The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of potassium concentrations applied via fertigation on the growth, yield and chemical composition of eggplant ‘Ciça’ in a distroferric red Latosol. The treatments were composed of five concentrations of K₂O (0, 36, 72, 108 and 144 kg ha^-1 supplied via fertigation), using potassium chloride as a source, divided into six applications. The irrigation system was of the drip type and irrigation management was done via a “Class A” evaporometer tank. Harvest started at 62 days after transplanting (DAT) and lasted for five months. The variables evaluated were: plant height, number of leaves, fresh fruit mass, number of fruits per plant, yield per plant, productivity and classification of the fruits according to their length and diameter. At 85 DAT, fruit were collected for characterization as to the percentage of lipids, proteins and fibers. Although the potassium fertigation in cover provided a reduction in the production and productivity, the concentrations of 36 kg ha^-1 and 72 kg ha^-1 of K₂O applied via fertigation, increased the physical-chemical characteristics of the fruits.

The Corona epidemic, as a global crisis, and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) ISIS (war, as a regional crisis in Iraq, have significantly impacted the atmosphere of companies and the continuation of their activities. The present study examines the role of these crises in creating incentives for fraudulent reporting and reducing or improving audit quality. It also compares the results of these two relationships with each other. In other words, the current paper sought to answer these issues: What effect did the ISIS war and the COVID-19 pandemic have on the fraudulent reporting motives of companies, and how did it affect the quality of their audits? In the end, the answer to this question was addressed: What are the differences and similarities between the study results of the impact of COVID-19 and ISIS on fraudulent financial reporting and audit quality? For this purpose, the data of 33 companies from 2008 to 2021 (462 observations) were collected to examine six formulated hypotheses, and the hypotheses were tested using the method of structural equations and analysis of variance. Interviews with experts were also used to determine quality indicators of auditing and fraudulent financial reporting so that indigenous indicators were selected and finalized. The results showed no significant relationship between the epidemic of the COVID-19 crisis and the motives of fraudulent reporting and audit quality and between the crisis of the ISIS war and the motives of fraudulent reporting. However, the ISIS war crisis has negatively and significantly impacted audit quality. Finally, the results indicated no significant difference between the impact of the epidemic crisis of COVID-19 and ISIS on the motives of fraudulent reporting. Still, there is a significant difference in the impact of the epidemic crisis of COVID-19 and ISIS on the audit quality. The knowledge enhancement of the present study is the development of literature on the impact of the Corona and ISIS crises on corporate financial reporting and auditing. The current paper, by studying the consequences of COVID-19 and ISIS, showed that further investigations in this field, especially regarding the capital market environment and A company, can obtain essential results based on which practical suggestions can be made for possible future crises.

This study evaluates the influence of quality certificates on sustainable food production in Poland, considering economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Analyzing 25 different certificates, the research explores their criteria, procedures, and costs across various food product categories, including meat, fish, and plant-based products. The study provides a detailed review of certification processes, from initiation to audits and inspections. It identifies both commonalities and differences among certificates, each addressing unique aspects such as environmental impact, worker rights, and product origins. Despite the diversity in standards and procedures, the study underscores the need for standardized international criteria to improve transparency and meet consumer expectations, highlighting the significant role of quality certificates in advancing sustainable food production.

Poverty, and especially the widening disparity between the rich and the poor, leads to social unrest that can interrupt the harmonious development of human society. Understanding the reasons for income inequality, and supporting the development of an effective strategy to reduce this inequality, have been major goals in socioeconomic research around the world. To identify the determinants of the income gap, we calculated the Gini coefficients for Chinese provinces and performed regression analysis and contribution analysis for heterogeneity, using data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2002 to 2018. We found that urbanization, higher education, and foreign direct investment in eastern China and energy in central and western China were important factors that increased the Gini coefficient (i.e., decreased equality). Therefore, paying more attention to the fair distribution of the factors that can increase the Gini coefficient and investing more in the factors that can reduce the Gini coefficient will be the keys to narrowing the income gap. Our approach revealed factors that should be targeted for solutions both in China and in other developing countries that are facing similar difficulties, although the details will vary among countries and contexts.

The objective of this research is to examine the effects of income inequality, governance quality, and their interaction on environmental quality in Asian countries. Time series data are obtained from 45 Asian countries for the period 1996–2020 for this empirical analysis. The research has performed various econometric tests to ensure the robustness and reliability of the results. We have addressed different econometric issues, such as autocorrelation, heteroskedasticity, and cross-sectional dependence, using the Driscoll-Kraay (DK) standard error estimation and endogeneity issues by the system generalized method of moments (S-GMM). The results of the study revealed that income inequality and governance quality have a positive impact on environmental degradation, while the interaction of governance quality with income inequality has a negative effect on it. In addition, economic growth, population growth, urbanization, and natural resource dependency are found to deteriorate the quality of the environment. The findings of the study offer insightful policies to reduce environmental degradation in Asian countries.

Nigeria’s palm oil processing industry poses significant environmental pollution risks, jeopardizing the country’s ability to meet the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Traditional processing methods generate palm oil mill effluent (POME), contaminating soil and shallow wells. This study investigated water samples from five locations (Edo, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, and Imo states) with high effluent release. While some parameters met international and national standards (WHO guidelines, ASCE, NIS, and NSDWQ) others exceeded acceptable limits, detrimental to improved water quality. Results showed, pH values within acceptable ranges (6.5–8.5), high total conductivity and salinity (800–1150 µS/cm), acceptable hardness values (200–300 mg/L), nitrite concentrations (10–45 mg/L), excessive magnesium absorption (> 50 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) indicating significant pollution (75–290 mg/L), total dissolved solids (TDS) exceeding safe limits in four locations, total solids (TS) exceeding allowable limits for drinking water (310–845 mg/L), water quality index (WQI) values ranged from “poor” to “very poor”. POME contamination by metals like magnesium, nitrite, chloride, and sodium compromised shallow well water quality. Correlation analysis confirmed robust results, indicating strong positive correlations between conductivity and TDS (r = 0.85, p < 0.01) and pH and total hardness (r = 0.65, p < 0.05). The study emphasizes the need for environmentally friendly palm oil processing methods to mitigate pollution, ensure safe drinking water, and achieve Nigeria’s SDGs. Implementation of sustainable practices is crucial to protect public health and the environment.