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Sustainable Soil Management and Crop Production Research

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil Conservation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (26 April 2024) | Viewed by 9199

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ioannis Roussis

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: agronomy; crop science; organic agriculture; fertilization; weeds; tillage; feed crops; alternative crops; industrial crops; sustainable agriculture; medicinal plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ioanna Kakabouki

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: fertilization; organic agriculture; weed management; tillage; novel crops
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil provides crop plants with the essential nutrients, water, and root support they require to grow and thrive. There are a number of factors that affect soil quality, including climatic conditions, time, living organisms, and, especially, the human management of soil. The soil condition determines the effectiveness of any crop. The use of mineral fertilizers and plant protection products has steadily increased over the last century, adversely impacting soil conditions and the environment. The inefficient use of nutrients in fertilizers has resulted in the migration of harmful compounds. Intensive cultivation and the use of mineral fertilizers have adversely affected biodiversity, resulting in significantly reduced physical and chemical properties in the soil. Thus, the problem of environmental pollution has become global.

In this regard, agriculture has a significant impact on natural resources, which could adversely affect environmental protection and result in the degradation of agricultural lands. In response to this situation, a heated debate has emerged over the need for better fertilizer management and more sustainable soil nutrient use, highlighting the importance of integrating methods and practices designed to achieve adequate plant nutrition and productivity. New agricultural practices, fertilization methods, amendments, and plant nutrition sources, along with the use of bacteria and fungi to enhance nutrient utilization by crops, all provide interesting and sustainable solutions for maintaining soil life, improving fertility, and feeding plants in order to promote sustainable agricultural production. In addition, the use of new and/or existing sources of fertilizers and soil improvers, either directly (direct input into the soil) or indirectly (physicochemical transformation), is beneficial to minimize contamination and environmental impacts. For this reason, understanding nutrient reactions and processes in soils (soil fertility), as well as managing inorganic and organic nutrient input efficiently (nutrient management), is essential to maximizing nutrient supply to crops and minimizing environmental risk.

This Special Issue, entitled “Sustainable Soil Management and Crop Production Research”, focuses on recent scientific progress and innovation in agriculture regarding the evaluation of the spatial–temporal variability of nutrients for precise prescription, the assessment of crop responses to nutrient application, the development of integrated nutrient management (INM) strategies for sustaining soil health and crop productivity and quality, the improvement in nutrient use efficiency (NUE), the establishment of critical limits for nutrients under different soil–crop conditions for revising nutrients recommendations, and the development of best management practices (BMPs) for nutrients under various soil–crop conditions. We welcome original papers, reviews, and opinion papers that enhance our understanding of the above-mentioned topics.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ioannis Roussis
Dr. Ioanna Kakabouki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

soil quality
soil fertility
organic carbon
plant nutrition
integrated nutrient management
nutrient interactions
nutrient use efficiency
sustainable agriculture
no-tillage agriculture
biostimulants
organic fertilizers and biofertilizers
plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria
crop residues
compost

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2735 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of the Spading Machine on Various Soil Parameters at Different Tillage Depths

by Neeraj Kumar Singh, Baldev Dogra, Gursahib Singh Manes, Dilwar Singh Parihar, Ali Salem and Ahmed Elbeltagi

Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4334; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114334 - 21 May 2024

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Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the spading machine as a sustainable tillage tool at different depths of tillage on soil parameters. The spading machine was evaluated for two independent parameters: soil type and depth of cut. The observed dependent parameters were the bulk density of soil, mean clod size, soil strength, torque requirement, fuel consumption, and cost of operation. The bulk density varied from 1.18 to 1.39 g/cm³, the mean clod size between 12.72 and 68.37 mm, the soil strength between 69 and 4714.5 kPa, the torque requirement between 206 and 344.62 N-m, the fuel consumption between 13.60 and 21.83 l/ha, and cost of operation ranged between 2670.37 INR/ha (34.71 USD/ha) and 3635.87 INR/ha (47.27 USD/ha). It was observed that with the increase in tillage depth, the dependent parameters were also increasing, except the cost of operation varied nonsignificantly. In comparison to the spading machine, other primary tillage tools resulted in higher bulk density and fuel consumption, whereas mean clod size and cost of operation were reported higher except for the rotary tillage tool. Thus, the spading machine could be a sustainable tillage tool for long-term agricultural goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil Management and Crop Production Research)

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11 pages, 1823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Impact of Humic Biostimulants on Cassava Yield and Nutrition in Northeast Brazil

by Maisa da Conceição Santos, Mônica Tejo Cavalcanti, Larissa Nicácio Pessoa, Zenaide Gomes da Silva, Allisson Miguel da Silva, Tancredo Souza, Juliane Maciel Henschel, Emmanuel Moreira Pereira, Manoel Alexandre Diniz Neto and Belísia Lúcia Moreira Toscano Diniz

Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4088; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104088 - 13 May 2024

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Abstract

Cassava is a staple food mainly produced with low management inputs, causing soil depletion and low yields. The use of organic inputs, such as humic substances (HSs), represents a sustainable alternative to increase cassava growth and production, mainly in semi-arid regions such as the Brazilian Northeast. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the foliar application of a biostimulant based on humic substances on the morphophysiology, production, and mineral nutrient contents of cassava. The biofortified cultivar BRS Dourada was grown under field conditions and foliar application of a biostimulant based on humic substances (BHSs, treated plants) or water (untreated, control). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four repetitions. At 225 days after planting, the growth, productivity, and mineral nutrient contents of soil, roots, and leaves were determined. No differences between treated and untreated plants were found for growth and productivity (average 15.2 t ha⁻¹). On the other hand, BHS treatment reduced net carbon assimilation, water use efficiency, and carboxylation efficiency by 34%, 24%, and 47%, respectively. Moreover, BHS treatment reduced nutrient uptake from soil, and Na and K contents in roots and leaves, respectively. A foliar BHS application is not recommended for cassava production in the conditions evaluated here. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil Management and Crop Production Research)

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Review

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25 pages, 1779 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Rooted in Nature: The Rise, Challenges, and Potential of Organic Farming and Fertilizers in Agroecosystems

by Dinesh Panday, Nikita Bhusal, Saurav Das and Arash Ghalehgolabbehbahani

Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1530; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041530 - 11 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7992

Abstract

Organic farming, which is deeply rooted in traditional agricultural practices, has witnessed a profound evolution over the last century. Transitioning from a grassroots initiative resisting the industrialization of agriculture to a global industry, organic farming now plays a pivotal role in addressing contemporary challenges related to environmental health, sustainability, and food safety. Despite the growing consumer demand for organic products and market access, organic farming has its challenges. This paper discusses the origin and evolution of organic farming with an emphasis on different types of organic fertilizers, benefits, and challenges. Nutrient variability and the slow-release nature of organic fertilizer often do not meet crop demands and can substantially reduce yield. Some organic fertilizers, like manure and biosolids, can provide a higher yield benefit, but there are environmental and health risks associated with them. Weed and pest management in organic farming can be labor-intensive and increase costs. Inefficient planning of organic farming and rapid transition can also create food insecurity. This paper also gives a brief account of the current certification process for organic fertilizers and their technicalities. It showcases how the holistic approach of organic farming extends beyond production, including strategies like reducing food waste and building self-sufficient farming communities. These practices contribute to a more sustainable agricultural system, reducing environmental impacts and supporting local economies. Future technological innovations, especially in precision agriculture and bio-physicochemical models, can help in formulating targeted organic fertilizers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil Management and Crop Production Research)

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