Yağmur Uysal, Zeynep Görkem Doğaroğlu, Zehranur Çaylali & Mehmet Nuri Makas

Purpose Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in hydrogel production and usability at different fields especially agricultural applications since biodegradable polymeric hydrogels can enhance the water retention capacity of soil and the nutritional status of plants. This work aimed to determine the biochar-doped hydrogel production and their swelling properties in deionized water, tap water, and saline water 0.5% and 1%. It was also evaluated that the phytotoxicological impacts on wheat seeds.

Method The hydrogel production was realized using PVA-SA polymers and it contained different amounts of biochar from vineyard pruning wastes, dry leaves, and compost. The characterization analysis of the synthesized biochars, biochar-doped hydrogels, and raw hydrogels was realized by FT-IR and SEM. The swelling capacity, time-dependent swelling kinetics, re-swelling properties, and wheat germination and root-shoot elongation impacts of synthesized hydrogels were evaluated.

Results and conclusion The hydrogels contained three types of biochar and showed different swelling properties in different aqueous media. The maximum and the minimum swelling capacity was determined in saline water (0.5% and 1%) and deionized water, respectively. The maximum time-dependent swelling capacity was determined at 0.1% leaf (as 193.2%) and vine pruning (as 142.6%) biochar-doped hydrogels, and 0.2% compost (128.93%) biochar-doped hydrogels. The phytotoxicological test results showed that the shoot length decreased by 42.06% for 0.4% LBHG, 27.5% for 0.4% VBHG, and 23.91% for 0.2% CBHG treatment. For hydrogel production, the threshold and eco-toxicological properties should be well determined for hydrogel and hydrogel additives.

Journal of Soils and Sediments 23, 3787–3805 (2023)

João Prada, Lia-Tânia Dinis, Elia Soriato, ElodieVandelle, Oğuzhan Soletkin, Şener Uysal, Abdelhi Dihazi, Conceição Santos & João A. Santos

The global increase in extreme weather and climate events may dramatically impact agriculture, food safety, and socioeconomic dynamics. The Mediterranean basin is already exposed to extreme climatic events, severely challenging viticulture, a pivotal Mediterranean agro–industry. This study aims to understand better how climate is expected to evolve in six viticulturally important Mediterranean regions in Portugal, Italy, Turkey and Morocco, using a 4–member ensemble of climatic model projections under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 for 2041–2070, and using the 1981–2010 period as a baseline. By comparing the main specific challenges these locations will face, we comparatively define the best strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change at the national and regional levels. Projections show increases in overall temperatures, up to + 3.6°C than the historical baseline, whilst precipitation projections indicate decreases that could reach 36% of the overall annual precipitation. Biological effective degree days, consecutive dry days, growing season length, tropical nights, or very heavy precipitation days, also show challenging prospects for viticulture in these countries. A screening of the adaptative strategies already undertaken in the studied countries suggests that growers are taking reactive rather than preventive strategies. Moreover, the discussion of the most suitable strategies in this study is region–specific, i.e., prioritised by the specific needs of each location. The conclusions drawn herein may support local growers, improving their decision–making based on the most adequate adaptive strategies to their conditions, thus optimising their sustainable production under changing climates.

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 29, 52 (2024)

Cátia Brito, Sandra Pereira, Sanda Martins, Ana Monteiro, José Manuel Moutinho-Pereira, Lia Dinis

In the face of escalating climate change impacts, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations present a comprehensive blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. The wine industry, with its extensive global reach and significant economic impact, holds a unique position to contribute toward these goals. This review examines how the wine industry can, directly and indirectly, support all 17 SDGs through a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating extensive literature analysis. The study explores the alignment of wine industry practices with the SDGs across three key pillars: social, environmental, and governance goals. Social initiatives focus on enhancing livelihoods, food security, fair and safe working conditions, inclusive and ethical development among the workers and communities, education, and economic growth. Environmental efforts emphasize reducing the industry’s carbon footprint, conserving water, improving water and energy use efficiency, improving grapevine resilience against adverse environmental conditions, minimizing pollution, protecting biodiversity, creating more sustainable cities, and promoting moderate wine consumption. Governance goals highlight the importance of regulatory frameworks, wine industry standards, and stakeholder engagement in promoting sustainable, responsible and ethical practices, contributing to effective partnerships and institutional capacity. Conclusions highlight the wine industry’s commitment to sustainability as a catalyst for positive change, demonstrating that profitability and environmental stewardship can coexist. Future perspectives call for enhanced collaboration, research, education, supportive policies, robust monitoring, and equality initiatives. By embracing sustainable practices, the wine industry can play a vital role in advancing the global agenda for a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future.

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 8, 1437872 (2024)

Yağmur Uysal, Zeynep Görkem Doğaroğlu, Mehmet Nuri Makas, Zehranur Çaylali

Water scarcity presents a formidable challenge to agriculture, particularly in arid, semiarid, and rainfed settings. In agricultural contexts, hydrogels serve as granular agents for water retention, undergoing considerable expansion upon water exposure. They assume versatile roles encompassing soil-water retention, the dispensation of nutrients and pesticides, seed encapsulation, erosion mitigation, and even food supplementation. This study's objective involves the examination of biochar-infused hydrogels, fashioned by incorporating vine pruning waste-derived biochars, and the assessment of swelling behaviors in various aqueous environments encompassing deionized, tap, and saline water at concentrations of 0.5–1%. Characterizations of the vine-biochars-VB and biochar-incorporated hydrogels-VBHG are executed, with particular attention to their swelling properties across diverse media. As an initial step toward appraising their agricultural relevance, these hydrogels are introduced to a germination medium featuring wheat seeds to discern potential influences on germination dynamics. The maximum swelling capacity of VBHG is recorded in deionized water, tap water at pH 7.0, tap water at pH 9.0, saline water at 0.5%, and saline water at 1%, reaching 352%, 207%, 230%, 522%, and 549%, respectively. Remarkably, the 0.5% VBHG treatment exhibits the most pronounced root elongation. The application of hydrogels in agriculture exhibits promise, particularly within drought-related contexts and potential soilless applications.

Global challenges 8, 2300254 (2024)