Chive (Allium schoenoprasum L.) response as a phytoextraction plant in cadmium-contaminated soils.

Cadmium (Cd) soil contamination poses a major hazard to safe food production throughout the world, calling upon actions for decontamination using environmentally friendly methods, such as phytoextraction. In this study, the capability of chive (Allium schoenoprasum L.) for phytoextracting Cd from contaminated soils was tested. Growth of chive was studied in a soil spiked with 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 mg Cd/kg soil, and then, concentrations of Cd in soil, plant shoots, and roots were measured after harvest. Chive dry matter production was not affected significantly by the different Cd levels in soil, except from the maximum Cd concentration (120 mg Cd/kg soil), where dry matter was reduced by 77%. Cadmium accumulation occurred mostly in roots rather than in shoots, with maximum Cd concentrations 482.48 and 26.65 mg/kg of dry matter, respectively. Translocation factor (the proportion of Cd concentration in the aerial plant parts to that in the roots) was below 1 in all contaminated levels and decreased with increasing Cd concentrations in soil, indicating low Cd reallocation from roots to shoots. Maximum amount of Cd absorption (Cd concentration in shoots), maximum contaminant uptake rate, and minimum clean-up time were all observed in Cd concentration 60 mg/kg soil. Based on chive potential to acquire Cd in its roots and shoots, it can be designated as a convenient species for reducing Cd from contaminated soils up to concentrations of 60 mg Cd/kg soil.

Environmental impact of rice production based on nitrogen fertilizer use.

While essential to food production, nitrogen (N) fertilizers in agricultural ecosystems are also important sources of environmental pollution nationally and globally. The environmental impact of three N fertilization levels (30, 60, and 90 kg ha-1) plus a non-N control (0 kg ha-1) in growing three rice cultivars (cv. Hashemi, cv. Alikazemi, and cv. Khazar) were assessed for 2 years in northern Iran, with the methodology of the life cycle assessment (LCA). The impact categories evaluated in this study were global warming, acidification, terrestrial eutrophication, and depletion of fossil, phosphate, and potassium resources. Over cultivars, no use of N fertilizer provided the lowest grain yield (2194 kg ha-1), whereas the N rates of 60 and 90 kg ha-1 increased grain yield by 52.9 and 66.9%, respectively. Over N rates, cv. Khazar produced the highest grain yield (3415 kg ha-1) and cv. Hashemi the lowest (2663 kg ha-1). On-farm (foreground) emissions were higher than off-farm (background) emissions in most impact categories. The maximum value of environmental index (1.33) was observed for cv. Hashemi with 90 kg N ha-1, while the minimum value (0.38) was observed for cv. Khazar without N fertilization. Moreover, cv. Khazar showed the lowest resource depletion index (0.44) with 90 kg N ha-1, whereas cv. Hashemi with no use of N showed the maximum value (0.96). Over cultivars, high N rates imposed drastic impact to the categories acidification and terrestrial eutrophication. However, selection of high-yielding cultivars significantly alleviated the impact to most categories. Fertilization that enables optimal yields, in accordance with the nutrient requirements of crops, ensures the most efficient land use and sustainable rice production.

RETRACTED: Public environmental awareness of water pollution from urban growth: The case of Zarjub and Goharrud rivers in Rasht, Iran.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors-in-Chief. After a thorough investigation, the Editors have concluded that the acceptance of this article was based upon the positive advice of three illegitimate reviewer reports. The reports were submitted from email accounts which were provided by the corresponding author C.A. Damalas as suggested reviewers during the submission of the article. Although purportedly real reviewer accounts, the Editors have concluded that these were not of appropriate, independent reviewers. This manipulation of the peer-review process represents a clear violation of the fundamentals of peer review, our publishing policies, and publishing ethics standards. Apologies are offered to the reviewers whose identity was assumed and to the readers of the journal that this deception was not detected during the submission process.

Consumers' acceptance of medicinal herbs: An application of the technology acceptance model (TAM).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The shift in consumers' preferences from synthetic to 'natural' products has led to a resurgence of interest in medicinal plants, particularly in developing countries. However, research data about consumers' preferences for particular products is hard to find. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to contribute to the general understanding of consumers' intention for selecting medicinal herbs for consumption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Factors underpinning consumers' acceptance of medicinal herbs were studied with the technology acceptance model (TAM) in Rasht City of Iran using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Most respondents had low to moderate familiarity with consumption of medicinal herbs. However, about half of the respondents (47.5%) showed a high level of acceptance of medicinal herbs. Herbs like spearmint (Mentha spicata L.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), Damask rose (Rosa × damascena Herrm.), saffron (Crocus sativus L.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J.Presl), flixweed [Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl], red feathers (Echium amoenum Fisch. & C.A.Mey.), and green tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze] had the highest consumption rate among the majority (over 75%) of citizens of Rasht. The highest rate of perceived usefulness of medicinal herbs was related to their perceived role in healing diseases. The variable of importance of use of medicinal herbs had the strongest direct effect and the variables of perceived usefulness and attitude towards use had the second and third strongest direct effect on the acceptance of medicinal herbs' use at p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide a useful evaluation of the acceptance of medicinal herbs and may serve as a benchmark for future research and evaluation concerning the use of medicinal herbs over time. For plant producers, more effective and targeted crop development should be encouraged, whereas for retailers better marketing and delivery strategies should be sought.