Slope bioengineering using vegetation is a promising solution for erosion problems by leveraging the benefits of rainfall interception and soil reinforcement, yet the combined effects of organic amendments on plant establishment and soil mechanical reinforcement remain poorly understood, particularly in tropical regions. OBJECTIVE:This study investigated the effects of three organic amendments; biochar, compost, and vermicompost, on the growth of M. malabathricum and the subsequent effects on slope erosion. METHODS:A nine-month randomised complete block design (RCBD) comprising five treatments (control, inorganic fertiliser, and 20 t/ha of biochar, compost, or vermicompost). Plant growth, physiological performance, soil physico-chemical properties, root traits, soil shear strength, and erosion were evaluated to assess the influence of each amendment on slope stability. RESULTS:In this study, two principal outcomes were observed. First, soil shear strength showed a strong inverse relationship with erosion, confirming that improved mechanical resistance directly reduces soil loss. Second, increased root length density, higher shoot dry weight, greater plant height, and lower soil moisture content were all positively associated with enhanced shear strength and reduced erosion through correlation analysis. Vermicompost consistently outperformed other amendments by significantly increasing plant height, stem diameter, root length density, chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic rate. It also produced the lowest erosion rate and achieved a 34% increase in soil shear strength relative to the control. Nutrient uptake played a central role in supporting shoot growth and root development, especially under organic amendments. CONCLUSION:Vermicompost demonstrated the strongest ability to enhance soil-root reinforcement mechanisms during early establishment, offering substantial potential for strengthening nature-based slope bioengineering strategies in tropical environments.

Microalgae are recognized as a sustainable resource to produce biofertilizers, biofuels, and pigments, with the added benefits of environmental sustainability, such as carbon sequestration and pollutant removal. However, traditional cultivation methods face challenges like low biomass productivity and high operational costs. This review focuses on the innovative use of hydrogels as a medium for microalgae cultivation, which addresses these challenges by enhancing nutrient permeability, light distribution, and overall growth efficiency. Hydrogels provide a three-dimensional matrix that not only supports higher biomass yields but also facilitates the removal of pollutants from wastewater, contributing to circular economy goals. The review also explores the environmental benefits, challenges, and prospects of integrating hydrogel technology into microalgae cultivation systems. By highlighting influencing factors through which hydrogels improve microalgal productivity and environmental outcomes, this work aims to provide insights into the potential of hydrogel-based systems for sustainable development.

Microalgae have gained significant attention as sustainable alternatives to traditional agriculture and energy resources. The cultivation efficiency of microalgae within hydrogel systems presents a promising avenue for spatially efficient bio-production. However, the optimum cultivation conditions of hydrogel cultivation systems have not been elucidated. This study focused on evaluating the hydrogel-based cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in symbiosis with Bacillus Strain Salmah Ismail (SI) 139SI. It investigated the impact of hydrogel concentration, pH, light exposure, and system thickness on the growth and chlorophyll production of the algae. Our findings highlighted that, in coculture, a 7

This study investigates the physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations (As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn, Pb) in the sediments of the Klang Mangrove Area, with a focus on assessing pollution risks associated with Pulau Indah’s industrial activities in Malaysia. The sediments were characterized by moisture content ranging from 31 to 37

Conventional agricultural water retention agents (WRAs) are predominantly synthetic polymers, most commonly potassium polyacrylate, which improve water efficiency. However, they are poorly biodegradable and pose environmental concerns. Although natural polymers have been extensively studied for use in WRAs, fully biopolymer hydrogels typically exhibit water absorption capacity (WAC) below 500 g/g. By optimizing the ratios of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), epichlorohydrin (ECH), NaOH, and rice husk biochar, we have for the first time fabricated a superabsorbent fully biopolymer-based hydrogel-biochar composite (CMC-H-B) with a WAC of 3240.07 g/g. The swelling behavior under varying pH and salinity, performance in soils of three different textures, biodegradability, and effects on mung bean seed growth were evaluated for CMC-H-B to assess its preliminary applicability, with CMC-H (without biochar) and a commercial WRA (potassium polyacrylate) included for comparison. The results showed that CMC-H-B significantly improved soil water holding and retention capacities, matching the performance of potassium polyacrylate, while exhibiting superior biodegradability and minimal inhibition of mung bean early growth at a 1 % (w/w) application rate. These results highlight CMC-H-B's potential as an eco-friendly WRA for coarse soils in arid regions.

Global climate change is the most serious challenge that modern society faces. Soil-biochar carbon sequestration is a promising natural solution for capturing carbon. This study monitored the CO2 emissions of five biochar incubated Malaysian Tropical soils (MT-Soil). The recalcitrance index of palm kernel shell biochar (PKS) was higher than that of wood chip biochar (WCB), bamboo biochar (BB), coconut shell biochar (CHB) and rice husk biochar (RHB), and was different from the observed CO2 emission characteristics (WCB > CHB > RHB > BB > PKS). Thus, the carbon sequestration potential of biochar could not be evaluated solely by the recalcitrance index. This CO2 emission is linked not only to the total organic carbon (TOC) and total carbon (TC) of the biochar but also associated with mobile matter (MM), water holding capacity (WHC), available phosphorus (AP), exchangeable potassium (AK), and nitrogen content. The multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA) shows that the weights of these factors on CO2 emissions are as follows: TC > pH > MM > WHC > AP > AK. The results show that in addition to biochar stability, pore structure and available phosphorus release also affect carbon dynamics through indirect effects on microbial activity. This means that to minimize CO2 emissions during application of biochar, it is necessary to use soil that is rich in phosphorus and biochar that has undeveloped pore structure and high stable carbon. Finally, this study provides valuable theoretical underpinnings biochar application in MT-Soil.

Soil salinization is a major problem affecting agriculture globally. One approach to restore saline soil is through the application of biochar which is great at adsorbing salt ions and thus amending salt-affected soils. Biochar produced using forestry wastes (Gigantochloa levis and Melaleuca cajuputi) were pyrolyzed at 300, 450 and 600 ℃ for 2 h. Proximate and ultimate analyses were done followed with physical and chemical analyses of the biochar and their raw materials before undergoing the sodium adsorption study. The fixed carbon was observed to increase from 9.636 to 72.919

A 7-month glasshouse study was conducted to assess the growth responses, nutrient status, and non-enzymatic antioxidant properties of E. guineensis seedlings grown on infertile Ultisol which were subjected to different combinations of chemical fertilizers (CF) and commercial biofertilizer (IBG) as follows: [T1] 100% CF [T2] 70% CF + 30% IBG biofertilizer [T3] 50% CF + 50% IBG biofertilizer [T4] 70% CF only and [T5] Absolute Control. A combination of CF70 and IBG30 led to 15.8% increase in the growth of seedlings as compared to CF100, presenting significantly higher fresh shoot and root weights as well as an ideal root-to-shoot ratio. Absolute control seedlings on the other hand, showed less desirable phenotypical traits across all the observed parameters. Significantly higher levels of relative chlorophyll were recorded for the seedlings treated with CF70 + IBG30, which positively correlated with the chlorophyll a/b ratio. Moreover, the biofertilizer and chemical fertilization allowed increased uptake of nutrients where higher uptake of B and P was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with enhanced frond production, while larger roots mass was associated with primary growth traits. The positive impacts of the combined IBG biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer application were likely attributed to enhanced accumulation of non-enzymatic antioxidants to counteract the effects of soil infertility, with seedlings in CF70 + IBG30 mostly recorded the highest phenolic, anthocyanin, flavonoid, photosynthetic pigments, DPPH radical activity and proline levels.

Mangrove forests are well-known for their capability to withstand strong tides and play a crucial role in the aquatic ecosystem. However, anthropogenic factors combined with natural stressors have high chances of affecting the nutrient content, increased salinity and anoxic environment of mangroves, which influences their growth performances. Sonneratia caseolaris is a mangrove plant that resides in areas with fresh water due to its weak resistance against high saline waters. A six-months study was conducted to evaluate if biochar application alleviated salinity stress via modifying sediment properties and nutrient uptake of Sonneratia caseolaris seedlings. Five treatments were evaluated in this study: control; mangrove soil without biochar application (T1), 10% of B. parviflora biochar (T2), 20% of B. parviflora biochar (T3), 10% of G. levis biochar (T4), and 20% of G. levis biochar (T5). From the study, treatment 3 (20% B. parviflora biochar) proved the best improved growth performance which gave the highest plant height, stem diameter, biomass dry weight, root fresh weight, length of entire plant, length of primary root, and signifies a good impact for the growth of seedlings. In addition, application of biochar generally increase the exchangeable cations: K, Mg and Ca in sediment and the total P, K and Mg content in plant compared to control. This demonstrated the potential of the treatment as a soil amendment to not only improved soil properties, but also enhancing Sonneratia caseolaris plants' tolerance towards salinity stress. Hence, B. parviflora biochar proved as the best quality of biochar and can improve the growth of mangrove plant seedlings including root growth and development as well sediment chemical properties and nutrient uptake.

Biofertilizers encompass microorganisms that can be applied to plants, subsequently establishing themselves within the plant's rhizosphere or internal structures. This colonization stimulates plant development by enhancing nutrient absorption from the host. While there is growing literature documenting the applications of microalgae-based and bacterial-based biofertilizers, the research focusing on the effectiveness of consortia formed by these microorganisms as short-term plant biofertilizers is notably insufficient. This study seeks to assess the effectiveness of microalgae-bacterial biofertilizers in promoting plant growth and their potential contribution to the circular economy. The review sheds light on the impact of microalgae-bacterial biofertilizers on plant growth parameters, delving into factors influencing their efficiency, microalgae-bacteria interactions, and effects on soil health. The insights from this review are poised to offer valuable guidance to stakeholders in agriculture, including farmers, environmental technologists, and businesses. These insights will aid in the development and investment in more efficient and sustainable methods for enhancing crop yields, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and principles of the circular economy.

Micronutrient deficiencies in staple crops is a major agronomic problem where consumption of the produce with low micronutrients globally has caused a widespread of deficiency-related conditions. These are silent epidemics of vitamin and mineral deficiencies that afflict people regardless of genders, ages, and risk categories. They not only induce particular diseases, but they also operate as aggravating factors in infectious and chronic diseases, affecting morbidity, mortality, and quality of life significantly. Deficiencies in some groups of persons at high risk necessitate supplementation. The fortification of crops with essential micronutrients is a long ongoing effort by the farmers and scientists worldwide. Various techniques and fortification have been developed across the literature. Some of the efforts include the use of microbes in the biofortification of crops. Furthermore, recent advancements in genetic/molecular/omics/metabolic engineering, and nanotechnology are paving the way for more efficient biofortification of crops. In this chapter, we intend to report microbial-assisted biofortification of essential micronutrients and emerging technologies in the modern era of biofortification.

Biofertilizer application in the agriculture industries is deemed sustainable in the long run given its ability to restore fertility of soil and increase crops productivity through several direct and indirect mechanisms. However, the dissolved fraction (DOM), which is made up of tiny molecules of plant and microbial origin produced by lysed cells and released metabolites as influenced directly through biofertilizer amendment is unknown. An untargeted metabolomics profiling was conducted via an in vitro rhizospheric Bungor soil series incubation with IBG Biofertilizer from IBG Manufacturing Sdn Bhd. In this study, a comparative analysis between Ultisols samples inoculated with IBG biofertilizer and control samples was conducted under simulated humid tropic conditions. 18 mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) values with VIP (Variable Importance in Projection) scores exceeding 1 in the IBG biofertilizer-inoculated Ultisol. The annotated metabolites primarily consisted of endogenous compounds, including amino acids, organic acids, nucleic acids, fatty acids, and amines. Notably, a signaling compound, homoserine lactone (m/z 270), exhibited the highest fold changes in response to IBG biofertilizer inoculation on the simulated Ultisol. Furthermore, key metabolic pathways such as Glycerophospholipid metabolism, Glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, Cysteine and methionine metabolism, and Alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism were notably affected by IBG biofertilizer inoculation on the simulated soil model. These findings emphasized the metabolic responses induced by IBG biofertilizer in Ultisols under the simulated humid tropic conditions., which suggests that biofertilizers application have some significant changes on soil metabolites that overall soil productivity could be affected by these potential biomarkers. Understanding these metabolic shifts not only enhances crop productivity but also addresses broader questions of soil health and ecosystem sustainability in the face of climate change and agricultural intensification.

Heavy metal contamination of water sources has long been a silent yet potent threat, endangering environmental and human health. Conventional wastewater treatments are costly due to high infrastructure expenses, energy consumption, and chemical usage. These treatments lead to secondary environmental pollution, such as producing toxic sludge, greenhouse gaseous emissions, and residual pollutants discharges. Therefore, more sustainable and cost-effective wastewater treatment alternatives are needed to overcome these challenges. Microalgae biosorption and bioaccumulation can bioremediate wastewater by effectively removing heavy metals and other contaminants, such as nitrate and phosphate. By utilizing sunlight and CO2 for growth, microalgae cultivation reduces the need for expensive chemicals and energy-intensive operations in wastewater treatment. Additionally, microalgae can potentially convert heavy metal ions from wastewater into metal nanoparticles, providing a dual benefit of bioremediation and resource recovery. The primary objectives of this review are to assess the effectiveness of microalgae in heavy metal bioremediation and nanoparticle synthesis while also identifying critical research gaps and future directions for optimizing this biotechnology. Heavy metal ions in wastewater can be used as a metal precursor, and metal nanoparticles can be synthesized from wastewater. A review methodology was carried out to assess the availability of literature for readers to identify the research trends and gaps. Mechanisms of microalgae for the biogenesis of metal nanoparticles, including activation, growth, and termination phases, were elucidated. Various chemical interactions between metal ions and functional groups of microalgae, including amine (-NH2), carboxyl (-COOH), phosphate (-PO4), and hydroxyl (-OH) groups were evaluated. Nonetheless, this review also identifies the current challenges and future research directions for optimizing microalgae biotechnology in heavy metal bioremediation and nanoparticle biogenesis.

Mycoprotein is a nutritious food product derived from fungi that boasts a high protein content, low fat, and substantial fiber, mimicking the texture of meat. It contains essential amino acids (EAA), vitamins, and minerals. Traditionally, it is produced through the fermentation of glucose derived from starch in controlled bioreactors, where pH, temperature, and oxygen levels are optimized to enhance fungal biomass production. Advances in biotechnology have highlighted lignocellulosic biomass waste, such as agricultural residues, forestry waste, and other plant materials, as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative feedstock. This type of biomass, which includes cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, can be pretreated and enzymatically broken down to release fermentable sugars, promoting a circular economy by turning waste into valuable bioproducts. This review explores the feasibility of lignocellulosic biomass for producing mycoprotein through advanced pretreatment and fermentation techniques. Techniques like steam explosion and acid hydrolysis effectively break down complex lignocellulosic structures, enhancing the availability of fermentable sugars necessary for efficient mycoprotein synthesis. Furthermore, using lignocellulosic biomass facilitates waste management and supports sustainable agricultural practices. Moreover, this review discusses fungi choices suitable for mycoprotein production, such as Fusarium venenatum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pleurotus sp., Neurospora sp., and Aspergillus sp.. These findings highlight the potential of mycoprotein production from lignocellulosic biomass waste to enhance food sustainability and resource efficiency.

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Aims: Plant-microbe interaction in the rhizosphere significantly influences nutrient uptake efficiency.Thus, this research was aimed to investigate the potential of Bacillus salmalaya strain 139SI in increasing nutrient use efficiency through its synergistic effects with fertilizer application.Methodology and results: This research analyzed the effects of B. salmalaya strain 139SI inoculant, fertilizer and a combination of both on soil nutrients, vegetative growth, chlorophyll level, photosynthetic activities, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency in oil palm seedlings for four months in a nursery setting.At the end of the research, the inoculation of B. salmalaya strain 139SI resulted in a significant increase in palm growth, chlorophyll level, photosynthetic activities, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency compared to the untreated group.Soil nutrient analysis demonstrated that the inoculation of B. salmalaya strain 139SI led to a notable increase in available nitrogen within the rhizosphere soil.The findings of this research also indicated a noteworthy synergistic effect between the B. salmalaya strain 139SI inoculant and fertilizer.The most promising outcomes for plant growth performance and nutrient uptake were observed when the B. salmalaya strain 139SI inoculant was added to the fertilized palm. Conclusion, significance and impact of study:This research shows that B. salmalaya strain 139SI may work synergistically with fertilizer to enhance nutrient absorption and increase fertilizer usage efficiency.Integrating B. salmalaya into the nutrient management of oil palm seedlings can potentially reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, offering advantages to both farmers and the ecosystem.

The mangrove ecosystem is constantly threatened by the accumulation of pollutants along its shoreline. The presence of organic deposits from marine litter is not only a threat to marine ecosystems, but it also harms mangrove stands. This study investigated the chemical properties of the sediment in Tanjung Piai mangrove forest and the their effect on the growth of Rhizophora spp. Samples were collected from four separate locations, namely, T1: site without organic deposits, T2: site with new organic deposits, T3: site with decomposed organic deposits, and T4: site with decomposed organic deposits. After one year, the largest growth increment (19 cm) of Rhizophora spp. was observed at the site with decomposed organic deposits (T4), compared with sites without organic deposits (T1). The highest levels of nitrogen (N), organic carbon (OC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were also found at T4. The growth of Rhizophora spp. and the physicochemical parameters have a positive association with the levels of N, OC, CEC and exchangeable magnesium and exchangeable potassium. This study revealed that OC, N, and CEC were released into the sediment at Tanjung Piai mangrove forest when organic deposits decomposed and were physically and chemically degraded.

Rubber has become essential in everyday life, but the poor degradation rates of natural rubber products present an environmental challenge. This study focused on the development and characterization of oxo-biodegradable rubber by modifying vulcanized natural rubber (VNR) with pro-degradant additives (PDA) such as iron (III) stearate (VNR-FeSt) and cobalt (II) stearate (VNR-CoSt). No observable degradation of the PDA-incorporated latex films occurred during the preparation processes of the film which include rubber latex coagulant dip-ping and vulcanization. The addition of PDA also had minimal effects on the mechanical properties of the latex films. While latex VNR without PDA was relatively stable to oxidative degradation at 65 degrees C for eight weeks, the formation of carbonyl and hydroxyl functional groups in VNR-CoSt and VNR-FeSt indicate that the PDAs facil-itated oxidative degradation the rubber. VNR-CoSt and VNR-FeSt showed significantly greater decreases in weight and gel content than neat VNR, with CoSt being most effective for enhancing thermal oxidative degra-dation. Growth parameter analysis showed that the addition of oxo-biodegradable latex films to the soil had little effect on the nutrient content of spinach, in line with the soil analysis. These data support the promotion of oxo-biodegradable rubbers as a promising sustainable alternative to conventional rubbers, with the potential to aid in rubber waste management in the agriculture sector.

Improper agricultural waste management harms the environment. Certain agricultural waste materials, such as oil palm kernel wastes, can be used as soil amendments or fertilizers. This study aimed to explore their potential as an alternative hydroponic substrate. The effects of different hydroponic substrates on lettuce metabolite production, specifically biochar, have not been previously studied. The study compared the bioactive properties and metabolite profiles of red lettuce grown under various treatments: T1 (control; hydroton), T2 (perlite), T3 (palm kernel biochar), T4 (hydroton + palm kernel biochar), and T5 (perlite + palm kernel biochar). Lettuce grown with T4 exhibited the highest chlorophyll contents, while T3 resulted in the highest carotenoid, anthocyanin, phenolic, and flavonoid contents. T3 demonstrated the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing potential, while T4 exhibited the highest ABTS radical-scavenging activity. LC-MS-QTOF analysis tentatively annotated a total of 38 metabolites, with 12 compounds identified based on databases and literature search. These compounds cluded phenolic and non-phenolic compounds, as well as additional classes like coumarins, xanthine alkaloids, and glycosides. Red lettuce grown in T3 showed the highest number of metabolites (18), followed by T5 (15), T2 and T4 (13), and T1 (6). E-Suberenol, a potent antioxidant, displayed a strong correlation with the treatments using palm kernel biochar. This study suggests that palm kernel biochar can serve as a cost-effective, renewable, and sustainable alternative hydroponic substrate.

The relationship between physicochemical and morphology properties of biochar derived from oil palm trunk (BOPT) as a potential candidate in the production of high-performance activated carbon was intensively investigated. The biochar was prepared using various pyrolysis temperature and pyrolysis time to study the relationship of both parameters on the production of quality biochar. The proximate and ultimate analyses showed that the biochar with the highest fixed C and C contents can be acquired when the oil palm trunk was pyrolyzed at 450 °C for 3 h. The field emission scanning electron microscope images display the formation of pores in the biochar, whereas thermogravimetry analysis reveals the thermal stability of the biochar where both analyses are seemed to be in an agreement with other analyses and regarded the biochar as a potential candidate to be served as a promising precursor with a well-developed carbon framework. Overall, the BOPT-450–3 was found to exhibit 75.84