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Energy deprivation to financial prosperity: Unveiling multidimensional energy Poverty's influence
Retrieval of Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions using sustainable guar gum/PVA/montmorillonite nanocomposite films: effect of temperature and adsorption isotherms
Uncontrolled or improperly managed wastewater is considered toxic and dangerous to plants, animals, and people, as well as negatively impacting the ecosystem. In this research, the use of we aimed to prepare polymer nanocomposites (guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol, and nano-montmorillonite clay) for eliminating heavy metals from water-based systems, especially Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions. The synthesis of nanocomposites was done by the green method with different ratios of guar gum to PVA (50/50), (60/40), and (80/20) wt%, in addition to glycerol that acts as a cross-linker. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis of the prepared (guar gum/PVA/MMT) polymeric nano-composites’ structure and morphology revealed the presence of both guar gum and PVA’s functional groups in the polymeric network matrix. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis was also performed, which verified the creation of a nanocomposite. Furthermore, theromgravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated the biocomposites’ excellent thermal properties. For those metal ions, the extreme uptake was found at pH 6.0 in each instance. The Equilibrium uptake capacities of the three prepared nanocomposites were achieved within 240 min. The maximal capacities were found to be 95, 89 and 84 mg/g for Cu2+, and for Cd2+ were found to be 100, 91, 87 mg/g for guar gum (80/20, 60/40 and 50/50), respectively. The pseudo-2nd-order model with R2 > 0.98 was demonstrated to be followed by the adsorption reaction, according to the presented results. In less than 4 hours, the adsorption equilibrium was reached. Furthermore, a 1% EDTA solution could be used to revitalize the metal-ion-loaded nanocomposites for several cycles. The most promising nanocomposite with efficiency above 90% for the removal of Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions from wastewater was found to have a guar (80/20) weight percentage, according to the results obtained.
Exploring Digital Innovations in Agriculture: A Pathway to Sustainable Food Production and Resource Management
Today’s agriculture faces numerous challenges due to climate change, a growing population and the need to increase food productivity [...]
Absorpcja wielopierścieniowych węglowodorów aromatycznych (WWA) przez produkty spożywcze podczas wędzenia
Challenges and Problems of Nature Conservation: A Case Study from Poland
The article aims to show the attitudes and views of Polish residents on the problem of preserving the natural environment from the perspective of their place of residence. The need for research in this area stems from the insufficient number of available studies on this very important issue given the global environmental challenges we are facing. The research gap noted relates particularly to the aspects of engagement in environmental measures, knowledge levels, and motivations for conservation efforts by local citizens. Environmentally and socially responsible behavior is part of the concept of sustainable development. Empirical research covered a sample of 500 adult residents of Poland using the CAWI technique. The results showed that the vast majority of respondents noticed numerous problems in preserving the natural environment in their place of residence. According to respondents, the way to reduce these problems is to increase care for green areas, promote renewable energy sources, and strive to reduce waste. Moreover, the research results show that respondents take initiatives to segregate waste, save energy, and apply the zero-waste concept. The main reason for taking action to solve environmental problems is to preserve the environment for our children and future generations. The results of these studies showed that for men, pro-environmental activities are more important than for women. These findings are valuable for policymakers, local authorities, and fellow citizens.
Predicting Starch Content in Early Potato Varieties Using Neural Networks and Regression Models: A Comparative Study
Starch content serves as a crucial indicator of the quality and palatability of potato tubers. It has become a common practice to evaluate the polysaccharide content directly in tubers freshly harvested from the field. This study aims to develop models that can predict starch content prior to the harvesting of potato tubers. Very early potato varieties were cultivated in the northern and northwestern regions of Poland. The research involved constructing multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN-MLP) models, drawing on data from eight years of field trials. The independent variables included factors such as sunshine duration, average daily air temperatures, precipitation, soil nutrient levels, and phytophenological data. The NSM demonstrated a higher accuracy in predicting the dependent variable compared to the RSM, with MAPE errors of 7.258% and 9.825%, respectively. This study confirms that artificial neural networks are an effective tool for predicting starch content in very early potato varieties, making them valuable for monitoring potato quality.
Planting Geometry May Be Used to Optimize Plant Density and Yields without Changing Yield Potential per Plant in Sweet Corn
Planting geometry is one of the most important management practices that determine plant growth and yield of corn. The effects of eight planting geometries (35 × 23 cm, 40 × 21 cm, 45 × 19 cm, 50 × 18 cm, 55 × 17 cm, 60 × 16 cm, 65 × 15 cm, 70 × 15 cm) on plant growth and yields of three sweet corn hybrids (Argos F1, Challenger F1, Khan F1) were investigated under Erzurum, Türkiye conditions in 2022 and 2023 years. Variance analysis of the main factors shows a highly significant effect on whole traits but in two-way interactions some of the traits were significant and in the three-way interactions, it was insignificant. As an average of years, the number of plants per hectare at the harvest varied between 92,307 (35 × 23 cm) and 120,444 (70 × 15 cm) according to the planting geometries. The highest marketable ear number per hectare (107,456), marketable ear yield (24,887 kg ha−1), and fresh kernel yield (19,493 kg ha−1) were obtained from the 40 × 21 cm planting geometry. The results showed that the variety Khan F1 grown at 40 × 21 cm planting geometry obtained the highest marketable ear number (112,472), marketable ear yield (29,788 kg ha−1), and fresh kernel yield (22,432 kg ha−1). The plant density was positively correlated with marketable ear number (r = 0.904 **), marketable ear yield (r = 0.853 **), and fresh kernel yield (r = 0.801 **). The differences among the varieties were significant for the studied traits, except for plant density and kernel number per ear. In conclusion, the variety Khan F1 should be grown at the 40 × 21 cm planting geometry to maximize yields under study area conditions without water and nutrient limitations.
GT Biplot and Cluster Analysis of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Germplasm from Various Geographical Regions Based on Agro-Morphological Traits
Barley, an ancient crop, was vital for early civilizations and has historically been served as food and beverage. Today, it plays a major role as feed for livestock. Breeding modern barley varieties for high yield and quality has created significant genetic erosion. This highlights the importance of tapping into genetic and genomic resources to develop new improved varieties that can overcome agricultural bottlenecks and increase barley yield. In the current study, 75 barley genotypes were evaluated for agro-morphological traits. The relationships among these traits were determined based on genotype by trait (GT) biplot analysis for two cropping years (2021 and 2022). This study was designed as a randomized complete block experiment with four replications. The variation among genotypes was found to be significant for all traits. The correlation coefficient and GT biplot revealed that grain yield (GY) was positively correlated with the number of grains per spike (NGS), the grain weight per spike (GW), and the thousand kernel weight (1000 KW). However, the test weight (TW) was negatively correlated with the heading date (HD). Hierarchical analysis produced five groups in the first year, four groups in the second year, and four groups over the average of two years. Genotypes by trait biplot analysis highlighted G25, G28, G61, G73, and G74 as promising high-yielding barley genotypes. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of the GT biplot as a valuable approach for identifying superior genotypes with contrasting traits. It is considered that this approach could be used to evaluate the barley genetic material in breeding programs.
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: An Influential Element in Alleviating Salt Stress in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa L. Cv Atlas)
Climate change has intensified abiotic stresses, notably salinity, detrimentally affecting crop yield. To counter these effects, nanomaterials have emerged as a promising tool to mitigate the adverse impacts on plant growth and development. Specifically, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have demonstrated efficacy in facilitating a gradual release of zinc, thus enhancing its bioavailability to plants. With the goal of ensuring sustainable plant production, our aim was to examine how green-synthesized ZnO-NPs influence the seedling growth of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa L. Cv Atlas) under conditions of salinity stress. To induce salt stress, solutions with three different NaCl concentrations (0, 100, and 200 mM) were prepared. Additionally, Zn and ZnO-NPs were administered at four different concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 200 ppm). In this study, plant height (cm), plant weight (g), plant diameter (mm), chlorophyll content (SPAD), K/Na value, Ca/Na value, antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD: EU g−1 leaf; CAT: EU g−1 leaf; POD: EU g−1 leaf), H2O2 (mmol kg−1), MDA (nmol g−1 DW), proline (µg g−1 FW), and sucrose (g L−1), content parameters were measured. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of ZnO nanoparticles with identified planes. Salinity stress significantly reduced plant metrics and altered ion ratios, while increasing oxidative stress indicators and osmolytes. Conversely, Zn and ZnO-NPs mitigated these effects, reducing oxidative damage and enhancing enzyme activities. This supports Zn’s role in limiting salinity uptake and improving physiological responses in quinoa seedlings, suggesting a promising strategy for enhancing crop resilience. Overall, this study underscores nanomaterials’ potential in sustainable agriculture and stress management.