Sustainability Science最新文献

{"title":"Cotton Straw Composting by Exogenous Microorganisms and the Improvement Effect on Desert Soil","authors":"Shu-heng Li, Qin Gao, Chao-Bing Luo, Wu Wang, Rui Zuo, Zhi-Guo Guo, Hongjun Xu, Jun Li, Hong Yu, Deqiang Li","doi":"10.3390/su18168388","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168388","url":null,"abstract":"Aerobic composting by microbial inoculation is a green and mild way to handle biomass. Here, three bacterial strains, including Bacillus halotolerans, Bacillus velezensis, and Bacillus subtilis, were compounded to obtain microbial agents, which were further used to obtain cotton straw compost. During this process, the influence of inoculation on cotton straw composting and the relatedness among its physicochemical properties are discussed. Results showed that inoculation extended the thermophilic period by 1–4 days and enhanced subsequent degradation of organic matter. The compost products were made to be fully decomposed, and the germination index (GI) of each treatment group all exceeded 80%. In particular, composting with microbial inoculants containing Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus halotolerans (1:1, treatment PM63-CS) resulted in higher total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), and humic acid (HA) contents. The influence of microbial agents on structural changes in resultant cotton straw compost was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and N2 adsorption–desorption techniques. Analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that inoculation improved the richness and diversity of the bacterial community. The interactions between microorganisms and environmental factors facilitated organic matter degradation and humification, which collectively influenced compost maturity. Furthermore, the application of PM63-CS to desertified soil improvement effectively enhanced the nutrient content of sandy soil and promoted the growth of cotton plants. In summary, the composite bacterial agent developed in this study can effectively improve the quality and maturity of compost products, potentially providing a feasible microbial-enhanced composting approach for the resource utilization of cotton straw.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"18 16","pages":"8388-8388"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148861336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Bacterial–Microalgal–Manure Co-Application Ameliorates Saline-Alkali Soil and Promotes Wheat Growth","authors":"Ren Liu, Li Liu, Teng Ren, Jin Liu, Shengkang Tu, Shunping Zhang, Qincheng Chen, Lumei Wang, Guoqing Shen","doi":"10.3390/su18168400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168400","url":null,"abstract":"Severely saline–alkaline land degradation poses a considerable challenge to sustainable agriculture, owing to high salinity, elevated pH, and nutrient deficiency. To address this, a salt-tolerant nitrogen-fixing bacterium (Bacillus sp.) and a microalga (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) were applied—alone, in combination, or with sheep manure—in a pot experiment with six treatments to examine their individual and combined effects on soil amelioration and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Jinchun 6) growth. We specifically assessed whether the three-component system outperforms single or dual applications. The bacterial–algal co-inoculation (BA) markedly outperformed single inoculations: shoot biomass increased by 117% and soil organic matter (SOM) by 130%, compared with the control. BA also alleviated oxidative stress, as evidenced by reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content and elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations confirmed tight bacterial attachment to algal surfaces. Incorporating sheep manure (BAM) further enhanced these benefits, achieving the lowest pH and electrical conductivity (EC), the highest SOM and available-nutrients, and the greatest wheat biomass. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that BAM increased microbial diversity, shifted community structure, and enriched beneficial genera (Sphingomonas, Flavihumibacter, and Fuscovulum) that were positively correlated with soil nutrient availability and plant stress tolerance, while the halophilic genus Halomonas declined. Collectively, the bacteria–algae–manure co-application establishes positive feedback between soil improvement and functional microbiome recruitment, offering a promising strategy for the remediation of severely saline–alkaline soil.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"18 16","pages":"8400-8400"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148861337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interpreting Spatial Structure, Visual Axes and Borrowed Scenery of Sui–Tang Luoyang Within the Historic Urban Landscape Framework","authors":"Xiaohan Li, Yong Adilah Shamsul Harumain, Ahmad Fawwaz Ahmad Saleh","doi":"10.3390/su18052547","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052547","url":null,"abstract":"Sui–Tang Luoyang represents a classic achievement in Chinese capital planning, yet research remains dominated by archaeological and historical–geographical approaches, lacking a unifying theoretical framework. This research addresses this gap by applying the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach to systematically interpret the city’s integration of built form and natural landscape. This research developed a three-dimensional analytical scheme comprising spatial structure, visual axis, and borrowed scenery and implemented it using historical documents, archaeological data, GIS, and cross-validation methods. The results reconstruct the city’s triple spatial structure (Palace City, Imperial City, Outer City) and identify a near-north–south central axis that connects the palace with the Longmen Yique and Mount Mang, forming a dominant view corridor and ritual sequence. Further analysis examines how multi-layered borrowed scenery embodies and articulates the traditional “Harmony of Nature and Humanity” philosophy. This research supports the plausibility of the applicability of HUL to sites with scarce surface remains and provides a transferable framework for the holistic conservation, view-corridor management, and digital reconstruction of historic cities.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"18 5","pages":"2547-2547"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/5/2547/pdf?version=1772707664","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147879497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research on the Toxic Effects of Water Treatment By-Product N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) on Juvenile Crucian Carp","authors":"Fei Xu, Cuimei Li, Hao Wang, Fan Zhang","doi":"10.3390/su18042006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su18042006","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"18 4","pages":"2006"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147382031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing Endophytic Fungi for Sustainable Agriculture: Interactions with Soil Microbiome and Soil Health in Arable Ecosystems","authors":"Afrin Sadia, Arifur Rahman Munshi, Ryota Kataoka","doi":"10.3390/su18020872","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020872","url":null,"abstract":"Sustainable food production for a growing population requires farming practices that reduce chemical inputs while maintaining soil as a living, renewable foundation for productivity. This review synthesizes current advances in understanding how endophytic fungi (EFs) interact with the soil microbiome and contribute to the physicochemical and biological dimensions of soil health in arable ecosystems. We examine evidence showing that EFs enhance plant nutrition through phosphate solubilization, siderophore-mediated micronutrient acquisition, and improved nitrogen use efficiency while also modulating plant hormones and stress-responsive pathways. EFs further increase crop resilience to drought, salinity, and heat; suppress pathogens; and influence key soil properties including aggregation, organic matter turnover, and microbial network stability. Recent integration of multi-omics, metabolomics, and community-level analyses has shifted the field from descriptive surveys toward mechanistic insight, revealing how EFs regulate nutrient cycling and remodel rhizosphere communities toward disease-suppressive and nutrient-efficient states. A central contribution of this review is the linkage of EF-mediated plant functions with soil microbiome dynamics and soil structural processes framed within a translational pipeline encompassing strain selection, formulation, delivery, and field scale monitoring. We also highlight current challenges, including context-dependent performance, competition with native microbiota, and formulation and deployment constraints that limit consistent outcomes under field conditions. By bridging microbial ecology with agronomy, this review positions EFs as biocontrol agents, biofertilizers, and ecosystem engineers with strong potential for resilient, low-input, and climate-adaptive cropping systems.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"18 2","pages":"872-872"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/2/872/pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147907095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bio-Based Self-Assembly and Hydrophobic Modification for Simultaneously Enhancing Flame Retardancy and Water Resistance of Wood","authors":"Yiran Li, Hui Zhou, Kaili Zhang","doi":"10.3390/su18010520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010520","url":null,"abstract":"As an important renewable building material, wood’s flammability significantly limits its application range. This study addresses the environmental pollution issues associated with traditional flame retardants by developing an eco-friendly flame retardant system based on natural biomaterials. Utilizing layer-by-layer self-assembly techniques, sodium phytate, chitosan, sodium alginate, and sodium methyl silicate were sequentially deposited onto the wood surface to construct a multifunctional composite coating. A multifunctional composite coating was constructed on wood surfaces through layer-by-layer self-assembly technology, involving successive deposition of phytic acid sodium, chitosan, sodium alginate, and methyl silicate sodium. Characterization results indicated that the optimized sample WPCSMH achieved a limiting oxygen index of 34.0%, representing a 12% increase compared to untreated wood. Cone calorimetry tests revealed that its peak heat release rate and total heat release were reduced by 57.1% and 25.3%, respectively. Additionally, contact angle measurements confirmed its excellent hydrophobic properties, with an initial contact angle of 111°. Mechanistic analysis reveals that this system significantly enhances flame retardant performance through a synergistic interaction of three mechanisms: gas phase flame retardancy, condensed phase flame retardancy, and free radical scavenging. This research provides a sustainable and innovative pathway for developing environmentally friendly, multifunctional wood-based composites.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"18 1","pages":"520-520"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/1/520/pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147890946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating lock-ins for adaptation: A case study of grid capacity planning in the Dutch energy transition.","authors":"Hazal Deniz Kaya, Martijn Leijten, Daan Schraven, Paul W Chan","doi":"10.1007/s11625-025-01793-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11625-025-01793-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lock-ins are typically seen as barriers to sustainability transitions, particularly in the energy sector, where they can impede the radical changes needed for decarbonization. This study, however, argues that lock-ins can also act as catalysts for innovation within grid operators' operational practices. Focusing on a Distribution System Operator (DSO) in Central-North Netherlands, the research explores how material, behavioural, and institutional lock-ins influence grid capacity planning for energy transition. Using a qualitative system dynamics methodology, the study reveals how these lock-ins contribute to grid congestion and delayed infrastructure development, but they also create pressure for adaptive change through three key mechanisms: (i) reframing questions, (ii) reorienting synergies between actors, and (iii) rediscovering solutions. These efforts have shifted the organization's focus from reliability to flexibility, restructured internal operations to manage congestion, and enhanced collaboration with customers, regional authorities, and other energy system actors. However, challenges remain, including the need for a more innovation-driven organizational culture, stronger cooperation between regional and national grid operators, and greater public engagement in congestion management. By framing these findings within the tactical level of sustainability transition management-where strategy meets operations-this study demonstrates how electricity infrastructure can respond to lock-in conditions through adaptive strategies that turn systemic constraints into drivers for innovation, fostering more sustainable and resilient energy systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"21 3","pages":"1193-1217"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13179252/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147965037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A method to identify positive tipping points to accelerate low-carbon transitions and actions to trigger them.","authors":"Timothy M Lenton, Thomas W R Powell, Steven R Smith, Frank W Geels, Floor Alkemade, Martina Ayoub, Pete Barbrook-Johnson, Scarlett Benson, Fenna Blomsma, Chris A Boulton, Joshua E Buxton, Sara M Constantino, Sibel Eker, Kai Greenlees, Thomas Homer-Dixon, Kelly Levin, Michael B Mascia, Femke J M M Nijsse, Ilona M Otto, Viktoria Spaiser, Simon Sharpe, Talia Smith","doi":"10.1007/s11625-025-01704-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11625-025-01704-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Meeting the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to \"well below 2 °C\" requires a radical acceleration of action, as the global economy is decarbonising at least five times too slowly. Tipping points, where low-carbon transitions become self-propelling, could be key to achieving the necessary acceleration. We deem these normatively 'positive', because they can limit considerable, inequitable harms from global warming and help achieve sustainability. Some positive tipping points, such as the UK's elimination of coal power, have already been reached at national and sectoral scales. The challenge now is to credibly identify further potential positive tipping points, and the actions that can bring them forward, whilst avoiding wishful thinking about their existence, or oversimplification of their nature, drivers, and impacts. Hence, we propose a methodology for identifying potential positive tipping points, assessing their proximity, identifying the factors that can influence them, and the actions that can trigger them. Building on relevant research, this 'identifying positive tipping points' (IPTiP) methodology aims to establish a common framework that we invite fellow researchers to help refine, and practitioners to apply. To that end, we offer suggestions for further work to improve it and make it more applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"21 1","pages":"201-220"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12819444/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146031389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differentiated characteristics, sustainability performance and preferences among small-scale aquaculture producers: implications for sustainable intensification.","authors":"Eric Brako Dompreh, Quanli Wang, Jie Su, Rodolfo Dam Lam, Benoy Kumar Barman, Cristiano M Rossignoli, Alexandros Gasparatos","doi":"10.1007/s11625-025-01703-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11625-025-01703-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inland aquaculture is becoming an important source of animal-based protein in many low- and middle-income countries of Asia. In several of these countries such as Bangladesh the inland aquaculture sector is dominated by small-scale producers that rely on unimproved production practices. However, the heterogeneity of these producers is not well understood, leading to assumptions of low variability in both the underlying characteristics of aquaculture production systems, as well as their sustainability performance. This in turn can  lead to the ineffective design and implementation of interventions and policies for the sustainable intensification of the sector. This study explores the differentiated characteristics, sustainability performance and preferences among carp producers in Bangladesh. We focus on Bangladesh as it is the 5th largest inland aquaculture producer globally, with the sector contributing significantly to livelihoods and food security. We undertake comprehensive in person surveys with 4540 carp producers across 54 regions of the country. We use 18 production variables to develop a nuanced typology of carp production systems using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering Approach (HCA). We then assess whether these production systems have significantly different sustainability performance across eight socioeconomic and environmental indicators. Finally, we elicit the preferences of producers for improved carp species through three choice experiments. Overall, we identify four major types of  carp production systems, characterized by very different production characteristics, sustainability performance and preferences for improved fish species attributes. Collectively, our results provide a nuanced picture of the carp aquaculture sector in Bangladesh, which moves beyond simple binaries (e.g., commercial vs. subsistence; intensive vs. extensive; large-scale vs. small-scale). This information can inform the development and implementation of fit-for-purpose interventions for the sustainable intensification of the sector.</p><p><strong>Supplementary information: </strong>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11625-025-01703-w.</p>","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"21 1","pages":"325-346"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12819504/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146031449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the role of higher education institutions in regional sustainability transitions: a systematic literature review and research agenda.","authors":"Ines Hinterleitner, Gesa Pflitsch, Marianne Penker, Sabine Sedlacek, Verena Radinger-Peer","doi":"10.1007/s11625-025-01736-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11625-025-01736-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Due to pressing sustainability challenges, our society is in urgent need for innovations and new knowledge. Higher education institutions (HEIs) as institutions of education and knowledge production are attributed a leading role in the sustainability endeavor. In recent years, the topic of the contributions of HEIs to regional sustainability transitions (RST) has received increasing attention, resulting in rising numbers of literature published. However, due to its position at the interface of different research fields, the knowledge on the role of HEIs in RST is heterogeneous and scattered. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature on HEIs' role in RST from 2007 onwards. The purpose of the paper is to identify how this role is conceptualized and empirically investigated and to understand better which challenges HEIs are facing and what kinds of drivers enable them to take over this role. The results are aligned along with role characteristics (actors, activities, drivers, challenges, and impacts), which provide in-depth insights into how this role is conceptualized. The authors deduced one role of HEIs in RST with three dimensions from the existing literature: Sustainable Regional Operations, Community Empowerment, and Regional Sustainability Policy. HEI students, faculty, leadership and management as well as a diverse range of regional actors are engaged in the enactment of this role and its three dimensions through educational, research, and outreach activities. However, these activities are rarely institutionalized and therefore depend on the engagement of individuals and the support of the HEI leadership. Based on these results, the authors propose further avenues of research which have the potential to better characterize the role of HEIs in RST including the perspective of who decides within HEIs on the role and the evolution of this role over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"21 1","pages":"381-400"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12819541/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146031423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}