What is abiotic & biotic stress and how does it impact our environment

Stress is a natural phenomenon that affects all living organisms, including microbes, plants, animals, and humans. Stress can arise due to multiple factors like environmental conditions such as temperature, water availability and nutrients, as well as due to factors like competition, predation, and disease. It is important to know how abiotic and biotic stress affects our environment. His will help us in the development of sustainable management practices and ensuring the continued good health of our various ecosystems.

Abiotic stress deals with environmental factors that can negatively impact the growth and survival of living organisms. They include extreme temperatures, drought, flooding, nutrient deficiencies and toxic substances. Abiotic stress leads to big impact on plant growth which can further lead to reduced crop yields, lower plant diversity and disturbance in the distribution of plant communities. In aquatic ecosystems, abiotic stress affects water quality, decreased oxygen levels partial biodegradation of pollutants.

Biotic stress refers to the effects of one living organism on other living organisms. This basically includes competition for resources such as food, water, and space along with predation, and disease. Due to biotic stress, you can find changes in the distribution and abundance of species along with changes in the structure and functioning of an ecosystem. In an agricultural system, biotic stress can result in significant crop losses and extremely poor yield and compromised produce. They also increase the use of pesticides further leading to environmental damage.

Abiotic and biotic stress can have both positive and negative outcomes. For example, in a plant drought and nutrient stress can lead to reduced plant growth and crop yields, but it can also help some plants to improve their water use efficiency and nutrient uptake. Similarly, competition can lead to a reduced population of ineffective microbes while promoting the growth of robust microbial species in a bioaugmentation process leading to maximum pollution degradation in a wastewater treatment plant

It is important to understand using the right kind of natural microbial cultures which have the ability to perform and grow in abiotic & abiotic stress environment will overall help their use in agriculture, aquaculture or various environmental applications. Abiotic and biotic stress are natural phenomena that can have significant impacts on our environment. The use of robust microbial consortia to promote positive outcomes while mitigating negative impacts can help ensure the continued health and productivity of our ecosystems while protecting our natural resources.

Understanding Quorum sensing

In simple words, quorum sensing (QS) is a method by which bacteria communicate with each other. Quorum sensing or quorum signaling is the ability to detect and respond to cell population density by gene regulation.

QS helps bacteria to coordinate their behaviour, like the formation of biofilms and secretion of virulence factors. The study of quorum sensing has important implications for understanding bacterial behaviour and developing new strategies for controlling bacterial infections and also using them for the benefit of the mankind and environment.

QS involves the production and detection of small signalling molecules called autoinducers. As bacteria grow and divide, they release autoinducers into the surrounding environment. As the concentration of autoinducers increases, bacteria are able to detect the presence of other bacteria in their vicinity, leading to changes in gene expression.

QS is further divided mainly into two types: acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) and autoinducer-2 (AI-2). AHL is the most extensively studied type of quorum sensing and is used by many gram-negative bacteria. AI-2 is a signalling molecule used by both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

In AHL-mediated QS, bacteria produce and release specific AHL molecules that diffuse across the bacterial cell membrane. When the concentration of AHL reaches a certain threshold, it binds to a receptor protein inside the bacterial cell, activating a response regulator protein that can regulate gene expression. This regulation can lead to the production of virulence factors, such as toxins, or the formation of biofilms.

In AI-2-mediated QS, the signalling molecule is produced by a protein encoded by the luxS gene. AI-2 is synthesized by many different species of bacteria, allowing for interspecies communication. When AI-2 reaches a certain concentration, it binds to a receptor protein, leading to changes in gene expression.

To conclude quorum sensing is a fascinating and important mechanism used by bacteria to coordinate their behaviour and regulate gene expression. The study of quorum sensing has important implications for understanding bacterial pathogenesis and developing new strategies for controlling bacterial infections. Many times biofilms are also used to clean up the waste from the environment.

Challenges faced by todays aquaculture industry

Aquaculture is the farming and husbandry of the aquatic organism under controlled or semi-controlled conditions. Aquaculture is the tool to fill in the gap of the seafood supply. Not only is aquaculture necessary, but it is also a sustainable option for consumers, especially in comparison to other farmed proteins. Seafood is highly resource efficient. It has the highest protein retention as compared to chicken, pork or beef. Actually, it also has the lowest feed conversion ratio among the same forms of protein. Aquaculture has lower greenhouse gas emissions than other types of farming. Having listed all the benefits of aquaculture, like any other industry, the aquaculture industry also faces several challenges and hurdles due to the rampant usage of natural resources and abuse of the environment.

Environmental concerns: Intensive stocking and various aquaculture operations have negative environmental impacts, like discharging waste and chemicals into waterways without proper treatment leading to eutrophication and other forms of pollution. It is extremely important to have proper treatment of the water after the harvest and before discharging the water.

Disease outbreaks: Most aquatic animals like shrimps or prawns are susceptible to various diseases, and when grown in high stocking densities. It becomes easier for disease to spread very quickly to the neighbouring farms. Such outbreaks are very common and can lead to substantial economic losses and also affect the industry’s sustainability.

Feed sustainability: There is a high growing demand for fish feed and industries need to find alternative sources of feed, such as using plant-based diets or a cheaper but healthier fish feed without harming the environment.

Governance and regulations: Governance and regulations are the biggest challenges in today’s aquaculture industry. Since most of the farms are located in the interiors and very close to the sea or a bay, it becomes s very difficult to have proper control over their discharge. This is extremely important for the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry. Lack of implementation can lead to environmental damage, disease outbreaks, and social conflicts.

Market demand and competition: The aquaculture industry is susceptible to price volatility and uncertain demand due to market trends and competition.

Technological limitations: Though there have been various improvements in the aquaculture technologies like RAS and Biofloc farming there is still a dearth of technological advancements to further improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase production in a sustainable way. The majority of the farmers are still using age-old techniques to farm fish and other aquatic products.

Reuse of treated wastewater in various sectors

No need to say that today water is the most precious resource. In many parts of the world, water scarcity is becoming an increasingly critical issue to an extent that in future it can lead to war between people and nations. Reuse of treated wastewater is one of the solution to overcome this. Lets explore the benefits and challenges of reusing treated wastewater

There are multiple benefits of using treated wastewater

• Reuse of treated wastewater can help to conserve water resources by reducing the demand for freshwater sources. This directly lowers the load on our natural resources.
• Reusing treated wastewater can provide a more reliable and secure water supply, especially in regions with high water scarcity.
• Reusing treated wastewater can reduce the impact on the environment by reducing the amount of wastewater discharged into water bodies and reducing the demand for freshwater sources. A very good example of this is the use of treated wastewater in the construction and building industry.
• Reusing treated wastewater can be more cost-effective than treating and discharging it.

Applications of Treated Wastewater Reuse

1. Agriculture: Reusing treated sewage in agriculture can provide a reliable source of water for irrigation. It can also provide the needed nutrients to a great extent thus reducing the demand for freshwater sources and also lowering their fertilizer cost with improved crop yields.

2. Industrial: Reusing treated wastewater in industrial processes can reduce the demand for freshwater sources and provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional water sources. A very good example of this is a group of textile industries generating around 10 to 13 MLD of wastewater. All of this 10 to 13 MLD is being treated in a CETP and is reused by the same textile units in their process. The cost of reusing this treated wastewater is a fraction of what they would have to pay otherwise.

1. Municipal: Reusing treated sewage by various municipal corporations for their landscape irrigation can provide a reliable and cost-effective source of water.

While there are benefits to use of treated wastewater there are also challenges and concerns that need to be addressed.

Health concerns: Treated wastewater may contain pathogens and pollutants that can pose a health risk if not properly treated and managed. This becomes extremely important that all the treated wastewater or sewage being reused needs to follow the respective pollution board guidelines.

Public perception: General public has a very wrong perception of the reuse or recycling of sewage. It is important to have a confidence-building exercise by the stakeholders thus ensuring public acceptance of its use.

Regulatory barriers: Regulations governing the use of treated wastewater can be complex and vary between different regions, making it challenging to implement reuse programs.

Infrastructure requirements: Reusing treated wastewater requires a significant investment in infrastructure to treat, store, and distribute the water, which can be a significant barrier to adoption. Having decentralized solutions to this can be a good start.

Use of AI & ML in environmental industry

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing various industries, and the environmental industry is no exception. The use of AI is being used to address environmental issues, climate change, pollution monitoring and wildlife conservation. If used wisely AI and ML have a great potential to contribute to a more sustainable future.

A combination of technologies like AI, ML, Big data, IoT, image processing and many others can be used to support climate change mitigation efforts by improving the accuracy of weather forecasting and climate modelling. This would effectively help us to predict the impacts of climate change on different regions and support policy decisions. The use of AI can also help to optimize energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions by identifying opportunities for energy efficiency improvements and optimizing renewable energy production.

Climate Change: Very recently AI technologies are being used to monitor and track pollution levels in air, water and soil. These technologies can help us identify sources of pollution and develop more effective pollution control measures, so as to mitigate the problem at the source. Today’s many sensors are equipped with high AI API’s which can detect pollution levels in real-time, thus allowing for rapid response to potential pollution threats.

Wild Life: Another use of AI technologies is to support wildlife conservation efforts. Many AI-powered cameras can be used to track animal populations and monitor their behaviour. This information can also give us a huge insight into the factors that affect their habitat and help us develop strategies to protect their ecosystems. Multiple layers of geofencing technology using AI power can help us accurately monitor tagged animal movements, thus helping us identify various eco corridors for them. Such and many more AI technologies can help us analyze large amounts of data to identify patterns and trends in wildlife populations, which can be used to guide conservation efforts and make the necessary changes needed.

Agriculture: Using AI in agricultural practices helps to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture by minimizing the use of fertilizers and pesticides, reducing water usage and mitigating soil erosion. Many AI-powered drones are being used to monitor crop health and identify areas that require irrigation, fertigation or any other nutrients. This is done purely using image-processing AI technologies. Various algorithms can be used to analyze historical data to develop crop growth models and also predict yields with the amount of and need of fertilizers and other nutrients.

Environment: AI technologies also play a very important role in waste management practices like recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy conversion. Various Al & ML-based algorithms can be used to optimize waste collection routes and schedules, reducing the fuel consumption and emissions associated with waste collection. Image processing of various microbes in biological units helps to identify the health of that system, in a matter of seconds using powerful AI tools, thus ensuring better efficiency of the plant. AI-based algorithms are being used to identify microorganisms that are effective in bioremediation. This not only helps to optimize the selection of microorganisms but also improves the effectiveness of the bioremediation process.  There are some AI and ML tools which are being used to model the behaviour of bacteria in a certain type of environment to predict the rate of biodegradation of a pollutant and also estimate the time required to complete the process.

Low carbon content in todays agricultural soil

Agriculture provides us with the food we need to survive. Unfortunately, human greed and excessive use of chemicals along with climate changes have led to the lowering of our natural carbon content in today’s agricultural soil. Having a low carbon content in soil can have negative impacts on soil health, crop productivity, and the environment.

Soil carbon is basically the amount of organic matter present in the soil. This includes both soil organic matter and inorganic carbon as carbonate minerals. It is mainly found in the topsoil. It plays a very important role as it dictates soil health and impacts many of the soil’s essential functions. Having a good carbon content in the soil helps in providing nutrients to plants, stores water and also supports the growth of beneficial microbes. Adequate carbon content also helps to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, which can help to mitigate climate change.

Reduction in soil carbon leads to a reduction in soil health and productivity. One of the major reasons for lower carbon content in the topsoil is the extensive use of chemical and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Most of these chemicals are effective in improving crop yields, but they also destroy natural beneficial microbes in the soil that play a crucial role in soil carbon sequestration. This further leads to soil erosion, which also contributes to the loss of topsoil carbon. Tilling practices have increased in the last 2 decades. Tilling disrupts the soil structure which further leads to the loss of organic matter. In the tilling process, the organic matter is exposed to the atmosphere by which it gets exposed to more oxygen which leads to carbon breakdown more quickly.

Low topsoil carbon content can lead to reduced crop yields, lower soil fertility, and increased soil erosion. If we look at the bigger picture then low soil carbon content also contributes to climate change. The topsoil carbon can help to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil thus reducing the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Regenerative agriculture practices is one of the most effective ways to increase soil carbon content Regenerative agriculture works on the principle of sustainability where it prioritizes soil health first. This can include reducing tillage, rotating crops, using cover crops, and incorporating livestock into the farming system. Reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides can help to increase soil carbon content. The use of natural beneficial microorganisms for agriculture also helps to retain and also increase the carbon content in the topsoil. All practices which can help us to preserve the beneficial microbes in the soil are welcome.

Importance of in-situ faecal degradation in septic tanks

Even in today’s time, septic tanks are an essential component for many because access to public sewage systems is limited. Septic tanks are basically designed to collect and treat wastewater from toilets, sinks, and other sources with the help of a natural process called “bioremediation”. In-situ faecal degradation plays a significant role in treating human waste and preventing the release of harmful pathogens into the environment.

In-situ faecal degradation is the process by which naturally present microorganisms in the septic tank break down and digest the solid waste that enters the tank. Most of the natural microorganisms responsible for this process are anaerobic in nature i.e. they do not require oxygen to function. Most of these microorganisms are naturally present in human solid waste and they play a critical role in breaking down the organic matter in the solid waste. The way this process works, it that the microbes such as bacteria break down the organic matter in the solid waste and convert it into simpler compounds like methane, carbon dioxide, and water. Due to this simple nature’s process, a large amount of solid waste in the septic tank is lowered and gets liquified which helps in better percolation and also prevents it from overflowing or clogging the system. It also helps in controlling the release of pathogens in our environment, by a principle of competitive exclusion.

With the growth in science and technology, a lot of antibiotics and other chemicals are widely used in modern society. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections, and chemical residue can be found in various sources such as drugs, personal care products, and household cleaning agents. After these chemicals are consumed or used, they are processed by the body and eventually excreted in urine or faeces. All of these residues eventually find their way into the septic tanks.

One of the most significant concerns associated with antibiotic and chemical residue in human waste is the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. When antibiotics are excreted in human waste, they can enter the environment and contribute to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These bacteria can then spread through water and soil, potentially impacting other animals and humans. Also such chemicals can kill of the natural microbial community which was capable of the degradation of human waste. This leads to improper treatment of sewage before being released into the environment, which can lead to eutrophication in our natural water bodies. This also leads to the failure of s septic tank.

One of the most effective ways to reduce the impact of antibiotic and chemical residue in human waste is through use of natural robust microbial cultures in your septic tank. A good microbial community can effectively remove most of the antibiotics and chemicals present in human waste before it is released into the environment.

Further individuals can take steps to reduce their use of antibiotics and chemicals, which can help to reduce the amount of residue that ends up in human waste. Switch to the use of natural cleaning products, and try to reduce the use of pharmaceuticals whenever possible