Biomass residues from the agricultural industry, logging and wood processing activities have become a valuable fuel source. If processed under pyrolysis combustion, several products are generated. Bio-oil and gases are essential alternatives to fossil coal-based fuels for energy and electricity production, whose need is constantly growing. Biochar, the porous carbon-based lightweight product, often ends up as a soil fertilizer. However, it can be applied in other industrial sectors, e.g., in plastics production or in modifying cementitious materials intended for construction needs. This work dealt with the application of small amounts of softwood-based biochar up to 2.0 wt.% on hydration kinetics and a wide range of physical and mechanical properties, such as water transport characteristics and flexural and compressive strengths of modified cement pastes. In the comparison with reference specimens, the biochar incorporation into cement pastes brought benefits like the reduction of open porosity, improvement of strength properties, and decreased capillary water absorption of 7-day and 28-day-cured cement pastes. Moreover, biochar-dosed cement pastes showed an increase in heat evolution during the hydration process, accompanied by higher consumption of clinker minerals. Considering all examined characteristics, the optimal dosage of softwood-derived biochar of 1.0 wt.% of Portland cement can be recommended.

Grain protein content (GPC) often increases with nitrogen (N) fertilizer; however, low GPC is preferred for soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The combined effects of decreasing N and increasing seed rate (SR) on soft wheat quality, economic benefits (Eb), apparent N recovery (ARN), and soil nitrate-N residual (SNR) are poorly understood. Field experiments were conducted with three SRs (SR135, SR180, and SR225) and two N levels (N235 and N290) in 2017-2018, and three N levels (N290, N235, and N180) with a control (N0) in 2018-19. The results showed that storage proteins, GMP, HMW-GS, and Zeleny sedimentation value significantly decreased with lower N levels and increased with higher SR. At the same SR, the significant difference for the parameters mentioned were greater at a low N rate than at a high rate. Furthermore, grain yield (GY), Eb, ARN, and SNR were significantly affected by N and SR. Increasing SR from 135 to 180 resulted in an average Eb increase of 13.32%, while increasing from 180 to 225 led to a decline of 3.75%. Compared to N290, N235 decreased SNR and GPC by 27.5% and 4.7%, respectively, but increased ARN by 18.3%. The highest Eb (13,914 CNY) and ARN value (57.5%) were observed with the treatment (N235SR180). Additionally, optimal combination for maximizing GY (90%), Eb (87.8%), and ARN (97%) was found at N235SR198, according to regression and spatial analysis. This study confirmed that optimizing N and SR can improve soft wheat quality and resource use efficiency without decreasing yield.

Atrazine (ATR), a widely used herbicide, poses significant environmental and health risks due to its high solubility and adsorption in soil. ATR exposure can lead to nephrotoxicity in humans and animals. Curcumin (Cur), an active compound in Curcuma species, is renowned for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with potential to mitigate chronic disease risks. We hypothesized that the addition of Cur could alleviate renal impairment associated with ATR exposure and carried out experiments using mice as subjects. This study investigates whether Cur can attenuate ATR-induced nephrotoxicity in mice by modulating mitophagy and apoptotic pathways. Our findings illustrate that consumption with Cur attenuates nephrotoxicity induced by ATR, as evidenced by lowered serum concentrations of uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CRE), established biomarkers of renal injury. Moreover, Curcumin enhances renal antioxidant defense mechanisms in ATR-exposed mice, as indicated by elevated levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), alongside reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Histopathological and electron microscopy analyses further corroborate these findings, showing reduced organelle damage, particularly mitochondrial ridge breakage and vacuolization, and increased autophagic lysosomes. Cur further enhances PINK1/Parkin-mediated autophagy, as evidenced by elevated levels of PINK1, Parkin, LC3BII, and P62 compared to ATR-treated mice. Moreover, Cur mitigates the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, indicated by the down-regulation of apoptosis-related genes (Cytochrome C (Cyto-C), Caspase3, Caspase9) and the proapoptotic marker (Bax), along with the up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl-2) at both transcriptional and translational levels compared to ATR-treated mice. In summary, Cur demonstrates nephroprotective properties against ATR-induced injury through the enhancement of mitochondrial autophagy and display of antiapoptotic actions, underscoring its curative potency as a treatment for nephrotoxicity caused by ATR.

BackgroundThis review provides an overview of how antibiotic residues are found in the environment and affect livestock, thereby shedding light on the physiological mechanisms of their toxicity.ObjectiveWe aimed to emphasize the need for improved antibiotic management in agricultural practices to mitigate environmental contamination and reduce risks to livestock. Understanding the mechanisms by which antibiotic residues exert toxic effects is critical to the development of sustainable solutions.ResultsAntibiotic residues in the environment are a growing concern because of their widespread use in livestock farming and persistence in ecosystems. This review examines the pathways by which antibiotics enter soil, water, and sediments, primarily through manure application, wastewater discharge, and direct excretion by animals. Once in the environment, these residues affect soil quality, water systems, and animal health, posing risks, such as toxicity, disruption of microbial communities, and physiological harm to livestock. Persistent antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, accumulate in animal tissues and alter metabolism, leading to adverse effects, such as joint damage and impaired growth. In addition, these residues can degrade into toxic metabolites, further affecting livestock health and the environment.ConclusionCollectively, these findings suggest that future research may be required to prioritize strategies to mitigate environmental contamination by antibiotics and explore alternatives to reduce exposure in livestock production.

The current work gives a snapshot of pesticide residuals, their exposure levels, and the associated potential risks of some organophosphates in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. The study has significant viewpoints on food safety and pesticide management. The pesticide residual analysis was carried out on two commonly used vegetables, tomato and brinjal. The QuEChERS method is used to extract pesticides and GC-MS/SIM analyses were used to quantify pesticide residues. Among the various samples tested, organophosphorus pesticides, such as Phorate Sulfoxide, Chlorpyrifos, and Malathion, were detected in some samples. In the majority of brinjal samples analyzed, no pesticide residues were detected. However, one sample showed the presence of malathion (0.001 mg/kg). The detected level of malathion was within the acceptable safety limits, indicating that the sample is safe for consumption. Nevertheless, in one of the tomato samples tested, the residual level of phorate sulfoxide (0.34 mg/kg) is found to be higher than the MRL with a health risk index of 2.79. Except for phorate sulfoxide, all the other pesticide residuals were within MRL. Phorate residues with a soil half-life of 2 to 173 days are readily water soluble and may leach easily into groundwater, adversely affecting human health. The dietary risk of phorate can also put people at increased health risks of reproductive harm, endocrine system disruption, neurological damage, and an increased risk of certain cancers. The study's outcome suggests the need to review the strict guidelines imposed on using unsafe pesticides. Also, future investigations are necessary to validate the presence of other toxic pesticides in the study area.

Many single-use plastic (SUP) options made of synthetic polymers, bio-based materials, and blends of both are available in the market and used in large quantities. The disintegration of eleven commercial SUP, marketed in Mexico as cups and plates, was investigated in an aerobic home compost environment at a laboratory scale over 180 days. An evaluation of chemical changes, surface morphology, and thermal and mechanical properties was conducted to ascertain the original composition of SUP and the progression of disintegration in samples that are challenging to clean from soil contamination. Furthermore, the impact of residual compost on barley (Hordeum vulgare) plant growth and its correlation with the leaching of heavy metals were explored. The bio-based SUP, but not those made of expanded polystyrene foam, showed a correlation between the disintegration degree (measured by weight loss into particles <2 mm) and a decrease in functional groups (observed by FT-IR), mechanical-thermal stability loss, and surface wear over disintegration time. For instance, the highest disintegration at 180 days was approximately 70 % for wheat bran and palm leaf plates, followed by wheat plates and cellulose-PLA cups (60 %). In addition to the components listed by the manufacturers, the FT-IR and DSC analysis revealed the presence of polyethylene and polypropylene in cellulose cups and sugarcane plates. These components, impede disintegration but contribute to preserving thermal resistance and hydrophobicity during utilization. Compost derived from expanded polystyrene foam SUP, with 90 days of disintegration, was rich in zinc and chromium and significantly decrease in the root length of the barley plant compared to the control. This demonstrates the necessity of considering the impact of the leaching of additives and secondary microplastics into the environment.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) rapidly accumulates during ecosystem primary succession in glacier foreland. This makes it an ideal model for studying soil carbon sequestration and stabilization, which are urgently needed to mitigate climate change. Here, we investigated SOC dynamics in the Kuoqionggangri glacier foreland on the Tibetan Plateau. The study area along a deglaciation chronosequence of 170-year comprising three ecosystem succession stages, including barren ground, herb steppe, and legume steppe. We quantified amino sugars, lignin phenols, and relative expression of genes associated with carbon degradation to assess the contributions of microbial and plant residues to SOC, and used FT-ICR mass spectroscopy to analyze the composition of dissolved organic matter. We found that herbal plant colonization increased SOC by enhancing ecosystem gross primary productivity, while subsequent legumes development decreased SOC, due to increased ecosystem respiration from labile organic carbon inputs. Plant residues were a greater contributor to SOC than microbial residues in the vegetated soils, but they were susceptible to microbial degradation compared to the more persistent and continuously accumulating microbial residues. Our findings revealed the organic carbon accumulation and stabilization process in early soil development, which provides mechanism insights into carbon sequestration during ecosystem restoration under climate change.

Fresh market vegetables are an essential component of the human diet. Maximizing yield is critical, and to achieve this goal, fi elds must be weed-free when vegetable crops are planted. Historically, removing emerged weeds just before planting has been accomplished using the herbicide glyphosate. However, recent research has indicated that glyphosate applied to sandy, low-organic-matter soils just before transplanting vegetables can be injurious. Two fi eld experiments investigated 1) the response of transplanted squash to the residual activity of glyphosate, and 2) the effects of implementing tillage, irrigation, or extending the plant-back interval after application and before planting to mitigate injury from glyphosate. Glyphosate applied at 1.3, 2.5, or 3.8 kg ae/ha 1 day before transplanting injured squash 13%, 29%, and 53%, respectively; extending the interval between application and planting to 7 days reduced injury to 1%, 11%, and 28% at the same rates. An interaction between application rate and planting interval was also observed on squash plant widths and biomass, as well as early-season and total marketable fruit numbers and weights. Total marketable fruit number was reduced 29% and 52% by glyphosate at 2.5 or 3.8 kg ae/ha, respectively, and a reduction in fruit production of 36%, 28%, and 23% was observed when glyphosate was applied 1, 4, or 7 days before transplanting, respectively. In a separate study, light tillage (5 cm deep) was the most effective cultural practice evaluated because it eliminated damage by glyphosate. Overhead irrigation of 0.6 cm was not beneficial fi cial in mitigating injury by glyphosate. Recommendations from this research will help vegetable growers avoid injury from the residual activity of glyphosate through a FIFRA 2(ee) recommendation label.

The fate of black biodegradable mulch film (MF) based on starch and poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate)-co- terephthalate) (PBAT) in agricultural soil is investigated herein. Pristine (BIO-0) and UV-aged film samples (BIO-A192) were buried for 16 months at an experimental field in southern Italy. Visual, physical, chemical, morphological, and mechanical analyses were carried out before and after samples burial. Film residues in the form of macro- and microplastics in soil were analyzed at the end of the trial. Progressive deterioration of both pristine and UV-aged samples, with surface loss and alterations in mechanical properties, occurred from 42 days of burial. After 478 days, the apparent surface of BIO-0 and BIO-A192 films decreased by 57 % and 66 %, respectively. Burial determined a rapid depletion of starch from the polymeric blend, especially for the BIO-A192, while the degradation of the polyester phase was slower. Upon burial, an enrichment of aromatic moieties of PBAT in the film residues was observed, as well as microplastics release to soil. The analysis of the MF degradation products extracted from soil (0.006-0.008 % by mass in the soil samples) revealed the predominant presence of adipate moieties. After 478 days of burial, about 23 % and 17 % of the initial amount of BIO-0 and BIO-A192, respectively, were extracted from the soil. This comprehensive study underscores the complexity of biodegradation phenomena that involve the new generation of mulch films in the field. The different biodegradability of the polymeric components, the climate, and the soil conditions that did not strictly meet the parameters required for the standard test method devised for MFs, have significantly influenced their degradation rate. This finding further emphasizes the importance of implementing field experiments to accurately assess the real effects of biodegradable MFs on soil health and overall agroecosystem sustainability.

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are currently the fastest-growing and most widely used insecticide class worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that long-term NEO residues in the environment have toxic effects on non-target soil animals. However, few studies have conducted surveys on the effects of NEOs on soil animals, and only few have focused on global systematic reviews or meta-analysis to quantify the effects of NEOs on soil animals. Here, we present a meta-analysis of 2940 observations from 113 field and laboratory studies that investigated the effects of NEOs (at concentrations of 0.001-78,600.000 mg/kg) on different soil animals across five indicators (i.e., survival, growth, behavior, reproduction, and biochemical biomarkers). Furthermore, we quantify the effects of NEOs on different species of soil animals. Results show that NEOs inhibit the survival, growth rate, behavior, and reproduction of soil animals, and alter biochemical biomarkers. Both the survival rate and longevity of individuals decreased by 100 % with NEO residues. The mean values of juvenile survival, cocoon number, and egg hatchability were reduced by 97 %, 100 %, and 84 %, respectively. Both individual and cocoon weights were reduced by 82 %, while the growth rate decreased by 88 % with NEO residues. Our meta-analysis confirms that NEOs pose significant negative impacts on soil animals.