Fanya Juu terraces improve soil properties of cultivated land in erosion-prone semi-arid area of Ethiopia.

Soil erosion is a major process that affect soil fertility and agricultural productivity. To reduce soil erosion by water, physical soil and water conservation measures such as Fanya juu have been widely introduced. However, the study on the performance of those measures against its target is limited. Objective of this study was to assess the effects of physical soil and water conservation (SWC) measures (e.g., Fanya juu) on selected soil physico-chemical properties. Soil samples were collected at 0-20 cm depth of fields treated with Fanya juu and non-treated (without any physical SWC) and analyzed following standard laboratory procedures. Paired sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze data. The results of the analysis revealed that clay, silt, sand, soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (Pav.), and available potassium (Kav.) differed significantly (p < 0.05) between 8-years conserved and non-conserved land. This could be due to the positive effect of conservation measures in reducing erosion. In addition, in the intra- Fanya juu areas clay, sand, Kav., TN, and SOC were significantly varied (p < 0.05), with greater clay, SOC and nutrients at above Fanya juu (deposition area) than below Fanya juu (loss zone), which can be due to the downward movement of organic matter and surface soil and the protection ability of Fanya juu against erosion. In erosion-prone areas, lacking physical SWC measures could degrade essential soil properties as compared to farm fields with physical SWC measures. The spatial variation in intra-Fanya juu area should be amended by integrating additional soil fertility management practices for better effect.

Effects of coordinated regulation of water, nitrogen, and biochar on the yield and soil greenhouse gas emission intensity of greenhouse tomatoes.

Regulating the coupled relationship among water, nitrogen, and biochar is an effective strategy for increasing production and reducing emissions in greenhouse agriculture. However, a comprehensive evaluation model remains lacking. Toward this end, we aimed to evaluate the emission patterns of greenhouse gases and greenhouse tomato yield during the spring and autumn cultivation seasons as influenced by irrigation water use efficiency, nitrogen fertilizer partial productivity, and soil organic carbon (SOC). We applied three irrigation levels: 100% (W1), 80% (W2), and 60% (W3) of the reference crop evapotranspiration; three nitrogen application levels: 240, 192, and 144 kg ha-1, representing 100% (N1), 80% (N2), and 60% (N3) of the actual local application amount; and four biochar application gradients: B0, B1, B2, and B3 corresponding to 0, 30, 50, and 70 t ha-1, respectively. Interaction experiments were conducted based on the implementation the incomplete multifactorial design, using W1N1B0 as the control. The entropy weight method was used to calculate the main and sub-weights of the evaluation indicators. During the growing season, greenhouse gas emissions have a significant impact. The cumulative emissions of CO2, N2O, and CH4 from soil in spring are 24.4%, 42.18%, and 13.9% higher than those in autumn, respectively. Soil temperature was a key environmental factor influencing soil CO2 emissions, while soil moisture content and nitrogen fertilizer input efficiency were the main factors affecting soil N2O emissions, and the correlation between soil CH4 emissions and soil organic carbon content was most significant. Water-nitrogen-biochar interaction significantly affected yield and GHGI: adding biochar under the same water-nitrogen- and moderately deficient irrigation(W1) under the same nitrogen-biochar application modes increased yield and reduced GHGI. However, moderately reduced nitrogen application decreased(N2) both measures under the same water-biochar application mode. The VIKOR comprehensive evaluation method determined W2N2B2 as the most suitable water-nitrogen-biochar application mode for optimizing yield and GHGI. This study provides a theoretical basis for stable, low-carbon development in green-intensive agriculture.

Assessing the effectiveness of integrated watershed management practices and suggesting innovative strategies in southern Ethiopia.

Integrated watershed management plays a vital role in promoting sustainable water resource management and addressing environmental challenges. This study aims to analyze and assess the effectiveness of existing IWM practices and develop new strategies to improve watershed management. The data collection process encompassed comprehensive field observations, surveys, and consultations with the stakeholders. According to a hydrometer test, loam soil was the average dominant soil type in Elgo and Kola shell kebele. The assessment of existing soil water conservation initiatives adhered to the rigorous standards set by the Ministry of Agriculture. From 2016 to 2022, Elgo Kebele saw significant land use changes: agriculture expanded by 11.24 %, bare land by 2.05 %, water bodies by 1.79 %, and settlements by 0.54 %, while forests declined by 15.34 %. In Kola Shele, agriculture, water bodies, and settlements slightly increased by 0.5 %, 1.03 %, and 0.033 %, respectively, with decreases in bare land (1.82 %) and forest (0.05 %). Only 25 % of sampled plots met the criteria for effective soil water conservation systems, indicating challenges in current practices. For cultivated land with less than a 15 % slope and vertisol, recommended conservation practices include broad bed and furrow, conservation tillage, grass strips, grassland improvement, and mulching. For slopes greater than 50 %, hillside terracing, graded bunds, and trenches are advised. Additional measures, such as water harvesting, grass waterways, revegetation, and actions against illegal farming, were proposed. In summary, this study highlights the urgent need for improved IWM practices, and used to enhance watershed management, address environmental and socio-economic issues, and promote sustainable land use in the study.

Multidimensional multiscale complexity analysis of sediment dynamics in the Yanhe Watershed of the loess Plateau, China.

The Yanhe Watershed, emblematic of the loess hilly-gully landscape and ecological fragility in China's Loess Plateau, has experienced significant soil erosion and extensive soil-water conservation measures. To elucidate sediment dynamics and identify influencing factors in this region from 1960 to 2020, a novel multidimensional multiscale complexity analysis (MMCA) method was developed, based on entropy and complexity perspectives. This method integrated the refined composite multiscale fuzzy entropy (RCMFE) with multidimensional complexity analysis, offering a nuanced evaluation of sediment complexity and its implications for water resource management and ecological restoration. The findings revealed two distinct stages of sediment complexity variations: 1971-1988 and 2000-present. During the first period, the operation of the Wangyao Reservoir predominantly influenced sediment dynamics, initially reducing sediment complexity through sediment interception but later increasing it during discharge phases, particularly at larger scales. After 2002, extensive vegetation restoration efforts significantly reduced sediment complexity but raised concerns about long-term ecosystem resilience. Over the past decade, urbanization and climate change have exacerbated sediment instability, especially over semi-annual scales. This study advocates for management strategies that prioritize ecosystem sustainability and address the challenges posed by climate change and urbanization, facilitating improved soil and water conservation efforts in the Yanhe Watershed and similar regions in the Loess Plateau.

Evolution characteristics and meteorological impacts of ecosystem regulation service functions in Jiangxi Province, China from 2000 to 2022.

Jiangxi Province is one of the first ecological civilization demonstration provinces in China. Understan-ding the impacts of meteorological conditions on ecosystem regulatory services is beneficial for conducting ecological protection and restoration work. Based on MODIS data, net primary productivity data, and monthly meteorological data from 2000 to 2022, we used models such as water balance equation and soil loss equation to measure the four regulatory service functions of ecosystem in Jiangxi Province, including carbon sequestration, oxygen release, water conservation and soil conservation. We used trend analysis and partial correlation analysis methods to analyze the spatio-temporal patterns and meteorological influencing factors of those four regulation service functions. The results showed that from 2000 to 2022, the annual average values of carbon sequestration and oxygen release in Jiangxi Province were 178.8 and 130.0 g·m-2, respectively, with annual increases of 0.4 and 0.3 g·m-2. The spatial distribution of both services was consistent, and the average annual carbon sequestration and oxygen release showed an upward trend in 77.3% regions of Jiangxi Province. The average water conservation and soil retention in Jiangxi Province were 591.8 mm and 723.8 t·hm-2, respectively, with similar spatial distributions. The annual increases were 5.6 mm and 3.7 t·hm-2. The soil conservation and water conservation functions of 73.3% and 69.3% regions in Jiangxi Province were steadily improved. Vegetation carbon sequestration and oxygen release was significantly correlated with temperature at monthly scale and seasonal scale. The partial correlation coefficient of those two factors was higher than other factors, which was an important meteorological factor affecting the carbon sequestration and oxygen release function of ecosystem. Precipitation, which was the most important meteorological factor, had a significant positive correlation with water conservation and soil conservation at monthly, seasonal and annual scales. Our results revealed the impacts of climate change on ecosystem regulatory service functions in Jiangxi Province from 2000 to 2022, which could provide scientific and technological support for effectively guaranteeing ecosystem protection and restoration in Jiangxi Province and improving the quality and efficiency of ecological civilization construction.

[NDVI Changes and Influencing Factors of Different Soil and Water Conservation Zones in Shandong Province].

Exploring the characteristics of vegetation change and its influencing factors is essential to construct an ecological environment. Based on the NDVI dataset from 2000 to 2020, this study analyzed the spatial temporal attributes of NDVI changes in Shandong Province using the Sen trend analysis and the gravity center migration model. Furthermore, the spatial heterogeneity of NDVI and its influencing factors within the whole study area and different soil and water conservation zones were investigated using a Geo-detector model, considering population, hydrological, topographic, soil types, and vegetation types. The results were as follows： ① The NDVI in Shandong Province from 2000 to 2020 showed a fluctuating upward trend with significant seasonal characteristics that varied from different zones. The annual NDVI change showed a trend of single-peak in the Ⅲ-4-2t, Ⅲ-4-1xt, and Ⅲ-5-2w but showed a trend of double-peak in the Ⅲ-5-3fn. ② Regarding the spatial distribution, the NDVI was higher in the west-north and west-south areas and lower in the north and coastal areas. During the 21 years, the primary type of NDVI change was "medium-high coverage → high coverage," especially in the northeastern part of the soil conservation area of the Ⅲ-4-2t, the western part of the Ⅲ-4-1xt, and the ecological maintenance area of the Ⅲ-5-2w. Overall, 61.47% of the area had a positive trend of NDVI change with the gravity center of high coverage mitigating to the northeast, and the ecological environment was improved. ③ Soil types and population density were the dominant factors affecting NDVI in Shandong Province, with q values of 0.174 and 0.130, respectively. The chief factor in the Ⅲ-5-3fn, Ⅲ-4-2t, and Ⅲ-4-1xt was population density, with q values higher than 0.22, and the dominant factors in the Ⅲ-5-2w were soil types and vegetation types, with q values of 0.326 and 0.227, respectively. The interaction of the two factors enhanced the influence of the single factor, and the relationship between the influencing factors showed two-factor enhancement and nonlinear enhancement. The q-value of population density ∩ relative humidity was the highest, with a value of 0.257 in the Ⅲ-5-3fn. The q-value of population density ∩ soil types was the highest in the Ⅲ-4-2t and Ⅲ-4-1xt, reaching 0.297 and 0.378, respectively. The q-value of soil types ∩ vegetation types was the highest, with a value of 0.444 in the Ⅲ-5-2w. The results are expected to provide valuable references for improving the ecological environment of Shandong Province and lay a scientific foundation to make different conservation strategies for the individual soil and water conservation zones.

Revealing spatiotemporal heterogeneity of water conservation and its drivers: Enlightenment to water ecology protection and restoration.

Water conservation (WC) has emerged as one of the most vital services provided by basin ecosystems. Climate change, the conversion of farmland to forests, and the implementation of check dam projects significantly impact the WC function in the Malian River Basin (MRB) of the gully region, Loess Plateau. This study systematically and comprehensively reveals the variation rules of WC and the mechanisms of action of influence factors in the MRB and selects factors representing natural environmental changes and human activities, such as climate, geomorphology, vegetation, and soil, influencing the WC. The InVEST model and a modified formula were used to evaluate the WC and its spatial-temporal changes in the MRB. The response of influence factors to the WC was explored using a "geographical detection - spatial drive/inhibition - influence degree" framework. The results indicate that under the comprehensive influence of multiple factors, the spatial distribution of WC in the MRB remained relatively consistent over different periods, characterized by higher values in the southeast and lower in the northwest. The WC values in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 were 2.57 × 104, 1.48 × 104, 2.19 × 104, and 1.93 × 104 m3, respectively. The interaction of two factors on WC had a more significant effect than single-factor interactions, particularly the interaction between Soil Saturated Water Conductivity (Ksat) and Annual Precipitation (Pre), Annual Evapotranspiration (AET), and Net Primary Productivity (NPP). Pre, Plant Available Water Content (PAWC), and Ksat are key positive drivers, while AET, Temperature (Temp), and Elevation (DEM) are crucial negative drivers. Climate factors had the largest explanatory power for the WC spatial pattern (34.03-36.54%), geomorphic factors had the least (16.60-17.50%), and vegetation factors more than soil factors. This study provides valuable insights for optimal water resource allocation and sustainable development of the gully region, Loess Plateau.

[Rainwater harvesting effect of biocrusted soil-surfaces and the key influencing factors in the hilly region of Chinese Loess Plateau]. / é»„åœŸä¸˜é™µåŒºç”Ÿç‰©ç»“çš®é›†é›¨é¢çš„é›†é›¨æ•ˆæžœåŠå ¶å ³é”®å½±å“å› å­.

In the hilly region of Chinese Loess Plateau, rainwater harvesting is a common ecological engineering measure utilized to reduce soil erosion and amplify the efficiency of water resource utilization. However, the effects on rainwater harvesting and the chief influencing factors of biocrusts as a potential material are unclear. In this study, we conducted a field simulation experiment with intensities of 40, 60, 80, and 100 mm·h-1 between bare soil and biocrusts developed in aeolian soils, with bare soil as a control to explore the differences of the initial abstraction time, cumulative rainfall amount, and rainfall harvesting efficiency. We further analyzed the influencing factors of the rainwater harvesting effect. The results showed that the biocrusted soil-surfaces significantly decreased the initial abstraction time. When compared with the cyano biocrusts and bare soil, the reduction of the initial abstraction time of moss biocrusts was decreased by 49.7%-77.5% and 89.7%-110.0% when the rainfall intensities ranged from 40 to 100 mm·h-1 and the slope was 40°. In addition, biocrusted soil surfaces significantly increased the cumulative rainfall amount and rainfall harvesting efficiency. These differences were considerable amongst the dissimilar surface cover types. In comparison to bare soil, when the rainfall intensity was 100 mm·h-1 and the slope was 40°, the cumulative rainfall harvesting efficiency of moss and cyano biocrusts was increased by 29.6% and 7.8%, respectively. Both moss and cyano biocrusts increased rainfall harvesting efficiency of 25.7% and 6.8%, respectively. Variance analysis demonstrated that the rainfall harvesting efficiency was appreciably affected by surface cover type, slope, and rainfall intensity. The interaction between these factors was considerable except for slope and rainfall intensity. Additionally, important considerations for the actual construction included slope length, slope, and biocrust cultivation. In conclusion, biocrusted soil-surfaces have a high rainfall harvesting efficiency, but moss biocrusts have a much greater rain-collecting effect that improves even more as the slope and intensity of the rain increases.

Extending the theory of planned behavior to predict the behavior of farmers in choosing low-water-intensive medicinal plants.

Water scarcity has become a serious challenge in many parts of the world due to increasing demands and the impacts of climate change. The agriculture sector globally accounts for a major portion of water consumption, yet it also holds substantial potential for water conservation. Among the most effective ways to conserve water is to cultivate low-water-demanding crops, such as medicinal plants (MPs), instead of water-demanding crops (WDC). However, the voluntary participation of farmers, largely influenced by socio-psychological drivers, is crucial for successfully implementing most water conservation programs and needs to be addressed. Therefore, the main objectives of this paper were: (1) to identify the determinants that explain farmers' intention and behavior in cultivating MPs instead of WDC; and (2) to examine the effectiveness and performance of an extended version of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting farmers' intention and behavior toward cultivating MPs by innovatively incorporating four new variables into the original TPB model: perceived barriers, moral norms, compatibility, and relative advantage. The applicability of the theoretical framework was evaluated in the Sojasroud Plain, Zanjan province, Iran. The results of the structural equation modeling revealed that: (1) farmers' intention to cultivate MPs instead of WDC is significantly influenced by perceived barriers, moral norms, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control (the strongest predictor); and (2) farmers' behavior in cultivating MPs instead of WDC is predicted by relative advantage, compatibility, and intention (the most prominent determinant). The R2 values for predicting intention and behavior were 55% and 53%, respectively. Based on the results, some practical policies were proposed to increase the cultivation of MPs in the study area.

Multi-Scale analysis of the impacts of soil and water conservation practices and landscape on grain yield and return on investment in the sub-humid ethiopian highlands.

Ethiopia's sub-humid highlands face a critical challenge in balancing agricultural productivity with land degradation. This study explores the effectiveness of soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs) in addressing this challenge. We investigated the interaction effects of types of SWCPs, landscape positions, and location on Teff (Eragrostis teff) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield. In addition, we assessed the economic viability of SWCPs using cost-benefit analysis with farmer-funded and cost-sharing scenarios. The results indicated that yield was significantly affected by the interactions between factors like SWCP type and landscape position. Soil bunds consistently increased crop yield across diverse locations and landscapes, indicating superior erosion control benefits. Lower landscape positions on foot slopes benefited most from SWCP implementation. Teff yield increased by 188 % and wheat yield by 181 % under soil bunds. The cost-benefit analysis confirmed the financial viability of SWCPs, particularly for Teff (NPV = 4499.35 USD, IRR = 50 %, and BCR = 1.51) and wheat (NPV = 544.35 USD, IRR = 16 %, and BCR = 1.06) grown on lower landscapes with farmer-funded investment scenarios. Positive return on investment was observed in both scenarios, with cost-sharing offering greater economic benefits for farmers. These findings highlight the importance of an integrated approach to SWC implementation for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing food security, improving farmer incomes, and promoting sustainable and productive landscape management practices. Future research should explore the long-term sustainability of SWCPs, their adaptation across diverse agroecological zones and landscapes, the incorporation of various crops, the broader socioeconomic impacts, and the development of effective extension programs for wider adoption by farmers.

Patterns of rainfall and temperature and their relationships with potential evapotranspiration rates over the period 1981-2022 in parts of central, western, southern, and southwestern Uganda.

Uganda in East Africa is experiencing highly variable rainfall which is exacerbated by temperatures warming at faster rates. This study analyzed rainfall and temperature patterns in comparison with the potential evaporation transpiration rates (PETs) for parts of Central, Western, Southern, and Southwestern Uganda for varying periods from 1981 to 2022. For rainfall onset date (OD), threshold of 0.85 mm for a rainy day, rainfall of 20 mm accumulated over 5 days with at least 3 rain days, and dry spell not exceeding 9 days in the next 30 days were used. The rainfall cessation dates (RCDs) are determined when water balance (WB) falls below 5 mm in 7 days in the last month of the expected season (May and December) for the first and second season, respectively. Standardized rainfall anomaly was utilized to show seasonal and annual rainfall variability. Pearson's correlation (r) coefficient was used to show the relationship between weather variables (rainfall, temperature) and PET at five rainfall stations. Results showed highly varied onset and cessation dates for March-May (MAM) seasonal rainfall compared to those of September-December (SOND). Results showed highly variable onset and cessation of rainfall over the region and statistically significantly increasing trends in both maximum and minimum temperatures across the region, with the highest rate of increase of maximum and minimum temperature of 0.70 and 0.65 °C per decade respectively. Moreover, the maximum temperature and PET showed strong positive correlation coefficient (r) that ranged from 0.76 to 0.90 across the regions, which likely contribute to excess evaporation from the surfaces, soil moisture deficits that negatively affect plant biomass production, low crop yields and food insecurity. PET and rainfall revealed insignificant statistical negative correlation as indicated by the correlation coefficient ranging from - 0.04 to - 0.22. We recommend water management and conservation practices such as mulching, zero tillage, agroforestry, planting drought-resistant crops, and using affordable irrigation systems during period of water deficit.

Spent coffee waste-derived biochar improves physical properties, water retention, and maize (Zea mays L.) growth in sandy soil.

Adding organic soil amendments can improve the physical and hydrological properties of soil, subsequently enhancing fertility for better crop production. In this study, spent Arabica and Columbian coffee wastes and their respective biochars were evaluated as soil amendments to improve the physical and hydrological properties of loamy sand soil and enhance maize (Zea mays L.) crop growth. Spent Arabica coffee (AC) and Columbian coffee (CC) wastes were collected and transformed into biochar through pyrolysis process at 550 °C with a residence time of 3 h and pyrolysis rate of 5 °C per minute. The AC and CC derived biochar were termed as ABC and CBC, respectively. The produced soil amendments were applied to soil at 0% (control), 1%, 3%, and 5% in a column setup. The moisture characteristics, including water infiltration, evaporation, and water retention, were investigated. Thereafter, the prepared amendments were applied to loamy sand soils at 0% (control), 1%, 3%, and 5% (w/w) application rates. Maize growth was then observed for a period of 30 days under greenhouse conditions. Results of the column trials showed that ABC and CBC applied at 5% reduced the cumulative water evaporation by 57%-66% and cumulative infiltration by 124%-181% compared to control. Likewise, 5% application of ABC and CBC resulted in 101 to 130% higher water retention in loamy sand soil. Results of the greenhouse experiment showed that 5% application of ABC and CBC amendments resulted in root biomass of 2.12 and 2.38 g, respectively, as compared to 0.51 g in control treatment. Similar treatments resulted in shoot biomass of 9.70 and 9.93 g respectively, as compared to 7.37 g in control. Likewise, 5% application of CBC and ABC increase plant height from 15.71 to 30.94 cm in ABC and 33.23 cm in CBC. Overall, 5% application of coffee waste-derived biochars significantly reduced water evaporation and infiltration, while increasing soil water retention and maize plant height, root biomass, and shoot biomass. Therefore, spent coffee waste-derived biochar could effectively be employed to improve physical and hydrological properties of loamy sand soils for better crop productivity.

Empowering Sustainability: Floating Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Agriculture for Reduced Costs Carbon Emissions and Evaporation.

This study assesses the impact of implementing a floating solar photovoltaic system (FSPV) on the Turgutlu irrigation pond in Sakarya, Turkey, aiming to reduce energy expenses in agricultural irrigation and promote sustainability in farming. Two scenarios are developed to evaluate the FSPV, focusing on CO2 emissions mitigation, energy generation potential, evaporation reduction, conservation of terrestrial land, effects on agricultural production, decreased reliance on fossil fuels, and associated costs and return on investment (ROI). In the first scenario, the FSPV is expected to generate 7168 MWh of energy, preventing the emission of 4520 tons of carbon, and reducing annual evaporation by 6686 m3. In the second scenario, the FSPV's energy output is estimated at 99 MWh, preventing 64.2 tons of carbon emissions, and reducing annual evaporation by 94.4 m3. These findings provide valuable insights at the regional level, presenting a compelling case study for potential replication in other irrigated agricultural regions.

Uncovering urban water consumption patterns through time series clustering and entropy analysis.

Sustainable urban water management is crucial for meeting the growing demands of urban populations. This study presents a novel approach that combines time series clustering, seasonal analysis, and entropy analysis to uncover residential water consumption patterns and their drivers. Using a three-year dataset from the SmartH2o project, encompassing 374 households, we identify nine distinct water consumption patterns through time series clustering, leveraging Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) as the optimal similarity measure. Multiple linear regression reveals key household characteristics influencing water usage behaviors, such as the number of bathrooms and appliance efficiency ratings. Seasonal analysis uncovers temporal dynamics, highlighting shifts towards lower consumption during summer months and increased variability in transitional seasons. Entropy analysis quantifies the diversity and complexity of water consumption at both cluster and household levels, informing targeted interventions. This comprehensive, granular approach enables the development of personalized water conservation strategies and policies, empowering water utilities to optimize resource management and contribute to sustainable urban water practices.

Multi-scale assessment of rainwater harvesting availability across the continental U.S.

Addressing resilience, sustainability, and water resource conservation has become increasingly important in the modern world. Challenges arise due to periodic droughts, climate change, and seasonal variability in areas with limited freshwater availability. Therefore, implementing and promoting water reuse is essential. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is one such alternative, offering benefits in conserving water resources and mitigating droughts while reducing urban flooding and costs by generating alternative lower-cost water sources. Providing users with knowledge of available volumes for harvesting, including homeowners and governmental entities, is key to encouraging this practice. Hydrological data and geographic information systems are fundamental for managing, designing, and projecting rainwater harvesting practices. However, no tools currently integrate this information at multiple scales with current and future climate scenarios. This research aimed to develop a multi-scale assessment tool named H2O HARVEST, for evaluating the availability and potential of rainwater harvesting. Additional benefits of the H2O HARVEST app include aiding decision-making by national governmental entities and analyzing potential future scenarios for homeowner users. The app also provides regulatory policy information at the state level. We offer an app with the necessary capabilities to bridge the technology gap and promote rainwater harvesting practices. Our research demonstrated that RWH has the potential to be a sustainable water reuse practice. For more than 50% of the states, the RWH could supply at least 50% of the water demand. The regions of the US with the greatest potential are the Central and East.

The impact of vegetation reconstruction on soil erosion in the Loess plateau.

Vegetation restoration not only extensively reshapes spatial land use patterns but also profoundly affects the dynamics of runoff and sediment loss. However, the influence of vegetation restoration on runoff and sediment yield from a regional perspective are scarce. This study therefore focused on 85 sites within the "Grain for Green" Project (GGP) region on the Loess Plateau, to investigate the impacts of the GGP on soil erosion. The results revealed a notable reduction in sediment loss and runoff due to vegetation restoration. Since the inception of the GGP in 1999, approximately 4.1 × 106 ha of degraded lands have been converted into forestlands, shrublands, and grasslands, resulting in an average annual reduction of 1.4 × 109 m3 in runoff and a decrease of 3.6 × 108 t in annual sediment loss on the whole Loess Plateau, with the GGP contributing approximately 26.7% of the sediment reduction in the Yellow River basin. The reduced soil erosion has mainly been regulated by vegetation cover, soil properties (clay, silt, and sand), slope, and precipitation on the Loess Plateau. The insights gained offer valuable contributions to large-scale assessments of changes in soil erosion in response to vegetation reconstruction and enhance our understanding of the spatial configurations associated with soil erosion control measures.

Water scarcity footprint and water saving potential for large-scale green hydrogen generation: Evidence from coal-to-hydrogen substitution in China.

Green hydrogen generated via water electrolysis using photovoltaics or wind has begun to scale up in the process of achieving the global net-zero goal, but there is a lack of research on its impact on the scarcity of water resources and water saving potential. A water resources impact assessment framework for green hydrogen scale-up development is established, integrating the product water footprint and regional water footprint scarcity impacts and advancing the study of the water resources impacts on green hydrogen from water conservation as well as from a sustainable context. The research framework specifies the cradle-to-gate life cycle water consumption of hydrogen production, establishes the water scarcity footprint based on the available water remaining (AWARE) model, quantifies the water saving intensity and potential of the green hydrogen alternative to traditional hydrogen production, and proposes quantitative indicators of the water saving benefit. Taking the regions of 31 provinces in China as a case study, the wind-to­hydrogen scenario and the solar-to­hydrogen scenario will generate approximately 68.86×108 m3 and 126.10×108 m3 water scarcity footprints, respectively. Under the coal-to­hydrogen baseline scenario, approximately 1.68×108 m3 and - 0.57×108 m3 of water saving potential will be generated. In addition, the water saving intensity decreases from west to east. According to the adjusted quantitative indicators of water saving benefits, the wind-to­hydrogen scenario in China can reach 40.22×108 m3eq and the water saving benefit is more obvious in northern regions such as Hebei, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. The methodological framework can be applied to other countries or regions to assess the sustainable impacts of green hydrogen production on water resources in a given region.

Benchmarks for urine volume generation and phosphorus mass recovery in commercial and institutional buildings.

Phosphorus (P) is a finite resource and necessary nutrient for agriculture. Urine contains a higher concentration of P than domestic wastewater, which can be recovered by source separation and treatment (hereafter urine diversion). Commercial and institutional (CI) buildings are a logical location for urine diversion since restrooms account for a substantial fraction of water use and wastewater generation. This study estimated the potential for P recovery from human urine and water savings from reduced flushing in CI buildings, and proposed an approach to identify building types and community layouts that are amenable to implementing urine diversion. The results showed that urine diversion is most advantageous in CI buildings with either high daily occupancy counts or times, such as hospitals, schools, office buildings, and airports. Per occupant P recovery benchmarks were estimated to be between 0.04-0.68 g/cap·d. Per building P recovery rates were estimated to be between 0.002-5.1 kg/d, and per building water savings were estimated to be between 3 and 23 % by volume. Recovered P in the form of phosphate fertilizer and potable water savings could accrue profits and cost reductions that could offset the capital costs of new urine diversion systems within 5 y of operation. Finally, urine diversion systems can be implemented at different levels of decentralization based on community layout and organizational structure, which will require socioeconomic and policy acceptance for wider adoption.

Growth of Romaine Lettuce in Eggshell Powder Mixed Alginate Hydrogel in an Aeroponic System for Water Conservation and Vitamin C Biofortification.

Vitamin C is crucial for physical well-being, and its deficiency can lead to severe health consequences. Biofortification has been used to address this deficiency by enhancing vitamin C in plants. Additionally, soilless agriculture has been used to conserve and optimize water use in comparison to conventional agriculture. While hydrogels have been shown to improve water conservation and are used for biofortification in crops, their application has only been explored in soil-based and hydroponic farming. The aeroponics system is a plant-growing method that has shown potential for increasing yields and biomass while conserving water and nutrients. In this paper, we have developed an aeroponic-compatible medium to grow romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) with eggshell powder (ESP) mixed with calcium-alginate hydrogel as a substrate and nutrient source aiming to conserve water and incorporate vitamin C through biofortification. Herein, lower water spray time and higher intervals, with varied gel types and ESP concentrations, resulted in healthy lettuce growth. Plants treated with 0.5% ascorbic acid-absorbed ESP-mixed alginate hydrogel for biofortification showed higher levels of vitamin C compared to the traditional method. This study suggests using an alginate hydrogel-ESP-based substrate in aeroponics to reduce water usage and enhance plant biofortification of vitamin C.

Water Conservation Overrides Osmotic Diuresis During SGLT2 Inhibition in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are believed to improve cardiac outcomes due to their osmotic diuretic potential. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that vasopressin-driven urine concentration overrides the osmotic diuretic effect of glucosuria induced by dapagliflozin treatment. METHODS: DAPA-Shuttle1 (Hepato-renal Regulation of Water Conservation in Heart Failure Patients With SGLT-2 Inhibitor Treatment) was a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, in which patients with chronic heart failure NYHA functional classes I/II and reduced ejection fraction were randomly assigned to receive dapagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo (1:1) for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in urine osmolyte concentration. Secondary endpoints included changes in copeptin levels and solute free water clearance. RESULTS: Thirty-three randomized, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor-naïve participants completed the study, 29 of whom (placebo: n = 14; dapagliflozin: n = 15) provided accurate 24-hour urine collections (mean age 59 ± 14 years; left ventricular ejection fraction 31% ± 9%). Dapagliflozin treatment led to an isolated increase in urine glucose excretion by 3.3 mmol/kg/d (95% CI: 2.51-4.04; P < 0.0001) within 48 hours (early) which persisted after 4 weeks (late; 2.7 mmol/kg/d [95% CI: 1.98-3.51]; P < 0.0001). Dapagliflozin treatment increased serum copeptin early (5.5 pmol/L [95% CI: 0.45-10.5]; P < 0.05) and late (7.8 pmol/L [95% CI: 2.77-12.81]; P < 0.01), leading to proportional reductions in free water clearance (early: -9.1 mL/kg/d [95% CI: -14 to -4.12; P < 0.001]; late: -11.0 mL/kg/d [95% CI: -15.94 to -6.07; P < 0.0001]) and elevated urine concentrations (late: 134 mmol/L [95% CI: 39.28-229.12]; P < 0.01). Therefore, urine volume did not significantly increase with dapagliflozin (mean difference early: 2.8 mL/kg/d [95% CI: -1.97 to 7.48; P = 0.25]; mean difference late: 0.9 mL/kg/d [95% CI: -3.83 to 5.62]; P = 0.70). CONCLUSIONS: Physiological-adaptive water conservation eliminated the expected osmotic diuretic potential of dapagliflozin and thereby prevented a glucose-driven increase in urine volume of approximately 10 mL/kg/d · 75 kg = 750 mL/kg/d. (Hepato-renal Regulation of Water Conservation in Heart Failure Patients With SGLT-2 Inhibitor Treatment [DAPA-Shuttle1]; NCT04080518).