Article
Plant Sciences
Xiaole Zhao, Qi Wang, Xujiao Zhou, Erastus Mak-Mensah, Dengkui Zhang, Yanhua Xu, Yuanwei Sun, Jinhui Zhu, Wenjia Qi, Qinglin Liu, Kai Zhang
Summary: The study demonstrates that the use of biochar-soil crust can effectively reduce surface runoff, increase soil water storage, improve soil aggregate stability, enhance soil nutrients, and increase alfalfa fodder yield. Therefore, the application of biochar-soil crust is recommended to boost alfalfa fodder production in semi-arid regions.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Erastus Mak-Mensah, Wucheng Zhao, Xujiao Zhou, Dengkui Zhang, Xiaole Zhao, Qi Wang, Peter Bilson Obour
Summary: This study investigated the effects of rainwater harvesting technology and biochar on the yield and nutritional quality of alfalfa fodder in China's Loess Plateau. The results showed that ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting with biochar significantly increased alfalfa fodder yield and nutritional value.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Qi Wang, Xiaoyun Wang, Dengkui Zhang, Xujiao Zhou, Erastus Mak-Mensah, Xiaole Zhao, Wucheng Zhao, Philip Ghanney, Fasih Ullah Haider, Qinglin Liu, Guang Li, Xiaoling Li, Yongjun Li, Yasir Majeed
Summary: Ridge-furrow rainwater-harvesting technology is effective in mitigating drought stress, controlling soil erosion, and increasing crop yield in semiarid regions of China. This study found that ridges compacted with soil mixed with rice straw biochar had lower runoff coefficients and higher soil water storage, resulting in higher fodder yield and water use efficiency of alfalfa. Rice straw biochar at an application rate of 3 x 104 kg ha-1 was found to be suitable for increasing fodder yield and water use efficiency in RFRH.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Dengkui Zhang, Erastus Mak-Mensah, Xujiao Zhou, Qi Wang, Peter Bilson Obour
Summary: Soil degradation and water scarcity are major limitations to crop productivity in arid and semiarid regions. This study conducted a meta-analysis to examine the impact of plastic film and wheat straw mulching on maize water use efficiency, evapotranspiration, and grain yield in northern China. The findings showed that the integration of plastic mulch with straw mulched furrow increased maize grain yield and water use efficiency in low rainfall areas.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jing Xu, Ziyan Guo, Zhimin Li, Fangjian Li, Xuanke Xue, Xiaorong Wu, Xuemei Zhang, Hui Li, Xudong Zhang, Qingfang Han
Summary: The study found that the distribution of roots and water uptake in plants are positively correlated during growth stages, with roots in the furrow absorbing more water from the shallower soil layers compared to those in the ridge.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Muhammad Mansoor Javaid, Hussah I. M. AlGwaiz, Hasnain Waheed, Muhammad Ashraf, Athar Mahmood, Feng-Min Li, Kotb A. Attia, Muhammad Ather Nadeem, Muneera D. F. AlKahtani, Sajid Fiaz, Muhammad Nadeem, Hafiz Bashir Ahmad
Summary: The capture and utilization of rainwater by crops under different mulching conditions play a significant role in agriculture, especially in dry regions. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of ridge-furrow mulching on maize growth and development in rain-fed conditions. The study found that black plastic mulch significantly increased soil moisture, temperature, plant height, and biomass, leading to a 33.6% increase in maize yield compared to no mulch treatment.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xujiao Zhou, Qi Wang, Dengkui Zhang, Erastus Mak-Mensah, Xiaole Zhao, Xiaoyun Wang, Wucheng Zhao, Qinglin Liu, Xiaoni Liu
Summary: Alfalfa production in the Loess Plateau in China is hindered by water deficit and poor soil fertility. Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting with biochar application can effectively improve soil hydrothermal properties, soil nutrients, alfalfa fodder yield, and promote sustainable agricultural production.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diego Antonio Custodio, Enedir Ghisi
Summary: Population increase, climate change and soil impermeability are factors causing floods in large urban centres. This research aims to evaluate the influence of rainwater harvesting in residential buildings on stormwater in a basin located in Southern Brazil. The study considers various factors such as urbanized and non-urbanized areas, soil types, curve numbers, and time of concentration of each sub-basin. The results show that rainwater tanks in residential buildings have little influence on stormwater runoff, and the reduction in peak flows is insignificant when considering the flooding in the region.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Xiaoli Liu, Yandong Wang, Yuehe Zhang, Xiaolong Ren, Xiaoli Chen
Summary: The plastic-mulched ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting (PRFRH) planting practice can improve wheat yield, water productivity, and net profit in dry semi-humid areas by mitigating drought stress. However, it may result in lower yields compared to conventional flat planting in years with abundant rainfall and normal precipitation.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Qi Wang, Dengkui Zhang, Xujiao Zhou, Erastus Mak-Mensah, Xiaole Zhao, Wucheng Zhao, Xiaoyun Wang, Dan Stellmach, Qinglin Liu, Xiaoling Li, Guang Li, Heling Wang, Kai Zhang
Summary: Soil desiccation is a significant challenge for subsistence farmers growing alfalfa in semi-arid regions. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of growing season, growing degree-days, and rainfall on alfalfa fodder yield. The study also examined the impact of mulching materials and ridge width on yield. Results showed that the length of growing season, rainfall, and growing degree-days influenced fodder yield. Additionally, the choice of mulching material and ridge width also had significant effects on yield.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peng Zhang, Zezhou Zhang, Xinyu Liu, Tongtong Fan, Dongmei Wang
Summary: Mulching and biochar have separate effects on N2O distribution, with mulching causing higher concentrations in the ridge area and biochar reducing overall concentrations. However, the combined effects of mulching and biochar on N2O fluxes per unit of yield have not been well studied. This 2-year field experiment in China found that furrow-ridge mulch planting with biochar resulted in increased yield and decreased N2O fluxes per unit of yield, making it a promising technique for sustainable agriculture.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erastus Mak-Mensah, Peter Bilson Obour, Qi Wang
Summary: The ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting technique can effectively increase grain yields of sorghum and millet, with fertilization being particularly effective in boosting millet yields. Crop yields are significantly increased in heavy textured soils, while the use of mulching in tied-ridge-furrow systems may not show significant differences in comparison to flat planting.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qi Wang, Fuchun Li, Xiaole Zhao, Wucheng Zhao, Dengkui Zhang, Xujiao Zhou, David J. Sample, Xiaoyun Wang, Qinglin Liu, Xiaoling Li, Guang Li, Heling Wang, Kai Zhang, Jin Chen
Summary: Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) is effective in water conservation and soil protection in semiarid regions, but improper design may cause problems. Tied-ridging and open-ridging can reduce runoff and sediment transport, increase soil moisture, fodder yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). Increasing slope leads to increased runoff, sediment transport, and associated soil nutrient losses, while decreasing fodder yield and WUE.
INTERNATIONAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C-U. Kim, Y-H. Ryu, N-C O, J-N Ri
Summary: This paper conducts a feasibility study on a rainwater harvesting system in the Ryomyong street, Pyongyang, the DPR Korea, analyzing the runoff coefficient and reliability of buildings with green roofs and a rooftop greenhouse. The results show that the green roofs have an average annual runoff coefficient of 0.12 and monthly coefficients ranging from 0 (Jan.-Apr., Oct.-Dec.) to 0.58 (Jul.) over a period of 37 years. Additional rainwater collection is needed from other sources for irrigation in the greenhouse from December to June. The research findings suggest that both increasing tank volumes and catchment surface can improve the reliability of the rainwater harvesting system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Wentao Li, Hao Wang, Jinjun Zhou, Lin Yan, Zilong Liu, Yali Pang, Haijia Zhang, Tianyi Huang
Summary: This study focuses on the sponge construction of a residential area, using the Zi-Jing community as a case study. Through simulation using the SWMM model, the rainwater runoff control, collection, and utilization were analyzed and compared before and after the implementation of sponge transformation. The results showed that the sponge transformation effectively reduced surface runoff and increased surface water storage and infiltration. The study concludes that sponge transformation can effectively control rainwater runoff and improve the efficiency of rainwater storage and utilization.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qi Wang, Fuchun Li, Xiaole Zhao, Wucheng Zhao, Dengkui Zhang, Xujiao Zhou, David J. Sample, Xiaoyun Wang, Qinglin Liu, Xiaoling Li, Guang Li, Heling Wang, Kai Zhang, Jin Chen
Summary: Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) is effective in water conservation and soil protection in semiarid regions, but improper design may cause problems. Tied-ridging and open-ridging can reduce runoff and sediment transport, increase soil moisture, fodder yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). Increasing slope leads to increased runoff, sediment transport, and associated soil nutrient losses, while decreasing fodder yield and WUE.
INTERNATIONAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rafia Salifu, Zhen Zhang, Faisal Eudes Sam, Jixin Li, Teng-Zhen Ma, Jing Wang, Shun-Yu Han, Yu-Mei Jiang
Summary: This study investigated the effect of different fertilizers on the aroma accumulation of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, revealing that the type and ratio of fertilizer used had a significant impact on the aroma profile of the grapes.
JOURNAL OF BERRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Qi Wang, Dengkui Zhang, Xujiao Zhou, Erastus Mak-Mensah, Xiaole Zhao, Wucheng Zhao, Xiaoyun Wang, Dan Stellmach, Qinglin Liu, Xiaoling Li, Guang Li, Heling Wang, Kai Zhang
Summary: Soil desiccation is a significant challenge for subsistence farmers growing alfalfa in semi-arid regions. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of growing season, growing degree-days, and rainfall on alfalfa fodder yield. The study also examined the impact of mulching materials and ridge width on yield. Results showed that the length of growing season, rainfall, and growing degree-days influenced fodder yield. Additionally, the choice of mulching material and ridge width also had significant effects on yield.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Qi Wang, Xiaoyun Wang, Dengkui Zhang, Xujiao Zhou, Erastus Mak-Mensah, Xiaole Zhao, Wucheng Zhao, Philip Ghanney, Fasih Ullah Haider, Qinglin Liu, Guang Li, Xiaoling Li, Yongjun Li, Yasir Majeed
Summary: Ridge-furrow rainwater-harvesting technology is effective in mitigating drought stress, controlling soil erosion, and increasing crop yield in semiarid regions of China. This study found that ridges compacted with soil mixed with rice straw biochar had lower runoff coefficients and higher soil water storage, resulting in higher fodder yield and water use efficiency of alfalfa. Rice straw biochar at an application rate of 3 x 104 kg ha-1 was found to be suitable for increasing fodder yield and water use efficiency in RFRH.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Erastus Mak-Mensah, Frederick Kwame Yeboah, Peter Bilson Obour, Samaila Usman, Eunice Essel, Emily Patience Bakpa, Dengkui Zhang, Xujiao Zhou, Xiaoyun Wang, Xiaole Zhao, Wucheng Zhao, Qi Wang, Samuel Adingo, John K. Ahiakpa
Summary: Low crop productivity due to prolonged droughts, inappropriate water saving practices, low soil fertility, and soil erosion poses a significant threat to food security in semi-arid areas. The ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) technique, along with the incorporation of mulching (RFRH + M), is widely implemented to mitigate water deficiency problems. However, there is a lack of quantitative synthesis on the efficacy of incorporating mulching and biochar in the ridge and furrow system, as well as strategies for improving crop yield. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of integrating ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting systems with soil amendments, such as biochar or mulches, on crop yield and soil properties, and also examine the moderating effect of precipitation in different regions of China. The results showed that incorporating plastic film mulch and straw in ridge and furrow systems significantly increased crop yield in certain regions, while the effect was dependent on precipitation levels and soil properties.
PADDY AND WATER ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Theophilus Atio Abalori, Wenxia Cao, Conrad Atogi-Akwoa Weobong, Shilin Wang, Dominic Kwadwo Anning, Faisal Eudes Sam, Wanting Liu, Wenhu Wang
Summary: This study investigates the spatial variability of SOC and its fractions, as well as the stability of aggregates in alpine meadow grasslands along an elevation gradient. The findings suggest that global climate warming could affect SOC and soil aggregate stability by influencing aboveground biomass distribution.
CHILEAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Pingping Gao, Shuai Peng, Faisal Eudes Sam, Yatong Zhu, Lihong Liang, Min Li, Jing Wang
Summary: Non-Saccharomyces yeasts NM218 and BF345, when co-fermented with S. cerevisiae in sequential inoculation, can enhance the aroma complexity of wines, especially the floral and fruity aromas.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erastus Mak-Mensah, Wucheng Zhao, Xujiao Zhou, Dengkui Zhang, Xiaole Zhao, Qi Wang, Peter Bilson Obour
Summary: This study aims to investigate the effects of in situ water harvesting techniques and biochar on alfalfa and provide technical guidance for farmers.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Erastus Mak-Mensah, Wucheng Zhao, Xujiao Zhou, Dengkui Zhang, Xiaole Zhao, Qi Wang, Peter Bilson Obour
Summary: This study investigated the effects of rainwater harvesting technology and biochar on the yield and nutritional quality of alfalfa fodder in China's Loess Plateau. The results showed that ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting with biochar significantly increased alfalfa fodder yield and nutritional value.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dengkui Zhang, Qi Wang, Xujiao Zhou, Erastus Mak-Mensah, Wucheng Zhao, Xiaole Zhao, Xiaoyun Wang, Qinglin Liu
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different mulching materials and ridge widths on sainfoin production and found that using biochar-soil mixture can increase fodder yield, water use efficiency, and condensed tannin content of sainfoin.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jie Yang, Baopeng Xie, Shiying Wang, Degang Zhang, Changyu Liu, Erastus Mak-Mensah
Summary: This study estimated the service value of grassland ecosystems in the Yellow River Basin using the Constanza method. The results showed that soil conservation service provided by the grassland ecosystem had an advantage, with a total value of 100.82 billion Yuan. The adjustment service had the highest value, accounting for more than half of the total value. High-value areas were mainly located in the upper and lower reaches of the basin, while low-value areas were found in Ningxia, Hetao Plains, and most parts of the Loess Plateau.
Article
Soil Science
Erastus Mak-Mensah, Wucheng Zhao, Xujiao Zhou, Dengkui Zhang, Xiaole Zhao, Qi Wang, Peter Bilson Obour
Summary: In dryland areas, integrating biochar soil amendment and rainwater harvesting systems can effectively reduce soil erosion, improve soil quality, and increase crop productivity. This study examines the impact of maize straw biochar amendment and ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting systems on soil erosion, soil properties, and crop yield in a semiarid region. The results show that the combination of biochar and ridge-furrow systems can significantly reduce soil bulk density, runoff, and soil loss compared to the control. However, biochar application has varying effects on different soil properties. These findings highlight the potential of integrating biochar and tillage systems for sustainable crop production in semiarid areas.
SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jianfeng Wang, Yuqi Han, Chunxia Chen, Faisal Eudes Sam, Ruwen Guan, Kai Wang, Yu Zhang, Man Zhao, Changxia Chen, Xuan Liu, Yumei Jiang
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of benzothiadiazole (BTH) on the physicochemical properties and C6 compounds of Cabernet Gernischt grapes during ripening. The results showed that BTH treatment significantly improved the quality of ripe grapes and affected the levels of C6 compounds and enzyme activity.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jing Wang, Yuwen Ma, Faisal Eudes Sam, Pingping Gao, Lihong Liang, Shuai Peng, Min Li
Summary: Using sequential fermentation with Lachancea thermotolerans and Torulaspora delbrueckii yeasts can improve the acidity and quality of icewine by reducing volatile acidity, increasing lactic acid and glycerol content, and enhancing the concentration of aromatic compounds, resulting in icewines with fruity and floral aromas and higher aroma intensity.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Horticulture
Rafia Salifu, Chunxia Chen, Faisal Eudes Sam, Yumei Jiang
Summary: Elicitors are widely used in sustainable farming as alternatives to agrochemicals. In viticulture, they are recognized for their ability to control disease and improve the quality of phenolic compounds. However, the effects of elicitors on aroma compounds vary among different grape varieties.