Effects of Straw Returning on Soil-Crop Systems
A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Systems and Management".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: soil ecology; nutrient cycling; greenhouse gases; carbon sequestration; microbial community; straw management; cropping system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: straw incorporation; straw decomposition; soil organic matter; soil nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients; soil quality; high-yield cultivation of maize and wheat; crop root systems; tillage practices; subsoil nutrient enrichment and fertility; soil microorganisms
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Straw management has long been regarded as fundamental to sustainable agriculture, but numerous challenges must still be solved for its sustainable and widespread application. Therefore, systematic innovation for both the concept and practice of straw return is urgently necessary. Such innovation should aim to eliminate the potential constraints of straw incorporation, enhance its benefits for soil and crop performance, and reduce uncertainties regarding yield gains and economic returns.
This Special Issue invites contributions on developing novel approaches for the incorporation of straw into soil without a negative impact on the soil and crop, as well as on gaining new insights into straw–soil–crop interactions, including the following:
- The effects of straw returning on soil fertility, soil health, soil functions, and crop growth, physiological metabolism, and yield formation;
- Straw incorporation strategies involving single or multiple crop residues;
- Recent developments in soil conditioning practices related to straw, such as straw-derived biochar, straw-based microbial inoculants, and the integration of cover crops;
- Straw decomposition processes and straw–soil interactions under different environmental and management conditions;
- Management strategies for soilborne diseases, pests, and weeds associated with straw returning
We invite original research articles, reviews, and case studies that provide mechanistic understanding, innovative methodologies, or practical solutions for improving straw returning practices and optimizing soil–crop system performance.
Dr. Yuan Wen
Guest Editor
Dr. Deqiang Zhao
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
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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. Agriculture 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 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
- straw incorporation
- straw-derived products
- straw–soil–crop interactions
- soil fertility enhancement
- soil health and soil functions
- crop growth and yield formation
- straw decomposition dynamics
- soilborne disease and pest management
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