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The present study was undertaken to evaluate and verify the water quality status and trophic state of 15 major lakes and reservoirs in Malaysia. The lake water quality assessments were based on the National Water Quality Index (NWQI), while the trophic state assessments were based on Carlson's Trophic State Index (TSI). The findings of this water quality assessment, based on data collected between September and October 2012, indicated that a majority of the lakes were classified as Class II (Clean) waters suitable for recreational use. The results of the trophic state assessments, however, indicated that all of the lakes were eutrophic, meaning they were nutrient-rich, they could experience algae blooms or macrophyte problems, and they were likely to exhibit poor water quality. Sustainable management measures and strategies are suggested to address the eutrophication problems of Malaysian lakes and reservoirs, with the national responses on lake and reservoir management also being discussed.

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The deterioration of water quality in lakes resulting from unsustainable catchment practices requires concerted efforts to address them, in the form of cooperation among government agencies and institutions, private bodies and the community‐at‐large. Research that provides an understanding of a lake's ecosystem is an important aspect of making informed decisions for sustainable management and governance of lakes. The present study describes the findings of literature reviews on Malaysian lakes, and the national efforts made to establish an agenda for lake research and development in Malaysia directed towards integrated lake basin management (ILBM). The main findings and outcomes of the National Lake Research Blueprint workshop in April 2014 on the issues facing lakes and reservoirs are highlighted. Seven research themes were identified, namely (i) ecosystem services and socio‐economic development, (ii) governance, (iii) water quality and pollution, (iv) eco‐hydrology and basin management, (v) biodiversity and natural products, (vi) physical limnology and hydrodynamics and (vii) technology. The goal is to enhance research and development on sustainable lake basin management directed to conservation and development targets. The findings of this study provide an integrated research framework that can support ILBM governance elements (pillars) elsewhere, and to call for researchers to participate in much‐needed research areas.

Putrajaya Lake and Wetlands being the centrepiece of Malaysia's administrative city is an important destination for recreation, sports and tourism in the country. The urban water body system with a total surface area of 400 hectares was designed and built so as to encircle the core island creating a complex morphometry. To ensure the water quality remains in its highest-level condition since its beginning, to perform its multi-functional uses, managing the lake catchment is of paramount importance. This paper describes the application of numerical simulation of Putrajaya Lake using coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamic-ecosystem model to assess the spatial dynamics of the lake water quality. The hydrodynamic model simulates the flow pattern under different meteorological forcing variables. The ecosystem model simulates the resulting spatial and diurnal water quality pattern. Wind is the dominant forcing variable driving the flow field. The lake exhibits spatial variation of physico-chemical variables with an overall high-quality of surface water. The model simulation illustrates the impact of potential discharges on the lake water quality, such as spread of pollutants, subsequently provides a useful tool to enhance the management of the lake sustainably under changing environment.

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Soils with low organic matter and modest biological activity exhibit a reduced capacity to produce goods and services. The use of biochar as a soil amendment has been suggested as a way to increase soil productivity thanks to its physical and chemical characteristics. These properties lead to its possible use as a structural support and a habitat for microorganisms. This study investigated the role of biochar, produced from olive mill pomace at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari by a slow pyrolysis process, as a carrier of two microbial communities extracted from a fertile soil and a commercial compost. This study aims to highlight the relationship between the physical structure of biochar and the potential microbial community and to evaluate the use of charged biochar as a carrier of microflora. The inoculation of agricultural soil with biochar seems to have no effect on the total aerobic heterotrophic microflora evaluated with the plate count method. Nevertheless, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show the presence of biofilm, thus suggesting an early stage of colonization. Despite the short time of incubation of microbial charged biochar in the studied soil, the microbial biomass C and N increased, suggesting a beneficial effect of this amendment.