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.

Antibiotic removal poses a serious risk to the environment due to its intricate structure. Consequently, scientists are developing new and efficient techniques to remove antibiotic compounds from wastewater. The goal of this study is to employ green Pithophora macroalgae to remove the antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX) from a water-based solution. With a focus on understanding the process, this study assesses the application of reacting AMX biosorption on the biomass of Pithophora algae in aqueous solutions using thermodynamic modeling. The determined thermodynamic characteristics show that an endothermic process is used in the biosorption of the antibiotic AMX, considering that AMX has a positive electrical charge of ΔHº at 49.796 KJ.moL-1. As ΔGº has a positive charge (2.982 kJ.moL-1, 3.718 kJ.moL-1, and 4.793 kJ.moL-1) for AMX at (298 K, 303 K, and 308 K, respectively. This positive result indicates that the reaction is not feasible or spontaneous. The decrease in chaos at the liquid/solid interface caused by AMX biosorption on Pithophora macro algae is reflected in the negative charge of ΔSº, which was -176.735 kJ.moL-1. The effect of temperature on the biosorption of AMX was investigated for different initial AMX concentrations. At a lower temperature of 298 K, the AMX molecules were more likely to diffuse into the internal pores of the Pithophora algae. This suggests that the diffusion rate of the adsorbate (AMX) across the bulk and pore boundaries of the biosorbent particles may be increased at lower temperatures. The findings of this study indicate that the biomass of the macroalgae Pithophora is a valuable biosorbent for the biosorption of AMX antibiotics, and it may have potential applications in the treatment of wastewater.

The present comprehensive study seeks to evaluate the institutional climate capacity of Community-based Organizations (CBOs) involved in coastal ecotourism conservation projects along the Maharashtra coastal region in India. The primary objective is to understand the community interactions, organizational structures, and adaptive capacities of CBOs in the face of climate change, utilizing an integrated approach through participative and stakeholder interaction. The research methodology employed through the integrated investigated assessment, which includes- focused group discussions (n=06) and a survey of key informants’ interviews and community participants (n=143), additionally were added to this set of data combined for a total of 204 respondents, to comprehensively evaluate the institutional climate capacity of the CSOs engaged in coastal ecotourism projects. The findings identify key dimensions influencing CBO-led conservation projects, emphasizing the importance of different actors’ interplay and processes reflected through the communities. Notable strengths include effective communication, inclusive planning, and budgetary processes contributing to climate action orientation, emphasizing strengths in communication, inclusive planning, and budgetary processes. Socially excluded groups actively participate, underscoring the significance of their involvement for project success. Integrating socio-cultural factors into climate change planning is highlighted, emphasizing the need for quantitative research in this area. These identified key dimensions influence the CSO’s institutional climate capacities.

The quantity of contaminants being released into rivers is rising in direct correlation with the growth of the human population. Bedog River is a tributary located in the vicinity of Mount Merapi. This river flows through agricultural, residential, and cattle sectors, making it easier to detect river contamination. The objective of this study is to evaluate the water quality of the Bedog River. The research employs a methodology that evaluates water quality by considering biological indicators, specifically the existence of dragonfly species, with the analysis of other chemical and physical properties in river water. The water quality research findings indicate that the physical and chemical characteristics remain satisfactory, with the water falling into the moderately polluted category. It also meets the water quality criteria outlined in PPRI No. 82 of 2001, specifically the class 2 threshold. A total of 23 Odonata species were identified. The upstream section, as indicated by the presence of Neurobasis chinensis florida and Heliocypha fenestrata, which are endemic, along with Macrogomphus parallelogramma, which is rare, is considered an optimal habitat capable of supporting sensitive dragonfly species. The dragonfly variety index in the Bedog River is relatively high, with values of 2.08, 2.79, and 1.47 for the upstream, middle, and downstream sections, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient indicates a strong positive correlation of 0.961, while the significance level of 0.179 suggests a statistically meaningful association. The findings highlight the potential of using dragonflies as bioindicators for long-term monitoring of river health and pollution levels. This study contributes to the understanding of how water quality impacts biodiversity and provides a basis for future research and river management practices. This research fills a gap by integrating biological indicators with traditional water quality assessments in a specific regional context. It provides new insights into the relationship between water quality and dragonfly diversity, offering valuable information for environmental monitoring and conservation efforts.

Plant stresses are the conditions that adversely affect the growth, development, or productivity of plants/trees and can be caused by various physical, chemical, and biological factors. On the other hand, stress brought on by heavy metal exposure significantly impairs plant development and output. These heavy metal contaminations are responsible for the harmful effects on biotic (plants and associated organisms) and the abiotic (soil, water, and air) environment. Mining operations are thought to be the main cause of heavy metal pollution in the environment if they are not adequately controlled. Phytoremediation provides an efficient, carbon-neutral, and environmentally friendly way to remove dangerous heavy metal contamination from various settings. It can efficiently treat a broad spectrum of heavy metal contaminants. Phytoremediation enhances the development and growth of plants and nourishes the environment, resulting in the ill effects of climate extremes in disturbed areas and hence mitigating the impacts of climate change. Although phytoremediation has been extensively researched for the treatment of heavy metal stress in India’s degraded ecosystems, where it is most needed, it has not yet reached economic viability. Through this article, we tried to minimize this gap by reviewing some important phytoremediation studies in India that successfully reduced the negative impacts of heavy metals in different degraded ecosystems. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) review principles were used to outline the selected studies giving a knowledge that most of the phytoremediation works in India have been performed on Shrubs (28.40%) closely followed by Tree species (26.28%) then in Herbs (17.65%), Grasses (17.25%) and Aquatic Plants (10.43%). Also, the trend has seen a spike after 2018 with most phytoremediation studies in the states of West Bengal. The studies reviewed in this article show us a pathway for implementing and managing remediation methods to reduce the heavy metal stress exerted on plants and enhance the metabolic and physiochemical processes of the plant.

The present field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of mulching and weed control methods on the nutrient and weed dynamics of Kharif Sorghum. The research was conducted in the Agronomy farm of Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab, during the summer of 2023. The experiment utilized a randomized block design with three replications. A total of six treatments were used, each with different amounts of treatment applied to assess the effects on the growth, yield, and weed characteristics of sorghum. The growth metrics, including plant height, leaf count, stem circumference, leaf area index, and chlorophyll content, saw significant improvement as a result of the amplified influence of mulching and weed management. Treatment T1, which excluded weeds, yielded the greatest plant height (134.69 cm), number of leaves (8.73), stem girth (10.14 cm) at harvest, leaf area index (7.78), and chlorophyll content (53.74) at 90 days after sowing (DAS). The T1 treatment, which was free of weeds, had the most favorable production characteristics. The grain yield was recorded at 2.15 t.ha-1, the straw yield at 4.59 t.ha-1, and the harvest index at 22.54%. The highest protein concentration was observed as 10.84% in T1 (Weed free) and 10.73% in T2 (Sugarcane trash). In addition, the characteristics of the weed, including the number of weeds, the effectiveness of weed management, and the weight of the weeds, were shown to be highest in dicots at 120 days after sowing (DAS). Treatment T1, which involved the complete removal of weeds, exhibited no weed population and achieved the maximum level of weed control effectiveness and dry weight. The study’s findings indicated that the use of T1 (Weed-free) treatment had a substantial influence on different growth, yield, and weed characteristics. Effective management of essential inputs, such as cultivation, fertilizers, and weed management, is vital for improving overall productivity and stability

This study was conducted in Hezhang County, Bijie City, Guizhou Province. The soil in the zinc smelting area has been contaminated with cadmium, lead, and zinc. Therefore, these elements are the focus of this research. Rice husk biochar was used as the passivation material. The Fourier infrared spectrum was utilized to study the biochar’s morphology, element content, mineral composition, structure, and surface functional groups. Moreover, the physical and chemical properties of the biochar were analyzed to explore its passivation effect. Biochar is beneficial in the cleaning of cadmium, lead, and zinc minerals and can be used for the passivation of heavy metals in contaminated soil. This study aims to understand the detailed mechanism behind this process and provide experimental data and ideas for pollution control. The results indicate that the biochar contains many functional groups, including -OH, C-H, C-O, C=O, C=C, and C-O-C. It also consists of a significant quantity of potassium salt, calcite, and quartz. Biochar has a noticeable pore structure, and as the pyrolysis temperature increases, the pore structure becomes more developed and thinner, with a smooth surface. The main minerals in the soil are quartz, mica, zeolite, illite, and chlorite. The aromatic degree of biochar increased with pyrolysis temperature. In contrast, the aromatic degree and polarity first increased and then decreased. The 0.2-0.45 mm biochar exhibited the best passivation effect on cadmium, lead, and zinc.

This study was conducted in Barangay Badiangan, Ajuy, Iloilo City, Philippines (11°10’N, 122°58’E) to determine the effects of rainfall intensity and other rainfall-derived parameters on the directional components of splash erosion in hillslopes. There are five experimental set-ups with slope angles ranging from 0% to 48% were tested under natural rainfall conditions using a modified splash collector. The data collected shows that kinetic energy, slope, and rainfall intensity have shown significant effects on splash erosion. The models obtained using regression analysis are 𝑄𝑄𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑=0.0093(𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾0.80) and 𝑄𝑄𝑡 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡=0.060(𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾0.107)(𝑆𝑆0.700)(𝐼𝐼200.700) . The model equation performance has been validated using the Standard Error of Estimates with values of 12 and 9.4 for splash detachment and splash transport, respectively. The constants used for kinetic energy in detachment and slope in transport align with the research by Quansah (1981) for sandy soil, which is similar (the characteristics) to the soil at our research site. Additionally, rainfall intensity, especially with a 20-min duration, generated the best model as it yielded the lowest SEE value for all cases.