Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100293
Carla R.V. Coelho , Jan P. Lindner , Ottar Michelsen , Henrik G. Smith
Human appropriation of land reduces the quality and continuity of remaining natural habitat, affecting species fecundity, survival, and movements, which must be accounted for in impact assessments. Effective decision-making for sustainable land-use and resource extraction requires methods that represent the ecological impacts of human activities on surrounding landscapes. We propose a method that draws on the concept of landscape perforation, treats the land use in focus as the non-habitat, and quantifies adjacent human pressures by adapting the Human Footprint Index. The method aligns with the contention that disturbances in otherwise intact landscapes result in disproportionate ecological effects. We used a conservative intersection (algebraic product t-norm from fuzzy logic) to model the relationship between pressures that modify and those that do not. Inspired by landscape ecology's relative importance of spatial process to land transformation, we assumed a negatively sloped logistic function for pressures that modify the land cover, and a negative linear relationship for pressures that do not modify land cover. The index was applied to 102,646 quarries and mines, sourced from OpenStreetMap, quantifying their perforation potential. Developed in the context of life cycle assessment to quantify potential impacts of supply chains, a case study of steel illustrates its application from a product perspective. The method supports a proactive approach by equipping decision-makers with one more layer of information regarding “what is around” a land use. Globally applicable, it emphasizes transdisciplinary solutions for sustainable production, environmental stress assessment, and strategic resource planning with a spatially explicit component.
{"title":"Landscape perforation in life cycle assessment: Method development with global application to quarries and mines","authors":"Carla R.V. Coelho , Jan P. Lindner , Ottar Michelsen , Henrik G. Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100293","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100293","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human appropriation of land reduces the quality and continuity of remaining natural habitat, affecting species fecundity, survival, and movements, which must be accounted for in impact assessments. Effective decision-making for sustainable land-use and resource extraction requires methods that represent the ecological impacts of human activities on surrounding landscapes. We propose a method that draws on the concept of landscape perforation, treats the land use in focus as the non-habitat, and quantifies adjacent human pressures by adapting the Human Footprint Index. The method aligns with the contention that disturbances in otherwise intact landscapes result in disproportionate ecological effects. We used a conservative intersection (algebraic product t-norm from fuzzy logic) to model the relationship between pressures that modify and those that do not. Inspired by landscape ecology's relative importance of spatial process to land transformation, we assumed a negatively sloped logistic function for pressures that modify the land cover, and a negative linear relationship for pressures that do not modify land cover. The index was applied to 102,646 quarries and mines, sourced from OpenStreetMap, quantifying their perforation potential. Developed in the context of life cycle assessment to quantify potential impacts of supply chains, a case study of steel illustrates its application from a product perspective. The method supports a proactive approach by equipping decision-makers with one more layer of information regarding “what is around” a land use. Globally applicable, it emphasizes transdisciplinary solutions for sustainable production, environmental stress assessment, and strategic resource planning with a spatially explicit component.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100293"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100286
Emanuele Blasi , Eleonora Sofia Rossi , Lorenzo Fosci , Angelo Martella
Debates revolving around food systems sustainability and farming production efficiency often depict animal production as intensive farming practices that are resource-inefficient and environmentally harmful. Agroecological approaches that value virtuous combinations of plants and animals in mixed farming conditions may support a citizen's reconciliation with animal farming, better addressing sustainability and ethics of farming. The study assesses the feasibility of transitioning to more sustainable production models by analysing poultry farming in synergy with permanent and aromatic crops, facing challenges such as environmental impact and animal welfare. This research explores the adoption of AgroSilvoPastoral Systems (ASPS), that combine plants and animals, to increase animal welfare as well as biodiversity and to reduce negative externalities. The research involved an Italian laying hen organic farm as an empirical case study. By investigating how this change can be addressed and supported by both sides of the supply chain (production and market) this study aims at proposing a novel metric for socio-economic assessments of ASPS. A gross margin evaluation and a choice experiment were utilized to determine if the changes in structural costs for producers were offset by consumers' willingness to pay for products derived from these systems. The findings indicate that implementing ASPS in egg production at a large scale could lead to a competitive advantage in the market while also promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. In addition, engaging farmers in the decision-making process through a participatory approach facilitate the adoption and more efficient management of these systems, enhancing the probability of success.
{"title":"Exploring agrosilvopastoral systems as pathways toward sustainable transitions in Italian egg production: evidence from farm accountability and consumers’ willingness to pay","authors":"Emanuele Blasi , Eleonora Sofia Rossi , Lorenzo Fosci , Angelo Martella","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Debates revolving around food systems sustainability and farming production efficiency often depict animal production as intensive farming practices that are resource-inefficient and environmentally harmful. Agroecological approaches that value virtuous combinations of plants and animals in mixed farming conditions may support a citizen's reconciliation with animal farming, better addressing sustainability and ethics of farming. The study assesses the feasibility of transitioning to more sustainable production models by analysing poultry farming in synergy with permanent and aromatic crops, facing challenges such as environmental impact and animal welfare. This research explores the adoption of AgroSilvoPastoral Systems (ASPS), that combine plants and animals, to increase animal welfare as well as biodiversity and to reduce negative externalities. The research involved an Italian laying hen organic farm as an empirical case study. By investigating how this change can be addressed and supported by both sides of the supply chain (production and market) this study aims at proposing a novel metric for socio-economic assessments of ASPS. A gross margin evaluation and a choice experiment were utilized to determine if the changes in structural costs for producers were offset by consumers' willingness to pay for products derived from these systems. The findings indicate that implementing ASPS in egg production at a large scale could lead to a competitive advantage in the market while also promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. In addition, engaging farmers in the decision-making process through a participatory approach facilitate the adoption and more efficient management of these systems, enhancing the probability of success.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100286"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100283
Qianqian Zhang , Linghui Liu , Gunina Anna , Pengpeng Duan , Yongchun Li , Scott X. Chang , Zhengqin Xiong
Substituting chemical fertilizers with manure or bio-manure (manure inoculated with microbes) offers a promising strategy to mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, yet the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Through a five-year field study employing isotopocule (δ15NSPN2O and δ18ON2O/H2O) mapping, we elucidated that a 50 % substitution with manure or bio-manure significantly decreased cumulative N2O emissions by suppressing production of nitrification- and nitrifier-denitrification- and heterotrophic denitrification (HD)-derived N2O, and promoted N2O reduction to N2 in denitrification. In contrast, 20 % substitutions failed to achieve sustained mitigation. Bio-manure initially exhibited stronger N2O mitigation than manure, but this mitigation effect disappeared over time due to a N2O production–consumption offsetting effect in HD. Specifically, relative to manure, bio-manure stimulated HD-driven N2O production in association with increasing abundances of HD-related genes (nirK, nirS, fungi-nirK) and potential denitrification rates. Bio-manure often maintained a higher capacity for N2O reduction, evidenced by lower (nirK + nirS + Fungi-nirK)/(nosZ) ratios and unreduced N2O fraction. Critically, substitutions enhanced crop yields, with manure increasing yields by 8–21 % and bio-manure by 19–30 % compared to conventional fertilizer. Consequently, our study revealed that 50 % bio-manure substitution is an effective strategy for mitigating N2O emissions and enhancing yields from vegetable production systems, providing actionable insights for sustainable resource management and climate change mitigation.
{"title":"Manure and bio-manure substitutions of chemical fertilizers mitigate long-term nitrous oxide emissions from vegetable production systems","authors":"Qianqian Zhang , Linghui Liu , Gunina Anna , Pengpeng Duan , Yongchun Li , Scott X. Chang , Zhengqin Xiong","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Substituting chemical fertilizers with manure or bio-manure (manure inoculated with microbes) offers a promising strategy to mitigate nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions, yet the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Through a five-year field study employing isotopocule (δ<sup>15</sup>N<sup>SP</sup><sub>N2O</sub> and δ<sup>18</sup>O<sub>N2O/H2O</sub>) mapping, we elucidated that a 50 % substitution with manure or bio-manure significantly decreased cumulative N<sub>2</sub>O emissions by suppressing production of nitrification- and nitrifier-denitrification- and heterotrophic denitrification (HD)-derived N<sub>2</sub>O, and promoted N<sub>2</sub>O reduction to N<sub>2</sub> in denitrification. In contrast, 20 % substitutions failed to achieve sustained mitigation. Bio-manure initially exhibited stronger N<sub>2</sub>O mitigation than manure, but this mitigation effect disappeared over time due to a N<sub>2</sub>O production–consumption offsetting effect in HD. Specifically, relative to manure, bio-manure stimulated HD-driven N<sub>2</sub>O production in association with increasing abundances of HD-related genes (<em>nirK</em>, <em>nirS</em>, fungi-<em>nirK</em>) and potential denitrification rates. Bio-manure often maintained a higher capacity for N<sub>2</sub>O reduction, evidenced by lower (<em>nirK</em> + <em>nirS +</em> Fungi-<em>nirK</em>)/(<em>nosZ</em>) ratios and unreduced N<sub>2</sub>O fraction. Critically, substitutions enhanced crop yields, with manure increasing yields by 8–21 % and bio-manure by 19–30 % compared to conventional fertilizer. Consequently, our study revealed that 50 % bio-manure substitution is an effective strategy for mitigating N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and enhancing yields from vegetable production systems, providing actionable insights for sustainable resource management and climate change mitigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100283"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100294
Elza Bontempi
{"title":"Toward a modular and integrated approach to lithium-ion battery recycling: from fragmentation to strategic research globalization","authors":"Elza Bontempi","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100294","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100294"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Livestock manure is enriched with heavy metals such as copper, zinc, and cadmium due to feed additives and intensive farming practices. Inadequate management can lead to soil accumulation, nutrient cycle disruption, and ecosystem risks. Pyrolysis, as a versatile thermochemical process, simultaneously enables pollutant control, energy recovery, nutrient recycling, and heavy metal stabilization. This review integrates mechanistic insights with sustainability-oriented evaluation, linking thermochemical transformations to agricultural applications and policy frameworks. We examine thermal-induced changes in heavy metal speciation and mobility, highlighting stabilization through encapsulation, complexation, and mineralization, while also critically assessing sequential extraction methods. The synergistic effects of co-pyrolysis and mineral additives are further discussed. By bridging molecular-scale mechanisms with sustainable resource management, this work provides a cross-disciplinary perspective to guide safe biochar reuse, integrated manure management, and broader sustainability goals.
{"title":"Heavy metal transformation in livestock manure (co-)pyrolysis: pathways toward safe biochar and sustainable agriculture","authors":"Fengxiao Zhao , Hongyuan Chen , Danni Li , Dong Liang , Xianhai Zeng , Rui Shan , Haoran Yuan , Yong Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Livestock manure is enriched with heavy metals such as copper, zinc, and cadmium due to feed additives and intensive farming practices. Inadequate management can lead to soil accumulation, nutrient cycle disruption, and ecosystem risks. Pyrolysis, as a versatile thermochemical process, simultaneously enables pollutant control, energy recovery, nutrient recycling, and heavy metal stabilization. This review integrates mechanistic insights with sustainability-oriented evaluation, linking thermochemical transformations to agricultural applications and policy frameworks. We examine thermal-induced changes in heavy metal speciation and mobility, highlighting stabilization through encapsulation, complexation, and mineralization, while also critically assessing sequential extraction methods. The synergistic effects of co-pyrolysis and mineral additives are further discussed. By bridging molecular-scale mechanisms with sustainable resource management, this work provides a cross-disciplinary perspective to guide safe biochar reuse, integrated manure management, and broader sustainability goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100284"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100287
Sheng Zhao , Yi Wen , Hao Sheng , Junpeng Lou , Chuan Peng , Yu Jiang , Yuqing Tang , Shanpeng Liu , Kai Ouyang
Long–term agricultural amendments are widely employed to enhance soil quality and ecological sustainability. However, their effects on the assembly processes of bacterial sub–communities and on multispecies biofilm development remain poorly understood. In a seven–year field experiment, we investigated the impact of lime (L) and organic fertilizer (OF) amendments on the assembly mechanisms of abundant, moderate, and rare bacterial taxa in paddy soil, as well as on the formation and growth of multispecies biofilms. Our results demonstrated that both amendments significantly increased biofilm biomass, enhancing biofilm thickness by 0.72– to 1.33–fold, and shifted microbial niche adaptation. Assembly processes, assessed via the Normalized Stochasticity Ratio (NST), exhibited contrasting patterns among taxa: for the whole and rare bacterial communities, NST increased from 45.3 % to 68.9 % and from 48.3 % to 71.3 % under OF, and from 44.3 % to 55.7 % and from 47.8 % to 57.2 % under L, indicating a shift from deterministic toward stochastic process. In contrast, moderate taxa showed decreased stochasticity, with NST declining from 70.0 % to 43.2 % under OF and from 77.4 % to 58.3 % under L. Organic fertilization also enhanced soil multifunctionality by 2.37–fold and increased bacterial network complexity by 77 %. Soil pH was identified as the key driver governing both bacterial community assembly and multispecies biofilm growth. These findings provide novel insights into how long–term agricultural amendments modulate biofilm dynamics and bacterial assembly processes in soil ecosystems.
{"title":"Long–term application of agricultural amendments regulate the assembly of different bacterial sub–communities and growth of multi–species biofilms in paddy soils","authors":"Sheng Zhao , Yi Wen , Hao Sheng , Junpeng Lou , Chuan Peng , Yu Jiang , Yuqing Tang , Shanpeng Liu , Kai Ouyang","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Long–term agricultural amendments are widely employed to enhance soil quality and ecological sustainability. However, their effects on the assembly processes of bacterial sub–communities and on multispecies biofilm development remain poorly understood. In a seven–year field experiment, we investigated the impact of lime (L) and organic fertilizer (OF) amendments on the assembly mechanisms of abundant, moderate, and rare bacterial taxa in paddy soil, as well as on the formation and growth of multispecies biofilms. Our results demonstrated that both amendments significantly increased biofilm biomass, enhancing biofilm thickness by 0.72– to 1.33–fold, and shifted microbial niche adaptation. Assembly processes, assessed via the Normalized Stochasticity Ratio (NST), exhibited contrasting patterns among taxa: for the whole and rare bacterial communities, NST increased from 45.3 % to 68.9 % and from 48.3 % to 71.3 % under OF, and from 44.3 % to 55.7 % and from 47.8 % to 57.2 % under L, indicating a shift from deterministic toward stochastic process. In contrast, moderate taxa showed decreased stochasticity, with NST declining from 70.0 % to 43.2 % under OF and from 77.4 % to 58.3 % under L. Organic fertilization also enhanced soil multifunctionality by 2.37–fold and increased bacterial network complexity by 77 %. Soil pH was identified as the key driver governing both bacterial community assembly and multispecies biofilm growth. These findings provide novel insights into how long–term agricultural amendments modulate biofilm dynamics and bacterial assembly processes in soil ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100287"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100281
Qiuxuan Sun , Songying Dai , Yunfei Dai , Yunfei Sun , Jin-Sol Lee , Kai Lyu , Jae-Seong Lee , Zhou Yang
Aquatic organisms are normally exposed to waters where multiple pollutants coexist. Although the concentration of each single pollutant in natural waters is extremely low and may not have harmful effects, the combined effects of multiple low concentration pollutants may cause substantial harm to Daphnia. Therefore, we selected 11 kinds of pollutants including microplastics, antibiotics, heavy metals, agricultural and industrial pollutants, and then exposed Daphnia magna to the combination of these pollutants at the environmental concentrations (ng L−1-μg L−1 range) to evaluate the possible negative effects. Results showed the combination of multiple pollutants significantly decreased heart rate, body size, survival, and fecundity of D. magna and delayed maturation. In the filial generation constantly exposed to the pollutant combination, the growth, survival, and reproduction further decreased. The diversity of the gut microbiota decreased, but the abundance of bacteria with functions related to xenobiotics degradation increased under the pollutant combination. The expressions of genes related to antioxidant, xenobiotics catabolism, and energy absorption were upregulated by the pollutant combination, with downregulating expressions of the genes related to cell division and nitrogen metabolism, which reveals the underlying mechanism of the harmful effects of multiple pollutants on life history traits of D. magna. This study demonstrated the ecological risks of multiple pollutants at environmentally relevant concentrations to D. magna, providing a new perspective for evaluating the consequences of low environmental pollution in natural waters.
{"title":"Ecological risks of combination of multiple pollutants at environmentally relevant concentrations: Insights from the changes in life history traits, gut microbiota, and transcriptomic responses in Daphnia magna","authors":"Qiuxuan Sun , Songying Dai , Yunfei Dai , Yunfei Sun , Jin-Sol Lee , Kai Lyu , Jae-Seong Lee , Zhou Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aquatic organisms are normally exposed to waters where multiple pollutants coexist. Although the concentration of each single pollutant in natural waters is extremely low and may not have harmful effects, the combined effects of multiple low concentration pollutants may cause substantial harm to <em>Daphnia</em>. Therefore, we selected 11 kinds of pollutants including microplastics, antibiotics, heavy metals, agricultural and industrial pollutants, and then exposed <em>Daphnia magna</em> to the combination of these pollutants at the environmental concentrations (ng L<sup>−1</sup>-μg L<sup>−1</sup> range) to evaluate the possible negative effects. Results showed the combination of multiple pollutants significantly decreased heart rate, body size, survival, and fecundity of <em>D. magna</em> and delayed maturation. In the filial generation constantly exposed to the pollutant combination, the growth, survival, and reproduction further decreased. The diversity of the gut microbiota decreased, but the abundance of bacteria with functions related to xenobiotics degradation increased under the pollutant combination. The expressions of genes related to antioxidant, xenobiotics catabolism, and energy absorption were upregulated by the pollutant combination, with downregulating expressions of the genes related to cell division and nitrogen metabolism, which reveals the underlying mechanism of the harmful effects of multiple pollutants on life history traits of <em>D</em>. <em>magna</em>. This study demonstrated the ecological risks of multiple pollutants at environmentally relevant concentrations to <em>D</em>. <em>magna</em>, providing a new perspective for evaluating the consequences of low environmental pollution in natural waters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100281"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145690900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100282
Guobin Ma , Rucheng Lu , Tongsheng Fan , Pengcheng Wang , Yiyun Li
<div><div>TSU (territorial space use) constitutes the foundational behavior of human economic and social activities upon the land. Investigating the threshold effect of multi-scale TSU on LES (land ecological security) is essential for scientifically constructing a border ecological barrier management system within the framework of integrated development and security planning. Currently, spatial governance of territorial space in China's border areas utilizes the "three districts and three lines" as its core framework, implementing rigid spatial controls through the ecological protection red line, cultivated land and permanent basic farmland boundaries, and the urban development boundary. Concurrently, the main functional area strategy is employed to promote differentiated development. However, these border areas face dual pressures stemming from ecological fragility and intensive human activity: the northern border is threatened by ecological degradation in arid regions; soil erosion affects more than half of the northwest border area; and rocky desertification in the southwest border region contributes to the desertification of cultivated land and the loss of soil fertility. Consequently, a significant spatial mismatch and structural imbalance exist between land use patterns and ecological security requirements.</div><div>By employing a BRT (Boosted Regression Trees) model and SEM (Structural Equation Model), this study identified and categorized the influence of major TSU types on LES. Subsequently, hierarchical governance of LES thresholds was implemented through SLR (Segmented Linear Regression). Concurrently, we employ the SOM-K-means clustering method to execute zonal control of the predominant types of TSU. The results show that (1) from 2008 to 2023, the proportion of OE (Other ecological space) in the types of TSU is the highest at 32.764 %, which is concentrated in the Northern border and the Northwestern border; OE→ WE (Water ecological space) reflects the systematic tendency of transformation; and the spatial transfer of the three regions is mainly dominated by Agriculture→Urban and Ecology→Urban. (2) From 2008 to 2023, LES at different scales is characterized by ‘high in the North and low in the West,’ and SP (Social protection), EM (Economic drive), and SS (Ecological support) in each border region show strong effects on LES, with AP (Agricultural production space), GE (Grassland ecological space), OE, and FE (Forest ecological space) thresholds for LES of 0.457, 0.425, 0.330 and 0.345, respectively, 0.330, 0.348. (3) In 2023, the grid scale is mainly dominated by WE, FE, AP et al., and the distribution of its KCA (key conservation areas) is as high as 38.713 %; the county and city scales are mainly composed of FEL (Forest ecological space dominant type), APL(Agricultural production space dominant type), GEL (Grassland ecological space dominant type), and OEL (Other ecological space dominant type) to form the spatial pattern of t
{"title":"Nonlinear threshold effects of territorial space use on land ecological security along China's land borders: a multi-scale zonal governance pathway","authors":"Guobin Ma , Rucheng Lu , Tongsheng Fan , Pengcheng Wang , Yiyun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>TSU (territorial space use) constitutes the foundational behavior of human economic and social activities upon the land. Investigating the threshold effect of multi-scale TSU on LES (land ecological security) is essential for scientifically constructing a border ecological barrier management system within the framework of integrated development and security planning. Currently, spatial governance of territorial space in China's border areas utilizes the \"three districts and three lines\" as its core framework, implementing rigid spatial controls through the ecological protection red line, cultivated land and permanent basic farmland boundaries, and the urban development boundary. Concurrently, the main functional area strategy is employed to promote differentiated development. However, these border areas face dual pressures stemming from ecological fragility and intensive human activity: the northern border is threatened by ecological degradation in arid regions; soil erosion affects more than half of the northwest border area; and rocky desertification in the southwest border region contributes to the desertification of cultivated land and the loss of soil fertility. Consequently, a significant spatial mismatch and structural imbalance exist between land use patterns and ecological security requirements.</div><div>By employing a BRT (Boosted Regression Trees) model and SEM (Structural Equation Model), this study identified and categorized the influence of major TSU types on LES. Subsequently, hierarchical governance of LES thresholds was implemented through SLR (Segmented Linear Regression). Concurrently, we employ the SOM-K-means clustering method to execute zonal control of the predominant types of TSU. The results show that (1) from 2008 to 2023, the proportion of OE (Other ecological space) in the types of TSU is the highest at 32.764 %, which is concentrated in the Northern border and the Northwestern border; OE→ WE (Water ecological space) reflects the systematic tendency of transformation; and the spatial transfer of the three regions is mainly dominated by Agriculture→Urban and Ecology→Urban. (2) From 2008 to 2023, LES at different scales is characterized by ‘high in the North and low in the West,’ and SP (Social protection), EM (Economic drive), and SS (Ecological support) in each border region show strong effects on LES, with AP (Agricultural production space), GE (Grassland ecological space), OE, and FE (Forest ecological space) thresholds for LES of 0.457, 0.425, 0.330 and 0.345, respectively, 0.330, 0.348. (3) In 2023, the grid scale is mainly dominated by WE, FE, AP et al., and the distribution of its KCA (key conservation areas) is as high as 38.713 %; the county and city scales are mainly composed of FEL (Forest ecological space dominant type), APL(Agricultural production space dominant type), GEL (Grassland ecological space dominant type), and OEL (Other ecological space dominant type) to form the spatial pattern of t","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100282"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145796577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Throughout agricultural history, controlling weeds to prevent yield loss has been a longstanding focus. However, a practical technology that leverages weeds as a beneficial biological resource without compromising crop yields has remained elusive. Our study proposes and evaluates an innovative integrated technology to utilise and suppress weeds (ITUSW) for sustainable maize cultivation. In brief, maize was planted in ultrawide rows (100 cm apart) with two plants per hill on strip-tillage beds. Interrow weeds were allowed to grow naturally. These weeds were mowed during the seedling, tillering, and flowering stages. The mowed material, combined with the previous year's maize stover that was laid on the interrows, was then used as mulch over the maize rows and eventually returned to the soil through the practice of strip-tillage. Our five-year field study suggest that maize yields under the ITUSW treatment did not differ from those achieved by the plastic film mulching for weeding (MFW), chemical weeding (CW), chemical weeding plus straw return (CWSR), and mechanical weeding by hand hoeing (MHW)(p > 0.05) treatments, yet they significantly surpassed those of the chemical weeding combined with straw mulching (CWSM)(p < 0.05) treatment. Importantly, the above-ground intra-row weed biomass under the ITUSW was notably reduced compared to the MFW treatment, resembling the levels observed in other treatments. Conversely, the inter-row weed biomass experienced substantial increases of up to 448 g/m2 through maize growth season, specifically by 9.89-, 5.14-, 4.36-, and 3.51-fold in contrast to the SWSM, CW, MHW, and MFW, treatments respectively (p < 0.05). Our series of supplementary experiments confirmed that weeds beyond a 25 cm radius do not induce yield loss (p < 0.05). Moreover, ITUSW designed with a wide row layout, strip tillage, inter-row weed mowing, and intra-row weed mulching eliminated competition from inter-row weeds and achieved the resource utilisation of inter-row weeds, such as soil improvement and biomass mulching. Besides, ITUSW is compatible with winter crops such as wheat. Consequently, ITUSW shows potential to replace chemical herbicides in maize production, and weeds are redefined from foes to allies, propelling agriculture towards enhanced sustainability.
{"title":"Technology to utilise and suppress weeds for sustainable maize production","authors":"Kaixian Wu , Shiyong Zhou , Guang Zeng , Hongli Yang , Bozhi Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Throughout agricultural history, controlling weeds to prevent yield loss has been a longstanding focus. However, a practical technology that leverages weeds as a beneficial biological resource without compromising crop yields has remained elusive. Our study proposes and evaluates an innovative integrated technology to utilise and suppress weeds (ITUSW) for sustainable maize cultivation. In brief, maize was planted in ultrawide rows (100 cm apart) with two plants per hill on strip-tillage beds. Interrow weeds were allowed to grow naturally. These weeds were mowed during the seedling, tillering, and flowering stages. The mowed material, combined with the previous year's maize stover that was laid on the interrows, was then used as mulch over the maize rows and eventually returned to the soil through the practice of strip-tillage. Our five-year field study suggest that maize yields under the ITUSW treatment did not differ from those achieved by the plastic film mulching for weeding (MFW), chemical weeding (CW), chemical weeding plus straw return (CWSR), and mechanical weeding by hand hoeing (MHW)(<em>p</em> > 0.05) treatments, yet they significantly surpassed those of the chemical weeding combined with straw mulching (CWSM)(<em>p</em> < 0.05) treatment. Importantly, the above-ground intra-row weed biomass under the ITUSW was notably reduced compared to the MFW treatment, resembling the levels observed in other treatments. Conversely, the inter-row weed biomass experienced substantial increases of up to 448 g/m<sup>2</sup> through maize growth season, specifically by 9.89-, 5.14-, 4.36-, and 3.51-fold in contrast to the SWSM, CW, MHW, and MFW, treatments respectively (<em>p</em> < 0.05). Our series of supplementary experiments confirmed that weeds beyond a 25 cm radius do not induce yield loss (<em>p</em> < 0.05). Moreover, ITUSW designed with a wide row layout, strip tillage, inter-row weed mowing, and intra-row weed mulching eliminated competition from inter-row weeds and achieved the resource utilisation of inter-row weeds, such as soil improvement and biomass mulching. Besides, ITUSW is compatible with winter crops such as wheat. Consequently, ITUSW shows potential to replace chemical herbicides in maize production, and weeds are redefined from foes to allies, propelling agriculture towards enhanced sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100279"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145690901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100280
Teng Guo , Xiaoya Gao , Xingxin Yang , Jiatian Wang , Yucheng Yin , Yaoran Hu , Yue Luo , Yongming Luo
Strategic metal recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is urgently required novel technologies with high efficiency, low environmental impact, and strong economic viability. This study proposes a tobacco stems biomass assisted strategy that directly converts spent LiCoO2 into advanced functional Co-based catalyst in water treatment. Benefited from the biomass pyrolysis, Co-based catalyst was first in-situ doped with metal (Al) and non-metal (C and N) to obtain CoONAl-C catalysts. The prepared CoONAl-C achieved nearly 100 % peroxymonosulfate (PMS) utilization efficiency, which exhibited a persulfate per mass pollutants normalized kinetic rate constant surpassing reported water treatment systems by 2–42 times. The co-doping of metal (Al) and non-metal (C and N) not only shortened the bond length between PMS and Co-O but also upward shifted the d-band center close to Fermi-level. The alteration of Co active sites' electronic distribution via Co-N coordination, combined with loading and reduction of biomass pyrolysis, significantly promoted Co(II)/Co(III) redox cycles. This synergy boosted PMS adsorption-activation and Fenton-like catalytic activity, ultimately driving O-O bond cleavage to generate reactive oxygen species for efficient degradation of emerging contaminants. Moreover, the practical applicability of CoONAl-C was supported by its high stability over seven cycles, minimal ion leaching, reduced toxicity of intermediates, and effective operation in real water samples. This study addressed the high PMS consumption bottleneck in water treatment, contributing to the sustainable utilization of spent LIBs and waste biomass.
{"title":"In-situ synthesizing CoONAl-C catalysts from spent LiCoO2 batteries and tobacco stems biomass: nearly 100 % peroxymonosulfate utilization","authors":"Teng Guo , Xiaoya Gao , Xingxin Yang , Jiatian Wang , Yucheng Yin , Yaoran Hu , Yue Luo , Yongming Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strategic metal recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is urgently required novel technologies with high efficiency, low environmental impact, and strong economic viability. This study proposes a tobacco stems biomass assisted strategy that directly converts spent LiCoO<sub>2</sub> into advanced functional Co-based catalyst in water treatment. Benefited from the biomass pyrolysis, Co-based catalyst was first in-situ doped with metal (Al) and non-metal (C and N) to obtain CoON<sub>Al</sub>-C catalysts. The prepared CoON<sub>Al</sub>-C achieved nearly 100 % peroxymonosulfate (PMS) utilization efficiency, which exhibited a persulfate per mass pollutants normalized kinetic rate constant surpassing reported water treatment systems by 2–42 times. The co-doping of metal (Al) and non-metal (C and N) not only shortened the bond length between PMS and Co-O but also upward shifted the d-band center close to Fermi-level. The alteration of Co active sites' electronic distribution via Co-N coordination, combined with loading and reduction of biomass pyrolysis, significantly promoted Co(II)/Co(III) redox cycles. This synergy boosted PMS adsorption-activation and Fenton-like catalytic activity, ultimately driving O-O bond cleavage to generate reactive oxygen species for efficient degradation of emerging contaminants. Moreover, the practical applicability of CoON<sub>Al</sub>-C was supported by its high stability over seven cycles, minimal ion leaching, reduced toxicity of intermediates, and effective operation in real water samples. This study addressed the high PMS consumption bottleneck in water treatment, contributing to the sustainable utilization of spent LIBs and waste biomass.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34479,"journal":{"name":"Resources Environment and Sustainability","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100280"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145525851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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