Thermal Preparation and Application of a Novel Silicon Fertilizer Using Talc and Calcium Carbonate as Starting Materials.

The deficiency of available silicon (Si) incurred by year-round agricultural and horticultural practices highlights the significance of Si fertilization for soil replenishment. This study focuses on a novel and economical route for the synthesis of Si fertilizer via the calcination method using talc and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as starting materials. The molar ratio of talc to CaCO3 of 1:2.0, calcination temperature of 1150 °C and calcination time of 120 min were identified as the optimal conditions to maximize the available Si content of the prepared Si fertilizer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterizations elucidate the principles of the calcination temperature-dependent microstructure evolution of Si fertilizers, and the akermanite Ca2Mg(Si2O7) and merwinite Ca3Mg(SiO4)2 were identified as the primary silicates products. The results of release and solubility experiments suggest the content of available metallic element and slow-release property of the Si fertilizer obtained at the optimum preparation condition (Si-OPC). The surface morphology and properties of Si-OPC were illuminated by the results of scanning electron microscope (SEM), surface area and nitrogen adsorption analysis. The acceleration action of CaCO3 in the decomposition process of talc was demonstrated by the thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) test. The pot experiment corroborates that 5 g kg-1 soil Si-OPC application sufficed to facilitate the pakchoi growth by providing nutrient elements. This evidence indicates the prepared Si fertilizer as a promising candidate for Si-deficient soil replenishment.

Effects of phosphorous fertilizers on growth, Cu phytoextraction and tolerance of Leersia hexandra swartz under different Cu stress levels.

In this study, the effects of Ca(H2PO4)2, KH2PO4 and (NH4)2HPO4 on growth, Cu phytoextraction and tolerance of Leersia hexandra swartz (L. hexandra) under different Cu stress levels were investigated. The results showed that KH2PO4 could most significantly increase the plant height of L. hexandra (p < 0.05), while (NH4)2HPO4 had the most significant promoting effect on its biomass (p < 0.05) by enhancing photosynthesis (chlorophyll content) (p < 0.01). The application of Ca(H2PO4)2 could most significantly improve the Cu contents in roots, stems and leaves of L. hexandra (p < 0.05). In addition, (NH4)2HPO4 could enhance the tolerance of L. hexandra to Cu by obviously reducing the content of MDA and increasing the contents of SP and MTs (p < 0.05), while Ca(H2PO4)2 could evidently improve the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT and APX) to reduce the damage of Cu to L. hexandra (p < 0.05). Although KH2PO4 could increase the contents of SP and MTs, the L. hexandra in KH2PO4 treatment groups had the highest MDA contents, which was unfavorable to the resistance to Cu stress. These suggested that the application in combination of Ca(H2PO4)2 and (NH4)2HPO4 may be more advantageous for Cu phytoextraction by L. hexandra.

Unraveling urban hydro-environmental response to climate change and MCDA-based area prioritization in a data-scarce developing city.

Climate change leads to more frequent and intense heavy rainfall events, posing significant challenges for urban stormwater management, particularly in rapidly urbanizing cities of developing countries with constrained infrastructure. However, the quantitative assessment of urban stormwater, encompassing both its volume and quality, in these regions is impeded due to the scarcity of observational data and resulting limited understanding of drainage system dynamics. This study aims to elucidate the present and projected states of urban flooding, with a specific emphasis on fecal and organic contamination caused by combined sewer overflow (CSO). Leveraging a hydrological model incorporating physical and biochemical processes validated against invaluable observational data, we undertake simulations to estimate discharge, flood volume, and concentrations of suspended solids (SS), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) within the drainage channel network of Phnom Penh City, Cambodia. Alterations in flood volumes, and pollutant concentrations and loads in overflow under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5) for extreme rainfall events are projected. Furthermore, we employ a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework to evaluate flood risk, incorporating diverse indicators encompassing physical, social, and ecological dimensions. Our results demonstrate the exacerbating effects of climate change on flood volumes, expansion of flooded areas, prolonged durations of inundation, elevated vulnerability index, and heightened susceptibility to pollutant contamination under both scenarios, underscoring increased risks of flooding and fecal contamination. Spatial analysis identifies specific zones exhibiting heightened vulnerability to flooding and climate change, suggesting priority zones for investment in flood mitigation measures. These findings provide crucial insights for urban planning and stormwater management in regions with limited drainage infrastructure, offering essential guidance for decision-making in locales facing similar challenges.

Datasets for the assessment of changes in the incidence, extents, and spatial patterns of inundations in the Cambodian Mekong Delta, based on a water level - flood link calculated from in-situ water levels, and Sentinel-derived inundation maps.

This brief contains the data needed to calculate and assess the robustness of a water level - flood link (WAFL) in the Cambodian Mekong Delta, which was used to analyze changes in the long-term behavior of Monsoon inundations in the region. The data comprises the WAFL raster (.tif) files for two zones in the delta. Zone A is located on the right bank of the Bassac River, a distributary of the Mekong. Zone B is bracketed between the Mekong River and the Bassac River. The WAFL was calculated by linking water levels measured by the Mekong River Commission (MRC) at the hydrological station in Koh Khel, with inundation maps derived from Sentinel-1 and -2 images taken between 2017 and 2021. The final WAFL raster files provides a basis for estimating inundation extents using in-situ water levels. Furthermore, this brief includes data used for the assessment of WAFL, including in-situ water level data and the extents of natural vegetation in the case study area in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020. The former was collected using a differential pressure logger. The latter was calculated from historical Landsat image composites. Finally, raster files representing the incidence and duration of inundations in the case study area before and after the year 2008 are provided. These were calculated based on the WAFL and the MRC water levels. For each area, before- and after-images are available, as well as a raster representing the change between the two. To simplify visualization and geographical location, shapefiles (.shp) of the study area and the location of the in-situ logger are also provided.