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Advanced Technology for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Management of the Agroecosystem

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 7485

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Salem Alhajj Ali

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Guest Editor

Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Interests: GHG emissions and mitigation; remote sensing

Dr. Salvatore Camposeo

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Guest Editor

Dipartimento di Scienze Agro Ambientali e Territoriali DISSAT, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Interests: fruit quality; horticulture; irrigation; phenolic compounds; plant physiology; agriculture; soil; wastewater; antioxidant activity; polyphenols

Dr. Gaetano Alessandro Vivaldi

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Guest Editor

Dipartimento di Scienze Agro Ambientali e Territoriali DISSAT, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Interests: fruit tree; innovative cultivation systems; soil management; irrigation; germoplasm

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues，

Climate change’s impacts on agriculture are a worldwide concern, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. These impacts, along with rapid urbanization and the increasing global population, may lead to more pressure on natural resources causing a reduction in agricultural production and an increase in soil and water pollution, GHG emissions, water scarcity, biodiversity losses and land degradation. In addition, the limitation of globally arable lands, the majority of which are either cultivated or have been degraded by erosion or overexploitation, has resulted in the exploitation of new lands to satisfy the increasing demand for food due to the increasing population, which may result in deforestation and the displacement of communities. The FAO has indicated that agricultural activities need to be carried out in accordance with sustainable development goals to tackle future challenges due to projected climate change. In this regard, to cope with the projected impacts of climate change, agriculture activities need to focus on innovative practices in the frame of sustainable strategies that allow for the efficient use of agricultural lands and natural resources to face future challenges. Precision agriculture, for instance, is a production method that allows for the use of the right quantity of inputs, i.e., fertilizers and irrigation water, at the right time, which can result in water, energy, and fertilizer savings, therefore leading to economic and environmental benefits. In addition, designing multifunctional cropping systems, sustainability assessment through life cycle assessment, artificial intelligence, remote sensing to quantify crop, soil, and water statuses, and wastewater treatments and reuse are considered promising sustainability strategies. These strategies can help to reduce the pressure on natural resources and, at the same time, contribute to the mitigation efforts of climate change’s impacts, thus allowing for the sustainable management of agroecosystems in the framework of sustainability criteria.

Dr. Salem Alhajj Ali
Dr. Salvatore Camposeo
Dr. Gaetano Alessandro Vivaldi
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. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

remote sensing
life cycle assessment
modelling approach
GHG emissions and mitigation
multifunctional cropping system
biodiversity assessment and conservation
precision farming
water treatment and reuse
circular economy

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Soil Water and Nutrient Uptake on Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Yield of Winter Wheat

by Xiaofen Li, Hafeez Noor, Fida Noor, Pengcheng Ding, Min Sun and Zhiqiang Gao

Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 819; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040819 - 15 Apr 2024

Viewed by 396

Abstract

The application of nitrogen (N) improves the winter wheat yield. Excessive N application affects winter wheat yields, leading to low net incomes and negative environmental impacts, therefore, optimizing N application is essential. In this study, the effects of N rates on crop growth yield, net income (NI), water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in the irrigated districts of the eastern loess plateau, China, were investigated using seven N application rates (N0, N90, N180, N210, N240, N270, and N300 kg ha⁻¹) during the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 seasons. N application significantly increased the total water consumption at 0–200 cm during the growth period, the aboveground dry matter at maturity, the grain nitrogen accumulation, yield, NI, and WUE. However, N exceeding 240 kg ha⁻¹ did not favor dry matter and nitrogen accumulation or translocation from the anthesis stage to the maturity stage, thus leading to reduced yield, NI, and WUE. The transpiration rate and stomatal conductance N240 was highest 21–28 day after anthesis, at 187–276 kg ha⁻¹, which can achieve a high yield and profitability with relatively low environmental costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Management of the Agroecosystem)

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18 pages, 1770 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Residual Effect of Compost and Biochar Amendment on Soil Chemical, Biological, and Physical Properties and Durum Wheat Response

by Rita Leogrande, Carolina Vitti, Mirko Castellini, Pasquale Garofalo, Ignazio Samarelli, Giovanni Lacolla, Francesco Fabiano Montesano, Matteo Spagnuolo, Marcello Mastrangelo and Anna Maria Stellacci

Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040749 - 05 Apr 2024

Viewed by 569

Abstract

The residual effect of compost and biochar amendment on soil properties and durum wheat response was evaluated under field conditions in a Mediterranean environment. The treatments compared in a randomized complete block experimental design with three replications were: mineral fertilizer (100 kg N ha⁻¹), compost applied at the rate of 25 Mg ha⁻¹, biochar applied at the rates of 10 and 30 Mg ha⁻¹, unfertilized control. Wheat was the second crop included in a sorghum–wheat cropping system and did not receive fertilizer supply. A hierarchical statistical analysis was carried out to investigate how different treatments could impact the cropping system performance. The findings highlight the significant influence of soil properties, particularly total N, WEOC, and TOC, on wheat and protein yield. One year after the amendment and fertilizer application, compost and biochar significantly increased soil total organic carbon content. The highest soil water extractable organic carbon was found with the compost application (76.9 mg kg⁻¹), whereas the lowest value (50 mg kg⁻¹) was with the highest rate of biochar. Soil respiration rates and hydraulic properties were not affected by the investigated treatments. This behavior is probably related to the short experimental duration and to the silty clayey soil texture. Significant correlations were observed between bulk density and water content at pressure heads in the −20 and −100 cm range; this range accounts for the effect of soil macro and mesopores. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed strong predictive power for grain (R²_{_adj} = 0.78; p < 0.001) and protein yield (R²_{_adj} = 0.77; p < 0.001). The highest grain yield (3.36 Mg ha⁻¹) was observed with compost, and the lowest (2.18 Mg ha⁻¹) with biochar at a rate of 30 Mg ha⁻¹. These findings lay the basis for understanding how different soil amendment management may impact soil quality and wheat performance, even in consideration of climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Management of the Agroecosystem)

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13 pages, 1859 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Fertilizer Type on Dry Matter, Nitrogen Partitioning, and Yield of Spring Maize with Film-Side Sowing

by Tingting Zhang, Jing Liu, Haichao Zhang, Ao Lian, Fei Gao, Zhongdong Zhang and Zhengyu Guo

Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2999; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122999 - 06 Dec 2023

Viewed by 834

Abstract

Dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) transport from nutritive organs to the grain is critical for cereal crop yield and protein content. There is limited research on the effects of slow-release or controlled-release fertilizers on dry matter and nitrogen partitioning in the nutrient organs of spring corn. A field trial was conducted in the National Corn Industry Technology System Xinzhou Comprehensive Experiment Station, China. The effects of different fertilizer management on yield, photosynthetic capacity, and nutrient partitioning of spring maize were studied. We modeled local farmers’ planting and management practices (T3). Based on T3, we added a slow-release compound fertilizer (T2), which does not require a follow-up fertilizer, and a controlled-release formulated fertilizer (T1), which is highly efficient and has low carbon emissions. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (Gs), and intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) were 23%, 18.5%, 18%, 10.5% and 19%, 10.9%, 7%, and 5.5% higher in T1 compared to those of T3 and T2, respectively, at the ripening stage. The contribution of post-flowering DM transport to the kernel of T1 was 46% and 41.4% higher than that of T3 and T2, respectively. The nitrogen content of the kernel of T1 was 35.2% and 18.5% higher than that of T3 and T2, respectively. After a comprehensive analysis, T1 prolonged the photosynthetic effect through adequate nitrogen supply, provided nutrients to the kernel, promoted maize nitrogen uptake and utilization, and ultimately improved yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Management of the Agroecosystem)

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17 pages, 2161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agronomic Responses of Grapevines to an Irrigation Scheduling Approach Based on Continuous Monitoring of Soil Water Content

by Simone Pietro Garofalo, Diego Sebastiano Intrigliolo, Salvatore Camposeo, Salem Alhajj Ali, Luigi Tedone, Giuseppe Lopriore, Giuseppe De Mastro and Gaetano Alessandro Vivaldi

Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2821; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112821 - 15 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 913

Abstract

The efficient management of irrigation water can affect crop profitability quite significantly. The application of precision irrigation based on soil monitoring can help manage water resources. In viticulture, the irrigation technique is thought to strongly influence grape ripening and the final grape composition. In this study, an irrigation decision support system was compared to a surface drip irrigation system in a commercial vineyard located in Andrea (Southern Italy) planted with Vitis vinifera cv. Montepulciano. We aimed to investigate the ability of the DSS to save water while maintaining an acceptable yield and quality of the grapes. To allow for the comparison, eco-physiological as well as yield parameters were measured during the irrigation periods in both irrigation systems over two years (2019 and 2020). The results indicate that the vines grown using the DSS treatment were less stressed compared to the plants grown using farm irrigation in both years. The yield attributes showed slight or no significant differences between the treatments. The quality results showed no significant differences between the treatments in both years. Our results indicate that with savings of 10% and 17% of the irrigation water in the first and second year, respectively, the DSS was able to maintain good yield and quality levels as compared to the farm irrigation system. These two-year results provide a promising implementation of its use in precision irrigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Management of the Agroecosystem)

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17 pages, 3209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Small Farm Wheat Production Scenarios Using Data Envelopment Analysis

by Hassan A. A. Sayed, Qishuo Ding, Zeinab M. Hendy, Joseph O. Alele, Osamah H. Al-Mashhadany and Mahmoud A. Abdelhamid

Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 1973; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13081973 - 26 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 792

Abstract

Assessing the energy cycle and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of wheat production in small Egyptian farms is essential to improve wheat productivity to meet population growth and achieve sustainable development. This study aims to compare wheat production in terms of energy use and GHG emissions for different scenarios in the Delta of Egypt and to use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to optimize the wheat production system. Three common scenarios of the wheat production system (S-I, S-II, and S-III) from old lands with one scenario (S-IV) from newly reclaimed land were included in the study. Data were collected from small farmers through a face-to-face questionnaire and interviews in 2022–2023. The results showed that the third scenario (S-III) in the old lands had the lowest input energy consumption (42,555 MJ ha⁻¹) and the highest output energy (160,418 MJ ha⁻¹), with an energy use efficiency of 3.770. In comparison, the input and output energy for the newly reclaimed scenario (S-IV) were 37,575 and 130,581 MJ ha⁻¹, respectively, with an energy use efficiency of 3.475. S-III was an optimum scenario due to its high energy indicators, such as energy productivity of 0.173 kg MJ⁻¹. The total GHG emissions of S-III were the lowest in old lands with a value of 1432.9 kg CO_2-eq ha⁻¹, while S-IV had 1290.2 kg CO_2-eq ha⁻¹. The highest GHG emissions input was diesel fuel for machinery and irrigation, followed by manure, chemical fertilizers, and agricultural machinery use. Using mechanization in most farming operations for S-III and S-IV led to decreased losses of agricultural inputs with increasing outputs (yield and straw). Therefore, using them in wheat farming practices is recommended to increase the wheat farming system’s energy efficiency and GHG emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Management of the Agroecosystem)

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Review

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30 pages, 6301 KiB

Open AccessReview

Revitalization Potential of Marginal Areas for Sustainable Rural Development in the Puglia Region, Southern Italy: Part I: A Review

by Salem Alhajj Ali, Anas Tallou, Gaetano Alessandro Vivaldi, Salvatore Camposeo, Giuseppe Ferrara and Giovanni Sanesi

Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030431 - 23 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1198

Abstract

Feeding nine billion people by 2050 will be a challenge due to climate change. There is a significant portion of abandoned and unused marginal lands across the nation and in the Puglia region, in Southern Italy. Innovative techniques and practices in the frame of climate-smart agriculture can help rehabilitate marginal lands into productive and profitable areas. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on marginal areas in Puglia, responding to the lack of information in this context and evaluate their revitalization potential. We systematically reviewed the literature on unused/marginal areas and identified related studies dealing with different types of marginal areas and their potential for sustainable rural development. Marginal areas in Puglia represent a range of historical rural landscapes that support biodiversity, the economy, and ecological services. However, the analysis of the current situation in Puglia’s marginal areas indicates a lack of infrastructure and scarce resources, which led to land abandonment and the migration of local residents, resulting in the deterioration of the ecological system. Therefore, establishing a sustainable policy is crucial for preserving the local heritage and economy of the region. However, policymakers should carefully study the challenges and opportunities arising from local contexts before embarking on ambitious place-based innovation strategies. The analysis indicates that both biophysical and socio-economic factors are strategic elements for improving the revitalization potential of marginal areas for sustainable development. This review provides useful information regarding the revitalization potential of marginal areas for food, feed, and non-food production, which is crucial in the implementation of a sustainable development strategy for rural communities in Puglia but can also be applied to similar areas in other countries. However, the success of the sustainable development strategy in Puglia’s marginal areas should consider the vital function of farmers’ self-organization and social capital as key factors in the adoption of agricultural innovations for the revitalization of these areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Management of the Agroecosystem)

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32 pages, 2326 KiB

Open AccessReview

Conservation Tillage in Medicinal Plant Cultivation in China: What, Why, and How

by Da-Cheng Hao, Cheng-Xun Li, Pei-Gen Xiao, Hong-Tu Xie, Xue-Lian Bao and Lian-Feng Wang

Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1890; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071890 - 17 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2008

Abstract

Ecological cultivation is a promising regime for medicinal plant production. For a long time, unreasonable farming methods have threatened soil health and medicinal agriculture and restricted the sustainable development of ecological agriculture for medicinal plants. However, there is a lack of comprehensive discourse and discussion about the pros and cons of different tillage regimes. Here, the research trend and application prospects of no-tillage (NT) are comprehensively reviewed, and the ecological benefits, challenges, and opportunities of the NT system in ecological agriculture of medicinal plants are scrutinized, aiming to call for an about-face in the sustainable conservation and utilization of both phytomedicine resources and agricultural/ecological resources. An exhaustive literature search in PubMed, Bing, Scopus, and CNKI was performed to outline the research trend in conservation tillage and medicinal plants during the recent four decades. The application of NT has a long history and can reduce tillage frequency and intensity and protect soil from erosion and deterioration. NT is often combined with organic mulch to significantly reduce soil disturbance. NT and stover mulching have the advantages of saving manpower and resources and improving soil quality, crop yield, and quality. The ecological and economic benefits of NT in long-term medicinal plant cultivation could be prominent. In developing medicinal plant cultivation, competing with food crops should be avoided as much as possible, and the impact on the production of major grain crops should be minimized. Therefore, the full utilization of soil resources in forests, mountains, and wasteland is advocated, and sustainable soil utilization is the core issue in the process of land reclamation. NT and stover mulching not only inherit the traditional concept of “natural farming”, conform to the basic laws of ecology, as well as the growth characteristics of medicinal plants, but also protect the ecological environment of the production area. It would become the core strategy of ecological agriculture for medicinal plants. Our summary and discussions would help propose countermeasures to popularize NT and organic mulch, promote relevant research and scientific allocation of resources, and adapt to local conditions to achieve precise management and harmonize conservation and production of medicinal plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Management of the Agroecosystem)

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