Factors Affecting Technology Adoption of Geoisolator on Solar Saltworks in East Java Province

Large quantity and high-quality salt are demanded in Indonesia, yet the quality of salt produced by farmers is still low. Increasing salt quantity and quality is possibly done through the implementation of geoisolator technology. This study aimed to investigate factors affecting the decision of salt farmers to adopt geoisolator technology. The study was conducted at the salt production center in Madura Island. A survey on salt farmer was carried out during August-September 2018. A total of 190 respondents consisted of 131 salt farmers who adopted geoisolator technology and 59 traditional salt farmers were selected as a sample in this study. Factors affecting farmer decision to adopt geoisolator technology was analyzed using logit (logistic regression) model. The result of this study showed that the decision of salt farmer to adopt geoisolator technology was affected by the number of productive-age family members and the number of dependent family members, land area, farmer participation in the group, farmer participation in extension. Enhancement in the adoption of geoisolator technology needs synergy between extension agent and salt farmer group so that the mentoring process and knowledge transfer will be achieved.

An evaluation of the economic viability of environmental offsets in the saltworks industry

ABSTRACT: The extraction of sea salt depends on the occupation of large areas at the estuary banks, many of them inserted in Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs). Thus, the objective was to evaluate the economic viability of Environmental Offsets (EO) as an alternative to the unoccupied PPAs in the saltworks. In order to do so, 27 solar saltworks installed in the region of the Brazilian White Coast were evaluated for the occupation of PPAs - measured using images from satellite, georeferenced, vectored with corresponding PPA bands generated - and estimated to EO (Impact Degree x Sum of the investments necessary to implement the project) and Economic Impact (Net Present Value, with long-term interest rate of 7%) of vacating PPAs. It was considered that EO was feasible whenever the costs resulting from it were lower than the economic impact caused by the vacancy of the PPAs. The PPAs were tthe productive area of the saltworksthat occupied 13.70% of PPAs. For all the evaluated enterprises the value corresponding to EO was lower than the Economic Impact resulting from the vacancy of the PPAs. Thus, EO is an economically viable and more attractive alternative to the eviction of PPAs by the saltworks industry and may also provide environmental gains due to the financing of conservation units in the areas of influence of the enterprises. However, there is a need to improve the methodology used to estimate the EO, since a maximum limit is set, the environmental impacts caused by the projects are underestimated.

Broad Environmental Tolerance for a Salicola Host-Phage Pair Isolated from the Cargill Solar Saltworks, Newark, CA, USA

Phages greatly influence the ecology and evolution of their bacterial hosts; however, compared to hosts, a relatively low number of phages, especially halophilic phages, have been studied. This study describes a comparative investigation of physicochemical tolerance between a strain of the halophilic bacterium, Salicola, isolated from the Cargill Saltworks (Newark, CA, USA) and its associated phage. The host grew in media between pH 6–8.5, had a salinity growth optimum of 20% total salts (ranging from 10%–30%) and an upper temperature growth limit of 48 °C. The host utilized 61 of 190 substrates tested using BIOLOG Phenotype MicroArrays. The CGφ29 phage, one of only four reported Salicola phages, is a DNA virus of the Siphoviridae family. Overall, the phage tolerated a broader range of environmental conditions than its host (salinity 0–30% total salts; pH 3–9; upper thermal limit 80 °C) and is the most thermotolerant halophilic phage ever reported. This study is the most comprehensive investigation to date of a Salicola host–phage pair and provides novel insights into extreme environmental tolerances among bacteriophages.

Brine characterization and Artemia population dynamics in Bohai Bay solar saltworks, China

A field study was conducted in Hangu saltworks, a typical Bohai Bay solar salt production site, where a population of Artemia has established. The samples of the brine and of the Artemia population were collected once a month in the period of May to November 2016. According to the salinity range in which Artemia occurs in nature, seven saltponds were chosen in the range of 60 g/l to 240 g/l, covering grades of 30 g salts/l. The physicochemical characteristics of the brine as well as the population dynamics of the Artemia were analysed. The pH value was 7.35-8.94 and decreased slightly with increasing brine temperature. The ionic composition of the brine changed along with progressive evaporation and successive, fractional crystallization. The content of Na+, Cl− and Mg2+ were 66.71-225.43 mg/l, 43.99-197.71 mg/l, and 2.64-14.88 mg/l, respectively, and increased with salinity going up. The content of Ca2+ ranged from 0.69 mg/l to 1.69 mg/l with the maximum value observed at the salinity of 120 g/l. The content of SO42− ranged from 3.84 mg/l to 20.16 mg/l and two peak values were observed at salinities of 90 g/l and 180 g/l, respectively. The contents of DOC (dissolved organic carbon), TN (total nitrogen), and TP (total phosphorus) were 11.45-97.45 mg/l, 1.61-10.54 mg/l, and 0.07-0.63 mg/l, respectively, and these increased with increasing salinity. The density of the Artemia population, its composition and mode of reproduction were found to be remarkably influenced by brine temperature and salinity. The Artemia populations were mainly concentrated in the salinity range from 90 g/l to 150 g/l, and in the summer time. Both parthenogenetic and bisexual Artemia coexisted in the saltponds, with the local parthenogenetic population dominating in summer and in the lower salinity range. Female Artemia tended to produce cysts in autumn and in the higher salinity range. Our study provides general information on the physiochemical characterization and the Artemia population dynamics in Hangu saltworks, which is of importance for a better understanding of the ecological situation of Bohai Bay saltworks, and provides basic information for a biological management of the saltponds.

ANÁLISIS COMPARATIVO ENTRE SALINAS SOLARES TRADICIONALES Y OTRAS ACTIVIDADES ECONÓMICAS EN UN ESTUARIO PROTEGIDO PORTUGUÉS

This study shows that Traditional Solar Saltworks can be competitive with other land uses in the Nature Reserve of Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo Antonio Saltmarshes (“Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo António”, in Portuguese), sited in the estuary of the Guadiana River (SW Iberian Peninsula, Europe); particularly, if they are specialized in extraction of Fleur de Sel (or Flower of Salt), a gourmet variety of sea salt. Artisanal sea salt production based on solar evaporationmethods of millennial history in the area is an environmentally sustainable activity in harmony withsaltmarsh landscape. Two crystallizers of a 1 ha Traditional Solar Saltworks were monitored during 70 days from June to August 2015 with the purpose of gathering detailed production data. Monitoring comprised weighing of daily Fleur de Sel harvest while coarse salt survey in one crystallizer, implied packing and weighing after two months. The competitiveness of this new commercialized variety ofsea salt was assessed with respect to other ongoing economic activities in the area, such as aquaculture,industrial salt production, and tourism. Comparison focused on the relationship between the occupied surface and production´s revenue. Water consumption was used as an economic and environmental sustainability indicator. Data were obtained through in-situ monitoring, literature review and from official statistics and spatial data sources. The results indicate that Fleur de Sel extraction in Traditional Solar Saltworks can be a high profile land use form in the area of Nature Reserve, which on a long-term basisis a sustainable activity from a socio-economic and environmental point of view.

Spatial modeling of limnological parameters in a solar saltwork of northeastern Brazil

AimIn this research, we aimed to model limnological parameters in the Salina Unidos (Macau-Brazil) using GIS technology. We hypothesized that in solar saltworks, the geochemical characteristics of the brines (i.e. the strong solution of salts) vary considerably through the salt ponds circuit, in which drastic changes can damage the entire salt production.MethodsGeochemical parameters were monitored in seven sampling points distributed along the salt ponds circuit, during a complete cycle of salt production, i.e., from January to December 2007. The open source software Spring 5.1.6 was used to build, store, analyze and model the spatial distribution of the parameters.ResultsWe identified a spatial gradient of the salinity and temperature, with values increasing from evaporation ponds to concentration ponds, showing a relationship with the salt production. The parameters, depth, dissolved oxygen concentrations and total dissolved reactive phosphorus showed a decrease from the evaporation ponds towards the concentration ponds. Among the dissolved inorganic nitrogen forms analyzed (NH3-, NO2- and NO3-), nitrate was the predominant, namely in the concentration ponds, where it reached the highest concentrations. The concentration of chlorophyll awas higher in the initial and intermediate evaporation ponds, showing a distinct dynamics of in relation to other environmental variables.ConclusionsThe increased concentration of the analyzed limnological parameters, from the evaporation ponds towards the concentration ponds, evidenced a heterogeneous distribution varying significantly with season. The geochemical spatialization of brine, as illustrated by GIS approach, is very important for the conservation of these environments because this spatial heterogeneity can provide a high diversity of habitat types. This spatial analysis proved to be a practical tool for an adequate management of solar saltworks considering the environmental (ecosystem) and the socio-economic aspects.