International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Low-carbon stabilization of granular pavement bases: a combined mechanical and life cycle assessment","authors":"M. Y. Fattah,&nbsp;A. A. Al-Dossary,&nbsp;A. M. Awed,&nbsp;A. R. Gabr,&nbsp;K. R. Al-Khafaji,&nbsp;S. M. El-Badawy","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07415-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07415-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The increasing demand for environmentally responsible pavement materials has driven the exploration of alternative binders and recycled additives capable of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions without compromising structural performance. This study evaluates the mechanical behavior and environmental impact of unbound granular base (UGB) stabilized with cement (4%), geopolymer (7.5%), fine rubber (1.5%), and coarse rubber (0.5%). A comprehensive experimental program was conducted using consolidated drained triaxial testing under both saturated and unsaturated conditions to assess cohesion (c), internal friction angle (φ), and stress–strain response. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed using cradle-to-gate system boundaries to quantify global warming potential (GWP) in terms of CO₂ equivalents, supported by a comparative cost analysis. Results indicate that geopolymer and rubber additives improved shear strength relative to untreated UGB, with fine rubber showing the most significant enhancement in cohesion and frictional resistance at its optimal dosage. Although excessive additive content reduced strength, all treated mixtures satisfied ASTM D4767 requirements for pavement base and subbase applications. LCA results identified heavy goods vehicle (HGV) transport as the dominant emission source across all mixtures, followed by cement production. Replacing 4% cement with 7.5% geopolymer reduced GWP by 35.5%, while fine and coarse rubber mixtures achieved reductions of 23.6–27.2%. Cost analysis indicated savings of 23.7–30.5% for rubberized mixtures relative to cement stabilization, with geopolymer also demonstrating competitive economic performance. Overall, geopolymer stabilization provides the most balanced solution in terms of mechanical performance, environmental impact, and cost, highlighting its potential as a low-carbon alternative for pavement base applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Algalbio-stimulants: recycling waste streams to improve crop quality and mitigate environmental impact","authors":"S. Banerjee,&nbsp;D. Brency,&nbsp;S. T. Shaik,&nbsp;S. V. Manda","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07392-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07392-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Sustainable research into bio-fertilizers and bio-stimulants made from microalgae has become more important thanks to sustainable agriculture. Microalgae produce a broad spectrum of phytohormones, amino acids and polysaccharides, directly benefiting plants by supporting root activity, increase nutrition uptake, enhance abiotic stress tolerance and contribute to soil organic matter enrichment. Algal cultivation systems (eg: open ponds and wetlands) enhance water retention and regulates runoff, contributing to flood mitigation in agricultural landscapes. This supports a circular economy through the utilization of nutrient rich agricultural &amp; industrial runoffs, atmospheric CO₂ capture, and reduction of wastewater disposal. This approach directly addresses several of the United Nation Sustainable Goals (UNSDGs) on Clean Water and sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12). Nevertheless, technological limitations must be solved before it can be adopted at large scale. As waste streams become more turbid, photosynthesis is affected, so new reactor styles, mixing techniques and light settings are under investigation. At the end of the process, costly harvesting and dewatering still play a big role which is encouraging efforts toward magnetic flocculation, electro-flotation, low-pressure membrane filtration and solar-assisted drying. Scale-up studies on testing both in fields and industrial settings to assess biomass supply depending on real-life climate changes and soil types are inevitable. By using different areas of expertise and thorough in-field testing, microalgae solutions can help build a truly sustainable agriculture industry. This manuscript systematically includes literature published in the last 20 years with a focus on major developments over the last decade by exploring different databases, employing relevant keyword. In contrast to previous studies, this article incorporates both waste stream valorization and reactor engineering issues, as well as field-scale applicability, providing a complete connection between laboratory research and field implementation. Also, the paper discusses the potential of algal-bio-stimulants as sustainable alternatives to commercial fertilizers and highlights their role in improving crop productivity with simultaneous recycling and remediation of waste streams.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Phosphate sludge valorization in geopolymer engineering: a scientometric and critical review","authors":"D. Ahoudi,&nbsp;H. El Harouachi,&nbsp;S. Maliki,&nbsp;R. Hakkou,&nbsp;A. El Aatiaoui,&nbsp;M. Elgettafi,&nbsp;C. Bai,&nbsp;M. Loutou","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07407-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07407-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Phosphate mining and beneficiation processes generate substantial quantities of phosphate sludge, whose accumulation and disposal pose significant environmental challenges. In line with circular economy principles, the valorization of this waste as a geopolymer precursor offers a promising route for its sustainable management while reducing the consumption of virgin raw materials. This review offers a critical and scientometric assessment of the current research on phosphate sludge-based geopolymers. Relevant literature was collected from major scientific databases and analyzed to categorize research trends, knowledge gaps, and emerging developments in the field. Particular attention was given to the physicochemical characteristics of phosphate sludge, the mechanisms of alkali activation and geopolymerization, and the influence of sludge composition on the microstructure and performance of geopolymeric materials. The available studies indicated that phosphate sludge can be successfully incorporated into geopolymer matrices, producing materials with promising mechanical properties and potential applications in sustainable construction. However, several challenges remained, including feedstock variability, durability performance, environmental safety, and large-scale implementation. The findings highlighted the significant potential of phosphate sludge valorization through geopolymer technology while emphasizing the need for further research on process optimization, long-term durability, life-cycle assessment, and industrial-scale applications to support sustainable waste management and resource recovery.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Matrix-dependent UVC/H2O2 degradation of pharmaceuticals in reverse osmosis concentrate","authors":"I. R. S. Feitosa,&nbsp;B. C. Vizioli,&nbsp;L. M. O. Cruz,&nbsp;J. R. Guimarães,&nbsp;C. C. Montagner","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07416-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07416-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Reverse osmosis is widely applied as an advanced treatment technology due to its high efficiency in removing organic micropollutants from wastewater. However, this process inevitably produces a residue with a high contaminant load, posing environmental challenges and requiring effective post-treatment strategies. In this study, the photoperoxidation process was investigated for the degradation of six pharmaceuticals (acetaminophen, caffeine, naproxen, progesterone, sulfathiazole, and testosterone) in reverse osmosis concentrate and other complex aqueous matrices to assess matrix-driven effects on process efficiency. Experiments in ultrapure water showed negligible removal by UVA photolysis and H₂O₂ alone, whereas UVC irradiation promoted compound-dependent degradation. UVC-photoperoxidation significantly enhanced removal efficiency, and under optimized conditions (UVC/H₂O₂ 0.87 mmol L⁻¹), all pharmaceuticals were degraded within 40 min. Matrix composition strongly governed degradation efficiency. In reverse osmosis concentrate, all compounds were efficiently degraded within 30 min. Similar rapid degradation was observed in the post-Membrane Bioreactor effluent. In contrast, matrices with high dissolved organic matter content, such as surface water and solutions containing elevated humic acid concentrations, strongly inhibited degradation due to UV light attenuation and radical scavenging. Low humic acid accelerated degradation, underscoring dissolved organic matter’s dual role. Naproxen was the least persistent compound, whereas acetaminophen was the most persistent. In saline matrix such as reverse osmosis concentrate, efficient degradation was observed despite elevated conductivity, suggesting the contribution of additional oxidative pathways. Overall, the results show that the matrix composition plays a decisive role in degradation efficiency, emphasizing the need to consider the characteristics of the water when evaluating advanced oxidation processes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13762-026-07416-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Exploring the power of activated carbon from rice hulls for the efficient removal of Diclofenac from water","authors":"R. Pahunang,&nbsp;J. C. Jarap,&nbsp;E. J. Gayramon,&nbsp;I. D. V. Mantantuan,&nbsp;M. Tizo,&nbsp;R. J. Labadan,&nbsp;R. Arazo","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07401-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07401-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The increasing presence of pharmaceutical contaminants, such as Diclofenac, in aquatic environments presents a critical environmental and public health challenge, as conventional wastewater treatment methods often fail to remove these persistent pollutants effectively. This study addresses this issue by investigating rice hull-derived activated carbon as a cost-effective and sustainable adsorbent for Diclofenac removal, leveraging the abundant availability of rice hulls as an agricultural byproduct. The rice hulls were chemically activated with nitric acid to enhance surface area and porosity and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, which identified hydroxyl, carboxyl, and aromatic groups, and Scanning Electron Microscopy, which confirmed their porous structure. Adsorption experiments optimized using Central Composite Design under Response Surface Methodology identified optimum conditions as 35 ppm Diclofenac concentration, 0.75 g adsorbent dose, and 30 min contact time. Isotherm modeling indicated that the Freundlich model best described the adsorption process, suggesting a heterogeneous surface and a multilayer adsorption mechanism. With an adsorption capacity of 13.45 mg/g, the study highlights the potential of rice hull-derived activated carbon as a viable and sustainable solution for pharmaceutical removal, addressing both water pollution and agriwaste management. Future research should focus on scaling up production, testing performance in real wastewater, and exploring adsorbent regeneration to ensure long-term feasibility in water treatment systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Waste-to-resource valorization of babassu biomass: biochar integrated with ceramic microfiltration for oily water treatment","authors":"H. L. Lira,&nbsp;L. P. S. Rosa,&nbsp;J. P. L. Santos,&nbsp;G. F. Silva","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07389-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07389-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Produced water from oil production contains high levels of suspended solids, hydrocarbons, and salts, requiring efficient treatment before reuse or discharge. This study proposes a hybrid system integrating adsorption using babassu coconut biochar with ceramic microfiltration to treat real produced water from the Rabo Branco field in Brazil. A comprehensive characterization was performed for both the biochar (surface area, pore volume, TGA, SEM, FTIR, elemental composition, and true density) and the produced water (oil and grease, turbidity, total solids, pH, conductivity, and salinity) before and after treatment. The biochar exhibited a high specific surface area (304.79 m²/g) and a micro–mesoporous structure (pore volume: 0.18 cm³/g; average pore size: 1.88 nm). Powdered biochar reduced oil and grease content (OGC) from 429.8 to 9.8 mg/L, enabling stable membrane performance with permeate fluxes of 210–220 L/m² h. Across three real produced water samples, turbidity removal reached 99.88–99.99%, with final values between 0.02 and 0.6 NTU. OGC removal reached 100%. Total solids decreased by 10–13%, while conductivity and salinity declined by 9–12%. These results demonstrate the high efficiency of the system, strong fouling control and high reproducibility. The novelty of this study lies in the use of babassu biochar in a continuous-flow hybrid system, an approach that appears to be scarcely explored in the literature. The system offers a low-cost, scalable, and sustainable solution for produced water treatment, with potential for industrial application. By valorizing agro-industrial residues and enhancing effluent reuse, this approach supports environmental protection and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13762-026-07389-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Water-based emulsion of mustard seed meal extract: a sustainable strategy for weed management in wheat","authors":"Poornima,&nbsp;P. Kaur,&nbsp;N. Kaur,&nbsp;K. Kaur,&nbsp;H. Kaur","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07381-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07381-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The present study investigated the herbicidal potential, bioactivity and environmental behaviour of water-based emulsions derived from mustard (<i>Brassica juncea</i> L.) seed meal as a sustainable alternative to synthetic herbicides. Seed meal obtained through Soxhlet, screw expeller and supercritical fluid extraction was evaluated for their phytochemical profile, and their water, ethanol and methanol extracts were screened for phytotoxicity. Among these, the aqueous extract of Soxhlet-derived seed meal showed superior activity, inhibiting germination of weeds associated with <i>Triticum aestivum </i>viz<i>. Avena ludoviciana</i> and <i>Phalaris minor</i> (resistant and sensitive biotypes) by 25.10 ± 1.02 to 85.0 ± 1.1% without affecting <i>T. aestivum</i>. Enhanced herbicidal efficacy was attributed to the synergistic action of phytochemicals and isothiocyanates, which were absent in solvent extracts of other seed meals. Emulsion formulations further improved efficacy, reducing weed germination at lower concentrations with IC₅₀ ranging from 0.64 ± 0.04 to 0.81 ± 0.03%. Pot experiments confirmed 61.70 ± 0.37 to 80.0 ± 1.2% weed suppression at 45% concentration. Bioactivity assays indicated increased seed imbibition (up to 27.33 ± 0.22%) and membrane leakage (up to 9.09 ± 0.13%), suggesting early physiological disruption. Environmental fate studies showed rapid soil degradation (DT₅₀ = 3.53 days) and transient effects on soil dehydrogenase activity. Overall, mustard seed meal–based emulsions provided effective and selective weed control with favourable environmental behaviour.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Comparative analysis of response surface and neural network models for azo dye decolorization by immobilized Trametes versicolor","authors":"H. Beatriz-Cuellar,&nbsp;M. E. Contla-Ubaldo,&nbsp;I. de la Luz Membrillo-Venegas,&nbsp;M. García-Rivero,&nbsp;M. A. Martínez-Trujillo","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07413-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07413-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Synthetic dyes discharged in textile wastewater are highly resistant to conventional treatment methods, requiring the development of efficient degradation technologies. This study investigated the decolorization of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) by <i>Trametes versicolor</i> immobilized on jute through a combined experimental, modeling, and optimization approach. A Central Composite Design evaluated the effects of glucose and RB5 concentrations on decolorization, enzyme activities (lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase), sorption capacity, and COD reduction. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were compared for predictive capability. Results showed the immobilized fungal system operates through coupled adsorption and enzymatic biodegradation. ANN outperformed RSM across all evaluated responses, particularly for decolorization (R²= 0.9978 vs. 0.9245), COD reduction (R²= 0.9748 vs. 0.5286), and Lac-AUC (R²= 0.9988 vs. 0.4229), indicating its greater ability to capture nonlinear behavior in the immobilized fungal system. ANN-derived response surfaces revealed nonlinear response patterns and localized regions that were consistent with the experimentally observed adsorption-biodegradation sequence. Experimental validation under the ANN and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) optimized conditions achieved approximately 98% RB5 decolorization within 150 h, with COD reduction close to 91%, accompanied by sequential LiP, Lac, and MnP activity and progressive decreases in the RB5 absorbance peaks at 596, 311, and 257 nm. This work demonstrates that ANN-assisted modeling combined with systematic experimental design and PSO improves predictive accuracy and reveals nonlinear response patterns that complement mechanistic interpretation, supporting the development of effective fungal-based technologies for textile wastewater treatment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Phytoremediation potential of Brassica campestris for lead removal using Ag/Fe coreshells nanoparticles synthesized from Grewia optiva","authors":"S. Asad,&nbsp;W. Murad,&nbsp;N. Anwar,&nbsp;M. Shah,&nbsp;S. Ali,&nbsp;F. H. Alshammari,&nbsp;M. Hamayun","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07398-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07398-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The present study was designed to enhance the phytoremediation ability of silver-iron composites (coreshells) using <i>Grewia optiva</i> leaf extract. Initially, the coreshells were characterized using UV-spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, and HR-TEM to evaluate their absorbance (269 nm), functional groups (N–H, C–H, and N–O), shape (spherical and rod shape) and size (14–68 nm). The synthesized coreshells were applied to enhance <i>Brassica campestris</i> capacity to extract lead from wastewater. The wastewater was collected within the university, and outskirt to investigate its physiochemical properties were investigated. The effect on photosynthetic pigments, phytochemicals, accumulation of Pb, and growth parameters of <i>B. campestris</i> was examined in the hydroponic system. Ag/Fe coreshells at a concentration of 50 mg/L increased the levels of total chlorophyll (28 mg/g) and carotenoids (1024 µg/g) levels in the <i>B. campestris</i> plant and increased growth rate, and subsequently increased the synthesis of primary and secondary metabolites, and the overall growth rate with low oxidative stress. Furthermore, coreshells reduced the concentration of lead induced by sewage water in <i>B. campestris</i>, i.e. Pb in roots and shoots in CSWW (Pb) and CS (Pb) were 54.3 mg/kg and 16.2 mg/kg and 102.3 mg/kg and 58.1 mg/kg, respectively. It can be concluded that Ag/Fe bimetallic coreshells significantly affect nano-phytoremediation as these mitigate the effect of heavy metals in contaminated soil and water on exposure at appropriate concentrations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Hybrid machine learning and kriging approaches for predicting and mapping soil salinity in an arid region","authors":"S. Boudibi,&nbsp;A. Mihoub,&nbsp;M. Mohammed,&nbsp;Z. Khomri,&nbsp;A. Aissaoui,&nbsp;Z. Benguega,&nbsp;H. Fadlaoui","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07414-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07414-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Soil salinization represents a major constraint for agricultural sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in irrigated environments where geological and hydrogeochemical processes interact with land management practices. This study aimed to model and map soil salinity (SoS) dynamics in the El Outaya plain (Algeria) using machine learning (ML) and hybrid ML-Kriging approaches. Field measurements of soil electrical conductivity (ECs) were combined with environmental covariates derived from remote sensing and digital elevation models, including elevation, topographic wetness index (TWI), and a gypsum index. Stepwise regression identified these three variables as the most influential predictors. Four ML models (Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Cubist, and K-nearest neighbors (Knn)) were evaluated alongside their hybrid counterparts using simple kriging (SK) and universal kriging (UK). Results showed that hybrid ML-Kriging models outperformed standalone algorithms, with RF–SK achieving the best performance (<i>R</i>² = 0.808, RMSE = 0.261, MAE = 0.231). Salinity maps revealed an atypical pattern with high salinity in elevated northeastern zones, associated with the Djebel Melah evaporitic formation exploited for salt production, indicating dominant geological control rather than lowland accumulation. Spatiotemporal analysis (2018–2024) showed a redistribution toward intermediate salinity classes, with moderate salinity expanding across the area. Beyond the case study years, the framework demonstrates strong potential for annual salinity prediction in the study area and similar arid regions, by updating the same set of indices to capture temporal dynamics. These findings highlight the value of hybrid ML-Kriging for accurate and transferable salinity prediction in arid irrigated systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}