Green High-yield and High-efficiency Cultivation Techniques of Integrated Management of Water and Fertilizer for Maize under Mulch Drip Irrigation

The green high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation techniques of integrated management of water and fertilizer for maize under mulch drip irrigation are described from the aspects of high yield target of maize and its component factor indexes,pre-sowing preparation,sowing,post-sowing management,field management at the seedling stage,integrated management of water and fertilizer for target yield of maize,rational application of micro-fertilizer,comprehensive prevention and control of diseases and pests,timely harvest,etc.,in order to provide a reference for agricultural technicians,maize farmers and maize industry development in northern Xinjiang.

Broadband high-efficiency dielectric metalenses based on quasi-continuous nanostrips

Benefiting from the abrupt phase changes within subwavelength thicknesses,metasurfaces have been widely applied for lightweight and compact optical systems.Simultaneous broadband and high-efficiency characteristics are highly attractive for the practical implementation of metasurfaces.However,current metasurface devices mostly adopt discrete micro/nano structures,which rarely realize both merits simultaneously.In this paper,dielectric metasurfaces composed of quasi-continuous nanostrips are proposed to overcome this limitation.Via quasi-continuous nanostrips metasurface,a normal focusing metalens and a superoscillatory lens overcoming the diffraction limit are designed and experimentally demonstrated.The quasi-continuous metadevices can operate in a broadband wavelength ranging from 450 nm to 1000nm and keep a high power efficiency.The average efficiency of the fabricated metalens reaches 54.24%,showing a significant improvement compared to the previously reported metalenses with the same thickness.The proposed methodology can be easily extended to design other metadevices with the advantages of broadband and high-efficiency in practical optical systems.

Effects of drip and flood irrigation on carbon dioxide exchange and crop growth in the maize ecosystem in the Hetao Irrigation District,China

Drip irrigation and flood irrigation are major irrigation methods for maize crops in the Hetao Irrigation District,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,China.This research delves into the effects of these irrigation methods on carbon dioxide(CO_(2))exchange and crop growth in this region.The experimental site was divided into drip and flood irrigation zones.The irrigation schedules of this study aligned with the local commonly used irrigation schedule.We employed a developed chamber system to measure the diurnal CO_(2)exchange of maize plants during various growth stages under both drip and flood irrigation methods.From May to September in 2020 and 2021,two sets of repeated experiments were conducted.In each experiment,a total of nine measurements of CO_(2)exchange were performed to obtain carbon exchange data at different growth stages of maize crop.During each CO_(2)exchange measurement event,CO_(2)flux data were collected every two hours over a day-long period to capture the diurnal variations in CO_(2)exchange.During each CO_(2)exchange measurement event,the biological parameters(aboveground biomass and crop growth rate)of maize and environmental parameters(including air humidity,air temperature,precipitation,soil water content,and photosynthetically active radiation)were measured.The results indicated a V-shaped trend in net ecosystem CO_(2)exchange in daytime,reducing slowly at night,while the net assimilation rate(net primary productivity)exhibited a contrasting trend.Notably,compared with flood irrigation,drip irrigation demonstrated significantly higher average daily soil CO_(2)emission and greater average daily CO_(2)absorption by maize plants.Consequently,within the maize ecosystem,drip irrigation appeared more conducive to absorbing atmospheric CO_(2).Furthermore,drip irrigation demonstrated a faster crop growth rate and increased aboveground biomass compared with flood irrigation.A strong linear relationship existed between leaf area index and light utilization efficiency,irrespective of the irrigation method.Notably,drip irrigation displayed superior light use efficiency compared with flood irrigation.The final yield results corroborated these findings,indicating that drip irrigation yielded higher harvest index and overall yield than flood irrigation.The results of this study provide a basis for the selection of optimal irrigation methods commonly used in the Hetao Irrigation District.This research also serves as a reference for future irrigation studies that consider measurements of both carbon emissions and yield simultaneously.

Quantification of irrigation water transport processes in ZiZiphus jujuba garden using water stable isotopes

ZiZiphus jujuba,which is native to China,has become one of the main crops widely planted in the western Loess Plateau because of its drought and flood-tolerance,adaptability,and higher nutritional value of the fruit.The irrigation water infiltration in Z.jujuba gardens is complex,and understanding its mechanisms is essential for efficient water use and sustainable agriculture.This knowledge helps ensure the long-term success of jujuba cultivation.This paper describes a field experiment that investigates the infiltration process of irrigation water from Z.jujuba garden and quantifies the contribution of irrigation water to soil water at different depths using the MixSIAR model.According to the FC(Field water holding Capacity)of Z.jujuba,irrigation experiments with three volumes of 80%FC,60%FC,and 40%FC are set up in this study.The study finds that water retention is better in Z.jujuba garden soils with a higher proportion of coarse gravel in the soil particle composition.Soil water content exhibits a gradient change after irrigation,with deeper wetting front transport depth observed with increased irrigation water.Additionally,there is correlation between soil temperature and soil water content.The soil water in Z.jujuba garden generally exhibits a preferential flow signal in the 0-40 cm range.Below 40 cm,a piston flow pattern dominates.The rate of soil water infiltration increases with the amount of irrigation water.In the 0-40 cm range of the soil vertical profile,irrigation water was the main contributor to soil water.Z.jujuba demonstrated flexibility in water uptake,primarily absorbing soil water at depths of 0-40 cm.For optimal growth of Z.jujuba at this stage,40%FC irrigation is recommended.The results are expected to be valuable future irrigation practices and land use planning for Z.jujuba garden in arid zones,supporting sustainable agricultural development and water management.

Expert consensus on irrigation and intracanal medication in root canal therapy

Chemical cleaning and disinfection are crucial steps for eliminating infection in root canal treatment. However, irrigant selection or irrigation procedures are far from clear. The vapor lock effect in the apical region has yet to be solved, impeding irrigation efficacy and resulting in residual infections and compromised treatment outcomes.

High-efficiency Carbonation Modification Methods of Recycled Coarse Aggregates

To solve the problem of only surface carbonation and realize high-efficiency carbonation of recycled coarse aggregate,the method of carbonated recycled coarse aggregate with nano materials pre-soaking was first put forward.The carbonation effect of modified recycled coarse aggregate with three different carbonation methods was evaluated,and water absorption,apparent density and crush index of modified recycled coarse aggregate were measured.Combined with XRD,SEM,and MIP microscopic analysis,the high-efficiency carbonation strengthening mechanism of modified recycled coarse aggregate was revealed.The experimental results show that,compared with the non-carbonated recycled coarse aggregate,the physical and microscopic properties of carbonated recycled coarse aggregate are improved.The method of carbonation with nano-SiO_(2) pre-soaking can realize the high-efficiency carbonation of recycled coarse aggregate,for modified recycled coarse aggregate with the method,water absorption is reduced by 23.03%,porosity is reduced by 44.06%,and the average pore diameter is 21.82 nm.The high-efficiency carbonation strengthening mechanism show that the pre-socked nano-SiO_(2) is bound to the hydration product Ca(OH)_(2) of the old mortar with nano-scale C-S-H,which can improve the CO_(2) absorption rate,accelerate the carbonation reaction,generate more stable CaCO_(3) and nano-scale silica gel,and bond to the dense three-dimensional network structure to realize the bidirectional enhancement of nano-materials and pressurized carbonation.It is concluded that the method of carbonation with nano-SiO_(2) pre-soaking is a novel high-efficiency carbonation modification of recycled coarse aggregate.

Irrigation and nitrogen fertiliser optimisation in protected vegetable fields of northern China:Achieving environmental and agronomic sustainability

Globally,sub-optimal use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser and elevated N irrigation groundwater have led to high leached nitrate (NO_(3)^(–)) losses from protected vegetable field systems.Optimising fertiliser and irrigation management in different soil types is crucial to reduce future N loads from such systems.The present 4-year study examined leached N loads from lysimeter monitoring arrays set up across 18 protected vegetable system sites encompassing the dominant soil types of northern China.The treatments applied at each field site were:1) a high N and high irrigation input treatment (HNHI);2) a low N but high irrigation input treatment (LNHI) and 3) a low N with low irrigation input treatment (LNLI).Results showed that the mean annual leached total nitrogen loads from the HNHI,LNHI and LNLI treatments were 325,294 and 257 kg N ha^(–1) in the fluvo-aquic soil,114,100 and 78 kg N ha^(–1) in the cinnamon soil and 79,68 and 57 kg N ha^(–1) in the black soil,respectively.The N dissolved in irrigation water in the fluvo-aquic soil areas was 8.26-fold higher than in the cinnamon areas.A structural equation model showed that N fertiliser inputs and leaching water amounts explained 14.7 and 81.8%of the variation of leached N loads,respectively.Correspondingly,reducing irrigation water by 21.5%decreased leached N loads by 20.9%,while reducing manure N and chemical N inputs by 22 and 25%decreased leached N loads by only 9.5%. This study highlights that protected vegetable fields dominated by fluvo-aquic soil need management to curtail leached N losses in northern China.

Effect of Water Application Rate on Growth Parameters of Farro 44 Rice Grown in a Selected Irrigation Scheme in Niger State, Nigeria

Water and land are the necessary agricultural inputs, and both are scarce these days. This study aims to determine the effect of water application rate on selected planting and crop parameters of Farro 44 rice during dry season farming and its growth response. The randomised complete block design was employed for the Farro 44 rice variety, with each plot size 4 m2 (2 m × 2 m) for ease of monitoring. A 0.3 m bound space separated each plot. The crop spacing was 0.2 m × 0.3 m, 0.3 m × 0.3 m, and 0.3 m × 0.4 m, respectively, for the row-to-row and plant-to-plant distance. The data collected were statistically analysed. The height of the faro 44 variety of rice ranged between 35.50 cm to 44.00 cm for plots with 2 tillers per hill, while that of 4 and 6 tillers per hill ranged between 35.50 cm to 41.40 cm and 35.50 cm to 39.30 cm, respectively. Minimum damage of 2.32% was seen for plant hills of 2 tillers, while 9.21% and 11.89% were observed for tillers of 4 and 6, respectively. It was seen that plots with the highest spacing of 30 × 40 cm and tillers of 2 per hill were observed to perform better than those of the other plots within the experimental pots. Such plots had a maximum plant tiller of 37 when counted, with the height of the plants reaching 44 cm after 70 days of planting. In conclusion, farmers within the study area of the Kanko community in Niger State. Nigeria appears not to have any known knowledge of the soil they are cultivating and the water they use as a source of irrigation within the farming areas. It was further concluded that the rice crops would be produced maximally with minimal water application to the rice field.

Review of the interaction mechanism for droplets and foliage under sprinkler irrigation and water-fertilizer integration

With a focus on the global tension between water resources and energy,the use of water-fertilizer integration technology in sprinkler irrigation has seen a rise.However,achieving efficient and effective fertilizer application remains a significant challenge.This study delves into the interaction mechanism between droplets and foliage during sprinkler fertigation,as well as discusses the application of water-saving and energy-saving irrigation methods in agriculture to address water crises and propel agricultural modernization.This study highlights two main aspects of this issue,that is,the droplet and foliage impact process,and the droplet and foliage dynamic interaction including foliar interception,leaf absorption,and leaf burning.Major challenges,such as inefficiencies in foliar interception and uncertainties in fertilization,have been identified,calling for further investigation into these areas.Moreover,perspectives to promote fertilization technology are proposed,including research on the dynamic impact of fertigation droplets on foliage,the development of universal models for leaf fertilizer retention,and the determination of critical fertigation concentrations under varying conditions to prevent leaf burning.This comprehensive review aims to provide a theoretical basis for establishing an integrated fertigation system for sprinkler irrigation and foster innovation in water-fertilizer integration technology.

A study of the soil water potential threshold values to trigger irrigation of ‘Shimizu Hakuto’ peach at pivotal fruit developmental stages

Water management is an important practice that affects fruit size and quality.Effective implementation of irrigation scheduling requires knowledge of the appropriate indicators and thresholds,which are established manly based on the effects of water deficits on final fruit quality.Few studies have focused on the real-time effects of water status on fruit and shoot growth.To establish soil water potential (ψ_(soil)) thresholds to trigger irrigation of peach at pivotal fruit developmental stages,photogrammetry,^(13)C labelling,and other techniques were used in this study to investigate real-time changes in stem diameter,fruit projected area,net leaf photosynthetic rate (P_(n)),and allocation of photoassimilates to fruit under soil water potential conditions ranging from saturation to stress in 6-year-old Shimizu hakuto’peach.Stem growth,fruit growth,and P_n exhibited gradually decreasing sensitivity to water deficits during fruit developmental stages I,II,and III.Stem diameter growth was significantly inhibited whenψ_(soil)dropped to-8.5,-7.6,and-5.4 k Pa,respectively.Fruit growth rate was low,reaching zero when theψ_(soil)was-9.0 to-23.1,-14.9 to-21.4,and-16.5 to-23.3 k Pa,respectively,and P_ndecreased significantly when theψ_(soil)reached-24.2,-22.7,and-20.4 kPa,respectively.In addition,more photoassimilates were allocated to fruit under moderateψ_(soil)conditions (-10.1 to-17.0 k Pa) than under otherψ_(soil)values.Our results revealed threeψ_(soil)thresholds,-10.0,-15.0,and-15.0 kPa,suitable for triggering irrigation during stages I,II,and III,respectively.These thresholds can be helpful for controlling excessive tree vigor,maintaining rapid fruit growth and leaf photosynthesis,and promoting the allocation of more photoassimilates to fruit.

Exploring the combination of biochar‐amended soil and automated irrigation technology for water regulation and preservation in green infrastructure

Biochar is a carbon sink material with the potential to improve water retention in various soils.However,for the long‐term maintenance of green infrastructure,there is an additional need to regulate the water contents in the covers to maintain vegetation growth in semiarid conditions.In this study,biochar‐amended soil was combined with subsurface drip irrigation,and the water preservation characteristics of this treatment were investigated through a series of one‐dimensional soil column tests.To ascertain the best treatment method specific to semiarid climatic conditions,the test soil was amended with 0%,1%,3%,and 5%biochar.Automatic irrigation devices equipped with soil moisture sensors were used to control the subsurface water content with the aim of enhancing vegetation growth.Each soil column test lasted 150 h,during which the volumetric water contents and soil suction data were recorded.The experimental results reveal that the soil specimen amended with 3%biochar is the most water‐saving regardless of the time cost.Soil with a higher biochar content(e.g.,5%)consumes a more significant amount of water due to the enhancement of the water‐holding capacity.Based on the experimental results,it can be concluded that the appropriate ratio can be determined within 1%–3%,which can reduce not only the amount of irrigated/used water but also the time cost.Such technology can be explored for water content regulation in green infrastructure and the development of barriers for protecting the environment around deep underground waste containment.

Irrigation and Thermal Buffering Using Mathematical Modeling

Two methods of irrigation,drip,and sprinkler were studied to determine the response of the Javits green roof to irrigation.The control study was dry unirrigated plots.Drip irrigation consisted of irrigation tubes running through the green roof that would water the soil throughout and sprinkler irrigation used a sprinkler system to irrigate the green roof from above.In all cases,the irrigated roofs had increased the soil moisture,reduced temperatures of both the upper and lower surfaces,reduced growing medium temperatures and reduced air temperatures above the green roof relative to the unirrigated roof.The buffered temperature fluctuations were also studied via air conditioner energy consumption.There was a 28%reduction in air conditioner energy consumption and a 33%reduction in overall energy consumption between dry and irrigated plots.Values of thermal resistance or S were determined for accuracy and for this study,there was little change which is ideal.A series of infra-red and thermal probe measurements were used to determine temperatures in the air and sedum.It was determined that the sprinkler irrigation did a better job than the drip irrigation in keeping cooler temperatures within the green roof.A Mann-Whitney U test was performed to verify the variation in moisture temperatures buffering energy consumption.By getting a p-value<0.05,it indicates that the model is accurate for prediction and medium temperatures were statistically different.

Grain-filling strategies of wheat of contrasting grain sizes under various planting patterns and irrigation levels

In a study comparing grain filling and yield in a large-and a small-grain-size wheat cultivar under two planting patterns and two irrigation regimes,plastic-covered ridge and furrow planting with sprinkler irrigation increased grain filling and yield in both cultivars.The largest contributors to grain yield were an extended active grain-filling period in Shuangda 1 and an increased mean grain-filling rate in XN538.

Effect of Supplementary Irrigation on the Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in the Context of Climate Change in the Dry Savannahs of Togo

Under the current context of climate change, supplementary irrigation may be needed for crop production resilience. We determined the effects of supplementary irrigation on sorghum grain yield in the dry Savannah region of Togo. A two-year trial was conducted in a controlled environment at AREJ, an agro-ecological center in Cinkassé. The plant material was sorghum variety Sorvato 28. The experimental design was a Completely Randomized Block with three replications and three treatments as follows: T0 control plot (rainfed conditions);T1 (supplementary irrigation from flowering to grain filling stage) and T2 (supplementary irrigation from planting to grain filling stage). Two irrigation techniques (furrow and Californian system) were used under each watering treatment. The results showed that irrigation technique significantly affected panicle length with no effect on 1000 grains mass. Panicle length and grain yields varied from 15.59 to 25.71 cm and 0.0 to 2.06 t∙h−1, respectively, with the highest values (25.66 cm and 2.06 t∙h−1, respectively) under the T2 treatment with the California system-based supplementary irrigation. The comparison of results obtained on treatment T0 and T2, shows that supplementary irrigation increased the yields by at least 68.62%. Supplementary irrigation during sowing and growing season (T2) improved sorghum yields in the dry savannahs of Togo, with a better performance of the California irrigation system.

Reform of the Irrigation Sector and Creation of Functional and Sustainable Irrigation Water Users Associations (AUEI) in Niger: Capitalization of the Experience of the Konni AHA

During the 1980s, as part of a policy of liberalization, following budgetary cuts linked to the implementation of structural adjustment programs, management responsibilities for AHAs were transferred from ONAHA to cooperatives concerned. Due to lack of financial resources, but also because of poor management, everywhere in Niger we are witnessing an accelerated deterioration of the irrigation infrastructure of hydro-agricultural developments. Institutional studies carried out on this situation led the State of Niger to initiate a reform of the governance of hydro-agricultural developments, by streng-thening the status of ONAHA, by creating an Association of Irrigation Water Users (AUEI) and by restructuring the old cooperatives. Indeed, this research aims to analyze the creation of functional and sustainable Irrigation Water User Associations (AUEI) in Niger in a context of reform of the irrigation sector, and based on the experience of the Konni AHA. It is based on a methodological approach which takes into account documentary research and the collection of data from 115 farmers, selected by reasoned choice and directly concerned by the management of the irrigated area. The data collected was analyzed and the results were analyzed using the systemic approach and the diagnostic process. The results show that the main mission of the AUEI is to ensure better management of water, hydraulic equipment and infrastructure on the hydro-agricultural developments of Konni. The creation of the Konni AUEI was possible thanks to massive support from the populations and authorities in the implementation process. After its establishment, the AUEI experienced a certain lethargy for some time due to the rehabilitation work of the AHA but currently it is functional and operational in terms of associative life and governance. Thus, the constraints linked to the legal system, the delay in the completion of the work, the uncertainties of access to irrigation water but also the problems linked to the change in mentality of certain ONAHA agents constitute the challenges that must be resolved in the short term for the operationalization of the Konni AUEI.

Exploring the impact of high density planting system and deficit irrigation in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.):a comprehensive review

Lessons learned from past experiences push for an alternate way of crop production.In India,adopting high density planting system(HDPS)to boost cotton yield is becoming a growing trend.HDPS has recently been considered a replacement for the current Indian production system.It is also suitable for mechanical harvesting,which reducing labour costs,increasing input use efficiency,timely harvesting timely,maintaining cotton quality,and offering the potential to increase productivity and profitability.This technology has become widespread in globally cotton growing regions.Water management is critical for the success of high density cotton planting.Due to the problem of freshwater availability,more crops should be produced per drop of water.In the high-density planting system,optimum water application is essential to control excessive vegetative growth and improve the translocation of photoassimilates to reproductive organs.Deficit irrigation is a tool to save water without compromising yield.At the same time,it consumes less water than the normal evapotranspiration of crops.This review comprehensively documents the importance of growing cotton under a high-density planting system with deficit irrigation.Based on the current research and combined with cotton production reality,this review discusses the application and future development of deficit irrigation,which may provide theoretical guidance for the sustainable advancement of cotton planting systems.

Spatio-temporal variation and relationship between agricultural efficiency and irrigation intensity in a semi-arid region of India

A surging population in Karnataka State,a semi-arid region in India,poses a threat to both food security and livelihood sustainability,necessitating a concentrated effort to bolster agricultural efficiency and achieve United Naton’s Sustainable Development Goal 2(zero hunger).Therefore,in order to address the pressing issue of food scarcity in Karnataka,this study meticulously examined the spatio-temporal variation of agricultural efficiency and irrigation intensity in Karnataka,uncovering its significant dependence of agricultural efficiency on irrigation intensity.Specifically,this study used a one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)to ascertain significant differences in the means of agricultural efficiency and irrigation intensity during 2004-2005 and 2018-2019.This study showed that the maximum improvement in agricultural efficiency index was recorded in Belgaum(40.24),Gulbarga(24.77),and Yadgir districts(22.92)between 2004-2005 and 2018-2019,which indicated the progressing trend and better scope for agriculture extension.On the contrary,some districts expressed threat(a decline of above 20.00 of agricultural efficiency index)and needed special care for the improvement of agricultural efficiency in four northern districts(Bagalkot,Bidar,Raichur,and Bijapur),three southern districts(Chitradurga,Chikballapur and Hassan),and two southern districts(Koppal and Gadag)in Karnataka.During 2004-2005,irrigation intensity varied from 3.19%to 56.39%,with the lowest irrigation intensity in Kodagu District and the highest irrigation intensity in Shimoga District.During 2018-2019,irrigation intensity changed from 0.77%to 72.77%,with the lowest irrigation intensity in Kodagu District and the highest in Dakshin Kannad District.Moreover,the research scrutinized the complex relationship between agricultural efficiency and irrigation intensity,with the correlation coefficient increased from 0.162 during 2004-2005 to 0.255 during 2018-2019.It implies that in both periods,a low positive correlation existed between these two variables.Over time,several factors(high-yield seeds and chemical fertilizers)other than irrigation intensity gradually became essential for agricultural efficiency.This research offers a wealth of valuable insights for regional planners and policy-makers contending with comparable challenges in various regions of India and other developing countries.

Outcomes of early versus late irrigation and debridement of pediatric open long bone fractures

BACKGROUND Open long bone fractures are a major concern for pediatric patients due to the risk of surgical site infection(SSI).Early studies have recommended irrigation and debridement of open fractures within 6 hours-8 hours for the prevention of SSI.According to the American College of Surgeons(ACS)Best Practice Guidelines,in 2015,irrigation and debridement should be done within 24 hours.AIM To identify whether early irrigation and debridement,within 8 hours,vs late,between 8 hours and 24 hours,for pediatric open long bone fractures impacts rate of SSI.METHODS Using retrospective data review from the National Trauma Data Bank,Trauma Quality Improvement Project(TQIP)of 2019.TQIP database is own by the ACS and it is the largest database for trauma quality program in the world.Propensity matching analysis was performed for the study.RESULTS There were 390 pediatric patients with open long bone fractures who were incl-uded in the study.After completing propensity score matching,we had 176 patients in each category,irrigation and debridement within 8 hours and irrigation and debridement between 8 hours and 24 hours.We found no significant differences between each group for the rate of deep SSI which was 0.6%for patients who received surgical irrigation and debridement within 8 hours and 1.1%for those who received it after 8 hours[adjusted odd ratio(AOR):0.5,95%CI:0.268-30.909,P>0.99].For the secondary outcomes studied,in terms of length of hospital stay,patients who received irrigation and debridement within 8 hours stayed for an average of 3.5 days,and those who received it after 8 hours stayed for an average of 3 days,with no significant difference found,and there were also no sig-nificant differences found between the discharge dispositions of the patients.CONCLUSION Our findings support the recommendation for managing open long bone fractures from the ACS:Complete surgical irrigation and debridement within 24 hours.

Impact of Seawater Irrigation on seed germination and seedling growth of Ten Bread Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)Genotypes

Objective:Seawater leakage in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar East Libya's coastal areas is one of the most biggest obstacles to farmers obtaining a highly productive crop.As a result,the experiment was conducted in a laboratory to find out the impact of irrigation with seawater on the salt tolerance of Acsad Bread wheat genotypes.Method:Ten genotypes(1398,1492,1514,1522,1524,1536,1538,1544,1550,and 1562),obtained from the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands Acsad,were used in the study,10 seeds of each genotype with three repetitions were germinated under four seawater concentrations(10,20,30 and 40%).Results:The results showed that there were highly significant(P≤0.05)differences in the genotypes’response to all salinity concentrations,Which led to decreasing germination percentage,delaying the average germination time,and decreasing radical/plumule length and seedling fresh/dry weight compared with a control.As noted genotypes(1524,1522 and 1514)were able to germinate in all concentrations of seawater,and gave the best average for all the studied traits.Also,the study indicated that a concentration of seawater of 40%was the most toxic for all wheat genotypes.The results of this study categorize the wheat genotypes into tolerant genotypes(1524,1522 and 1514),moderate tolerant(1492,1536),and sensitive(1398,1538,1544,1550 and 1562).Conclusion:The results concluded that the possibility of wheat crops agriculture into tolerant in Libyan coastal locations in which seawater concentration did not exceed 30%.

Assessing the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus in Smart Irrigation: A Potato Farming Case Study in Lebanon

This study examines the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus in Lebanese agriculture, with a focus on the shift from conventional surface irrigation techniques to advanced smart irrigation systems in the Bekaa region, specifically targeting potato cultivation. The study quantitatively analyzes the interaction among water, energy, and agricultural outputs at the farm scale using the WEFE Nexus framework for scenario analysis. It evaluates variations in water productivity, environmental effects, and economic outcomes, offering a detailed view of existing practices and their sustainable improvement potential. The WEFE Nexus assessment demonstrates that smart irrigation integration significantly decreased resource usage: water consumption was reduced by 58%, diesel fuel use for irrigation dropped by 57%, and the demand for labor and fertilizers decreased by 47% and 49%, respectively. This change led to enhanced crop yields and increased resource efficiency, demonstrating the potential of smart irrigation as a transformative strategy for sustainable agriculture in Lebanon and other arid areas. Economic analysis showed that farmers could recover the costs of installing the smart irrigation system within 3 months. The findings highlight the need for further research on integrating smart irrigation with renewable energy, showing potential for sustainable agricultural development. .