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Context: Drought stress is a major environmental factor limiting sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) growth and productivity, worldwide. Although there has been research on the use of zinc (Zn) to alleviate drought stress in sunflower, more has yet to be indicated on how Zn may affect sunflower yield and biochemical properties in drought stress conditions as the objective of the present research. Methods: The field experiment was a split plot on the basis of a complete randomized block design with 18 treatments and 3 replicates conducted in the province of Fars, Iran, in 2018. The experimental treatments of drought (main plots) including irrigating at 70 (control, S1), 105 (mild, S2) and 140 mm (severe, S3) evaporation from the evaporation pan and the sub plots (factorial arrangement) of sunflower genotypes (Shams and Barzegar) and Zn fertilizer (ZnSO4) at 0, 40 and 70 kgha−1 were tested. Different sunflower, growth, yield and biochemical parameters were determined. Results: Stress significantly affected leaf area index (LAI), tray diameter (TD), grain weight (GW), infertile seeds (I), water use efficiency (WUE) and proline (Pr), and genotype was significant on LAI, TD, number of grains per tray (NGT), GW, WUE, and grain protein (PP). However, Zn significantly increased LAI, PP, GW and WUE by 50, 5.9, 35 and 32 %, respectively. Conclusion: Zn fertilization can alleviate the unfavourable effects of drought stress on sunflower yield and biochemical properties by improving plant growth (LAI), yield (grain weight), and physiology (water use efficiency and protein percentage), and genotype is a determining factor.

Long-term irrigation by treated wastewater (TWW) can lead to the accumulation of heavy metals (HM) in the soil inducing negative effects on the pedo-environment. In this study, plots irrigated with TWW were studied to estimate the accumulation trends of HM and their impact on the physicochemical properties of the soil over a period of four years under a gravity irrigation system on turf with no fertiliser input. Soil samples were taken at two depths (0 to 20 cm: H1 and 20 to 40 cm: H2). The results of this study show that TWW are a main source of increase in HM in the soil by well-identified conditions, the degradation of the environment in general and on the physicochemical quality of soils in particular. It was concluded that the use of TWW in long-term irrigation enriches the soils with heavy metals, by main factors such as TWW composition, climatic conditions, soil type, and irrigation frequency.

This study aimed to simulate dynamic irrigation management zones (MZs) in two maize fields for a variable rate hose reel fertigation machine (VRFM) with a four-section boom control. Soil moisture content was measured from nine and four soil moisture sensors in Field 1 (8.2 ha) and Field 2 (2.5 ha), respectively, on different dates during the 2022 crop season. Three and five MZs scenarios were simulated per irrigation and the theoretical maps were processed for implementation. The application maps fitted to the VRFM showed significant spatiotemporal variations in irrigation requirements. For instance, in Field 1, 3-MZ modelling showed that the areas requiring high (H), medium (M), and low (L)-level irrigation on 21 July were 1.60, 4.84, and 1.85 ha, respectively, even though the farmer applied uniform rate over the whole field. H-level sub-areas ranged between 1.22 ha (25 July) and 3.25 ha (7 July), showing a coefficient of variation (CV) of 43.32% for the three MZs, whereas H-level sub-areas for the five MZs varied from 0.41 ha (2 July) to 1.49 ha (7 July) with a CV value of 48.84%. High levels of within-field variability can be addressed using precise and dynamic irrigation MZs fitted to the irrigation technology used.

Management-intensive Grazing (MiG) has been proposed to sustainably intensify agroecosystems through careful management of livestock rotations on pastureland. However, there is little research on the soil health impacts of transitioning from irrigated cropland to irrigated MiG pasture with continuous livestock rotation. We analyzed ten soil health indicators using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) to identify changes in nutrient status and soil physical, biological, and chemical health five to six years after converting irrigated cropland to irrigated pastureland under MiG. Significant improvements in biological soil health indicators and significant degradation in bulk density, a physical soil health indicator, were observed. Removal of tillage and increased organic matter inputs may have led to increases in β-glucosidase, microbial biomass carbon, and potentially mineralizable nitrogen, all of which are biological indicators of soil health. Conversely, trampling by grazing cattle has led to increased bulk density and, thus, a reduction in soil physical health. Nutrient status was relatively stable, with combined manure and fertilizer inputs leading to stabilized plant-available phosphorous (P) and increased potassium (K) soil concentrations. Although mixed effects on soil health were present, overall soil health did increase, and the MiG system appeared to have greater overall soil health as compared to results generated four to five years earlier. When utilizing MiG in irrigated pastures, balancing the deleterious effects of soil compaction with grazing needs to be considered to maintain long-term soil health.

Precision agriculture, also referred to as smart farming, is one of the main pillars of modern society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Precision agriculture aims to improve the quality and quantity of production while conserving scarce natural resources. Smart farming has grown in recent years thanks to the adoption of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). In this work, we consider an irrigation system for olive orchards based on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Specifically, UAVs ensure remote sensing (RS), which offers the advantage of collecting vital information on a large temporal and spatial scale (which cannot be achieved with traditional technologies). However, UAV-based irrigation systems face tremendous challenges due to the various requirements of a powerful computing ability, battery capacity, energy efficiency, and spectral efficiency for different connected devices. This paper addresses the energy efficiency and spectral efficiency trade-off problem of UAV-based irrigation systems. We propose to adopt massive multiple input, multiple output (M-MIMO) technology to ensure wireless communication. In fact, this technology plays a significant role in future sixth-generation (6G) wireless mobile networks and has the potential to enhance the energy efficiency as well as the spectral efficiency. We design a network model with a three-layered architecture and analytically compute the achievable spectral efficiency and the energy efficiency of the studied system. Then, we numerically determine the optimal number of ground base station antennas as well as the optimal number of IoT devices that should be used to ensure the maximum energy efficiency while guaranteeing a high spectral efficiency. The numerical results prove that the proposed UAV-based irrigation system outperforms conventional systems and demonstrate that the best spectral and energy efficiency trade-off is obtained by using the M-MMSE combiner.

Access to and the use of irrigation water of adequate quality and targeted nutrient supplementation have become more widespread in recent years. Both crop quality and the irrigation system lifetime are affected by the quality of the water used for irrigation. Micro-irrigation (e.g., drip and sprinkle) is becoming increasingly common alongside the more typical irrigation methods, but it requires expertise and pre-treatment to ensure a proper water supply. The most significant problem is clogging, which can greatly reduce irrigation efficiency. Treatment for irrigation purposes mainly depends on the contaminants that are present in the water. The main treatment options available are biological, electromagnetic and electrostatic treatments, but these have a wide range of effectiveness levels compared to membrane separation technologies. In addition, adsorption treatments are also available, which, depending on the adsorbent used, can greatly improve the pre-treatment of irrigation water. This work provides an overview of adsorbents suitable for the treatment of irrigation water and their effectiveness. The separation of interfering components via adsorption is effective and promising for future application as the expected irrigation demands increase.

Background: The phenomenon of vapor lock, characterized by the formation of gas bubbles, poses challenges in achieving effective cleaning and debridement during endodontic treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of vapor lock and to quantify its volume in the root canal system. Methods: Ten single-rooted teeth were selected, and their root canals were shaped using the Protaper Next system and irrigated with 5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA. Then, the canals were irrigated with a solution made of contrast medium (8 M cesium chloride solution) mixed in equal proportions with 5% sodium hypochlorite. CBCT scans were performed to analyze the presence and volume of bubbles in different canal thirds. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the number of bubbles and the percentage of space occupied by them. Results: The results demonstrated the presence of vapor lock in all treated teeth, with a higher concentration of gas bubbles in the apical canal third. The formation of gas bubbles hindered the cleaning and debridement procedures, particularly in the apical region. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of the occurrence of vapor lock and highlights the importance of enhancing the cleaning phase in endodontic treatments to minimize bubble formation or eliminate them once formed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the challenges posed by vapor lock and suggest avenues for optimizing endodontic procedures.

[Objective] The irrigation area in northern Henan is an important grain producing area in China. Native high arsenic groundwater exists in the area and has long been used for agricultural irrigation. Increased soil arsenic (As) content under long-term irrigation threatens the quality and safety of crop products. Soil passivation is the use of adding passivators to the soil to fix pollutants to achieve the purpose of limiting their migration. Therefore, the preparation of an efficient and clean passivator and its arsenic fixation effect in soil are important research areas to reduce the risk of high arsenic groundwater. [Method] Firstly, nano-manganese dioxide (MnO2)-modified biochar was prepared via the pyrolysis of sawdust biochar, potassium permanganate and manganese sulfate monohydrate at a mass ratio of 1:0.18:0.29. Secondly, the adsorption characteristics were explored using adsorption kinetics and adsorption isothermal experiments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) feature mapping and other characterization methods were used to study its physical properties and adsorption mechanism. Finally, a potting experiment was designed to explore the changes in arsenic content in soil when the passivator dosages were 0%, 1% and 5%. [Results] (1) The nano-MnO2 modified biochar could reach the adsorption dynamic equilibrium after 180 min, and its maximum adsorption capacity was 58.12 μg/g. (2) When the dosing ratio was 1%, the fixed efficiency of soil effective As content in potted crops of unplanted crops and planted crops was 4.18–5.51% and 1.99–3.83%. When the dosing ratio was 5%, it was 7.48–8.75% and 5.58–9.58%. [Conclusions] The results show that when the addition ratio is 0–5%, the passivation effect of soil effective As is positively correlated with the passivator dosage.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) has earned recognition as a significant crop due to its unique nutrient composition and its adaptability to the growing threat of climate change. Consequently, the utilization of remote sensing techniques for non-invasive pistachio monitoring has become critically important. This research was conducted in two pistachio orchards located in Spain, aiming to assess the effectiveness of vegetation indices (VIs) in estimating nut yield and quality under various irrigation conditions. To this end, high-resolution multispectral and thermal imagery were gathered using a Micasense ALTUM sensor carried by a DJI Inspire 2 drone in order to calculate the NDRE (normalized difference red edge index), GNDVI (green normalized difference vegetation index), NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), and CWSI (crop water stress index). Each orchard underwent two flights at distinct growth stages, totaling four flights. In June, NDRE-carbohydrates (r = 0.78) and CWSI-oleic (r = 0.77) showed the highest correlations, while in September, CWSI-carbohydrates (r = 0.62) and NDVI-iron (r = 0.54) Despite NDVI’s limitations due to saturation effects, all VIs had significant yield and quality correlations, with GNDVI proving most effective in both flights. CWSI correlated considerably on both dates in terms of several quality parameters (carbohydrate percentage, magnesium, iron, and fatty acids, namely palmitoyl, stearic, oleic, and linoleic), surpassing non-thermal indices. Finally, it is important to consider the impact of environmental factors, such as the location of the sun, when interpreting the CWSI, as it modifies the temperature distribution pattern within the canopy. This study supports the viability of remote sensing and vegetation indices as potential tools for enhancing the management of pistachio orchards.

As indicated by standards of modern dentistry, the essence of endodontic treatment is chemo-mechanical disinfection of the root canal system. The vital element of this process is the irrigation of canals with designated solutions as well as activating them. This review article summarizes various techniques of activation of irrigants for endodontic treatment such as manual activation, thermal, pressure, sonic, ultrasonic, and laser techniques in order to compare them. Results were gathered using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases by searching keywords: activation, irrigation, irrigation protocols, and sodium hypochlorite.

The Central Fergana region is one of the overpopulated regions of Central Asia, which includes parts of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Here, in the dry subtropical climate are the most ancient, irrigated oases used for agriculture. Fergana valley is the key to the food security of the region as a whole. The article provides information on diversity and chemical composition of newly developed, new and old-irrigated Calcisols soils formed on alluvial and alluvial–prolluvial sediments. Soils are poor with organic matter (0.37–0.81% of organic carbon), with high nitrogen content (C/N ratio is 4.92–5.79), and with neutral (7.01–7.30) pH values. Data on the content and the ratio of the key components of soil salinity (Na2CO3, Ca(HCO3)2, CaSO4, MgSO4, Na2SO4, NaCl) and the bulk content of salts in soils under different irrigation regimes are presented. It was shown that Na2CO3 concentration is minimal in all the soils, and this salt presents only in ground waters (0.100–0.135 g L−1). Newly irrigated soils are characterized by higher content of salts than old irrigated soils. All the soils investigated are characterized by increasing salinity rate within the soil depth with the highest content of all salts in ground waters. This chloride–sulfate type of salinization is most pronounced in all the soils studied. Gypsum content in agricultural soils results in limited water and nutrient retention and the potential for dissolution, primarily in response to irrigation. The soils of the Fergana Valley are also subjected to polychemical pollution, so the content of trace elements in them was studied. Irrigated meadow-takyr and meadow-saz soils show low levels of environmental hazard, but irrigation results in accumulation of such trace elements as nickel (30 mg kg−1), arsenic (11.75 mg kg−1), bromine (5.00 mg kg−1), antimony (1.48 mg kg−1), cesium (5.00 mg kg−1), and hafnium (2.97 mg kg−1). Irrigation also affects the soil texture and thus increases fine particle percentages in the superficial soil horizons. Thus, the complex chemical characteristics of salinized soils are presented for numerous irrigated landscapes of the region.

Irrigation is in the spotlight of land-use planning in semi-arid and sub-humid regions. It can be a promising practice to promote soil organic C storage (SOC), although it may also involve an increase in soil GHG emissions. Assessing the impact of its adoption on SOC storage is crucial to better understand its potential role in terms of agricultural sustainability and climate policies. In this study, we measured and modeled the changes in soil organic C storage and dynamics in the tilled soil layer (0–30 cm) of an experimental field on a calcareous soil with two different crops (maize, a C4 plant, and wheat, a C3 plant), cultivated with and without irrigation for 7 years. We hypothesized that changes in SOC storage occur when introducing irrigation and/or different crops in an agrosystem, and that they would be related to changes in the incorporation of crop residues, their partitioning between the labile and the stable fraction, and C losses by mineralization. Our results validated theses hypotheses only partially. Over the 7-year study period, irrigation significantly increased total (TOC) and sand-size (50–2,000 μm) particulate organic C (POC50−2,000) stocks in the tilled layer (0–30 cm): +7.1% TOC and +12.1% POC50−2,000 for maize, and +7.0 and +12.3% for wheat. A parallel two-pool SOC model based on TOC and POC50−2,000 fractions and the C3-C4 plant shift allowed understanding that the observed changes in SOC storage were most likely related to an increase in C inputs from crop residues, and to a more efficient incorporation of these residues with irrigation. The mean residence time of SOC in the two modeled pools did not allow to support our hypothesis of changes in SOC mineralization with irrigation. The limitations of SOC fractionation, which implied that some labile fractions might have been lost from POC50−2,000 and recovered in the fraction identified as slow-turning, together with the interaction of the carbonate-rich mineral phase of this soil can explain at least partially this observation. We conclude that irrigation can contribute to effectively increase SOC storage in the mid-term, but its effect might be dependent upon the type of crops and soil.

This four-year study with four elite soybean lines with different maturities was conducted to investigate the impact of deficit (a field water capacity, or FWC, of 60%) and full irrigation (an FWC of 80–100%) on soybean grain yield and grain quality (grain protein and oil contents and crude protein and oil yields), depending on the environmental conditions and genotype. Overall, the irrigation effect was positive for the grain yield and grain protein content but negative for the grain oil content. The differences between the full and deficit irrigation were only 2.9% for the grain yield, 2.8% for the crude protein yield and 1.7% for the crude oil yield. The results indicate that deficit irrigation could be the best option for optimizing soybean production in environments similar to the tested one. In such conditions, further rationalization of soybean production could be achieved by choosing the C2 genotype (0 maturity group), which, combined with deficit irrigation, had the highest grain, crude protein and crude oil yields.

Irrigation represents a crucial step in endodontics for bacteria disinfection and smear layer removal. Several irrigation strategies have been proposed, although their effects are controversial. This study aims to assess the comparison of four different irrigation systems on the smear layer removal utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Forty sound monoradicular teeth were collected and casually allocated into four groups (n = 10): Group A, conventional irrigation; Group B, IrriFlex irrigation; Group C, ultrasonic irrigation system; Group D, apical negative pressure irrigation. After chemo-mechanical preparation and longitudinal root separation, the three root thirds were analyzed by SEM. Micrographs were carried out at ×2000 to analyze the smear layer residual in each third of the root canal. Statistically significant differences were found between Group A and Group D (p < 0.05). Groups B and C showed satisfactory results in the coronal and middle thirds, while Group D was the only system that achieved satisfactory results in the apical third. However, the complete smear layer removal in the root canal was never achieved with any of the four systems tested. In conclusion, among the four tested irrigation systems, the greatest efficacy on smear layer removal was reached by Group D.

Water scarcity for agricultural irrigation is increasing globally while generation of treated municipal wastewater (TWW) is increasing due to urban expansion. Municipalities seek uses for their TWW, which is safe to apply to forage crops. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the most important forage crop worldwide being adapted to a wide range of environmental factors, including irrigation with low quality water. A strip plot study with four replications at New Mexico State University’s Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari, NM USA, compared the effects of surface water (SW) and TWW on alfalfa establishment and soil fertility and microbial growth. Alfalfa established equally well when irrigated with equal amounts of TWW or SW. After one year, the application of TWW increased soil P and plant N and P more so than SW. Most microbial soil health indicators were positively increased by alfalfa establishment in virgin soil; however, the effect was greater with TWW compared with SW (1147, 1184, 1961, and 4991 nmol g−1 for total microbial biomass of soil irrigated with SW and TWW at seeding and after one year, respectively, LSD0.05 = 710). Thus, TWW irrigation could reduce applied fertilizer P to meet alfalfa’s requirement and increase soil health compared with SW.

High spatiotemporal variability of pathogen concentrations in surface waters complicates the design and interpretation of microbial water quality monitoring. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis can provide spatial patterns (EOFs) of variability in deviations of concentrations in specific locations from the average concentration across the study area. These patterns can be interpreted to assess the effect of environmental factors on pathogen levels in the water. The first and the second EOFs for Listeria monocytogenes explained 84.4% and 9.7% of the total variance of deviations from average, respectively. That percentage was 50.8% and 45.0% for Salmonella enterica. The precipitation also had a strong explanatory capability (79%) of the first EOF. The first EOFs of Listeria and precipitation were similar at pond sites but were opposite to the precipitation at the stream sites. The first EOF of S. enterica and precipitation demonstrated opposite trends, whereas the second S. enterica EOF pattern had similar signs with the precipitation EOF at pond sites, indicating a relationship between rainfall and Salmonella at these sites. Overall, the rainfall data could inform on persistent spatial patterns in concentrations of the two pathogens at the pond sites in farm settings but not at stream sites located in forested areas.

Revascularization has been incorporated into endodontic practice and become a viable treatment alternative for immature teeth with pulp necrosis. Thorough disinfection of the root canal is a key factor for successful revascularization. An erbium: yttrium–aluminium–garnet (Er: YAG) laser has been proved advantageous for efficient root canal disinfection. This article reports one case of periapical periodontitis caused by a fractured occlusal tubercle. Revascularization assisted by Er: YAG laser irrigation was carried out with long-term follow up. During the process of treatment, we opened drainage to relieve the acute symptoms first. The necrotic pulp was removed, and then the root canal was rinsed with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution assisted by Er: YAG laser irrigation, dried, and filled with a triple-antibiotic paste. After two weeks, the intracanal medication was removed, and 9 mL of whole vein blood was taken from the patient to prepare concentrated growth factor (CGF) after failing to induce enough blood into the canal system by over-instrumenting. The newly prepared CGF was transferred into the root canal. A 3 mm mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) was placed directly on the thrombus of the CGF and then restored with glass-ionomer cement (GIC). The case was followed up for more than four years to record the clinical symptoms and imaging manifestations. Er: YAG irrigation is an efficient root canal disinfection protocol with the advantages of easy operation and minimal risk, which might be applicable to the revascularization of necrotic immature permanent teeth.

The goal of this study was to assess the suitability of poultry wastewater for the irrigation of farmland soil as a possible substitute for regular water and fertilizers. The vertical and spatial variability of soil total nitrogen (STN), soil total phosphorus (STP) and soil organic carbon (SOC) was analyzed during the growing season of summer maize in two types of soil: an experimental group (EG) soil, irrigated once only with poultry wastewater, and a control group (CG) soil, irrigated once only with regular water. Results revealed no difference in STP concentration, SOC concentration, nitrogen storage and phosphorus storage between EG and CG soils (all p>0.05); STN concentration in the 5–15 cm layer and carbon storage were higher in EG soil (p

Nowadays, peach farms, and agriculture in general, face intensified challenges linked to pest control and irrigation needs, due to the effects of climate change. A contemporary and effective approach to these challenges is presented herein, which is based on the utilization of a smart farming system specialized in peach cultivation, in the framework of the SmartPeach project. A significant feature of the proposed smart farming system is its service-based approach, as its application does require technological investments from the farmers. The current research indicates a potential reduction of up to 25% of the total production cost due to optimization of irrigation and pest control applications, as well as an increase in farmers’ income up to 10% linked to improved product quality and yield.

In gardening, particularly in golf courses, soil moisture management is critical for maximizing water efficiency. Remote sensing has been used to estimate soil moisture in recent years with relatively low accuracies. In this paper, we aim to use remote sensing and wireless sensor networks to generate soil moisture indexes for a golf course. In the golf course, we identified three types of soil, and data was gathered for three months. Mathematical models were obtained using data from Sentinel-2, bands with a resolution of 10 and 20 m, and sensed soil moisture. Models with acceptable accuracy were obtained only for one out of three soil types, the natural soil in which natural vegetation is grown. Two multiple regression models are presented with an R2 of 0.46 for bands at 10 m and 0.70 for bands at 20 m. Their mean absolute error was lower than 3% in both cases. For the modified soils, the greens, and the golf course fairway, it was not feasible to obtain regression models due to the temporal uniformity of the grass and the range of variation of soil moisture. The developed moisture indexes were compared with existing options. The attained accuracies improve the current models. The verification indicates that the model generated with band 4 and band 12 is the one with better accuracy.

Food operations use vast amounts of water. To reduce utility costs as well as concerns regarding water depletion in ecosystems, food businesses usually try to reuse their water. However, this often needs a recycling process to ensure the water is of good quality and safe to reuse in a food environment. This paper presents a case study of a grower of beansprouts and other varieties of sprouted seeds that uses six million litres of water weekly. Approximately 60% of their spent irrigation water is recycled using both 50 µm and 20 µm drum filtration. In addition, chlorine dioxide is used as part of the recycling process as a disinfectant. Our analysis demonstrated that the size of suspended solid particles in over 90% of the cumulative sample tested was smaller than the current 20 µm filter in place, highlighting that the existing system was ineffective. We, then, explored options to enhance the water recycling system of the company. After careful analysis, it was proposed to install a membrane-filtration system with ultraviolet technology to increase the finest level of filtration from the existing 20 µm to 0.45 µm absolute and sterilize any remaining bacteria. This not only improved water quality, but also allowed for the removal of chemicals from the recycling system, delivering both financial and technical improvements.

Assamra wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is the largest treatment facility in Jordan. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Zarqa River (ZR) and used to irrigate fodder and vegetables. ZR also includes surface runoff, stormwater, and raw wastewater illegally discharged into the river. This study examined pharmaceutically active compounds (PhAC) in water resources in the ZR basin. Samples of WWTP influent and effluent and river water from four sites along ZR were collected. Concentrations of 18 target antibiotics, one stimulant, and 15 other PhACs were determined in the samples. Five antibiotics were detected in WWTP influent (510–860 ng L−1 for ∑Antibiotics) and six in the effluent (2300–2600 ng L−1 for ∑Antibiotics). Concentrations in the effluent of all antibiotics except clarithromycin increased by 2- to 5-fold compared with those in influent, while clarithromycin concentration decreased by around 4- fold (from 308 to 82 ng L−1). WWTP influent and effluent samples contained 14 non-antibiotic PhACs, one simulant, and six antibiotics at detectable concentrations. The dominant PhACs were paracetamol (74% of ∑PhACs) in the influent and carbamazepine (78% of ∑PhACs) in the effluent. At ZR sampling sites, carbamazepine was the dominant PhAC in all cases (800–2700 ng L−1). The antibiotics detected in WWTP effluent were also detected at the ZR sites. In summary, water in ZR is contaminated with PhACs, including antibiotics, and wastewater discharge seems to be the main pathway for this contamination. The occurrence of antibiotics and other PhACs in the irrigated soil requires investigation to assess their fate.

Sustainable and profitable crop production has become a challenge due to frequent weather extremes, where unstable crop yields are often followed by the negative impacts of agronomic practices on the environment, i.e., nitrate leaching in irrigated and nitrogen (N)-fertilized crop production. To study this issue, a three-year field study was conducted during quite different growing seasons in terms of weather conditions, i.e., extremely wet, extremely dry, and average years. Over three consecutive years, the irrigation and N fertilizers rates were tested for their effect on grain yield and composition, i.e., protein, starch, and oil content of the maize hybrids; soil N level (%); and nitrate leaching. The results showed that the impact of the tested factors and their significance was year- or weather-condition-dependent. The grain yield result stood out during the extremely wet year, where the irrigation rate reduced the grain yield by 7.6% due to the stress caused by the excessive amount of water. In the remainder of the study, the irrigation rate expectedly increased the grain yield by 13.9% (a2) and 20.8% (a3) in the extremely dry year and 22.7% (a2) and 39.5% (a3) during the average year. Regardless of the weather conditions, the N fertilizer rate increased the grain yield and protein content. The soil N level showed a typical pattern, where the maximum levels were at the beginning of the study period and were higher as the N fertilizer rate was increased. Significant variations in the soil N level were found between weather conditions (r = −0.719) and N fertilizer rate (r = 0.401). Nitrate leaching losses were expectedly found for irrigation and N fertilizer treatments with the highest rates (a3b3 = 79.8 mg NO3− L).

Background: The purpose of our in vitro study was to evaluate the impact of different irrigation fluid temperatures in combination with different drilling speeds on intraosseous temperature changes during mini-implant site preparation. Methods: Porcine ribs were used as bone specimens. Grouping determinants were as follows: irrigation fluid temperature (10 and 20 °C) and drilling speed (200, 600, 900, and 1200 RPM). The axial load was controlled at 2.0 kg. Temperature measurements were conducted using K-type thermocouples. Results: Extreme increments were observed only in the unirrigated groups. Irrigation invariably made a significant difference within groups defined by the same drilling speed. The comparison of the different temperature irrigation fluids (10 and 20 °C) in combination with the same drilling speed (200, 600, 900, or 1200 rpm) resulted in a statistically significant difference between the two different temperatures, whereas the use of irrigation fluid at a controlled room temperature of 20 °C showed significantly higher temperature changes. Conclusions: Based on the results of the study, we conclude that irrigation while preparing a pilot hole for a self-tapping orthodontic miniscrew is of utmost importance, even at low drilling speeds. The temperature of the cooling fluid does influence local temperature elevation to a significant extent.

The considerably high evapotranspiration and the low leaching fraction of the soil in arid regions are likely the primary causes of the enhanced soil salinity in such regions. Winter irrigation has proven to be very effective for promoting the leaching of salts from the rooting-zone. In this study, we investigated the effects of different irrigation methods (flood irrigation and drip irrigation) and winter irrigation quotas (450, 1350, 2250, 3150, 4050, and 4950 m3/hm2) on soil salinity and plant growth in an arid region. The sum of ECe in the 0–100 cm soil layer was 56.26–29.32 ms/cm under flood irrigation, 61.37–17.90 ms/cm under drip irrigation, and 64.13 ms/cm under no irrigation. The survival rates of jujube trees reached 65% and 77%, respectively, for drip irrigation and flood irrigation with a quota of 2250 m3/hm2. Furthermore, at irrigation quotas in excess of 3150 m3/hm2 the ground diameter and height of jujube trees were significantly greater than those observed under nonwinter irrigation and several other winter irrigation treatments. These findings indicated that winter irrigation significantly reduced soil salinity, changed the soil salt distribution, created a good environment for the growth of jujube trees and improved the survival rate of young jujube trees, especially under winter drip irrigation with a quota of 3150 m3/hm2. In addition, 1-year-old jujube trees emerging in spring may benefit from an ECe lower than 5 ms/cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw return (SR) and rice water-saving irrigation (WSI) affect the greenhouse gas emission of paddy fields. However, studies on CO2 exchange between paddy fields and the atmosphere with joint regulation of SR and WSI are few. We conducted a two-year field experiment to investigate the effects of SR on soil respiration and net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) in paddy fields under controlled irrigation (CI), which is a typical WSI technique. The rice yields, irrigation water use efficiency, seasonal variations in soil respiration, NEE, and soil organic carbon content were measured. Compared with the control (flooding irrigation and traditional chemical fertilizer), a significant increase in rice yield and irrigation water use efficiency in the paddy fields under CI and SR joint management (CS) was observed. CS increased the soil respiration rate during most of the rice growth stage and increased the net CO2 absorption rate before approximately 80 days after transplanting; afterward, the pattern reversed. Total CO2 emissions through soil respiration in CS paddy fields increased by 43.7% and 182% compared with the control in 2014 and 2015, respectively. However, CS also caused an increase in the total net CO2 absorption by 18.1% and 30.1% in these two years, respectively. The acceleration in the consumption and decomposition of soil organic carbon induced by frequent alternate wet–dry cycles of the CI paddy fields increased the soil respiration and decreased the net CO2 absorption. SR promoted soil respiration but also improved rice growth, increasing the net CO2 absorption. The soil organic carbon content of the CS paddy fields after harvesting increased by 23.2% compared with that before transplanting. The present study concluded that joint regulation of WSI and SR is an effective measure for maintaining yield, increasing irrigation water use efficiency, mitigating CO2 emission, and promoting paddy soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-arid conditions are favorable for the cultivation of late ripening peach cultivars; however, seasonal water scarcity and reduction in soil biological fertility, heightened by improper soil management, are jeopardizing this important sector. In the present two-year study, four soil managements were compared on a late ripening peach orchard: (i) completely tilled (control); (ii) mulched with reusable reflective plastic film; (iii) mulching with a Leguminosae cover-crop flattened after peach fruit set; (iv) completely tilled, supplying the water volumes of the plastic mulched treatment, supposed to be lower than the control. Comparison was performed for soil features, water use, tree functionality, fruit growth, fruit quality, yield and water productivity. Even receiving about 50% of the regular irrigation, reusable reflective mulching reduced water loss and soil carbon over mineralization, not affecting (sometimes increasing) net carbon assimilation, yield, and fruit size and increasing water productivity. The flattening technique should be refined in the last part of the season as in hot and dry areas with clay soils and low organic matter, soil cracking increased water evaporation predisposing the orchard at water stress. The development and implementation of appropriate soil management strategies could be pivotal for making peach production economically and environmentally sustainable.

The present work was conducted to assess the physico-chemical parameters of Tsada Agam River found in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia and determine its suitability for domestic and irrigation purposes. Water samples were collected monthly for two consecutive months (February to March, 2013) at four sampling sites and analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters. The study indicated that the mean value of studied parameters, except electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, total alkalinity, calcium ion, sulphate ion, and total phosphorus of the river water samples were within the permissible limit of WHO for drinking water. The findings also showed the mean value of studied parameters, except sulphate ion concentration, were within the permissible limit of FAO for irrigation water. Therefore, the river water was found to be unfit for human consumption and was found to be safe and utilizable for irrigation purposes. If the quality management was properly maintained, the Tsaeda Agam River water could be utilized for a wide range of applications such as drinking and irrigation.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v29i3.5