirect reliance on agriculture for a living, the Indian economy is heavily dependent on this industry. Food insecurity is a result of decreased agriculture productivity due to growing contamination and pollution. Biochar is an organic carbon bound environment friendly material known for enhancing soil functions and plant growth. On the other hand, compost is an organic, nutrient-rich product that is formed by an aerobic process and is used as an amendment. Both of these have numerous benefits as amendment in the soil-plant system. This is a complete study on the effects of applying biochar and compost separately and in combination at ratios of 0 %, 1 %, and 2 % in a cadmium contaminated soil (0 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg Cd). Their effect was studied on the soil characteristics, seed germination, morphology, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity in spinach plant grown in contaminated soil in Chhattisgarh state, India. The results depicted that combination of biochar and compost was beneficial in improving soil-plant productivity. Compost and biochar mixtures improved the soil quality and decreased Cd concentration. When comparing the biochar-compost combination to either biochar or compost alone, the plant morphological changes and chlorophyll content increased to a greater extent in their combined application. Proline content and enzymatic activities were similarly enhanced in the biochar-compost mixture. Their amendment showed effective potential in improving spinach growth and development in the polluted soil.

Biostimulants emerged as a versatile tool to modify plant biological processes, by enhancing growth, improving nutrition, increasing stress tolerance, and enhancing crop quality. Among various biostimulant compounds, chitin and gelatin have shown promise in promoting plant growth and enhancing microbial communities. In this study, we investigated the biostimulant effects of chitin, gelatin, and their mixture on cucumber plantlets and associated rhizosphere microbial communities during plantlet production. Cucumber seeds were sown in seedling substrate amended with gelatin, chitin, or a mixture of both biostimulants. Plants were grown at 25°C/21°C with a 16/8 h photoperiod and 75 % humidity. Unamended samples served as controls, while urea was used as a mineral fertilizer control. After 8, 11 and 15 days, rhizosphere samples were collected, DNA was extracted, and the bacterial and fungal communities were assessed by high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene and the ITS region, respectively. Our findings revealed that the application of these biostimulants significantly improved cucumber plantlet growth, with the most pronounced effects 15 days after germination. Gelatin had significantly superior performance compared to chitin. The microbial communities with those amendments were enriched with microbes of genera Cellvibrio, Catenulispora, Arthrobacter, Mortierella, and Penicillium, all known for their production of hydrolytic enzymes such as chitinases, cellulases, and proteases. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the biostimulant-mediated interactions between plants and their associated microbial communities, offering potential applications to enhance crop productivity, especially at the plantlet stage while promoting circular economy and environmental sustainability in agriculture.