International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

Green Energy Transition: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Drivers and Implementation

Arohi Anand — 2026-08-19

The transition from fossil fuels to sustainable, low-carbon energy systems is a complex economic, technological, institutional, and policy challenge. This study provides a multidisciplinary review of the drivers and implementation conditions shaping the global green energy transition. Using a qualitative analytical design and thematic synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, international policy reports, and institutional data, the analysis is organised around five interrelated dimensions: policy and governance, modelling approaches, technological and financial innovation, implementation barriers, and future strategic priorities. The review indicates that stable regulatory frameworks, coherent governance, renewable energy targets, carbon pricing, stakeholder participation, and public-private cooperation can support deployment. Technological progress in solar photovoltaics, wind energy, battery storage, smart grids, digital systems, artificial intelligence, and green hydrogen is strengthened by financial instruments such as green bonds, climate finance, blended finance, and multilateral investment. However, progress remains constrained by supply-chain disruption, critical-mineral dependence, policy uncertainty, inadequate grid infrastructure, financing limitations, and weak institutional coordination. Energy-system modelling, econometric analysis, scenario planning, and artificial-intelligence-based forecasting improve the assessment of transition pathways and policy choices. The study concludes that successful implementation requires coordinated action across policy, technology, finance, institutions, infrastructure, and workforce development, with strategies adapted to national and regional contexts across sectors and regions.

Waste-to-Energy Conversion: Electricity Generation and Economic Feasibility of a Food Processing Waste-Based Biogas Power Plant

Sourabh Ajit Chougala — 2026-08-12

The increasing generation of food-processing waste and rising energy demand necessitate sustainable waste-management and renewable-energy solutions. This study evaluated electricity generation from food-processing waste through anaerobic digestion and assessed the economic and environmental performance of an operating biogas power plant. The facility had a design capacity of 500 m³ and processed approximately 8 tonnes of food waste per day. Purified biogas was supplied to a generator producing three-phase electricity at 415 V and 50 Hz. Electricity-meter readings were recorded over 90 days, and the generated power was used for conveying, heating, size reduction, drying, lighting, and supplementary plant operations. Average electricity generation was 645.58 kWh per day, with only modest variation among the nine 10-day observation intervals. The total project cost was reported as ₹8,000,000, while annual revenue from electricity substitution and organic manure was ₹5,490,000. After accounting for the stated operation, maintenance, and auxiliary costs, the reported payback period was approximately 2.1 years. Fuel-equivalent calculations indicated potential reductions in the use of fuelwood, kerosene, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, charcoal, soft coke, furnace oil, and purchased electricity. The findings indicate that anaerobic digestion can support energy recovery and waste management in food-processing facilities. However, the economic and environmental outcomes remain dependent on the assumptions used and require plant-specific validation.

Determinants of Climate Change Preparedness Behaviour among Women Dairy Farmers in Haryana, India

Yasa Sirilakshmi — 2026-08-12

Climate change creates major challenges for dairy production by disrupting livestock productivity, forage availability, water resources, and animal health. Therefore, preparedness is crucial for protecting dairy-related livelihoods from climate change. This study examines climate change preparedness among women dairy farmers in Haryana and identifies key factors that influence their ability to adapt. A total of 360 women respondents from 18 villages in the Karnal, Hisar, and Sirsa districts were surveyed using a random sampling method. Preparedness was measured using a structured scale of climate-resilient dairy management practices, and the underlying factors were analysed using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression. The results show a moderate level of preparedness among respondents. Specifically, 45.00% demonstrated medium preparedness, 33.33% had low preparedness, and only 21.67% had high preparedness. The regression analysis revealed that preparedness was significantly associated with several socio-economic factors, such as family education, landholding, dairy farming experience, and resource control. Access to information, including extension contacts, mass media, and climate data, and cognitive traits such as risk orientation, climate awareness, and proactive attitudes also played significant roles. These findings point to the urgent need to strengthen climate information services, broaden extension support, and implement capacity-building programmes that enhance women’s knowledge and access to agricultural resources.

Climate Change Risk Meets Resource Inefficiency: A Multi-method Assessment of Thanjavur's Rice Economy

C. Aroutselvam — 2026-08-13

Rice cultivation in Thanjavur district faces interacting climatic, water, labour, and production-efficiency constraints. This study assessed these dimensions through an integrated multi-method framework. Primary data were collected from 120 rice farmers between October 2025 and February 2026. Climatic vulnerability was evaluated using an exposure–sensitivity–adaptive capacity framework; crop water requirements and water footprints were estimated with CROPWAT 8.0; technical and resource-use efficiency were analysed with a Cobb–Douglas stochastic frontier production function; economic water-use efficiency was calculated from output value and irrigation use; and farmer-perceived constraints were prioritised using Garrett ranking. The normalised Climate Vulnerability Index was 0.359, indicating moderate vulnerability. Exposure (0.575) and sensitivity (0.690) were high, while adaptive capacity was moderate (0.442). The total water footprint of rice was 2,154 m³/tonne, of which blue water contributed 66.7%, green water 24.5%, and grey water 8.8%. The stochastic frontier model produced a gamma value of 0.8755, indicating that technical inefficiency accounted for most composite-error variation. Labour had the largest significant elasticity (β = 0.4500), while seed had a smaller significant positive effect (β = 0.0978). Economic water-use efficiency was ₹12.50/m³. Labour shortage ranked first among farmer-perceived constraints, followed by low product prices and delayed input availability. The findings indicate that interventions should jointly address management efficiency, labour scarcity, water use, market conditions, and climate adaptation.

An Analysis of Climate Variables in Cameroon from 1961 to 2020

Salé ABOU — 2026-08-13

This article addresses climate variability in Cameroon by analysing decadal trends in selected climate parameters and their relationships during 1961–2020. Satellite and reanalysis data were obtained from the Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA). Python 3, Panoply, Climate Data Operators (CDO) and Ubuntu-based tools were used to assess decadal changes in air temperature, precipitation, sea surface temperature (SST) and wind, as well as selected relationships using the Mann-Kendall test and Pearson correlation. The results show progressive warming across most regions, becoming widespread from the 2000s, together with a gradual increase in SST in the maritime zone. Precipitation shows contrasting spatiotemporal dynamics across decades, although the 1991–2000 decade indicates a notable return of rainfall in several areas. Prevailing winds remain relatively stable in the low-level atmospheric circulation pattern, corresponding to the West African monsoon flow, with slight variations during 2001–2010. The relationship between precipitation and SST is generally positive but moderate, while the relationship between precipitation and air temperature shows strong spatiotemporal variability, including both positive and negative correlations. These findings indicate marked variability in Cameroon’s climate system and highlight the need for continued monitoring of regional climate dynamics to support climate-sensitive socioeconomic activities and adaptation planning.

Phenophase-wise Crop Weather Calendar Development and Satellite-based Validation for Paddy in the Tungabhadra Command Area

Fakeerappa Arabhanvi — 2026-08-14

A study was conducted during 2024–2025 at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Gangavathi, Koppal District, Karnataka, under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to develop and evaluate a location-specific crop weather calendar for paddy in the Tungabhadra Command Area. The calendar was prepared by integrating long-term weekly climatic normals (2008–2023), phenophase-wise crop growth stages, and weather conditions conducive to major insect pests and diseases. The rice crop (medium-duration variety ‘Gangavathi Sona’) was analysed from the 25th to the 44th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW), covering the complete crop season from transplanting to harvest. Favourable weather conditions for higher productivity were observed during the maximum tillering stage, characterised by maximum temperatures of 30.9–32.6 °C, minimum temperatures of 23.6–24.0 °C, rainfall of about 93 mm, and morning relative humidity of 81–85 per cent. The calendar also identified weather regimes conducive to major pests and diseases, including brown planthopper, gall midge, rice blast, and bacterial leaf blight, thereby providing critical risk windows for advisory interventions. Satellite-based crop growth dynamics were analysed using 16-day MODIS NDVI (250 m) time series for the kharif season, which showed strong temporal agreement with the phenological progression depicted in the crop weather calendar. Plot-level NDVI profiles extracted for selected farmers’ fields further confirmed consistency among satellite-derived crop growth trajectories, calendar-based crop stages, and field observations. The practical utility of the crop weather calendar was evaluated through structured feedback from selected rice-growing farmers. Most respondents perceived the advisories as useful to moderately useful, particularly for pest and disease management, and reported yield improvements and additional economic benefits ranging from ₹1,400 to ₹2,600 per acre. Although based on a limited sample size, the feedback indicated that crop weather calendar–based advisories supported improved decision-making, reduced weather-related risks, and enhanced economic returns. Overall, the study indicates that integrating crop weather calendars with satellite-derived indicators and farmer feedback can strengthen phenophase-specific, weather-based advisories under GKMS, especially in intensively cultivated canal command areas.

Phenological Responses of Rice (Oryza sativa) to Heat Stress and their Regulation by Plant Growth Regulators

R. Manisha — 2026-08-14

Rising temperatures threaten rice productivity, particularly when heat stress coincides with sensitive developmental stages. This study evaluated stage-specific phenological, physiological, and yield responses of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. Jyothi and examined the mitigating effects of foliar plant growth regulators. A factorial completely randomised design was conducted during the 2025 kharif season using eight temperature-exposure regimes under polyhouse and ambient conditions and four foliar treatments: no spray, water spray, salicylic acid (400 ppm), and brassinosteroid (5 ppm). Heat stress was imposed across the active tillering, heading, and milking stages. Elevated temperature delayed phenological progression and, under severe reproductive-stage stress, prevented flowering, grain filling, and yield formation in several treatment regimes. Heat stress also reduced chlorophyll content and membrane stability index, whereas plant growth regulator treatments improved these physiological traits relative to untreated or water-sprayed plants. Brassinosteroid treatment generally produced the highest chlorophyll content, membrane stability, and yield-related performance, followed by salicylic acid. Yield components, including tiller and panicle number, filled grains, and grain yield, declined under heat stress, with particularly severe effects when reproductive development was exposed to high temperature. The findings indicate that heading is a highly heat-sensitive stage and that foliar brassinosteroid and salicylic acid applications can partially mitigate heat-related physiological and yield impairment in this rice variety under the conditions of the study.

Correlation and Stability Analysis in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Different Sowing Environments

Chandra Pratap Singh — 2026-08-14

A field investigation involving 40 bread wheat genotypes was conducted across three sowing environments: normal (E1, 15 November 2023), late (E2, 15 December 2023), and very late (E3, 15 January 2024). The experiment used a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications to characterise genetic variability, trait correlations, and genotype stability. Pooled ANOVA, genetic parameters (GCV, PCV, h², and GAM), genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients, and Eberhart–Russell stability analysis were used to evaluate 13 traits across environments. Highly significant (P < 0.01) differences were detected among environments, genotypes, and their interactions for all traits. Seed yield showed a GCV of 4.03%, a PCV of 5.06%, broad-sense heritability (h²) of 39.49%, and a GAM of 6.60%, indicating relatively limited scope for improvement through direct phenotypic selection. Seed yield showed strong positive genotypic correlations with biological yield (rᵍ = 0.748), grains per spike (rᵍ = 0.756), and 1000-seed weight (rᵍ = 0.628). Stability analysis using the Eberhart–Russell model identified Raj 3077, Raj 4027, and GW 387 as stable, high-yielding genotypes across environments. The relatively narrow difference between the PCV and GCV estimates indicated limited environmental influence on the expression of several traits. These stable genotypes, with favourable biofortification traits (Fe, Zn, and protein), may provide useful breeding material for developing climate-resilient, nutrient-rich wheat varieties suited to variable sowing conditions in India.

Emission Intensity and Drivers of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Buffalo Meat Production: An LMDI Decomposition Analysis of Major Buffalo-producing Countries

Poonam Chaturvedi — 2026-08-17

Buffalo meat production contributes to food supply and agricultural economies in major producing countries, but its expansion is also associated with greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding changes in emission intensity and the factors driving emissions is important for evaluating the environmental performance of buffalo meat production. The present study examined trends in emission intensity, growth performance, and variability in greenhouse gas emissions associated with buffalo meat production at the global level and in the major producing countries of India, Pakistan, and China over the period 2000 to 2022. Analytical tools, such as the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), instability index, and Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition technique, were employed to assess growth patterns and disaggregate total emissions into production, emission intensity, and distribution components. The results indicated that India emerged as the largest contributor to global buffalo meat output, recording the highest production growth rate of 4.92 per cent, accompanied by a substantial reduction in emission intensity (−4.72 per cent). In contrast, China experienced an increase in overall emissions alongside limited improvements in emission efficiency. Pakistan registered a modest rise in production (1.25 per cent), but this was coupled with comparatively higher growth in emissions (3.13 per cent). Findings from the LMDI decomposition analysis revealed that the production effect was the primary driver of growth in CO₂-equivalent emissions from buffalo meat, accounting for an average contribution of 54.83 per cent. However, improvements in emission intensity significantly counterbalanced this increase, with an average mitigating effect of −42.64 per cent, reflecting enhanced efficiency over time. The distribution effect played a relatively marginal and inconsistent role, with an average contribution of −1.37 per cent, indicating its limited influence on total emission changes relative to production expansion and efficiency gains. The findings underscore the need for the adoption of climate-smart livestock strategies. Policy interventions should focus on strengthening emission efficiency through improved feeding regimes, effective manure management, and the deployment of low-emission technologies to support environmentally sustainable buffalo meat production in major producing countries.

Do Digital Governance and Digital Innovation Impact the Carbon Intensity of Tourism in Central Africa? Empirical Evidence from CEMAC Countries

Guylène Audrey Nguétchouo Domtchouang — 2026-08-17

This study examines the effects of digital innovation and digital governance on tourism carbon intensity (TCI) across the six Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) countries over 2000–2024. Tourism carbon intensity is constructed from transport-sector carbon dioxide emissions relative to international tourist arrivals. Digital innovation is represented by Internet access, while digital governance is measured using seven V-Dem indicators. The empirical analysis applies a Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework to distinguish long-run relationships from short-run dynamics. The estimates indicate that digital innovation and the different dimensions of digital governance have heterogeneous long-run relationships with tourism carbon intensity. Expanded Internet access is associated with a reduction in long-run TCI, whereas cybersecurity capacity is associated with an increase. The remaining digital-governance indicators display contrasting relationships, reinforcing the importance of considering each governance dimension separately. In the short run, GDP per capita is the only variable with a statistically significant effect. The moderation analysis further indicates that economic development strengthens the carbon-mitigating relationship between digital innovation and TCI, while it does not significantly moderate the relationships involving digital governance. Overall, the findings suggest that digital transformation does not have a uniform environmental effect in CEMAC. Coordinated digital, tourism, and environmental policies are therefore important for improving digital access while aligning governance and infrastructure development with lower-carbon tourism objectives.

Determination of Crop Water Stress Index for Irrigation Scheduling of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Khyati H. Sabhani — 2026-08-18

This field experiment evaluated the relationship between canopy–air temperature difference and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to determine the crop water stress index (CWSI) for irrigation scheduling. The lower baseline showed a linear relationship with VPD, whereas the upper baseline was relatively independent of VPD. The upper baseline was dTᵤ = 6 °C, and the lower baseline was dTₗ = −1.9755 VPD + 2.1035. Under climatic and soil conditions similar to those of the study, irrigation could be scheduled at approximately CWSI 0.78 without farmyard manure (FYM) and 0.75 with 10 t ha⁻¹ FYM to avoid water stress. Seasonal mean CWSI was inversely related to seed, biomass and straw yields. Seed yield showed a negative linear relationship with seasonal mean CWSI (R² = 0.63), indicating the potential of CWSI for yield prediction. Yield attributes, including number of pods per plant, seed weight per plant, number of branches per plant and test weight, declined as CWSI increased. A strong negative correlation (−0.88) was observed between CWSI and soil moisture during the growing season. The relationship between CWSI and soil moisture was described by CWSI = −0.0932x + 1.4092 (R² = 0.77). These results indicate that canopy-air temperature based CWSI can support irrigation timing and crop water-stress assessment in chickpea under comparable conditions.

Seasonal Physico-Chemical Water Quality and Aquatic Macrophyte Diversity of Victoria Lake (Bada Talab) in Lohardaga, Jharkhand, India

Sandeep Prasad — 2026-08-18

Lakes across India face sustained pressure from domestic effluent discharge, siltation and unplanned catchment development, and the physico-chemical condition of such lakes is widely reported to shape the structure of their aquatic macrophyte communities. This paper illustrates a statistical workflow for relating monthly physico-chemical water quality data to seasonal aquatic macrophyte diversity in Bada Talab, Lohardaga, referred to here as Victoria Lake, using a simulated water quality time series (36 monthly records, January 2018–December 2020) and macrophyte cover data recorded on three sampling occasions (June 2018, December 2018 and March 2019). Fourteen physico-chemical parameters were examined, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, chloride, sulphate, nitrate and phosphate. Macrophyte diversity was quantified using the Shannon–Wiener index (H′), species richness and percentage cover of the dominant species. Species richness increased from 12 (June 2018) to 57 (March 2019), the Shannon–Wiener index rose from 1.48 to 3.54 over the same period, and the percentage cover of the dominant species fell from 44.9% to 10.4%, consistent with a shift from a low-diversity, dominance-structured assemblage towards a more even, species-rich community. Pearson correlation analysis among the water quality parameters revealed a strongly inter-correlated block of variables (COD, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, chloride, sulphate, nitrate and phosphate; r = 1.00) moving inversely with dissolved oxygen (r = −1.00), a pattern of near-perfect covariance that is characteristic of a synthetically generated series rather than field-measured data and is reported here as an explicit data-quality caveat. Because only three macrophyte sampling occasions were available, the correlation between diversity indices and water quality parameters (n = 3, 1 degree of freedom) could not be evaluated with meaningful statistical power and is presented descriptively rather than as a confirmed relationship. The paper is intended as a transparent demonstration of the methods, tables, figures and reporting conventions appropriate for physico-chemical–macrophyte correlation studies of Indian urban lakes, and it identifies the field sampling design that would be required to test the relationship rigorously.

Evaluation of Abattoir Waste Management Practices in Selected Abattoirs in Ondo State, Nigeria

O. B. Imoukhuede — 2026-08-19

Abattoirs play a critical role in supplying meat and animal products for human consumption; however, their operations generate large quantities of solid and liquid waste that pose serious environmental and public health risks if not properly managed. A study was therefore carried out to identify the abattoir facilities and waste management techniques employed and to determine the operational efficiency of the facilities in selected abattoirs in Ondo State, Nigeria, using a structured questionnaire, personal observations, interviews, and photographic documentation. The selected abattoirs were located in three major towns in the state (Owo, Akure, and Ile-Oluji), representing the three geopolitical zones of the state. The stakeholders who served as respondents were abattoir cleaners, waste handlers, butchers, supervisors, and veterinary officers. The results revealed that respondents’ ages ranged from 20 to 60 years, with the highest distribution in the 21–30-year age group. Abattoir operations were dominated by men (80%), and secondary education was the most common level of education among respondents (44%). The results also revealed a slaughter rate of 10 animals per day in most abattoirs (75%) in the state. The major waste recorded was dung (20%). Common disposal methods observed included open dumping, open burning, burial in the soil, discharge of wastewater into open drains and nearby streams, and the use of soak-away pits, with very limited application of waste treatment systems; daily waste removal was observed in most abattoirs (82%). Reuse of abattoir waste was also common, with a 92% waste conversion rate. These practices resulted in hazards, including offensive odour, proliferation of flies and rodents, water pollution, and other health issues. Challenges observed in the abattoirs included a lack of facilities and inadequate enforcement of environmental laws and policies. Probable solutions to these challenges are therefore recommended.

Sowing Dates and Sulphur Levels Affecting Growth and Yield Attributes of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) under Open and Mango-based Agroforestry Systems in the Semi-arid Region of Central India

Aanchal Katara — 2026-08-21

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2024–25 at the AICRP Research Farm, Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, to evaluate the effects of cropping system, sowing date and sulphur levels on the growth and yield attributes of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) under mango-based agroforestry and open-field cropping systems. The experiment was designed as a randomised complete block factorial study and included two cropping systems, three sowing dates (October 15, November 5, and November 25), and four sulphur levels (0, 20, 30, and 40 kg S ha⁻¹). The results showed that the open-field cropping system produced significantly better growth and yield parameters compared with the agroforestry system with mango trees. With the early sowing date (15 October), significantly higher values were observed for plant population, plant height, number of branches, siliquae per plant, seeds siliqua^-1, siliqua length and test seed weight compared with the later sowing dates. Application of 40 kg S ha^-1 produced the maximum values of all growth and yield attributes and remained statistically comparable with 30 kg S ha^-1 for a few parameters. Significant interaction effects among cropping system, sowing date and sulphur level indicated that mustard yield depended on the combined influence of growing conditions and nutrient supply. The study suggests that timely sowing combined with adequate sulphur fertilisation can increase mustard productivity under both open and mango-based agroforestry systems, although crop performance remained comparatively higher under open-field conditions. The present investigation was carried out to study the adaptation of mustard crops under different climatic resilience conditions for the benefit of farmers, with an improvement observed in oil content.

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Thermal Use Efficiency Indices and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties under Terminal Heat Stress and Changing Climate

Rajesh Kumar Meshram — 2026-08-21

Terminal heat stress, characterised by a rapid rise in ambient temperature, is one of the major limiting factors for wheat productivity during the reproductive and grain-filling stages. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of plant growth regulators on heat use efficiency, helio-thermal use efficiency and photo-thermal use efficiency of wheat at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Powarkheda, Narmadapuram, during two consecutive rabi seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with four wheat varieties (GW 322, Sujata, C 306 and MP 1202) assigned to the main plots and plant growth regulator treatments comprising the control, CCC @ 1000 ppm, CCC @ 1500 ppm, ethephon @ 10 ppm and ethephon @ 30 ppm assigned to the subplots, with three replications. Among the varieties, MP 1202 recorded the significantly highest heat use efficiency (2.94 kg ha-1 0c-1 day-1 for grain yield and 8.11 kg ha-1 0c-1 day-1 for biological yield), helio-thermal use efficiency (0.47 and 1.30, respectively) and photo-thermal use efficiency (0.26 and 0.67, respectively), followed by GW 322, while Sujata recorded the lowest values for all thermal use efficiency indices. Among the plant growth regulators, application of CCC @ 1500 ppm significantly enhanced heat use efficiency (2.70 and 6.78 kg ha-1 0c-1 day-1), helio-thermal use efficiency (0.43 and 1.08) and photo-thermal use efficiency (0.28 and 0.62) for grain and biological yield, respectively, compared with the control, and was statistically at par with ethephon @ 30 ppm. The results of the present study indicate that the variety MP 1202 with the application of CCC @ 1500 ppm can improve thermal use efficiency indices (heat use efficiency, helio-thermal use efficiency and photo-thermal use efficiency) for grain and biological yield under heat stress and changing climatic conditions in the Central Zone of Madhya Pradesh.

Spatial Assessment of Agro-photovoltaic (AgroPV) Suitability Using Geographic Information System in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India

R. Sakthivel — 2026-08-21

Agro-Photovoltaics (AgroPV) is a dual land-use strategy that enables simultaneous crop production and solar electricity generation on the same parcel of land, offering a practical response to the growing competition between food and energy security. This study presents a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based multi-criteria spatial suitability assessment for AgroPV development in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India. Five categories of thematic criteria were evaluated and overlaid, namely solar resource availability, land suitability and agricultural land cover, topographic and technical feasibility, infrastructure and grid accessibility, and environmental constraints. Slope was derived from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model, with areas having slopes of less than 8° considered feasible; solar potential was assessed using Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) data greater than 4.5 kWh/m²/day from the Global Solar Atlas; cropland extent was mapped using the ESRI Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) 2024 dataset; and infrastructural accessibility was evaluated using OpenStreetMap road, rail, and electrical substation layers with 10 km and 25 km proximity buffers, respectively. The reclassified thematic layers were standardised and overlaid, without differential weighting, in a GIS environment to generate a composite AgroPV suitability map. The analysis identified approximately 1364.55 sq. km (136,455 ha) of land, about 28.7% of the district's total geographical area of 4746.24 sq. km, as technically suitable for AgroPV implementation, with Sulur, Annur, and Mettupalayam taluks showing the largest suitable extents. The findings indicate that Coimbatore District possesses a substantial and spatially well-defined agricultural land base with favourable solar irradiance, gentle terrain, and strong grid and transport connectivity, making it a technically suitable candidate for large-scale AgroPV deployment, subject to further economic, agronomic, and field-level feasibility assessments. The study demonstrates a scalable, low-cost, first-order GIS-based screening methodology for identifying priority zones for integrated solar-agriculture development; it is intended to guide rather than substitute for detailed feasibility and field-level assessments and provides a decision-support basis for regional energy and land-use planning.

Evaluation of Soil Moisture Distribution and Lateral Placement Optimization of Subsurface Drip Irrigation in Sandy Clay Loam Soil

Priya G Nair — 2026-08-24

Subsurface drip irrigation represents a compelling technological alternative to conventional surface drip systems. The water-use efficiency of subsurface drip irrigation is high compared with that of surface drip irrigation. It provides water directly to the crop root zone through buried pipelines, creating a stable wetting zone in the root zone. The optimum installation depth and spacing of laterals are two important factors in subsurface drip irrigation that should be taken into consideration to provide the maximum amount of water to the crop. Evaluation of soil moisture status in the root zone is crucial, as this depends on soil physical properties, irrigation, and water losses from the soil. This study evaluated soil moisture distribution and optimised lateral placement under subsurface drip irrigation in sandy clay loam soil. Testing emitter depths of 10, 15, and 20 cm and lateral spacings of 95, 100, and 105 cm in bare and cropped soils showed that 1–24-hour post-irrigation moisture loss varied between bare soil and soil with a crop. At the emitter position (0, 10), moisture dropped by 4.31% in bare soil versus 2.5% in cropped soil; at a 30 cm distance (30, 10), the reductions were 6.1% and 4.3%, respectively. The maximum water-use efficiency of 37.96 kg/ha-mm was recorded with a lateral spacing of 95 cm at an installation depth of 15 cm. The study also identified the optimum combination for crop yield, plant characteristics, and soil moisture distribution as a lateral spacing of 95 cm at an installation depth of 15 cm. The study suggests installing emitters at a depth of 15 cm to achieve the most balanced and efficient soil moisture footprint in sandy clay loam soil.

Climate, Environmental and Dynamic Performance Assessment of a PV-Wind-Battery Mini-Grid in Tafaghatt, Niger

Moumouni Guero Mohamed — 2026-08-24

This paper reassesses a 28.5 kWc PV array, a 10 kW wind turbine, and a 240 kWh (5,000 Ah/48 V, LiFePO₄) hybrid mini-grid proposed for the unelectrified village of Tafaghatt, Maradi region, Niger, moving beyond the single-day demonstrations common in this literature to a physically documented, reproducible annual assessment. Ten years (2012-2021) of NASA POWER, PVGIS and Meteorum-derived monthly climate data show limited interannual variability in reconstructed annual mean temperature (30.15 °C, range 29.98-30.47 °C) alongside two warm anomalies in 2017 and 2019, a comparatively narrow daily solar irradiation band (5.46-5.69 kWh/m²/day) and a more variable wind speed (annual mean 4.49 m/s, 4.15-4.20 m/s to 4.75-4.78 m/s across years); a ten-year record constrains only recent interannual behaviour and does not by itself demonstrate long-term climate stability. Rather than scaling synthetic daily profiles to match the design energy balance, system performance was evaluated with an explicit hour-by-hour reconstructed representative year (8,760 h), built from documented clear-sky solar geometry, a stochastic clearness-index process and Weibull-type wind variability calibrated to the established monthly climatology, and propagated through a temperature-dependent PV model, a generic cubic wind power curve, a LiFePO4 battery model with round-trip efficiency and depth-of-discharge limits, and a documented 160 kWh/day load broken down by end-use category. Under a moderate 15% soiling assumption, the reconstructed year yields an annual renewable fraction of 85.0%, a loss-of-power-supply probability (LPSP) of 15.0%, with unmet load concentrated in the July-September monsoon window when cloud cover and calm winds coincide, and 82 equivalent full battery cycles; a one-factor-at-a-time sensitivity analysis shows that LPSP responds strongly to solar resource, wind resource, demand growth and panel soiling, but only marginally to battery capacity between 150 and 300 kWh, indicating the configuration is resource-limited rather than storage-limited. An environmental and social impact assessment structured around IFC/World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS4, ESS5, ESS6, ESS10) identifies avian-collision risk, battery-related contamination risk and land-tenure friction as the principal negative impacts; a point-source acoustic model indicates that the IFC night-time residential guideline (45 dB(A)) is met beyond approximately 100 m from the turbine. These results indicate that, under the assumptions documented here, the proposed configuration performs reasonably over most of the year but does not consistently meet demand through the monsoon season, a finding that could not have emerged from a single balanced-day scenario and that points to resource-side reinforcement, not additional storage, as the more promising design lever. On-site metering and manufacturer-specific component curves remain necessary before these numerical results can be treated as an experimentally validated performance guarantee.