Silicon fertilizer combined with biochar improved the utilization of phosphorus fertilization applications. The experiment was carried out with eight treatment combinations with varying proportions of rice husk biochar, silicon, and phosphorus in a completely randomized design with 75 days of growth in the greenhouse. To identify the optimum rate of phosphorus combined with rice husk biochar and Si for maximizing maize yield and soil chemical properties. This experiment showed that the application of biochar combined with silicon has the potential to reduce the amount of phosphorus fertilizer requirement. The application of 5 t ha-1 RHB + 100% Si + 25% TSP showed the highest pH compared to other treatments. While application of 2.5 t ha-1 RHB + 100% Si + 100% TSP showed the highest exchangeable K, Ca and Mg. Moreover, the application of 5 t ha-1 RHB + 100% Si + 100% TSP recorded the highest dry biomass compared to other treatments. Lastly, the application of 5 t ha-1 RHB + 100% Si + 50% TSP Showed the highest cob length(cm), cob weight(g), no of grain per cob, and grain yield (t.ha-1) compared to other treatments. The combined application of biochar and silicon, along with 50% phosphorus, is recommended for improving maize yield and soil health in greenhouse conditions.

Accurately classifying land use and land cover (LULC) is crucial for understanding Earth’s dynamics under human influence. This study proposes a novel approach to assess LULC classification accuracy using Sentinel-2 data. Authors have compared traditional and Principal Component Analysis (PCA)-based approaches for Maximum Likelihood Classification, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers. Four key classes (agricultural land, water bodies, built-up areas, and wastelands) are classified using supervised learning. Accuracy is evaluated using producer, user, overall accuracy, and kappa coefficient. Our findings reveal superior accuracy with PCA-SVM compared to other methods. PCA effectively reduces data redundancy, extracting essential spectral information. This study highlights the value of combining PCA with SVM for LULC classification, empowering policymakers with enhanced decision-making tools and fostering informed policy development.

The potential for creating unique, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective concrete via biomineralization is discussed in this research. Cement, a necessary component of concrete, is expensive and emits between 8 and 10% of the world’s CO2 emissions. Researchers have significant effects to identify alternatives that can reduce the burden of high costs, excessive energy use, and environmental repercussions. Manufactured sand (M-sand) completely replaced fine aggregate, and cement was replaced with alternatives such as Alccofine (AF) and Silica Fume (SF). The percentage at which it can be substituted for cement is, however, somewhat small. The goal of this study is to create an environmentally friendly AF and SF concrete mix by incorporating bacteria with the highest possible cell concentration. To evaluate the mechanical properties, concrete samples were tested for flexural strength, split tensile strength, and compressive strength at 7, 14 and 28 days postcuring. The microstructural analysis of sustainable concrete was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. It was determined that 10% alccofine and 15% silica fume by volume of cement in the binary cementitious system provided the best mechanical characteristics for bacterial concrete using Bacillus megaterium. Similarly manner in the ternary cementitious system, the highest gain in compressive strength is seen when 10% alccofine is substituted with 10% silica fume in the cement mixture. Calcium carbonate precipitation validated the enhanced properties of bacterial concrete. The microorganisms used in the concrete are non-toxic and environmentally being. Results indicate that using Bacillus megaterium alongside AF and SF helps to reduce cement usage, lessens carbon dioxide emissions, and makes concrete more environmentally friendly. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the calcite precipitations in bio-additive mixed ternary admixture blended concrete were confirmed. The proposed regression equations produced minimal errors when compared to the experimental results, thus providing accurate and effective predictions of the flexural, split, and compressive strengths. The strength properties of these blends were validated through SEM studies.

Anthropogenic atmospheric particles with a diameter of less than 2.5µm (PM2.5) and between 2.5 to 10 µm (PM10) are among the main contributors to air pollution and have become a serious pollution threat in the Junin and Huancavelica region of Peru. This increase could be due to the burning of vegetation in the Amazon region of Brazil. Therefore, data obtained with the low-cost PA-II Purpleair sensor were analyzed to measure particulate matter (fine and coarse fashions) in the Junin region (Chanchamayo, station T. Huancayo, station T1 and Chupaca, station T3) and Huancavelica (Pampas, station T2). Likewise, the Hysplit model was used to quantify the transboundary wind trajectories from the Amazon region in Brazil to the Junin region in Peru. Shows that, during the rainy season, the maximum concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 are 151 µg.m- ³ (station T1) and 178 µg.m- ³ (station T1), respectively. Finally, the results of the air quality index (AQI) for PM2.5 allow for the classification of the Huancayo and Chanchamayo stations with “very bad” and “moderate to bad” air quality, respectively. Also, in Pampas and Chupaca, the AQI is classified as very unhealthy and hazardous on almost 50% and 43% of days, respectively

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a material that may be harmful to human health. This is mainly because it releases specific chemicals during its manufacture, usage, and disposal. It is important to remember that the effects on health can change depending on the particular situation, exposure levels, and personal sensibilities. There are initiatives underway to address these environmental issues. Increasing EPS recycling rates, locating substitute materials, and encouraging appropriate disposal techniques are the main goals of several projects. Furthermore, studies into more environmentally friendly EPS substitutes for a variety of applications are still in progress. Creating a circular economy and lowering the total amount of single-use plastics used are two more aspects of larger plans to lessen the environmental impact of materials like EPS. The introduction of EPS cubes into concrete has reduced the adverse effects of EPS materials in the environment. This study substituted EPS, which is generated from industrial waste products, for aggregate. For an experimental study, a good-strength, sustainable concrete mix of grade M30 has been developed. In increments of 25%, five different mix proportions were evaluated for EPS cubes with size variations of 10 mm, 12 mm, and 20 mm. The range of 0 to 100% was studied. The replacement of EPS cubes by volume of course aggregates in the mixture yields the maximum increase in crushing, rupture, and bending strength, according to the mechanical properties of concrete that have been observed. This replacement ratio of 25% was shown to be efficient. The use of EPS materials in concrete is therefore shown to produce large reductions in environmental pollutants in addition to significant cost and energy savings.

The present study aims to analyze changes in the physicochemical parameters of the soil in the vicinity of a small municipal solid waste landfill site. The research results were analyzed based on general physicochemical properties, which include pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) by using standard methods. The results show that the soil from the dump sites contained higher amounts of soil properties (EC, SOC, N, P, K) than the non-dumping sites. Pearson correlation shows that pH exhibits a robust negative correlation with all other parameters while the remaining other parameters had a positive correlation with each other. Also, PCA analysis shows dumping sites mostly depict positive values in PC1, whereas the non-dumping sites indicate negative values. The final interpretation indicates that the soil in the dump site was found suitable for plant growth. However, due to improper solid waste management, this nutrient-rich soil could be mixed up with several other contaminants, such as soluble salts, plastics, heavy metals, and so on. This could make the soil unhealthy or unsuitable for plant growth. The study also suggests proper segregation, recovery, treatment, and safe disposal of solid waste and formulates an integrated municipal solid waste management plan for this particular dumping site.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the major crops grown commercially throughout the world. In recent years, there have been major losses to grapevine production due to the challenges caused mainly due to fungal diseases like downy mildew, powdery mildew, grey mold, black rot, and anthracnose. In the last few decades, rampant chemical fertilization and bio-magnification of hazardous chemicals have posed a threat to human health and destroyed the health of the soil as well as crops. For effective management of these fungal diseases of grapes, nowadays, many researchers are conducting various studies on endophytes, which are proven to be better bio-control agents to suppress the growth and development of grapevine phytopathogens. Endophytes are eco-friendly, effective, and easy to apply at field levels, making endophyte-based formulations suppress the growth and development of grapevine pathogens without causing any detrimental effects to the beneficial micro-organisms present at the rhizospheric zone of soil and host plants as compared to the traditional fungicides usage. It also competes with these pathogens for nutrition, space, and colonization. It helps in the production of secondary metabolites with antifungal properties for preventing the growth of fungal pathogens that cause damage to the grapevine crop. It also induces a defense mechanism in grapevine crops against diseasecausing fungal phytopathogens. In this review article, biocontrol mechanisms of endophytes and their potential application in the management of grapevine fungal diseases have been discussed.

Cotesia flavipes is an important hymenopteran larval parasitoid that belongs to the family Braconidae. Its usage in pest management strategies is promising due to its parasitic impact on the larval stage of lepidopteran pests. The current investigation aims to determine the optimal host age for the parasitoid’s mass proliferation and augmentative releases. The experiments showed that the female C. flavipes parasitizes all larval age groups of Sesamia inferens. Among all the larval ages, C. flavipes preferred second to third instars for parasitism during the spring (up to 90%) and kharif (up to 80%) seasons. There was no substantial difference in the development period between stinging, cocoon production, and the adult emergence of parasitoids. The age of the host has a substantial impact on adult longevity, with females taking longer than males. Thus, larval instars (second and third) are also recommended for high-quality mass-rearing larval parasitoids, especially C. flavipes, due to their strong parasitism and high net reproductive rate. Therefore, the second and third instars of S. inferens will recommend the mass rearing of C. flavipes and the release of these parasitoids in the field as a successful bio-control program.

The present study assessed the changes in land use and land cover to correlate the variations in the land surface temperature of Chattogram City. To analyze land use land cover (LULC) change and determine its effects on land surface temperature in the city area, temporal Landsat (5,7 ETM+ and 8,9 OLI) imageries from four time periods (2007, 2012, 2017, and 2022) were used. To assess the correctness of the picked random pixels, current ground truth data gathered from several sources was applied. Raster data has been utilized to identify the places that are influenced year-round in the green space (i.e., vegetation cover) and to examine the remote sensing image categorization for the green area using satellite images. These enable the study to explain the causes of the degradation and alteration of green space throughout time. The study identified that urbanization has resulted in a significant rise (about 2840 hectares, 16.74%) in urban land between 2007 and 2022, causing a loss of vegetative land (about 656 hectares, 3.85%). Additionally, the research concentrated on the actual affected area and attempted to forecast the cities’ land use in 2037, which revealed a large loss of vegetation by that year. The research has the potential to be utilized as a reference in the future.

The waste problem has become a big problem in Indonesia as the population continues to grow. The daily amount of waste generated in Yogyakarta City is 303.13 tons.day-1, with the composition of the largest waste source, namely household waste, around 63.75%. This data shows that there is a need for improvements related to management; 3R Temporary Waste Disposal Sites is an alternative for reducing waste before it is transported to the final processing place. This research aims to understand performance and waste transportation management and evaluate the level of waste management and sustainability of waste management at 3R Temporary Waste Disposal Sites Nitikan Yogyakarta. This research was conducted on 99 respondents using a purposive sampling method; the data analysis used was the evaluation of waste transportation, analysis of incoming, managed, and unmanaged waste data, categorization of questionnaire data, evaluation of waste management performance and analysis of the sustainability of waste management using RAPFISH software. The research results show that waste volume management at 3R Temporary Waste Disposal Sites Nitikan is 941.15 kg.day-1, and compost production is 190.65 kg.day-1. Transport management is carried out using the Stationary Container System (SCS) and is carried out 2 times. The evaluation of waste management performance is moderate, with a total relative value of 15.4, based on studies on the technical sector, institutional sector, financial sector, and the area of community participation. Based on the attribute index in each sector, it is concluded that the sustainability status of waste sorting and management at 3R Temporary Waste Disposal Sites Nitikan is 79.03, or very sustainable.