Each year, millions of tons of chemicals and pesticides are applied to agricultural soils to support food production. However, this intensive use of chemical inputs depletes soil vitality, reduces moisture retention capacity, and raises significant environmental and health concerns. To mitigate these negative impacts, researchers worldwide are seeking alternative agricultural solutions that reduce reliance on chemical inputs. One promising approach is the application of rhizobacteria, which can restore soil health, control plant pathogens, and promote plant growth through various mechanisms. Notably, different Bacillus rhizobacteria species play key roles by producing hormones, enzymes, antibiotics, and siderophores that enhance plant growth and protect against pests. Additionally, Bacillus spp. form beneficial interactions with crops, boosting plant tolerance to environmental stresses. Despite their potential, the agricultural applications of these bacteria remain underexplored, with only a limited number of species currently in direct use, leaving much of their potential untapped. A deeper understanding of Bacillus spp. biology is essential to developing products that can drive sustainable biotechnological innovations in agriculture and industry. This article reviews the role of Bacillus spp. and the effective utilization of plant growth-promoting (PGP) strains in agricultural systems. It also highlights critical, yet understudied, aspects of rhizobacteria that should be prioritized in future research.

Mycorrhizal fungus diversity is an ecosystem health indicator, and thus, the appreciation of the aboveground as well as the belowground biota, such as fungi associated with natural and managed ecosystems, is essential to provide sustainable products and suggestions to farmers. Less is known about the totally arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and fungal endophytes useful to agroecology, which are environment friendly microbial biofertilizers to mitigate the complications of conventional farming. Specific AMF are found in most covers; grassy ecosystems are increasingly investigated through their exclusive fungal species that improve sustainable cultivation. Different grazed pastures, forages, and their diversity are important objects of study either in economic or ecological scope. Based on recent reports, the occurrence of AMF in grasslands and pastures is significant, supporting more diverse AMF than native forests. Therefore, we show current information on these topics. We conducted a Web of Science search of published articles on AMF, pastures, and grasslands and analyzed them. The results confirmed the important role of pH as the driver of AMF diversity distribution between the grassy ecosystems from Argentina and Brazil. In grasslands, the main family represented was Glomeraceae, while pastures maintain predominantly Acaulosporaceae. Brazilian grasslands and pastures presented four times the AMF richness of those from Argentina. © 2023 by the authors.

While higher education, science, and industry have become key factors in the national and economic growth of a country, they perhaps act as independent performers. This paper aims to describe the development of innovative commercialization activities based on the dissemination of innovations in the fields of research, education, and business. The present research, using empirical studies as its research method, first reviewed the current worldwide status of research studies to see their contribution to knowledge transfer. Second, it portrayed the results of an online survey of 100 respondents studying and teaching or researching at Kazakhstani universities to better understand the innovative research activities and motivations of and barriers to research and development (R&D) in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The results of the proposed approach are presented in the case of Kazakhstani researchers. Based on such findings, some recommendations are made for better Kazakhstani education, industry, and science alignment so that research in this country can have a greater impact on economic growth. © 2022, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta State University). All rights reserved.

This article examined the characteristics of zeolites from the Chankanai and Daubabinsk deposits. In the field of water treatment, the purpose of investigating natural zeolite from the Chankanai and Daubabinsk deposits as a sorbent presents new opportunities and prospects, as this raw material is little studied. The effectiveness of the sorbents was assessed based on the results of the water specifications according to the following criteria: methods for determining the total hardness of water; methods for measuring the mass concentration of total iron in water; methods for the determination of chloride in water; methods for the determination of nitrogen-containing substances in water; methods for determining the dry residue content of water; methods for determining the sulphate content of water; on hygiene requirements and water quality control. Zeolite modifications were aimed at improving their adsorption properties, increasing the efficiency of pollutant removal and developing optimal methods of using zeolites in water filtration. Modified zeolite from the Chankanai and Daubabinsk deposits showed high efficiency as a filter. When it was used to treat natural water, which normally contains high hardness and alkalinity, the best results were achieved with zeolite from the Chankanai deposit. In terms of Fe+ and Cl content, the best results were achieved using zeolite from the Daubabinsk deposit. © 2023 by the authors.

Ziziphora species (Lamiaceae) have been used in traditional medicine as sedatives, antiseptics, carminatives, or expectorants. Despite their common applications in phytotherapy, there is still lack of evidence about the composition of their extracts and its impact on biological properties of the plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of Ziziphora bungeana, a less studied species growing in Kazakhstan, using HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS instrumentation and to determine its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activity together with inhibitory properties against tyrosinase and toxicity in erythrocyte lysis assay. Extracts from Z. bungeana were found to be sources of flavonoids, phenolic acids, organic acids, and terpenes that determined their antiradical activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of extracts were lower for Gram-positive bacteria (1.25–10 mg/mL) than for Gram-negative bacteria and fungi (5–20 mg/mL). The EC50 value calculated for antiradical activity ranged between 15.00 ± 1.06 µg/mL and 13.21 ± 3.24 µg/mL for ABTS and DPPH assays, respectively. Z. bungeana extracts were found to decrease the activity of tyrosinase by 50% (at 200 µg/mL) similarly to kojic acid and were slightly cytotoxic for human melanoma A375 cell line (at 200 µg/mL) with no effect on HaCaT keratinocytes. In the end, Z. bungeana did not reveal toxic effects in hemolytic assay as compared to the positive control Triton X-100. The performed tests show potential application of the plant in the treatment of infectious diseases, disorders caused by free radicals, and skin problems. © 2022 by the authors.

This study aims to comprehensively characterize coal extracted from three active mines in northeastern Kazakhstan: Lenin, Saradyr, and Bogatyr. These mines exploit two Carboniferous coal-bearing formations, Dolyn and Karagandy. Dolyn, extracted by the Lenin underground mine at a depth of 700 m, contrasts with Karagandy, extracted at depths up to 260 m in Saradyr and Bogatyr. Six selected samples from the Lenin, Saradyr, and Bogatyr mines underwent various analyses, including proximate and ultimate analyses, elemental analyses (acid digestions with HCl + HNO3 + HF, ICP-MS), and determination of mineral matter contents (XRD and SEM-EDS). This research aimed to understand the mode of occurrence of minerals and elements, technological and environmental implications of the coal seams extracted from these mines. Results indicate low sulfur and high ash content in the organic matter of all samples. Quartz and kaolinite dominate, with minor euhedral pyrite present in all samples. Framboidal pyrite, iron oxides, and rare earth element (REE)-bearing minerals are exclusively found in Saradyr and Bogatyr samples. Quartz and kaolinite likely reached the peat swamp through detrital processes, while pyrite formation occurred through both syngenetic and epigenetic processes in the coal samples. Ratios like Cen/Cen, Eun/ Eun, Yn/Hon, and Gdn/Gdn suggest REE deposition in anoxic hydrothermal water environments, possibly indicating a tuffaceous origin for the coal samples. Examining the elements’ mode of occurrence suggests their preferential association with mineral matter. Strong positive correlations among elements like Al, K, Na, Ti, Ba, Be, Ni, Cr, Co, Ga, Sc, V, As, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Zr, along with Eu and Sc of the REEs, suggest association with ash yield, consistent with kaolinite and accessory minerals. Comparative analysis of inorganic geochemical composition of coal worldwide reveals notable depletion of major, trace elements, and REEs in samples from all three mines, suggesting limited economic interest. Furthermore, coal samples containing trace elements pose minimal environmental impact.

The article presents the scientific results of a study for assessing climate change trends in natural areas of the Turkestan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan based on the use of long-term climate data (1940-2020) of sixteen meteorological stations located in the region. In the course of the study, tested domestic, international and proprietary methodology for assessing climate change in natural areas were used based on plotting a fixed time series of climatic indicators and the resulting equations of linear trends. The results of the study showed that the average annual air temperature in all natural areas of the Turkestan region tend to increase, and the amount of annual precipitation to decrease, this has a negative impact on the development of recreational and agricultural nature management. On the basis of the developed mathematical models of changes in climatic indicators that characterize the coefficient of coincidence of the growth rates of average annual air temperature and annual precipitation, their quantitative values were determined in the territories of the natural areas of the region, which influence the formation of the environment-forming functions of the natural system. The results of the study enable economic entities, especially farms, to organize sustainable agricultural environmental management, and management bodies to develop plans for the development of recreational tourism in the Turkestan region.

Understanding the groundwater chemical regime on irrigated lands is relevant for assessing hydrogeological and reclamation processes. Water chemistry, natural and climatic conditions, and drainage characteristics define the complex hydrochemical connections which are formed between irrigation waters, soil, and water of the unsaturated zone and groundwater. This research paper presents the results of studies of seasonal changes in the chemical composition of groundwater in the Karatal irrigated massif. A detailed analysis of the salt regime and chemical composition of groundwater have been performed based on a large number of samples for 2019. Besides, data related to the Karatal River and drainage waters quality inside the basin have also been analyzed. Results demonstrate that the salinization processes in the massif are determined by hydrogeological conditions and drainage availability. In the north-eastern part of the massif, a high risk of soil salinization has been observed as a consequence of all the salinization processes which are determined by its hydrogeological conditions and drainage availability. Data analysis over soil samples and irrigation and drainage waters show that the hydrochemical regime of groundwater on Karatal irrigation massif is influenced by the presence of saline soil-forming rocks, the groundwater depth, the volume, and the quality of irrigation waters, the characteristics of the natural drainage, and evaporation processes.

The known theory and experience of energy-saving architecture allow solving the article’s task and ensuring sufficient insolation, passive solar heating, and occupants contact with nature through semi-basement windows. The goal is a full-fledged use of the semi-basement space achieved for seismically active regions with a moderate, cold, and hot climate by ensuring the normative seismic-resistance, energy-efficiency, and microclimate of the building and preventing influence of thermal bridges and mold growth. The set of recommendations also covers the provision of the required sanitary-hygienic conditions in the semi-basement rooms. The multidisciplinary problem is solved by integrating the methodologies of various fields of science. By means of numerical investigations, it established that the soil adjacent to the semi-basement foundation wall increases the thermal mass and building envelope heat-protection capacity. The isotherms and the intensity of heat fluxes made it possible to eliminate the effect of thermal bridges that interact with the soil and outside air. The expedient thickness and width of the additional layer of thermal insulation of thermal bridge zones in excess of the normative layer of the enclosure’s thermal insulation were established. The graphical dependence of the wall's inner corner temperature from this width allows selecting the microclimate level. A multilateral contribution to building improvement is derived from a single-family home example: comfortable microclimate conditions have been created in the semi-basement for placing main rooms there; energy savings for heating this space is 16-20%; saving of monolithic frame and foundation concrete is 10-12% ensuring the higher than normative building seismic-resistance. © 2022 by authors, all rights reserved.

As in many regions across the world, southeastern Kazakhstan is subjected to ongoing water-resource depletion. The livestock sector is already a major natural water resource consumer, with groundwater use becoming its water supply strategy. Remote pasture infrastructure development requires new water resources to allow pasture area circulation. The distant pastures in the middle reach of the Aksu River consist of three pastures, with a total area of 32,450 ha and a permissible number of 3245 livestock heads. The HYDRUS-1D water transport model and MODFLOW groundwater-flow model simulated complex water infrastructure prospect hydrogeological scenarios to allow the consumption of 302.4 m3 per day for livestock keeping on pasturelands. During pumping for livestock watering, projected production well drawdowns were quantitatively evaluated. The findings show that the projected pumping flow rate equals 288 m3/day during the water consumption season and 95 m3/day outside the water consumption season. While the production wells on pastures No. 2 and No. 3 can be considered reliable, on pasture No. 1, an additional production well is needed. To maintain the production wells’ drawdowns to less than 6 m, a projected pumping flow rate reduction to 216 m3/day and 70 m3/day, respectively, is required.