This study focuses on the development of polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan-tragacanth gum composite films enriched with rosehip extract and seed oil for the packaging of active foods. The films were tested for their antioxidant activity, transparency, biodegradability, water vapor permeability and effectiveness in preserving sweet cherries under seasonal high temperature conditions. The addition of tragacanth, rosehip extract and rosehip seed oil significantly influenced the mechanical properties by increasing elongation at break and tensile strength. Films enriched with rosehip seed oil effectively reduced weight loss and preserved the sensory properties of the cherries, while films based on rosehip extract exhibited superior antioxidant properties with increased free radical scavenging activity. Biodegradability tests showed that all films degraded under soil conditions, with the rate of degradation depending on the concentration of tragacanth gum. The water vapor permeability results showed that the addition of rosehip extract and seed oil significantly reduced the water vapor permeability and improved the barrier properties of the films. Preservation tests showed that these films minimized titratable acidity, oxidative stress and moisture loss, effectively extending the shelf life of sweet cherries under highly stressful conditions. These results highlight the potential of rosehip-enriched biopolymer films as a sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging alternative to extend the shelf life of perishable fruits.

Drought may impact plant-soil biotic interactions in ways that modify aboveground herbivore performance, but the outcomes of such biotic interactions under future climate are not yet clear. We performed a growth chamber experiment to assess how long-term, drought-driven changes in belowground communities influence plant growth and herbivore performance using a plant-soil feedback experimental framework. We focussed on two common pasture legumes-lucerne, Medicago sativa L., and white clover, Trifolium repens L. (both Fabaceae)-and foliar herbivores-cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (H & uuml;bner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). Soil was collected from a field facility where rainfall had been manipulated for 6 years, focussing on treatments representing ambient rainfall and prolonged drought (50% reduction relative to ambient), to consider the effects of biological legacies mediated by the prolonged drought. All soils were sterilized and re-inoculated to establish the respective home (i.e. where a given plant is cultivated in its own soil) and away (i.e. where a given plant is cultivated in another species' soil) treatments in addition to a sterile control. We found that the relative growth rate (RGR) and relative consumption of larvae were significantly lower on lucerne grown in soil with ambient rainfall legacies conditioned by white clover. Conversely, the RGR of insect larvae was lower on white clover grown in soil with prolonged drought legacies conditioned by lucerne. Two-spotted spider mite populations and area damage (mm2) were significantly reduced on white clover grown in lucerne-conditioned soil in drought legacies. The higher number of nodules found on white clover in lucerne-conditioned soil suggests that root-rhizobia associations may have reduced foliar herbivore performance. Our study provides evidence that foliar herbivores are affected by plant-soil biotic interactions and that prolonged drought may influence aboveground-belowground linkages with potential broader ecosystem impacts.

The effect of crop rotation on soil-borne diseases is a representative case of plant-soil feedback in the sense that plant disease resistance is influenced by soils with different cultivation histories. This study examined the microbial mechanisms inducing the differences in the clubroot (caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae pathogen) damage of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) after the cultivation of different preceding crops. It addresses two key questions in crop rotation: changes in the soil bacterial community induced by the cultivation of different plants and the microbial mechanisms responsible for the disease-suppressive capacity of Chinese cabbage. Twenty preceding crops from different plant families showed significant differences in the disease damage, pathogen density, and bacterial community composition of the host plant. Structural equation modelling revealed that the relative abundance of four key bacterial orders in Chinese cabbage roots can explain 85% and 70% of the total variation in pathogen density and disease damage, respectively. Notably, the relative dominance of Bacillales and Rhizobiales, which have a trade-off relationship, exhibited predominant effects on pathogen density and disease damage. The disease-suppressive soil legacy effects of preceding crops are reflected in compositional changes in key bacterial orders, which are intensified by the bacterial community network.

Permafrost is a crucial part of the Earth's cryosphere. These millennia-old frozen soils not only are significant carbon reservoirs but also store a variety of chemicals. Accelerated permafrost thaw due to global warming leads to profound consequences such as infrastructure damage, hydrological changes, and, notably, environmental concerns from the release of various chemicals. In this perspective, we metaphorically term long-preserved substances as dormant chemicals that experience an awakening during permafrost thaw. We begin by providing a comprehensive overview and categorization of these chemicals and their potential transformations, utilizing a combination of field observations, laboratory studies, and modeling approaches to assess their environmental impacts. Following this, we put forward several perspectives on how to enhance the scientific understanding of their ensuing environmental impacts in the context of climate change. Ultimately, we advocate for broader research engagement in permafrost exploration and emphasize the need for extensive environmental chemical studies. This will significantly enhance our understanding of the consequences of permafrost thaw and its broader impact on other ecosystems under rapid climate warming.

Wind disturbances are one of the main drivers of forest dynamics in Europe, shaping forest stands and modifying the ecosystem services provisioning. Salvage logging is often most common strategy adopted after a high-severity disturbance in managed stands. Understanding natural regeneration dynamics including their interaction with the logging operations, is crucial to understand how forests will be changing under a climate with increasing variability and to design adequate adaptive post-disturbance management strategies. In this study, we focused on 148 stands damaged by storm Vaia (2018). The aim was to analyze natural regeneration dynamics under different logging systems and to investigate influences of site characteristics and disturbance legacies on sapling growth and seedling emergence. The sampling protocol consisted of one transect per stand, perpendicular to one of the intact forest edges, and with a length of 80 m. Along the transect, we collected soil cover, natural seedling and sapling stem density, and deadwood quantity in four sample plots of 3 m radius each at distances of 0, 20, 40, and 80 meters from the edge (592 plots in total). Regeneration species composition was mainly driven by previous stand composition, with some exceptions depending on seed dispersal strategy. Distance from the edge significantly influenced seedlings and saplings occurrence in large gaps and affected the browsing damage percentage, together with deadwood presence. According to GLM's models, distance from the edge, elevation, and logging methods influenced seedling establishment. At the same time, species characteristics, edge structure, deadwood and logging damages significantly influenced pre-storm seedlings and saplings presence and health. In conclusion site factors, disturbance legacies, and logging strategies are key points to consider in post-disturbance management for a fast forest recovery.

Forest parks in megacities are pivotal in boosting biodiversity, purifying air, and offering essential green areas for community leisure and mental health amidst the hustle and bustle of cities. Yet, these vital oases encounter severe difficulties, including habitat degradation, contamination, and urbanization pressures, jeopardizing their preservation and the crucial ecological advantages they offer. The soil 's characteristics and its microbial inhabitants are fundamental in the cycling of nutrients and the well-being of plants, positioning them as central elements in restoration efforts. Nonetheless, the complex interplay among plant, soil, and microbial relationships during the restoration of forest ecosystems in megacities is still not well comprehended. This study aimed to investigate the interactions between plant-soil-microbial dynamics in different ecological restoration modes and construct assessment systems to evaluate the quality of restoration modes in the forest parks. The study identified a total of 25 distinct types of forests damaged by three main factors (farmland, highway, and quarrying) in Chongqing Taisiya Forest Park, and found that long-term natural restoration significantly increased soil properties in these forests. Additionally, an in-depth microbial sequencing analysis showed that Proteobacteria and Ascomycota were the major bacterial and fungal phyla dominant in the restoration process in the urban forests. Further correlation analysis showed that soil microbial diversity positively correlated with plant diversity, with a stronger correlation observed for bacterial communities compared to fungi. The comprehensive evaluation index results for the different forest types revealed varying degrees of restoration success. Collectively, our findings underscore the importance of forest attributes and soil microbial diversity in forest ecosystem restoration and provide valuable insights for designing effective restoration strategies in similar ecosystems.

As sea levels continue to rise and high tide flooding events increase in frequency, researchers and farmers alike are looking for solutions to adapt to and mitigate the effects of saltwater intrusion (SWI). Some landowners on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland respond to SWI by taking land out of agriculture. For example, they (1) attempt to remediate salt-damaged soils (e.g., planting switchgrass, Panicum virgatum), (2) restore native marsh grasses (e.g., planting saltmarsh hay, Spartina patens), or (3) abandon fields altogether (e.g., allow for natural recruitment). This work examines the ability of each of these land management practices to reduce phosphorus (P) levels in soils and porewater, with the overall goal to benefit both the farming community and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. We show that remediation and restoration practices are efficient at taking up soil P and reducing porewater P concentrations through biomass P uptake. After three years of growth, we observed an increase in P uptake in biomass of Panicum virgatum (remediation species; 11-30 kg ha-1) and Spartina patens (restoration species; 4-18 kg ha-1) and a decline in available soil P pools (M3P; 30-50 % kg M3P ha-1). At all farms, under all three management strategies, the P fertility index value (FIV) in the topsoil was 33-50 % lower than baseline conditions, likely reducing the potential release of P to nearby waterways. Results from this work will help inform state-level coastal management policies and determine optimal strategies for climate resilience.

Soils contaminated with per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) require immediate remediation to protect the surrounding environment and human health. A novel animated clay -polymer composite was developed by applying polyethyleneimine (PEI) solution onto a montmorillonite clay-chitosan polymer composite. The resulting product, PEI -modified montmorillonite chitosan beads (MMTCBs) were characterized as an adsorptive soil amendment for immobilizing PFAS contaminants. The MMTCBs exhibited good efficiency to adsorb the PFAS, showing adsorption capacities of 12.2, 16.7, 18.5, and 20.8 mg g -1 for PFBA, PFBS, PFOA, and PFOS, respectively, which were higher than those obtained by granular activated carbon (GAC) (i.e., an adsorbent used as a reference). Column leaching tests demonstrated that amending soil with 10% MMTCBs resulted in a substantial decrease in the leaching of PFOA, PFOS, PFBA, and PFBS by 90%, 100%, 64%, and 68%, respectively. These reductions were comparable to the values obtained for GAC-modified soil, particularly for long -chain PFAS. Incorporating MMTCBs into the soil not only preserved the structural integrity of the soil matrix but also enhanced its shear strength (kPa). Conversely, adding GAC to the soil resulted in a reduction of the soil ' s mechanical properties.

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs: 232Th, 226Ra, 40K) can reach our respiratory system by breathing of road dust which can cause severe health risks. Targeting the pioneering consideration of health risks from the NORMs in road dust, this work reveals the radioactivity abundances of NORMs in road dust from a megacity (Dhaka) of a developing country (Bangladesh). Bulk chemical compositions of U, Th, and K obtained from neutron activation analysis were converted to the equivalent radioactivities. Radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in road dust ranged from 60-106, 110-159, and 488-709 Bq kg-1 with an average of 84.4 +/- 13.1, 126 +/- 11, and 549 +/- 48 Bq kg-1, respectively. Estimated 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radioactivities were, respectively, 1.7-3.0-, 3.7-5.3-, and 1.2-1.8-folds greater than the affiliated world average values. Mechanistic pathway of NORMs' enrichment and fractionation relative to the major origin (pedosphere) were evaluated concerning the water logging, relative solubility-controlled leaching and translocation, climatic conditions, and aerodynamic fractionations (dry and wet atmospheric depositions). Computation of customary radiological risk indices invokes health risks. Noticing the ingress of NOMR-holding dust into the human respiratory system along with the associated ionizing radiations, the computed radiological indices represent only the least probable health hazards. Nevertheless, in real situations, alpha-particles from the radioactive decay products of 232Th and 238U can create acute radiation damages of respiratory system. Policymakers should emphasize on limiting the dust particle evolution, and public awareness is required to alleviate the health risks.

Understanding the impact of management upon post-drought tree growth recovery and drought legacy effects is among the fundamental challenges hindering the improvement of forest conservation strategies in the face of increasingly frequent, longer, and intensified extreme droughts under ongoing climate change. Yet surprisingly little is known to date about how management practices can influence drought legacy effects; and previous studies of management impacts on forest resilience to drought have reached inconsistent and contentious conclusions. This study sought to tackle these pressing questions and gain insight by analyzing tree-ring datasets from non-managed and managed Qinghai spruce forests in northwestern China. The results show improved growth resilience to drought of those trees under management practices. Moreover, Qinghai spruce radial growth in non-managed forest exhibited significant legacy effects of extreme drought, whereas such legacy effects were mitigated in managed forest. Nevertheless, both the resilience augmentation and the mitigation of drought legacy effects by management were much weaker in the face of a three-year persistent drought than a single-year event. Hence, we may conclude that current management practices are advantageous and necessary for forest conservation under exacerbated drought conditions, for which strategies and measures should be better thought out and tailored to specific situations, rather than being one-size-fits-all, to better serve the goals of forest managers and conservationists.