Search Results (7,664)

This study investigates the phylogenetic and geographical distribution of wild food plants (WFPs) across 30 Mediterranean and North African (MENA) regions, focusing on the intersection of evolutionary lineage, ecological adaptation, and cultural utilization. A phylogenetic analysis of 111 genera of WFPs used in traditional diets reveals clusters reflecting shared ancestry, functional adaptations, and ecological resilience. Key regions such as Lebanon and Ikaria stand out as potential centers for the diversity of wild food plant use, suggesting that the Eastern Mediterranean may be a primary origin area, especially for species adapted to semi-arid climates. Major plant families including Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, and Fabaceae form distinct clusters that underscore their common ancestry and adaptability, making them foundational to traditional diets and medicinal applications across various environments. Geographical analysis indicates historical connections, such as those between Malta and Egypt, supporting the hypothesis that ancient trade routes influenced the spread and cultural exchange of wild food plant use across the Mediterranean. The study emphasizes the integration of phylogenetic and ethnobotanical perspectives, shedding light on how biodiversity, ecological adaptation, and cultural practices intersect in these regions. This research demonstrates that WFPs serve as both ecological and cultural assets, crucial for preserving traditional diets and supporting biodiversity conservation amid environmental changes. Integrating evolutionary and cultural knowledge can enrich ecological understanding and contribute to the sustainable use of plant resources in the MENA regions. Full article

The planting of oat varieties is influenced by factors such as their inherent traits, ecological regional climate, altitude conditions, and resistance differences, resulting in a decrease in both forage yield and quality. It is crucial to carefully select appropriate oat varieties for different ecological regions in order to enhance forage yield and quality, thereby facilitating the advancement of the grass industry. The correlation between the indices and the relationship between the indices and varieties were investigated through rigorous correlation analysis and principal component analysis. By employing gray correlation analysis, the 21 indices were transformed into 15 independent comprehensive indices. Subsequently, based on a comprehensive analysis, oat varieties suitable for cultivation in different ecological regions were identified. In this study, fifteen domestic and foreign oat varieties were cultivated in the semi-arid region of Weiqi Town and the alpine region of Damaying Town in Shandan County throughout 2023. Among the yield traits, Everleaf 126 exhibited a significantly lower plant height while possessing the largest leaf area, the highest number of effective tillers, and achieving the highest hay and seed yields (p < 0.05), which were 13,199 kg/ha and 5136 kg/ha, respectively. The plant height of Longyan No.3 in Damaying Town was significantly higher than that of other varieties. This variety also demonstrated the highest number of effective tillers, along with the greatest hay yield (7783 kg/ha) and seed yield (5033 kg/ha). Among the evaluated quality traits, Everleaf 126 in Weiqi Town exhibited the highest leaf–stem ratio, crude protein content, and crude fat content (p < 0.05). In contrast, Mengshi in Damaying Town had the highest leaf–stem ratio, while Longyan No.3 demonstrated the highest levels of crude protein and crude fat content. Furthermore, Molasses displayed the highest soluble sugar content in both locations (p < 0.05). The resistance of 15 oat varieties to pests and diseases was found to be lower in Weiqi Town compared to Damaying Town. Notably, Everleaf 126 exhibited the highest resistance to powdery mildew, red leaf disease, leaf spot disease, and aphids among the varieties tested in Weiqi Town. In contrast, Longyan No.3 demonstrated superior resistance in Damaying Town. In conclusion, based on a comprehensive analysis of the gray correlation degree, in the semi-arid region, Everleaf 126 exhibited the most superior performance, followed by Molasses and Longyan No.3. In the alpine region, Longyan No. 3 demonstrated the highest overall performance, followed closely by Molasses and Mengshi. These varieties exhibit significant potential for promotion as high-yield, high-quality forage oats in semi-arid and alpine environments. Full article

Agriculture remains a key contributor to Central America’s economy, despite climate change posing a significant threat to the sector. In the Trifinio region, already afflicted by arid summers, temperatures are expected to rise in the near future, potentially exacerbating the vulnerability of smallholder farmers. This study investigates the effects of two fungal symbionts, Trichoderma asperellum (TR) and the Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) Glomus cubense, and agronomic choices and practices such as cultivar selection, substrate type, and fertigation management on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedling growth and quality. Results showed that nutrient solution and the adoption of forest topsoil as substrate significantly enhanced morphological, physiological, and quality parameters. Modifying the nutrient solution to allow for an increase in plant height of 170% and a dry weight of 163% and enhancing Dickson’s quality index (DQI) by 64.5%, while the use of forest topsoil resulted in plants 58.6% higher, with an increase of 101% in dry weight and of 90.1% in the DQI. Both T. asperellum and G. cubense had positive effects on specific growth parameters; for instance, TR increased leaf number (+6.95%), while AMF increased stem diameter (+3.56%) and root length (+19.1%), although they did not, overall, significantly increase the seedling’s biomass and quality. These findings underscore the importance of agronomic practices in mitigating the impacts of climate change on tomato production, offering valuable insights for farmers in semi-arid regions. Full article

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR.) is a C4 plant adapted to semi-arid climates and is one of the primary staple foods in Sub-Saharan Africa, including in Namibia. The decline in yields associated with water scarcity over the years has been a national concern in the country. An experimental field trial was conducted at the Mannheim Crop Research Station, Namibia, during the 2023 and 2024 cropping seasons to investigate the response of two local pearl millet cultivars (Kangara and Okashana 2) to different water regimes (100%, 75%, and 50% crop evapotranspiration [ETc]) according to morpho-physiological and yield parameters. Pearl millet was planted in a split-plot factorial design with four rows per plot under the three water regimes, and the genotypes were planted in subplots. The results revealed that the water regime had a significant effect on plant height, number of leaves, tillers, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, stem thickness, number of productive tillers, panicle diameter, panicle length, dry panicle weight, biomass, grain weight, and 1000-seed weight of the two pearl millet cultivars (p < 0.001). At 50% ETc, the water regime significantly reduced the growth and yield parameters compared with the 75% ETc and 100% ETc water regimes, highlighting the significance of water in plant development and growth. The findings highlighted that both cultivars responded similarly to water stress. Seventy-five percent of ETc is recommended to be applied in pearl millet systems in semi-arid conditions. This research has significant implications for the planning and producing of pearl millet under water-limited environments under changing climatic conditions. Full article

The Dobrogea region, located in southeastern Romania, experiences a semi-arid climate. This study provides a deep analysis of monthly precipitation series from 46 meteorological stations spanning 1965–2005, exploring mean and variance characteristics and detecting structural changes in precipitation patterns. The series normality was assessed using the Lilliefors test, and transformation, such as the Yeo–Johnson method, was used to address skewness. Analyses of mean and variance included parametric (t-tests, ANOVA) and non-parametric (Mann–Whitney U, Fligner–Killeen) tests to address the homogeneity/inhomogeneity of the data series in mean and variance. Change points were detected using a Minimum Description Length (MDL) framework, modeling the series as piecewise linear regressions with seasonal effects and autocorrelated errors. Pairwise comparisons indicate the low similarity of the series means, and variances, so spatial and temporal variability in precipitation is notable. Validation of the proposed MDL approach on synthetic datasets demonstrated high accuracy, and application to real data identified significant shifts in precipitation regimes. Applied to the monthly series collected at the ten main hydro-meteorological stations, a MDL framework provided at least two change points for each. Full article

Dust storms are frequent meteorological phenomena in the arid and semi-arid regions of Khuzestan province (KHP) in southwest Iran. These storms result in significant social and economic repercussions that extend beyond mere meteorological and climatic disturbances. Over the past decade, they have become the primary cause of substantial environmental and socio-economic damage in the region. In this study, we aim to assess the economic impacts of sand/dust storms (SDSs) on human health, agriculture (specifically Estamran dates), and migration in KHP. Our findings reveal the following economic consequences: Respiratory diseases incurred a financial loss of approximately USD 14 million, with more than 450 individuals requiring hospitalization at a cost exceeding USD 0.04 million between April and July 2022. In addition, cardiovascular diseases related to SDSs resulted in costs exceeding USD 1.9 million within the same time frame. Cities near the sources of dust storms experienced a cumulative damage cost of approximately USD 6.8 million. The local population in these cities also suffered more significant adverse effects compared to those in cities farther from the influence of dust storms in southwest Iran. We further evaluated the impact of SDSs on the quality of Estamran dates by analyzing 20 samples from key Estamran date production areas in KHP, including Ahvaz, Abadan, Khorramshahr, and Shadegan. The cost of damages (COD) in this sector was estimated at around USD 18.3 million, with Shadegan bearing the brunt of the loss at approximately USD 8.3 million. SDSs also have an important social economic impact due to deterioration of living conditions and migration in KHP. In total, the socio-economic costs of SDSs in these three sectors amounted to about USD 39 million. This is particularly concerning considering that Khuzestan province contributed 14.8% to Iran’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020, representing 50% of the economic output of southwestern provinces. Therefore, the current findings represent an alarming situation regarding the socio-economic impacts of dust storms in SW Iran. Full article

Wind erosion poses a significant challenge to agricultural sustainability in Northern China’s arid regions. This study investigated the effectiveness of alfalfa grassland versus conventional cropland in controlling wind erosion across nine study sites in three agroecological regions. Using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) model, we analyzed vegetation cover duration and quantified soil wind erosion from 2018 to 2020. The results showed that alfalfa grassland extended vegetation cover by 80 days annually compared to cropland, with most extension occurring in spring. Alfalfa grassland demonstrated superior erosion control, reducing soil losses by 50% (24.02 versus 50.70 t/ha/yr) and increasing soil retention threefold (1.52 versus 0.59 t/ha/yr) compared to cropland. The northwest region experienced the highest erosion rates, while management practices significantly influenced alfalfa’s soil conservation effectiveness. Multiple regression analysis revealed vegetation cover and annual precipitation as primary factors affecting wind erosion. These findings suggest integrating alfalfa into crop rotations could effectively enhance soil conservation in Northern China’s wind erosion-prone regions. Full article

A comprehensive understanding of soil salinity characteristics and the vertical and spatial distribution of particle sizes in lakes and wetlands within arid zones, as well as elucidating their interrelationship, is crucial for effective wetland soil salinization management. In this study, the typical salinized wetland, the Ebinur Lake wetland, was selected as the research object. A total of 50 sampling points were established along the edge of Ebinur Lake, resulting in the collection of 200 soil samples from depths of 0–60 cm. The particle size distribution (PSD) of the soil samples was obtained by laser particle sizer, and the fractal dimension of the soil structure was deduced by applying fractal theory. The soluble salt content (TSS) and salt ions content were measured by laboratory physicochemical experiments. Finally, Pearson correlation and other methods were used to explore the relationship between soil salinity and soil particle size. The results showed the following: (1) Soil salinization in the study area was severe, and the accumulation of surface salts was obvious, with a mean value of 46,410 mg/kg. The spatial distribution of TSS was predominantly influenced by Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, Na⁺ + K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺. (2) Across various soil depths, silt and sand were the primary constituents, with soil fractal dimensions (D_soil) ranging from 1.91 to 2.76, averaging 2.54, and a poor soil textural structure. The spatial distribution of D_soil closely mirrored that of TSS. (3) According to the correlation analysis results, as TSS increased, D_soil continued to rise, with an increasing content of clay, while the sand content decreased. Simultaneously, as the soil particles became finer, TSS and D_soil also increased, suggesting that sandy loam to silty soils in the study area were more prone to salt accumulation. Full article

Maize production in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China is limited by water scarcity, while the abundance of brackish water highlights the opportunity for its effective and sustainable utilization. A 2-year field experiment (2022–2023) was conducted in the Shiyang River Basin to investigate the impacts of deficit irrigation with brackish water on soil moisture, salinity, temperature, crop growth index, yield, and water productivity. Six treatments were implemented, consisting of two irrigation levels (W1: 75%I, W2: 100%I) and three water quality gradients (S0: 0.7 g L⁻¹, S1: 3.7 g L⁻¹, S2: 5.7 g L⁻¹ in 2022 and 7.7 g L⁻¹ in 2023). Results indicated that brackish irrigation (except S0) increased soil salinity, keeping the soil water storage at higher levels, while decreased maize yield, and water productivity (WP). Compared with full irrigation at the same salinity level, deficit irrigation decreased soil salinity, keeping the soil water storage at lower levels, while increasing soil temperature, which led to lower maize yield but resulted in higher WP. Path analysis of soil hydrothermal salinity and crop growth indicators demonstrated that soil salinity changes play a crucial role in determining maize plant height and yield. S0W2 (100% irrigation, 0.7 g L⁻¹) achieved the highest maize yield, with S0W1 yielding 5.15% less. However, the water productivity (WP) of S0W1 was 17.66% higher than that of S0W2. Therefore, considering the combined factors of maize yield, water productivity, and water-saving benefits, the use of S0W1 (75% irrigation, 0.7 g L⁻¹) is recommended. Full article

The semi-arid and dry regions of South Africa experience shortages of water resources, which poses major challenges to livelihoods exacerbated by climate change. Despite the importance of indigenous food crops in optimizing water conservation, limited research has been conducted on effective strategies for promoting indigenous crops. This paper explores the potential of indigenous crops in optimizing water conservation in South Africa. This review paper adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist to ensure transparency, rigor, and reproducibility. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across several databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. This review found that indigenous crops, such as sorghum and cowpeas, have innate traits that enable them to flourish in environments where water resources are limited. According to the findings of this study, these indigenous crops are resilient to drought and optimize water use efficiency. This review recommends the creation of a national database for indigenous climate-resilient food crops, which can act as an information hub for research and development. In maximizing the water use efficiency of indigenous crops, sustainable water management techniques remain critical. The results of this study have important implications for sustainable agriculture and water conservation in South Africa. Full article

Background: In this work the plant growth-promoting (PGP) qualities of the Enterobacter soli strain AF-22b-4245 were studied, including screening tests for PGP, whole genome sequencing (WGS) and genome annotation, and greenhouse experiments on wheat. A gene table was formed that allows us to evaluate the potential PGP properties of a microorganism based on the results of genome-wide sequencing. Results: Based on the results of screening tests and genome annotation, it can be concluded that the E. soli strain AF-22b-4245 strain may have PGP properties, which consist in the ability to survive in arid and saline soils contaminated with copper, arsenic, lead, and chromium soils, form biofilms, produce phytohormones, siderophores, and solubilize phosphorus. Based on the results of experiments on wheat, the E. soli strain AF-22b-4245 increases the efficiency of mineral fertilizers; this effect persists even in conditions of drought and excess salt. It has been shown that E. soli A F22b-4245 can compensate for the lack of soluble phosphorus in the mineral fertilizer, probably by solubilizing insoluble forms in the soil. Full article

The impact of agrochemicals on pollinators, especially honey bees, has drawn significant attention due to its critical implications for worldwide food stability and ecosystems. Given the potential threat of insecticides to honey bees, bees may encounter multiple insecticides simultaneously during foraging. This study investigated the toxic effect of an insecticide mixture (IM) containing acetamiprid (neonicotinoid) and deltamethrin (pyrethroid) on the survival and cognitive appetitive performance of Apis mellifera jemenitica, a vital native pollinator in arid regions of Saudi Arabia. The lethal concentration (LC₅₀) was determined by assessing bees’ mortality rates following exposure to IM through topical and oral routes. Significant bee mortality occurred at 4–48 h post treatment with IM through both exposure routes, showing a trend of increased mortality with higher IM concentrations compared to the control bees. Throughout all tested times, topical exposure proved relatively more effective, resulting in significantly greater bee mortality compared to oral exposure to IM. Food intake declined progressively with rising IM concentrations during oral exposure. The LC₅₀ values of IM at 24 h after treatment were 12.24 ppm for topical and 10.45 ppm for oral exposure. The corresponding LC₁₀, LC₂₀, and LC₃₀ values were 3.75 ppm, 5.63 ppm, and 7.54 ppm for topical exposure and 2.45 ppm, 4.04 ppm, and 5.78 ppm for oral exposure, respectively. The combination index (CI) revealed a synergistic effect (0.43) for topical exposure and antagonistic effects (1.43) for oral exposure, highlighting differential toxicity dynamics. IM exposure significantly impaired cognitive acquisition and memory reinforcement in honey bees, as demonstrated through behavioral assays, indicating potential neurotoxic effects. Learning and memory formation significantly declined at 2, 12, and 24 h after exposure to sublethal concentrations of IM through both topical and oral routes. Thus, evaluating the interactive impact of multiple pesticides on bees’ health and cognitive function is essential, particularly in regions where diverse agrochemicals are routinely utilized. Full article

In the dry regions of the Arabian Peninsula, such as Saudi Arabia, rangeland degradation and the decline of pasture species have significantly reduced phytomass production. The scarcity of grazing pastures has led to an expansion of alfalfa-irrigated fields, exacerbating the risk of water shortages. This study is the first to systematically evaluate the adaptability and production potential of Cenchrus ciliaris accessions in the arid environment of Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of buffelgrass (C. ciliaris) as an alternative to alfalfa in irrigated crop systems for livestock production and to assess its suitability for reintroduction into degraded rangelands to enhance forage production. For this purpose, accessions of C. ciliaris were collected from five different sites in northern Saudi Arabia (Aja, Jameen, Zaitoun, Gaed, and Industrial zone) to select the most vigorous ecotypes to be introduced in the degraded lands and/or to be used as irrigated forage crop. This study shows that under full irrigation (2500-3000 mm year⁻¹), alfalfa can produce 11.9 t ha⁻¹ to 22.6 t ha⁻¹ with a five-year average of 17 t ha⁻¹. However, C. ciliaris can produce 9.3–18.4 t ha⁻¹ with less water consumption than alfalfa (water supply is estimated at 400–500 mm year⁻¹). The average was about 14.1 t ha⁻¹. Our comparative study of these accessions showed that the Aja accession seemed to be the most salt tolerant, whereas the Jameen accession was the most well-developed, productive (18.4 t ha⁻¹), and overgrazing resistant accession (940.3 g plant⁻¹ after 3 cuts). Therefore, the Jameen accession is recommended for rangeland rehabilitation. In terms of chemical composition, C. ciliaris was less protein rich than alfalfa, but this can be compensated for by its high digestibility, estimated by neutral detergent fiber (NDF of 69.6%). This study identifies the Gaed and Jameen accessions as the most productive and grazing resistant, exhibiting drought and salt tolerance, making them suitable for use in irrigated systems to produce high green- and dry-matter yields or for reintroduction to rehabilitate degraded rangelands for rehabilitation purposes. Full article

Agro-industrial activities generate significant amounts of organic waste and a variety of effluents thus posing environmental challenges. Viticulture in Argentina, which covered 204,847 ha in 2023, faces water scarcity as a limiting factor conditioning its production. This industry produces large volumes of grape marc, sediments, and stalks, which can be valorised into products like alcohol, tartaric acid, and compost. However, these valorisation processes generate effluents with high organic load and salinity, further stressing water resources. This study explores the potential of utilising these effluents to cultivate plant biomass in arid regions (sorghum or perennial pasture), which could serve as bioenergy, animal feed, or composting co-substrates, contributing to circular bioeconomy principles. The combined use of effluent as a water resource and the sowing of sorghum and pasture increased soil organic matter content and led to a slight reduction in pH (depth: 0.30–0.60 m) compared to the control treatment. The sorghum plots showed better establishment and higher dry biomass yield (32.6 Tn/ha) compared to the pasture plots (6.5 Tn/ha). Sorghum demonstrated better tolerance to saline soils and high salinity effluents, aligning with previous studies. Although pasture had a lower biomass yield, it was more efficient in nutrient uptake, concentrating more NPK, ash, and soluble salts. Sorghum’s higher yield compensated for its lower nutrient concentration. For biomass production, sorghum is preferable, but if nutrient capture from effluents is prioritised, summer polyphytic pastures are more suitable. These results suggest that the final selection between plant biomass alternatives highly depends on whether the goal is biomass generation or nutrient capture. Full article

The increasing demand for water in arid regions has driven the adoption of seawater desalination plants as critical infrastructure for industrial and domestic applications. However, these plants face unique challenges, including high operational costs, environmental vulnerabilities, and system reliability concerns. The critical nature of these infrastructures demands maintaining elevated levels of availability and demonstrating robust resilience. Resilience is framed as the system’s capacity to recover from disruptions and maintain operational efficiency under varying conditions. Quantitative assessment of resilience is essential to facilitate the development and implementation of optimal strategies that ensure operational continuity. This paper puts into practice a novel approach to evaluate the resilience of a seawater intake and pumping system using permutation entropy computed using time series availability data derived from different maintenance strategies. The methodology integrates reliability block diagrams (RBD) and symbolic time series analysis to identify critical components and evaluate maintenance strategies. A case study of a seawater pumping station demonstrates the application of the proposed resilience index. The analysis explored four scenarios to evaluate how these changes improved the system’s resilience: the first three hypothetical scenarios involved testing improvements in the maintainability and reliability indexes of the critical pump. These improvements matched the values of these parameters to the benchmark of the pump, historically showing the best indicators, first one by one, separately, and then both changes simultaneously. The initial resilience index was 0.652 in the baseline scenario. Scenario 1 (reduction in MTTR) showed a negligible impact, while scenario 2 (reduction in downtime) increased the resilience index to 0.682. The combination of both (scenario 3) maintained the index at 0.682, emphasizing the importance of reducing downtimes. Scenario 4, which consisted of reducing and standardizing the frequency of planned maintenance to 100 h, significantly raised the resilience index to 0.778. The results highlight how adjustments in maintenance strategies, including the reduction in preventive interventions, impact the system’s resilience and availability. The study also underscores the importance of aligning maintenance strategies with resilience goals to enhance the operational reliability of marine infrastructure. By providing a quantitative tool for resilience assessment, this work contributes to the sustainable management of desalination plants and offers practical insights for engineers and decision-makers in the marine engineering and water management sectors. Full article