Combined effect of salinity and zinc nutrition on some physiological and biochemical properties of rosemary

Salinity and reducing its destructive effects on plant, soil, and water is among the most important challenges in agricultural lands. This study aims to evaluate the effect of zinc (Zn) and salinity on some physiological and biochemical properties of rosemary. A greenhouse experiment with two levels of Zn (0 and 20 mg kg−1) and salinity of sodium chloride (0, 60, and 120 mM) in a completely randomized design was used. Salinity decreased dry weight and concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, and Zn in rosemary shoots. However, it increased electrolyte leakage, shoot sodium concentration, phenolic compounds, and catalase activity. Zinc application increased rosemary dry weight by 13% and 9% under salinity levels of 0 and 60 mM NaCl, respectively. However, at higher salinity level (120 mM), it could not ameliorate the negative impact of salinity. Zinc improved the growth of rosemary under salinity stress by increasing the cell membrane stability, increasing shoot K, Ca, Mg, and Zn concentrations, and decreasing shoot Na concentration. The concentration of phenolic compounds in the leaves of rosemary grown under the salinity levels of 0 and 60 mM NaCl increased under the influence of Zn application. Nevertheless, the phenolic content remained unchanged under 120 mM NaCl salinity level. In this study, Zn addition increased catalase activity under all salinity levels. According to the results, optimum soil Zn application can be considered as an efficient and rapid solution for increasing rosemary growth and its tolerance to salinity stress

Adsorptive removal of phosphorus from aqueous solutions using natural and modified coal solid wastes

An invaluable utilization approach for industrial wastes is to employ them as effective adsorbents for environmental pollutants. This study aimed to investigate the phosphorus (P) adsorption behavior of coal wastes and zeolite in three forms of pristine powder (CP and ZP), nanoparticles (CNP and ZNP), and Fe (III)-modified nanoparticles (MCNP and MZNP). The adsorbents were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. The effects of pH, initial P concentration, and contact time were studied under batch mode. Results showed an optimum pH range of 2–6 for the P adsorption process. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm described the P adsorption data well. The P adsorption capacity of the studied adsorbents was enhanced after modifications. However, the coal-based modified adsorbents represented higher P adsorption performances rather than the zeolite ones. The maximum P adsorption capacity (Qmax) values were obtained as 0.36, 3.23, and 30.48 mg g−1 for CP, CNP, and MCNP, and 0.80, 2.84, and 6.99 mg g−1 for ZP, ZNP, and MZNP, respectively. The surface complexation, ligand exchange, and electrostatic attraction processes were identified as the main P adsorption mechanisms by the studied adsorbents. HIGHLIGHTS Phosphorus nano-adsorbents were derived from coal solid wastes.; The FeCl3-modified adsorbents effectively removed the aquatic phosphorus.; Adsorption process was pH-dependent and dominated by chemisorption.; A sustainable approach in waste management and environmental protection was suggested.