The ability of humus to suppress the radioactivity of particular radionuclides that could be hazardous to soil health is examined in this review. Industrial and agricultural processes discharge radionuclides into the soil. This, in turn, has an impact on a variety of soil processes, particularly biological activities. The radioactivity of these radionuclides can be suppressed using humus, which is obtained through the decomposition process.

Rainfall variability and agricultural sustainability have been of major concern to the Climatologists, Agriculturists and farmers in general. The net potential effect of severe changes in rainfall pattern is the disruption in crop production leading to food insecurity, joblessness and poverty. As a major concern to increase food production, this study seeks to assess the rainfall variability in Owerri City with a view to enhancing agricultural sustainability. The study used rainfall data (1981-2018) from Nigerian Meteorological Agency. Correlation and Regression techniques were employed for analysis. The result shows that there is no significant relationship between the number of rainy days and annual amount of rainfall. Also, there is no significant relationship between the length of rainy season and number of rainy days in the study area. The study also shows four years forecast of rainfall in the study area. The result shows an evidence and upsurge of low agricultural produce, food insecurity and hunger in the nearest future, and therefore recommends some sustainable agricultural practices that can boost yield, good health and healthy environment and reduce the effect of climate change.

Antibacterial activity of synthetically synthesized benzoyl thiourea and halobenzoyl thiourea bearing α-alanine and β-alanine compounds were investigated against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and gram-negative bacteria (Esherichia coli). The study of antibacterial activity of the compounds was conducted by using the disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) as well as minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). The results indicate that 4-fluorobenzoylthiourea α-alanine, benzoylthiourea α-alanine, 4-fluorobenzoylthiourea β-alanine, 4-chlorobenzoylthiourea β-alanine, 4-bromobenzoylthiourea β-alanine, and benzoylthiourea β-alanine possess weak to strong antibacterial activity on all of tested bacteria. The strongest antibacterial activity was found in the 4-fluorobenzoylthiourea α-alanine, whereas the weakest antibacterial activity was exhibited in 4-fluorobenzoylthiourea β-alanine. S. aureus was found the most susceptible toward these thiourea derivatives, indicating bactericidal activity against the bacteria.

Soil fungi possess a great number of potential benefits that could be applied in various fields. They are well-known for acting as plant-growth promoter, biocontrol agent of plant diseases and involves in bioremediation. In this study, the fungi were isolated from used agricultural soil in Glasshouse and Nursery Complex (GNC), International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang using serial dilution and plating techniques. Around 10 isolates of soil fungi were successfully isolated and the identification of all isolates were based on their cultural and morphological characteristics. The fungi were discovered to be from genus Cladorrhinum, Penicillium, Paecilomyces and Aspergillus.

Copper Oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have shown great acceptance in the antimicrobial application owing to their low toxicity and high surface to charge ratio. In this study, copper oxide NPs (represented as S-1, S-2 and S-3) were prepared by a simple and cost-effective thermal approach in three different environments. Fabricated NPs were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique. The XRD patterns revealed that the synthesized S-2 was of pure Cu2O phase while S-3 was composed of monoclinic CuO with a small quantity of Cu2O. More importantly, synthesized copper oxide NPs were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity against three types of gram-negative bacteria namely Salmonella typhi, SK4 and E. coli (two strains). Although the NPs produced from the S-1 approach did not show encouraging results, the copper oxide NPs from S-2 and S-3 had shown enhanced antimicrobial activity. The successful antimicrobial activity of S-2 and S-3 can be related to the release of Cu+ and Cu2+ ions into the surrounding environment, which is responsible for the breaking of the cell wall membrane and ultimately causes bacterial cell disruption. The synthesized copper oxide NPs via thermal approach will be good candidates for biomedical applications.

Monitoring of water quality is needed from time to time to avoid outbreak of severe water borne disease. This article review previous literature on impact of waste dumpsites on water quality around Abakaliki and its environs, with emphasis on active and non-active dumpsite. Findings from reviewed article revealed that waste dumpsite sites close to water bodies or ways has altered water quality in Abakaliki urban, while groundwater is contaminated through leaching process. This groundwater contamination occurs mostly when waste dumpsite is sited close to borehole or hand-dug well. Based on reviewed literature it is advised that waste dumpsite should be sited distance away from residential buildings as the state government should also endeavor to continually monitor water quality for domestic use to avoid outbreak of various kind of water related disease.

Nworie River watershed in Owerri Imo State, Southeast Nigeria is an Urban watershed that should provide agricultural resources to the inhabitants of the area; however, the watershed has been under ecological threat as result of some activities of people within the area leading to soil degradation in the form of gully erosion. The study area was divided into Upstream, Midstream and downstream after which Five Major gullies were used for the study. Soil samples were collected from the walls of the gullies beginning from down to up according to apparent horizon differentiation. Soil profile pit was dug 100m away from erosion prone area and this served as the control. Soil data collected were subjected to statistical analysis; Variation of soil properties at various sampling points were ranked according to standard procedures. Soils of the watershed were found to be acidic. The results of some physical soil properties for soil quality evaluation were matched with FAO standard to assess the degree of degradation. Soil texture of the watershed was sandy and can be classified as an Ultisol. The watershed had low variation of SCR with mean values of 0.20,0.10 and 0.26 obtained respectively at the upstream, midstream and downstream. Bulk density was high and ranged from 1.81g/cm3 to 2.22g/cm3 at the Upstream,1.78g/cm3 to 2.71g/cm3 at the Midstream and 2.22 g/cm3 to 2.36g/cm3 at the downstream indicating moderately to highly degraded. Bulk density significantly and positively correlated with sand at P=0.01 respectively at the Upstream and Midstream. The mean values of moisture content of the watershed at the upstream, midstream and downstream were 1.02%,0.69% and 3.62%. Hydraulic conductivity of the soil ranged from 2.65cm/hr to 8.12cm/hr Upstream, 0.90cm/hr to 8.20cm/hr Midstream and 2.68cm/hr to 3.25cm/hr downstream indicating moderately slow to moderately rapid soil. Aggregate stability of the watershed was low with mean values of 0.32 ,0.38 ,0.40 at upstream, midstream and downstream respectively. Erosion within the watershed was more pronounced at the upstream and midstream compared to the downstream hence the need for appropriate conservation measures and practices within the watershed is paramount.

To address the global issue of water scarcity, untreated wastewater irrigation has become a common practice in the developing countries to meet the emerging demand of irrigation water. It is a common practice in Pakistan as well to apply municipal wastewater for irrigation purposes, which is carrying high concentrations of heavy metals originating from industrial sources. The research was conducted in Chak Jhumra, Faisalabad, Pakistan to check the effect on health due to untreated wastewater. The purpose of this research work was to find out the concentrations of hazardous elements present in the wastewater and conduct health risk assessment of utilizing the contaminated vegetables, being grown on untreated effluent. The main parameters to be investigated for groundwater, wastewater, soil and vegetables were EC, TSS, SAR and Heavy metals like (Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu). Concentrations of the targeted heavy metals were determined in these media and health risk assessment was conducted. It was finally concluded that the soil properties were greatly influenced by the supply of this wastewater. Zinc was found above safe limit, Cu was found within safe limit, Ni and Pb were above critical limits in all sites. Groundwater was found suitable and its values were within safe limits. Health risk assessment has also exhibited significant impact of the concentrations of heavy metals in the vegetables being utilized by the common man.

Wastewater from small-scale gold processing is causing mercury contamination in the river. It is important to know the estimation of the carrying capacity of river pollution due to mercury to support the improvement of the river ecosystem. The research objective was to calculate the load capacity of mercury pollution (Hg) in rivers around the gold mining and processing area of Pancurendang Village, Ajibarang District, Banyumas Regency, Central Java. The research begins with river discharge measurements. River discharge is measured by referring to SNI 8066: 2015. Water sampling was carried out at 12 river points with a purposive method that took into account the location (upstream, middle, downstream) and river characteristics, according to SNI 6989-78: 2008. Actual mercury levels in river water were tested at the UGM Integrated Research and Testing Laboratory (LPPT) with Mercury Analyzer. The results of the mercury and discharge levels are used to calculate the actual pollution load. The maximum pollution load is based on the quality standard of mercury in class 2 rivers, namely 0.005 ppm multiplied by river discharge. The load capacity of mercury pollution is obtained from the difference between the maximum pollution load and the actual pollution load. The results of river discharge measurements at the research location are quite varied, ranging from 0.0024-2.925 meters/second. The results of the calculation of the carrying capacity of mercury pollution loads in the river area around the gold mining and processing of Pancurendang Village show a range of 0.0000048-0.005904 kg/day with an average of 0.001325948 kg/day. The capacity of the river in Pancurendang Village has not exceeded its capacity.

Hydrological routes exist through active burrowing of soil fauna, and in numbers improve soil drainage systems. Earthworms are of particular interest because their presence is known widely to increase infiltration and reduce erosion rates by creating macropores and stable casts. Ideally during non-extreme rainfall events on flatlands, earthworm macropores lengthens the time prior to soil surface saturation thus slowing down occasions of overland flow resulting in runoff. Hypothesizing similar effects on hillslopes with gradients can be misleading whereas laboratory experiments which try to recreate and simulate field consistency cannot match the natural soil architecture which is vital in the dissection of the many bio-geophysical processes involved in the rainfall-runoff process. This review paper aims to summarize past studies conducted around the world and highlighting possible gaps on earthworm’s studies related to hillslopes and erosion.