International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

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

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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.

Rectangular zaï pit Lengths and Fertilisation Effects on Soil Fertility in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Burkina Faso

Abdoulaye Dabre, Lassina Sanou, Patrice Savadogo, Hassan Bismarck Nacro — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Approximately 65% of agricultural land in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso consists of degraded bare soils requiring urgent restoration. Although zaï technology is widely adopted, the influence of pit dimensions and their interaction with organic and mineral fertilisation on soil restoration remain insufficiently understood. A split-plot design was installed in 2019 on two contrasting bare soils: Toyendé (moderately acidic lixisol, Sudano-Sahelian) and Gouéré (near-neutral plinthosol, Sahelian). The main factor comprised four rectangular zaï pit lengths (30, 35, 40, 45 cm) and one circular pit (30 cm), all 20 cm deep in order to compare the performance of the two types of zaï in terms of water collection and the trapping of plant residues in the pits. The sub-factor comprised four fertilisation regimes: no input, compost (250–500 g/pit), NPK (6.5 g/pit) and compost + NPK. After two cropping seasons (2019–2020), soil samples (0–10 cm) were analysed for pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium using standard methods.

Soil responses were strongly site-dependent. At Gouéré, compost in 30 cm rectangular pits increased soil organic carbon by 106% and available potassium by 153%, while compost in 35 cm pits increased total nitrogen by 25%. At Toyendé, circular zaï without fertilisation enhanced available phosphorus by 372%, whereas 40 cm rectangular pits without amendments increased available potassium by 412%. Compost in 45 cm pits produced the highest pH increase (39%).

Rectangular zaï improved soil restoration more effectively than circular zaï by enhancing runoff harvesting and sediment retention. However, optimal pit dimensions and fertilisation strategies must be tailored to the initial soil fertility status to maximise long-term restoration while preventing yield-driven nutrient depletion.

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

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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, B. I. Karande — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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, Prasanjit Mukherjee — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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, P. K. Mishra, Vikas Jain, Shakshi Singh — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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 — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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, Prodjinonto Vincent — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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.

The Mixed Biomass Firing and Energy-efficient Stoves in Tofu Production: Biomass Cost Savings and Carbon Emission Reduction

Tajidan Tajidan — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Mixed biomass firing and energy-efficient stove technology may improve fuel-use efficiency in household-scale tofu production while lowering biomass costs and associated carbon emissions. This study evaluated the combined effects of mixed biomass firing and energy-efficient stoves on biomass costs and estimated carbon emissions in tofu agro-industries in Mataram City. Cross-sectional data were collected from 37 business units in Sekarbela and Sandubaya districts using observation, surveys, in-depth interviews, and literature review. Multiple linear regression, cross-tabulation, and graphical analysis were used. Of the sampled units, 27 used mixed biomass firing with firewood and corncobs, while 10 additionally used sawdust; 13 units used energy-efficient stoves and 24 used non-energy-efficient stoves. The biomass-cost model showed that mixed biomass firing and stove technology were significantly associated with biomass costs. Mixed biomass firing with firewood and corncobs was associated with a reduction of IDR 717 per kilogram of soybean raw material, while energy-efficient stove technology was associated with a reduction of IDR 755 per kilogram. Energy-efficient stoves reduced biomass use from 2.306 to 1.362 kg per kilogram of soybean raw material, equivalent to 40.94%. Estimated carbon emissions were calculated to decrease from 10.561–11.364 tons/day to 6.238–6.712 tons/day. These findings support the use of energy-efficient stoves and appropriate biomass mixtures to reduce fuel costs and biomass consumption in tofu production.

Farmers’ Satisfaction with Climate Change Adaptation Strategy: A Gender Based Assessment

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aggravated impacts of climate change have been visible in India through the intensification of urban floods, prolonged heatwaves, severe droughts, and rising sea levels. India has prioritised adaptation as a cornerstone of climate change responses. Special efforts are being made to employ adaptation measures through a national adaptation plan for climate change. This study presents a comparative analysis using a gender-based research approach, which treats farmers’ selected socioeconomic characteristics as predictor variables in relation to different attributes of technological interventions used as adaptation measures against climate change, with the goal of contributing to agricultural extension research and drawing extension professionals’ attention to evaluating farmers’ satisfaction with adaptation strategies against the effects of climate change. The study was conducted between 2024 and 2026. A total of 108 tribal respondents from Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh were included in the study. Farmers and their spouses were taken as respondents at the household level. Primary data were collected through a survey in three selected villages of Dindori district, Madhya Pradesh. The variables included in the analysis were male and female farmers’ socioeconomic and psychological characteristics: age, education, landholding, annual family income, farming experience, irrigation sources, occupation, cropping pattern, credit accessibility, market accessibility, extension contact for climate, awareness of weather parameters, mass media exposure, change proneness, training attended on CRA, risk perception, and scientific orientation. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the influence of farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics on their satisfaction levels with adaptation strategies. Similar to male farmers, female farmers’ adaptation techniques were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with communication exposure. Because male and female farmers’ agricultural activities differ, the government should focus on providing gender-specific training facilities. Hence, the study recommends that the government should focus more on climate change adaptation strategies through the robust use of various communication methods and training programmes, such as demonstrations and localised training programmes. Female farmers should be prioritised for training and awareness programmes on suitable agricultural practices.

Effect of Mulch Material and Bio-Stimulants on Growth, Cropping and Microbial Population in Daisy Mandarin

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sustainable management of soil moisture, nutrient availability and microbial activity is important for maintaining the growth, productivity and fruit quality of Daisy mandarin. Mulching and biological inputs such as Jeevamrit and Panchgavya may improve the soil microenvironment; however, their combined effects on Daisy mandarin growth, yield, fruit quality and soil characteristics require evaluation. The present study was carried out at the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur (H.P.), during 2024-2025. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomised block design with three replications. The study comprised twelve treatments involving different types of mulching materials, viz. M₀: no mulch, M₁: grass mulch, M₂: black polythene mulch and M₃: mulch mat, and three biostimulant treatments: B₀: no biostimulants, B₁: Jeevamrit @ 10% and B₂: Panchgavya @ 5%, either alone or in combination. The results showed that vegetative growth, flowering, yield, fruit quality, soil nutrient status and microbial populations were significantly enhanced under M₁B₁ (grass mulch + Jeevamrit @ 10%). The maximum increase in plant height (64.10 cm), maximum number of fruits (62.00/plant) and highest yield (12.52 kg/plant) were observed under M₁B₁ (grass mulch + Jeevamrit @ 10%). Biochemical parameters such as TSS, total sugars and ascorbic acid content were highest under M₁B₁ (grass mulch + Jeevamrit @ 10%). The highest soil organic carbon (1.52%), available soil nitrogen (274.90 kg/ha), available soil potassium (243.03 kg/ha) and total microbial count (1.64× 10⁸ cfu g^-1) were recorded under M₁B₁ (grass mulch + Jeevamrit @ 10%). Therefore, M₁B₁ (grass mulch + Jeevamrit @ 10%) can be regarded as the best treatment in the present study.

Seasonal Abundance of Major Rice Insect Pests and Natural Enemies in Relation to Weather Parameters in Godavari Delta of Andhra Pradesh

K. Vasanta Bhanu, M. Nanda Kishore — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Rice insect populations fluctuate considerably with season, crop availability and weather conditions.

Aims: The present study aimed to characterise month-wise and season-wise insect abundance, quantify the relative abundance of individual insects, and to determine correlations between insect populations and meteorological variables.

Study Design: A total of 156 weekly observations were classified into Rabi (1 December–14 April), Kharif (15 June–30 November) and summer/rice-fallow (15 April–14 June) periods. Descriptive statistics, month-wise and season-wise box-and-whisker plots, relative-abundance analysis, Venn diagrams and Pearson correlation analysis were used to characterise seasonal insect activity and its association with weather.

Place and Duration of Study: The present investigation was carried out using weekly light-trap insect catches and weather observations recorded at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Maruteru, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India during 2012–2014.

Methodology: Light-trap catches of major rice insect pests and natural enemies, together with weather observations from the Agrometeorological Observatory, were collected daily and compiled by Standard Meteorological Week.

Results: Brown planthopper was the dominant pest in all three periods, accounting for 75.22% of the pest catches in Rabi, 47.04% in Kharif and 85.12% during the rice-fallow period. Green leafhopper and white-backed planthopper were particularly important during Kharif, contributing 24.82% and 19.98%, respectively. Green mirid bugs were the dominant beneficial insects during Rabi (99.19%) and Kharif (98.62%), whereas coccinellids contributed a greater share during summer (14.90%). Weather conditions varied strongly among seasons, with summer characterised by the highest temperatures and sunshine, and Kharif by greater rainfall and evening relative humidity. Correlation analysis showed species-specific responses to weather rather than a uniform response of the insect community.

Conclusion: These results demonstrate the value of long-term light-trap surveillance combined with weather observations for identifying periods of enhanced pest and natural-enemy activity and for strengthening weather-informed integrated pest management in rice.

Climate Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity of Farmers in the Bundelkhand and Gird Agro-Climatic Zones of Madhya Pradesh, India

Siddharth Namdeo — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change has emerged as a major challenge to agricultural sustainability and rural livelihoods, particularly in regions where farming is highly dependent on climatic conditions. The present study assessed the climate change vulnerability of farming households in four selected districts of Madhya Pradesh during 2023 using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) vulnerability framework. A total of 240 farming households were selected through a multistage random sampling technique and interviewed using a structured schedule. Vulnerability was evaluated through three major components, namely exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Exposure was assessed using indicators such as increase in average temperature, rainfall variability, frequency of droughts and dry spells, heat waves, and extreme weather events. Sensitivity was measured through soil moisture deficiency, crop yield reduction, water scarcity, pest and disease incidence, and decline in farm income, whereas adaptive capacity was assessed through adoption of water conservation measures, climate-resilient crop varieties, crop diversification, access to weather information and extension services, and crop insurance and government support schemes. The findings revealed considerable variation in vulnerability among the study districts. Morena recorded the highest exposure index (0.84) and sensitivity index (0.83), while exhibiting the lowest adaptive capacity (0.59), indicating greater susceptibility to climate-induced risks. In contrast, Tikamgarh (D2) showed the highest adaptive capacity (0.78) and the lowest levels of exposure (0.68) and sensitivity (0.58). The Composite Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) indicated that Morena (D3) was the most vulnerable (1.08), followed by Datia (0.90), Chhatarpur (0.73), and Tikamgarh (0.48). The higher vulnerability observed in Morena was primarily associated with greater climatic exposure, water scarcity, soil moisture stress, and limited adaptive resources. The study highlights the need to strengthen adaptive capacity through improved water conservation practices, climate-resilient technologies, crop diversification, access to extension services, weather-based advisories, and crop insurance schemes. Such interventions can enhance farmers’ resilience and reduce the adverse impacts of climate change on agricultural livelihoods.

Seed Priming for Enhancing Germination and Early Seedling Vigour of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under PEG-induced Osmotic Stress

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Drought is a significant abiotic stress that adversely affects rice productivity in Kerala by reducing water potential and disrupting physiological processes. This study was conducted at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, to evaluate the efficacy of seed priming in improving germination and early seedling vigour of the popular rice variety Uma under PEG-induced osmotic stress. The experiment followed a Completely Randomised Design (CRD) with three replications, testing 17 treatments including potassium nitrate (KNO₃), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), salicylic acid (SA), and moringa leaf extract (MLE) at varying concentrations. Osmotic stress was simulated using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. Data were analysed by ANOVA followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at the 5% level of significance. The results demonstrated that seed priming significantly mitigated the negative impacts of osmotic stress on germination and seedling vigour. For maximising total germination potential under stress, salicylic acid (SA) 6 mM was most effective (94.75%), followed by KNO₃ 2% (94.5%) compared with the control (92.91%). In terms of germination kinetics, MLE (dilutions 1:20 and 1:30) emerged as the superior treatment, consistently providing the highest speed of germination (43.90 and 43.37 versus 31.87 in the control) and coefficient velocity of germination (45.16 and 46.17 versus 31.89 in the control) under osmotic stress. While MLE promoted rapid initiation, chemical priming with KNO₃ 3% (SVI I: 2537; SVI II: 2096) provided better structural resilience, resulting in higher seedling vigour indices I and II under osmotic stress. The study concludes that seed priming, particularly with organic extracts such as MLE and chemical agents such as KNO₃, SiO₂ and SA, is a viable and effective strategy for improving the germination and early seedling establishment of rice under osmotic stress. Further field and physiological-level evaluation is required to demonstrate true drought resistance in Uma rice, as this work was restricted to laboratory-based germination and seedling-stage assessments under PEG-simulated osmotic stress.

Investigation of Seasonal Variation in Groundwater Quality Using Water Quality Index (WQI)

Bapu D. Deokar — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Groundwater is an important source of domestic and drinking water in Shrigonda Town, Maharashtra, where seasonal recharge and local land-use conditions may influence water quality. This study investigated seasonal variation in groundwater quality using the weighted arithmetic Water Quality Index (WQI) and spatial analysis. A total of 95 groundwater samples were collected from borewells during the pre-monsoon season in May 2024 and the post-monsoon season in February 2025. The sampled borewells ranged from 150 to 500 feet in depth and supplied water for domestic and drinking purposes. Physicochemical parameters were analysed in the laboratory, and WQI values were used to classify groundwater suitability. Groundwater quality was generally poorer during the pre-monsoon season. In Wards 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9, all sampled locations were classified from poor to non-drinkable during the pre-monsoon period. Following the monsoon, 55.79% of the samples improved to the good-quality category, with good or excellent groundwater occurring in parts of Wards 1 and 5 and improvement also observed in Ward 2. Nevertheless, 42.11% of sampling points remained water-quality hotspots in both seasons. The findings demonstrate a clear seasonal pattern, with post-monsoon improvement consistent with recharge and dilution effects, while persistent hotspots indicate the need for continued monitoring, source-level investigation, recharge enhancement, and local pollution-control measures.

Factors Influencing Implementation of Community-led Total Sanitation in Rural Areas, Isiolo County, Kenya

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) is a primary behaviour-centred framework for eliminating open defecation in low-resource settings, although its sustainability in nomadic settings remains constrained. This study evaluated the multidimensional social, economic, and technological factors influencing CLTS implementation and retention in rural areas of Isiolo County, Kenya. Employing a mixed-methods cross-sectional design, data were collected from 301 randomly sampled household heads (77.7% response rate) across five purposively selected rural wards using structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analysed via descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression using IBM SPSS v26.0, while qualitative transcripts underwent thematic content analysis for empirical triangulation. Diagnostic tests confirmed data normality, linearity, and the absence of multicollinearity, while a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.799 verified instrument reliability. Socio-demographically, household participation was dominated by women (71.4%), while 66.5% of respondents were aged 26–45 years. Severe literacy and financial bottlenecks were identified: 50.5% of household heads had no formal education, 44.2% relied entirely on mobile pastoralist livelihoods, and 84.0% earned monthly incomes below KES 10,000. Technologically, simple unimproved pit latrines were the dominant facility type (70.8%), while 18.9% practised open defecation and 34.9% lacked basic handwashing infrastructure. Furthermore, deep-seated cultural taboos and a 30.5% unskilled artisan base accelerated infrastructure failure. Multiple linear regression analysis established that social, economic, and technological factors collectively explained 55.1% of the total variation in CLTS implementation outcomes (R² = 0.551, F (3, 297) = 121.70, p < .001). Social factors had the strongest positive predictive effect (B = 0.412, β = 0.465, t = 7.10, p < .001), followed by economic factors (B = 0.298, β = 0.322, t = 4.89, p < .001) and technological factors (B = 0.167, β = 0.185, t = 3.41, p = .001). Sustaining open-defecation-free status requires moving beyond punitive administrative enforcement towards gender-inclusive triggering models, localised technical training for artisans, climate-resilient designs, and decentralised microfinance options to reduce post-certification sanitation slippage.

Assessment of above-ground Carbon Stocks in the Mvangan Communal Forest in Southern Cameroon

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cameroon’s ecosystem is rich in biodiversity, although its forests are under significant anthropogenic pressure, which contributes to climate change; this is particularly relevant given that little is known about their biomass and carbon sequestration potential, particularly in community forests. This study assesses the floristic biodiversity and estimates the above-ground carbon stock in the Mvangan community forest. The floristic inventory scheme comprised 24 plots covering 6 ha. Data collection involved surveying and identifying all tree species in two size categories: DBH ≤ 10 cm and DBH ≥ 10 cm. In total, 788 individuals were recorded, comprising 182 individuals with DHP ≤ 10 cm and 606 individuals with DHP ≥ 10 cm, corresponding to a density of 197.75 stems/ha. These individuals belonged to 118 species, 40 families and 16 genera. The Caesalpiniaceae (123 stems) was the most abundant family, and Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (94 stems) was the most abundant species. The diversity indices are as follows: Shannon: 4.02 bits; Simpson: 0.96 bits; and Piélou: 0.84 bits. The total above-ground biomass and above-ground carbon are 6,734,713.018 kg and 3,165.28 tonnes of carbon, respectively. The species that stores the greatest amount of biomass and carbon is Erythrophloeum ivorense, 25,216.06 kg of biomass and 11.85 tC of carbon, respectively. Communal forests require a well-developed management plan and participatory management that considers the uses and interests of local communities. Integrated management will help to increase the carbon sequestration capacity of biomass in communal forests in the Congo Basin.

S-SEBI based Evapotranspiration Estimation Using Landsat 8 Data in Kendrapara District of Odisha, India

Ritoban Pandit, Bama Shankar Rath, Dwarika Mohan Das — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Accurate estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is essential for agricultural water management, irrigation planning, and regional water-resource assessment, particularly in areas where ground-based meteorological observations are limited.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the spatial and temporal variability of actual evapotranspiration (ET_a) and reference evapotranspiration (ET_o) over Kendrapara district, Odisha, India, during 2016 and 2021 using the Simplified Surface Energy Balance Index (S-SEBI) model, and to compare satellite-derived ETa with FAO Penman–Monteith and Hargreaves–Samani ET_o estimates.

Study Design: A remote sensing and GIS-based comparative study was conducted using the S-SEBI surface energy balance model to estimate ET_a from Landsat 8 imagery and evaluate its performance against conventional ET_o methods.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Kendrapara district, Odisha, India, using satellite and climate data for the years 2016 and 2021. Two dates were selected primarily based on the availability of suitable Landsat 8 images with adequate quality, spatial coverage, and minimal cloud contamination over the study area.

Methodology: Landsat 8 (WRS Path/Row 139/46) Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) data were obtained from the USGS Earth Explorer platform to derive surface reflectance and land surface temperature. ET_a was estimated using the S-SEBI model, while ET_o values based on the FAO Penman–Monteith and Hargreaves–Samani methods were obtained from the Climate Engine platform. Statistical error analysis was performed to assess the agreement between satellite-derived ET_a and reference ET_oestimates.

Results: ET_a exhibited significant spatial variability associated with vegetation condition and surface moisture. Mean ET_a increased from 3.27 mm day⁻¹ in 2016 to 3.87 mm day⁻¹ in 2021, corresponding to higher net radiation and soil heat flux. S-SEBI-derived ET_a closely matched FAO Penman–Monteith ET_o, whereas the Hargreaves–Samani method consistently overestimated evapotranspiration. Error analysis indicated lower bias and uncertainty for the S-SEBI estimates.

Conclusion: The S-SEBI model reliably estimated spatially explicit ET_a with minimal ground data, demonstrating strong potential for drought monitoring, crop water requirement assessment, irrigation planning, and sustainable water resource management in data-scarce regions.

Population, Tourism and Climate in Relation to Land Use/Land Cover Change: A 39-Year (1985–2024) Geospatial Analysis of the Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims: The study aims to analyse the spatio-temporal pattern of land use/land cover (LULC) change in the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, between 1985 and 2024, and to examine its relationship with population growth, tourism and climate.

Study Design: Retrospective, multi-temporal geospatial analysis combining satellite-derived LULC classification with correlation and regression analysis of climatic and socio-economic variables.

Place and Duration of Study: Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, India; secondary data spanning 1985–2024 (climate data 1996–2024; tourism data 2015–2025).

Methodology: LULC maps for 1985, 2005 and 2024 were derived from Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery accessed through the NRSC Bhuvan portal and Google Earth Engine, classified into five broad classes, and processed in QGIS. Change-detection statistics were correlated with Census population data, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation tourist-arrival records, and India Meteorological Department temperature and rainfall data using Pearson correlation and ordinary least-squares regression; because LULC data were available for only three reference years, this temporal mismatch is treated as a limitation of the analysis.

Results: Forest cover declined from 77.03% (1964.89 km²) in 1985 to 55.66% (1420.34 km²) in 2024, at an annual rate of −28.94 km² yr⁻¹ during 2005–2024, while agriculture rose from 20.89% to 41.11%. Built-up area nearly doubled (0.75% to 1.33%), expanding fastest (0.74 km² yr⁻¹) after 2005, despite the district recording negative population growth (−3.53%, 2001–2011) even as annual tourist arrivals exceeded 20 lakh. Temperature was strongly correlated with built-up area (r = 0.937) and was a significant predictor of forest loss (β = −502.63, P = .008), agricultural gain (β = 452.91, P = .009) and settlement growth (β = 24.04, P < .001; R² = 0.89). Rainfall was a weaker, though significant, predictor of forest area only (β = 0.791, P = .04).

Conclusion: Agricultural expansion, rather than urban or tourism-related construction, was the principal proximate driver of forest loss based on the land-use transformation matrix. Built-up expansion, though comparatively small in area, occurred fastest after 2005 despite negative resident population growth, coinciding with sustained tourist inflow and rising temperature; tourism and climatic warming therefore appear more closely associated with settlement expansion than with resident population growth. As the analysis is correlational, these associations should not be interpreted as proven causal relationships. Integrated land-use planning that regulates tourism-related construction, promotes sustainable agricultural intensification, and monitors climate–land-use feedbacks is needed to reconcile development with conservation in this ecologically sensitive biosphere reserve.

Assessment and Classification of Liquids Wastes Quality from a Food Processing Factory in the Korhogo Region Using a Combination of Water Quality and Pollution Indices

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Liquid wastes from the food-processing factory are a major source of environmental pollution. There is a need to investigate the compliance of wastewater discharged from food-processing factories with regulatory standards.

Aim: To assess the physicochemical quality and pollution status of liquid effluents from a food-processing factory in Korhogo that operates without a wastewater treatment plant.

Study design: A total of 06 liquid-waste samples were collected from a food-processing factory in Korhogo.

Methodology: The samples were analysed in the laboratory in accordance with the standards in force at the Sub-Directorate for the Inspection of Classified Installations (SDIIC). Parameters assessed included temperature (T), turbidity (Tur), pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD_₅), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), electrical conductivity (EC), nitrates (NO₃⁻), nitrite (NO₂⁻), phosphates (PO₄³⁻), total phosphorus (TP), ammonium (NH₄⁺), and total nitrogen (TN).

Results: The parameters were measured. The mean values of TSS, T, Tur, TP, TN, and pH in the effluents were 77.8 mg/l, 27.21°, 93.73 NTU, 37.99 mg/l, 36.966 mg/l, and 7.21, respectively. The reported average values for dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD_₅), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 2850 mg/l and 4750.16 mg/L, respectively. The average electrical conductivity (EC) was 7987.5 μS/cm, and the concentrations of anions and cations, including NO_₃⁻, NO₂⁻, and NH₄⁺, were 1.63, 0.12, and 39.17 mg/L, respectively. Therefore, these results indicated elevated pollution levels, particularly for organic matter, ammonium, phosphorus, and suspended solids. BOD₅ and COD concentrations exceeded national discharge limits. The effluents showed high biodegradability, as reflected by the COD/BOD₅ ratio (0.6). The Comprehensive Pollution Index (CPI) ranged from 1.472 to 6.940, with 83.3% of effluents classified as heavily polluted. The Nemerow index identified all stations as seriously polluted. The Wastewater Quality Index (WWQI) ranged from 36.535 to 198.922, with 66.7% of effluents rated as very bad (Grade E).

Conclusion: These results underscore the need for effective wastewater treatment before discharge into receiving waters.

Yield and Fruit Quality Responses of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Hisar Safeda to Pre-Harvest Calcium Sources and Concentrations during Rainy and Winter Seasons

Rajat, Manender Singh, Jeet Ram Sharma, Manish Kumar, Rajesh Mor — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pre-harvest mineral management can influence both productivity and the quality with which highly perishable guava fruit enters the postharvest chain. This study evaluated three calcium salts—calcium chloride, calcium nitrate and calcium sulphate—each at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%, together with a water-sprayed control, in guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Hisar Safeda during rainy- and winter-season crops at Hisar, Haryana, India, in 2022–23. The field experiment comprised three replications. Harvest responses included fruit number, fruit weight, yield, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, TSS:acid ratio, reducing, non-reducing and total sugars, ascorbic acid, pectin and total phenolics. Calcium nitrate at 1.5% produced the highest fruit number, mean fruit weight, yield per tree and yield per hectare in both seasons; corresponding yields were 107.6 kg tree−1 and 27.56 t ha−1 in the rainy crop and 91.81 kg tree−1 and 23.50 t ha−1 in the winter crop. The same treatment also produced the highest TSS, TSS:acid ratio and sugar fractions and the lowest titratable acidity. In contrast, calcium chloride at 1.5% produced the highest ascorbic acid, pectin and phenolic contents in both seasons. Winter fruit generally showed higher soluble-solids, sugar, ascorbic-acid and pectin values than rainy-season fruit, whereas yield values were numerically higher in the rainy crop; these seasonal contrasts are descriptive because the thesis reported season-specific analyses. The findings indicate source-specific rather than universal superiority among calcium salts and support calcium nitrate and calcium chloride as distinct pre-harvest options for productivity/compositional and nutritional-structural quality objectives, respectively. Multi-location and multi-year validation with fruit mineral analysis is required before generalising treatment recommendations.

Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Spatial Planning of Soil and Water Conservation Measures in a Semi-Arid Watershed Maliwadgaon of Maharashtra, India

Prasannajit D. Gangurde, Sanjay N. Pawar, Madan S. Pendke, Anilkumar M. Kamble — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Site-specific planning of water harvesting and soil and water conservation (SWC) measures is important for improving water availability and watershed resilience in semi-arid regions. This study aimed to identify and prioritise suitable locations for SWC structures in the 43 km² Maliwadgaon watershed of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra, India, using an integrated remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) approach. A 30 m Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model and Landsat-8 imagery were used to derive terrain, drainage, land use/land cover (LULC), and vegetation characteristics. Elevation, slope, drainage density, stream order, dissection index, LULC, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were integrated through multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) for site-suitability assessment. The watershed has an elevation range of approximately 509–591 m and a dendritic, fourth-order drainage network with a drainage density of 0.991 km/km². The MCE identified 40 potential conservation structures: 13 farm ponds, 13 cement nala bunds, 5 percolation tanks, 4 underground barriers, and 5 gully plugs. The proposed locations provide a spatial basis for runoff interception, erosion control, water storage, groundwater recharge, and agricultural water management. The findings demonstrate the practical utility of RS–GIS-based MCE as a decision-support approach for prioritising site-specific SWC interventions in a semi-arid watershed.

Effect of Sowing Dates and Cultivars on Growth, Phenology, Yield Attributes, Yield and Economics of Summer Maize (Zea mays L.) under Western Uttar Pradesh, India

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2025 and 2026 at the Agronomy Research Farm, R.S.M. (P.G.) College, Dhampur, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the performance of maize cultivars under different sowing dates. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications, comprising four sowing dates (SD₁: 01 March, SD₂: 11 March, SD₃: 21 March and SD₄: 31 March) assigned to the main plots and four cultivars (V₁: J.H.-3459, V₂: Pusa Early Hybrid Makka-2, V₃: Malviya Hybrid Makka-2 and V₄: Deccan-115) assigned to the sub-plots. The crop was sown at 60 cm × 20 cm spacing with a seed rate of 20 kg ha⁻¹ and fertilised with 175:60:30 kg N: P₂O₅: K₂O ha⁻¹. The results revealed that sowing dates and cultivars significantly influenced growth parameters, phenological characters, yield attributes, grain yield and economics. Among sowing dates, SD₁ (01 March) recorded significantly higher leaf area (6182.8 cm² plant⁻¹), leaf area index (4.820), cob length (15.9 cm), cob girth (12.4 cm), number of grains (24.9 row⁻¹) and grain yield (6371.3 kg ha⁻¹) during 2025. Similarly, during 2026, SD₁ recorded the maximum leaf area (5992.3 cm² plant⁻¹), LAI (4.788), cob length (17.6 cm), cob girth (14.1 cm) and grain yield (6167.6 kg ha⁻¹). Among cultivars, V₄ (Deccan-115) exhibited superior performance, recording the maximum grain yield (6353.5 kg ha⁻¹ in 2025 and 6587.7 kg ha⁻¹ in 2026), stover yield and economic returns. The study concluded that sowing on 01 March with cultivar Deccan-115 is the most suitable combination for achieving higher productivity and profitability of summer maize under the agro-climatic conditions of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Extension and Institutional Determinants of Climate Adaptation among Small Cardamom Farmers in Idukki, Kerala

Milu Mathew, R. Devaraj, Leema Mathew — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims: This study examined whether climate-risk perception and self-efficacy predict adaptation behaviour and whether variation in local institutional environments contributes to differences in adaptation outcomes among small cardamom farmers in Idukki District, Kerala.

Study Design: Cross-sectional field survey.

Place and Duration of Study: Three Spices Board divisional areas in Idukki District, Kerala, India, during 2022–2026.

Methodology: Data were collected from 180 small cardamom farmers using a structured questionnaire covering climate-risk perception, adaptation behaviour, self-efficacy, perceived effectiveness, perceived cost, institutional trust, service availability and extension access. Descriptive statistics, reliability diagnostics, multiple linear regression and moderated regression were used to examine behavioural and institutional relationships.

Results: Climate-risk perception was high and relatively homogeneous, whereas self-efficacy and perceived cost showed greater variation. Risk perception (β = 0.112, P = .015) and self-efficacy (β = 0.156, P = .005) were significant positive predictors of adaptation behaviour. Moderated regression identified a significant administrative-division effect (β = 1.533, P = .015), indicating variation in adaptation outcomes across local institutional settings.

Conclusion: High climate-risk awareness alone did not correspond to uniform adaptation outcomes. The findings indicate that extension systems may be more effective when they combine practical demonstrations, locally relevant advisories, trusted community networks and links to financial and risk-transfer services to strengthen farmer confidence and support context-specific adaptation.

Correlation of Morphological and Biochemical Parameters in Rice Genotypes under Hydroponic Salinity Stress

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Salinity is a major abiotic constraint on rice productivity, particularly during the seedling stage. This study evaluated associations among morphological, biochemical, and ionic traits in 20 rice genotypes exposed to hydroponic salinity stress. The experiment was conducted at Agricultural College, Bapatla, using a completely randomised design with two replications and an electrical conductivity of 12 dS m⁻¹. Seedling vigour index, root length, shoot length, root weight, shoot weight, catalase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, proline content, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, and salt injury score were evaluated. Based on the standard evaluation score, FL478, MCM151-3-2-1-1, MCM253-8-2-2, and IR04A115 recorded a score of 3 and were classified as tolerant. Correlation analysis showed that salt injury score was negatively associated with superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, and proline content, but positively associated with the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. Shoot length was strongly and positively correlated with seedling vigour index and was also positively related to proline content, catalase activity, root length, root weight, and superoxide dismutase activity. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were positively correlated with proline content. These findings indicate that improved seedling growth, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, greater proline accumulation, and maintenance of a lower Na⁺/K⁺ ratio were associated with reduced salt injury. The identified tolerant genotypes may therefore be useful for further evaluation under saline conditions.

Renewable Energy Consumption across Income Groups: A World Bank Data Analysis

E. Priyavadhana, R. Arunachalam, T. Balakrishnan — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Renewable energy consumption varies markedly across countries and may reflect differences in economic development and national energy structures. This study examines cross-country variation in renewable energy consumption across World Bank income groups using 2022 World Development Indicators data. Renewable energy consumption is measured as the share of total final energy consumption derived from renewable sources. Descriptive statistics are used to characterize central tendency, dispersion, and cross-country heterogeneity, while choropleth maps illustrate the spatial distribution of renewable energy consumption. Differences among income groups are assessed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by Dunn’s post-hoc comparisons with Bonferroni adjustment. The results show substantial heterogeneity in renewable energy consumption across countries and income groups. Low-income economies record the highest mean and median renewable energy shares, whereas high-income economies record comparatively lower shares. The Kruskal–Wallis test indicates statistically significant differences among income groups, and the post-hoc results show that several of the strongest contrasts involve high-income and low-income or lower-middle-income groups. The spatial analysis further illustrates uneven renewable energy consumption across geographic regions. These findings indicate that renewable energy reliance differs substantially across levels of economic development and should not be interpreted solely as evidence of modern energy transition. Policy responses should therefore distinguish between traditional and modern renewable energy use and account for differences in economic structure, institutional capacity, and national energy systems.

Correlates of Socio-economic Characteristics of Respondents and Their Practice on Disaster Coping Strategies Towards Improving Livelihoods

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Climate-related disasters pose continuing challenges to livelihood security in disaster-prone areas of Bangladesh. This study examined the relationships, contributions, and direct and indirect effects between selected characteristics of disaster-affected people and their practice of disaster coping strategies in Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur District. The study was conducted from September to December 2021. Data were collected from 302 respondents randomly selected from the disaster-affected population using qualitative and quantitative techniques. Nineteen personal, economic, social, and psychological characteristics were considered as independent variables, while disaster coping strategy practice was treated as the dependent variable. Descriptive statistics, Duncan’s Multiple Range Test, chi-square analysis, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and stepwise multiple regression were used in the analysis. The findings showed that sixteen of the nineteen selected characteristics had significant relationships with disaster coping strategy practice. These characteristics included age, education, farm size, disaster-affected farm, annual income, household assets, participation in income-generating activities, training experience, extension media contact, environmental awareness, knowledge of disaster coping strategies, credit received, scope of work in vulnerable situations, awareness of social safety net programmes, perception of climate change, and perception of disasters. Family size, water and sanitation condition, and risk orientation did not show significant relationships. The findings indicate that several respondent characteristics are associated with the practice of disaster coping strategies in the study area.

Effect of IBA and Soilless Growing Media on Rooting of Cuttings in Karonda (Carissa carandas L.)

Jyotsna Pathania, Praveen Verma, Suman Bodh — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The present investigation evaluated the effect of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and soilless growing media on rooting and shoot growth of karonda (Carissa carandas L.) cuttings under protected conditions at Lovely Professional University, Punjab. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications and seven treatment combinations. Treatments comprised soil as the control and combinations of cocopeat, perlite and vermicompost supplemented with IBA at 6000 or 8000 ppm. Three representative cuttings were selected randomly from each replication for recording growth observations. The assessed shoot characters included number of leaves, leaf length and width, plant height, number of shoots, leaf area, chlorophyll content and survival rate, whereas root characters included root length, root diameter, number of roots, length of the longest root, and fresh and dry root weights. The treatment combining cocopeat, perlite and vermicompost with IBA at 8000 ppm (T₇) consistently produced the highest values for the principal shoot and root growth parameters reported in the study. The soil control (T₁) generally recorded the lowest values. These findings indicate that, among the treatment combinations tested, the integrated use of cocopeat, perlite and vermicompost with 8000 ppm IBA was the most effective treatment for promoting rooting and subsequent shoot growth of karonda cuttings under the stated experimental conditions.

Developing a Demand–compensation Model for Forest Ecosystem Services: Evidence from Nandi South Forest, Kenya

Isaac Keror, Joel Sumukwo, Naftaly Mose — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Forest ecosystems provide important environmental and socioeconomic benefits to surrounding communities, yet inadequate compensation mechanisms may undermine their long-term conservation. This study developed a demand compensation model to examine household willingness to pay (WTP) for the restoration and continued provision of ecosystem services from Nandi South Forest, Kenya. The study used field data collected from 360 respondents in 2025. Descriptive statistics were used to assess existing compensation mechanisms and beneficiaries' willingness to support continued ecosystem service provision, while multiple linear regression was employed to examine the socioeconomic and location-related determinants of household WTP. The findings indicate limited awareness of existing compensation mechanisms, with 57.8% of respondents reporting that no mechanisms existed, 33.1% being unsure, and only 9.2% confirming their existence. Regarding willingness to pay for continued ecosystem service provision, 14.2% of respondents indicated a willingness to pay, 11.4% were unwilling, while the majority (74.4%) were uncertain. The regression results show that education level was the only statistically significant predictor of WTP (β = −0.129, p = 0.003), while gender, sources of income, income level, distance from the forest, and perceived ecosystem benefits were statistically insignificant. The findings suggest the need for improved awareness, transparent and equitable compensation mechanisms, sustainable financing, and effective monitoring systems to enhance community participation in forest conservation and ecosystem service provision.

Climate-Smart Horticulture: Emerging Strategies for Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The convergence of anthropogenic climate change and global food security demands represents one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. Horticulture—encompassing fruit and vegetable production—is uniquely vulnerable to climatic perturbations due to the biological sensitivity of horticultural crops to temperature extremes, irregular precipitation, and shifting pest dynamics. Simultaneously, horticultural systems offer considerable potential for adaptation and mitigation through diversified, resource-efficient production models. This narrative review synthesises emerging evidence on climate-smart strategies for sustainable fruit and vegetable production, drawing on peer-reviewed literature and authoritative international reports published predominantly between 2000 and 2026. Literature searches were conducted using multiple academic databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, AGRIS (the agricultural science and technology information database maintained by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), CAB Abstracts, and the CGIAR research portal. The review examines the multidimensional impacts of climate change on horticultural systems and evaluates a suite of responses spanning crop genetic improvement, precision irrigation, soil carbon management, protected agriculture, agroforestry, digital technologies, and policy frameworks. Evidence indicates that no single strategy is sufficient; rather, transformative change requires integrated, context-specific combinations of adaptation and mitigation interventions supported by enabling policy environments. The review identifies key knowledge gaps and advocates for greater investment in transdisciplinary research, smallholder inclusion, and digital innovation to accelerate the transition to climate-smart horticulture globally.

Climate-proofing of Terraces, Bunds, Check Dams and Farm Ponds under Non-stationary Rainfall Extremes: A Critical Engineering Review

B. V. Mohana Rao, Ashok Kumar Naralasetty — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Terraces, contour and graded bunds, check dams and farm ponds form the physical backbone of soil and water conservation in rainfed agricultural landscapes across Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean basin and Latin America. Their design conventions were established when the statistical properties of rainfall were assumed to be fixed, so that a single design storm derived from a historical record could be treated as a durable specification. That assumption is now under sustained challenge from evidence of intensifying short-duration rainfall, rising rainfall erosivity and changing storm structure, and from a parallel methodological debate about whether observed changes justify explicitly time-varying design statistics. This critical narrative review examines how far the engineering evidence base supports climate-proofing of these four structure classes, and where it does not. The review synthesises evidence on the changing design environment, the hydraulic and geotechnical behaviour of each structure class under high-intensity rainfall, catchment-scale interactions among structures, and the appraisal frameworks used to justify investment. Three findings recur. First, the performance of small conservation structures is governed less by mean annual rainfall than by the intensity, sequencing and antecedent-moisture context of a small number of extreme events, yet most reported effectiveness estimates derive from plot-scale or annual-aggregate observations that suppress precisely this variability. Second, the dominant failure pathways are hydraulic and geotechnical rather than agronomic, and they concentrate at conveyance and outlet components that are frequently omitted from both design guidance and monitoring. Third, structural resilience depreciates through siltation, deferred maintenance and abandonment at rates comparable to the rate of climatic change, so that institutional and financial arrangements determine realised safety as strongly as the design storm does. Confidence in current effectiveness estimates is limited by short observation periods, uneven geographical representation and scarce documentation of failure. Priorities are identified for failure-oriented monitoring, load-path-based design and robustness-oriented appraisal.

A Review on Drought Stress in Seed Spices: Impacts, Mechanisms and Mitigation Strategies

Jyothi V. Hosamath, Rajanand Hiremath — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Drought stress is a major abiotic constraint affecting seed spice crops, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where rainfall is erratic and irrigation resources are limited. Seed spices such as coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, ajwain, dill, celery, anise, nigella and caraway are economically important crops, but their productivity and quality are often reduced by water deficit. Drought stress affects germination, vegetative growth, physiological activity, reproductive development, seed yield and essential oil production. The magnitude of yield loss differs among crops, growth stages, genotypes and stress intensity. Seed spice crops respond to drought through several adaptive mechanisms, including improved root development, reduced transpirational water loss, maintenance of relative water content, osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defence, chlorophyll stability and changes in secondary metabolism. Considerable genetic variability has been reported in several seed spice crops, especially coriander, fenugreek, cumin and fennel, indicating opportunities for selection and breeding of drought-tolerant cultivars. Management strategies such as seed priming, foliar application of osmolytes and plant growth regulators, integrated nutrient management, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, hydrogels and selected nanoparticle-based applications have been reported to reduce drought-induced damage under experimental conditions. However, their effectiveness depends on crop type, stress severity, application method, dose and local growing conditions. This review summarises the effects of drought stress on seed spices, describes major tolerance mechanisms and discusses genetic, physiological, agronomic, microbial and emerging technological approaches for drought mitigation. Integration of drought-tolerant genotypes with practical water- and nutrient-efficient management strategies is essential for sustaining seed spice production under changing climatic conditions.

Biodrainage: A Sustainable Bio-engineering Approach for Water Management in Salt-affected and Waterlogged Soils

S. Sooryalekshmi, Naveen Leno, B. Rani — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Biodrainage is a nature-based bio-engineering approach that uses deep-rooted, high-transpiring vegetation to regulate shallow groundwater tables and reduce waterlogging in salt-affected agricultural landscapes. This review examines the concept, scientific basis, mechanisms, species selection, system configurations, functions, constraints, integration with conventional drainage, and future research needs of biodrainage. The approach relies primarily on plant water uptake and transpiration, with effectiveness governed by root architecture, water-table depth, soil hydraulic properties, groundwater salinity, climate, plantation geometry, and seasonal evapotranspiration. Species including Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Tamarix articulata, Populus deltoides, Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora, and Leucaena leucocephala are discussed in relation to their suitability for saline and waterlogged environments. The review further considers monoculture, agroforestry, mixed-species, strip and border, constructed-wetland, floating, and integrated biodrainage configurations. Biodrainage can contribute to water-table regulation, salinity management, soil improvement, biomass production, carbon sequestration, and agroforestry-based land use, while reducing dependence on energy-intensive drainage infrastructure. However, its performance is site-specific and may be constrained by soil texture, groundwater quality, species tolerance, land competition, establishment costs, ecological risks, and limited long-term monitoring. Integration with conventional drainage can improve overall system performance where biological drainage alone is insufficient. Future research should prioritise species optimisation, long-term water-balance assessment, climate resilience, ecological trade-offs, monitoring technologies, and decision-support frameworks for appropriate site-specific implementation.

Crop Simulation Model: A Digital Tool for Sustainable Water Management in Agriculture

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Efficient management of agricultural water resources is increasingly important under climate variability and freshwater scarcity. Accurate estimation of crop water requirements (CWR) supports crop productivity, irrigation scheduling and water-use efficiency. Conventional approaches, including crop-coefficient, Penman–Monteith and soil-water-balance methods, remain widely used but can require extensive field observations and may have limited capacity to represent dynamic soil–crop–atmosphere interactions. Crop simulation models provide a process-based digital framework that integrates weather, soil, crop and management information to simulate crop growth, evapotranspiration, yield and water productivity under different environmental and management conditions. This review synthesises the roles of widely used models, including DSSAT, APSIM, AquaCrop, CROPWAT and CropSyst, in estimating crop water requirements and supporting irrigation management. Applications across maize, wheat, rice, cotton and other crops show that these models can evaluate irrigation schedules, deficit-irrigation strategies, water-saving practices and potential responses to future climate conditions. Model performance, however, depends on appropriate input data, local calibration and validation. The review also identifies opportunities to strengthen crop simulation through integration with hydrological information, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and modules for biotic stresses. Overall, crop simulation models provide useful decision-support tools for evaluating water-management options and improving the evidence base for sustainable agricultural water-resource planning.

Smallholder Adaptation to Climate Change in the West African Sahel: A Critical Narrative Review of Practices, Evidence and the Limits of Incremental Adjustment

Issaharou-Matchi Issiaka, Mahamane Mansour, Mahamane Ali, Saadou Mahamane — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rainfed smallholder agriculture in the West African Sahel operates within one of the most variable rainfall regimes on the planet, and the adaptation of Sahelian farming households has become a substantial field of research spanning agronomy, climatology, economics, geography and development studies. This review examines that literature critically rather than descriptively, asking what can defensibly be concluded about the practices Sahelian smallholders adopt, the conditions under which those practices deliver benefits, and the quality of the evidence supporting current policy enthusiasm. Literature was identified through structured searching of open scholarly databases and indexes, supplemented by citation chaining and searches of authoritative institutional sources, and was appraised for design adequacy, measurement validity, treatment of confounding, external validity and consistency with independent evidence. Six analytical themes are developed: the climatic signal and its agronomic translation; perception and its uncertain link to action; land and water management as the core adaptation repertoire; varietal and crop-calendar adjustment; information, insurance and finance; and diversification, mobility and non-farm response. The synthesis indicates that the strongest evidence concerns the agronomic effects of soil and water conservation, nutrient microdosing and farmer-managed natural regeneration under defined biophysical conditions, and that the weakest evidence concerns whether these practices reduce climate-related risk over time at household scale. Much of the adoption literature relies on single-round cross-sectional surveys, self-reported adaptation and estimators whose identifying assumptions are rarely defended, which limits causal interpretation of reported welfare gains. Recurrent findings that adaptation is concentrated among better-endowed households, and evidence that some responses shift rather than reduce vulnerability, indicate that the field has under-examined distributional outcomes and maladaptation. Priorities include longitudinal and spatially explicit measurement of adaptation, pre-specified evaluation of scaled programmes, and analysis of the conditions under which incremental adjustment ceases to be sufficient.

Green Energy Transition: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Drivers and Implementation

Arohi Anand, Vikas Kumar, Khemraj Sharma — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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.