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Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition

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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 5801

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Dr. Lijin Guo

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Guest Editor

International Magnesium Institute, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Interests: conservation tillage; soil organic carbon; carbon sequestration; soil microbial community; mycorrhizal fungi; abiotic stress; greenhouse gas emission; climate change impact and adaptation

Prof. Dr. Chengfang Li

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Guest Editor

MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: conservation tillage; plant fertilization; water-saving irrigation; global warming potential; soil nutrient cycles; soil carbon sequestration; crop yield; soil microbial community; greenhouse gas emission
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Dear Colleagues,

Maintaining economically and environmentally sustainable cropping systems and practices is one of the most imperative challenges in innovative sustainable agriculture. In this view, it is essential to note that the sacrifice of crop yields in the farmland ecosystem may not appeal to farmers who are heavily focused on increasing economic outcomes. Therefore, a deeper understanding of how to innovate cropping systems and practices with the aim of maintaining sustainability in agriculture is of crucial importance. Innovative conservation cropping systems and practices can improve agroecosystems’ productivity, reduce energy input, increase synergies between food production and ecosystem conservation, and increase farmers’ profits.

This Special Issue focuses on the development and assessment of innovative conservation cropping systems and practices for determining system productivity and enhancing crop production and soil quality. “Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition” is a continuation of a previous Special Issue and will cover applied engineering for achieving a sustainable balance between productivity, environmental, and profitability factors. The aim is to present a collection of research articles that cover a broad range of cropping systems and practices from farmland ecosystem. All types of articles, e.g., original research, opinions, and reviews, are welcome.

Dr. Lijin Guo
Prof. Dr. Chengfang Li
Guest Editors

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Keywords

conservation tillage
tillage technology
conservation crop system
soil carbon and nitrogen cycle
soil nutrition
soil organic carbon
soil aggregate
crop yield
soil microbial diversity
greenhouse gas emission
resource utilization efficiency
economic benefit
fertilizer use efficiency

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Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices in Agriculture (19 articles)

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 5416 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Soil Tillage Systems on CO₂ Emissions, Soil Chemical Parameters, and Plant Growth Physiological Parameters (LAI, SPAD) in a Long-Term Tillage Experiment in Hungary

by Boglárka Bozóki, Amare Assefa Bogale, Hussein Khaeim, Zoltán Kende, Barbara Simon, Gergő Péter Kovács and Csaba Gyuricza

Agriculture 2025, 15(17), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15171810 - 25 Aug 2025

Viewed by 216

Abstract

Choosing the most sustainable and ecologically stable soil tillage techniques requires dependence on long-term field trials, which are essential for successful interventions and evidence-based decision-making. This research evaluated several factors, including soil biological activity (CO₂ emission), soil chemical properties (pH (KCl), soil organic matter (SOM)), plant growth physiological indicators (Leaf Area Index (LAI), Soil and Plant Analysis Development (SPAD)), crop yield, and grain quality (Zeleny index, protein %, oil %, and gluten % content), under six soil cultivation methods that represent varying degrees of soil disturbance in a long-term (23 years) tillage experiment. Conventional tillage (ploughing (P)) and conservational tillage techniques (loosening (L), deep cultivation (DC), shallow cultivation (SC), disking (D), and no-till (NT)) were examined for three years (2022, 2023, and 2024) in a winter barley–soybean–winter wheat cropping system. Results indicate that tillage intensity has a differential influence on soil biological parameters, with minor variations in SPAD values across treatments. The findings show significant variations in CO₂ emissions, LAI values, and grain quality in certain years, likely due to the influence of P and L tillage treatments. The novelty of this study lies in determining that, although the short-term effects of soil tillage on crop physiological parameters and grain yield may be minimal under fluctuating climatic conditions, long-term tillage practices significantly influence existing disparities, underscoring the necessity for site-specific and climate-resilient tillage strategies in sustainable crop production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 12087 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Winter Green Manure Incorporation on Grain Yield, Nitrogen Uptake, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Different Ratoon Rice Varieties

by Qiwen Hou, Pufan Shao, Sheng Chen, Zhangzhen Yang, Zhixiong Yuan, Liusheng Zhong, Ziyuan Zhao, Yu Wang, Cuo Ga, Jiarui Tang, Yaoyun Xu, Yanfu Zeng, Cong Yu, Cheng Huang and Ying Xu

Agriculture 2025, 15(17), 1801; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15171801 - 22 Aug 2025

Viewed by 244

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of winter green manure incorporation on grain yield, nitrogen uptake, and use efficiency in ratoon rice production. A two-year field experiment (2019–2021) was conducted using a split-plot design, with main plots comprising three cropping systems: fallow–ratoon rice (FA), rapeseed–ratoon rice (RA), and milk vetch–ratoon rice (MV). In the RA and MV systems, green manures were incorporated in situ, while subplots featured two ratoon rice varieties (Yliangyou 911, YLY911; Liangyou 6326, LY6326). Compared to FA treatment, RA and MV treatments significantly increased main crop yields by 16.37% and 9.31%, respectively, with corresponding annual total yield improvements of 11.34% and 7.78%. Under RA treatment, LY6326 achieved significantly higher yields than YLY911. Biomass accumulation analysis revealed that RA and MV treatments enhanced plant dry matter by 24.40% and 5.63% at heading stage, and 9.83% and 7.47% at maturity, respectively, relative to FA treatment. Green manure incorporation improved plant nitrogen content at maturity (9.42% and 10.29% for RA and MV, respectively) and panicle nitrogen accumulation (11.73% and 38.26%, respectively) compared to fallow treatment. Nitrogen use efficiency metrics demonstrated that RA and MV treatments enhanced nitrogen harvest index by 1.54% and 5.65%, respectively, while nitrogen partial factor productivity increased by 11.34% and 7.78%. Varietal comparison confirmed that LY6326 exhibited superior nitrogen accumulation and utilization compared to YLY911. These findings demonstrate that winter green manure incorporation significantly enhances grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in ratoon rice systems, providing a scientific foundation for developing sustainable and productive rice cropping practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 2224 KB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Available Phosphorus Under Phosphorus Fertilization in Paddy Fields of a Cold Region Using Several Extraction Methods: A Case Study from Yamagata, Japan

by Shuhei Tsumuraya, Hisashi Nasukawa and Ryosuke Tajima

Agriculture 2025, 15(13), 1453; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131453 - 5 Jul 2025

Viewed by 376

Abstract

Assessing available phosphorus (P) in paddy fields is challenging due to waterlogging-induced reducing conditions. This study tested the applicability of the Truog, Bray 2, and Mehlich 3 extraction methods in both air-dried and incubated soils, as well as the ascorbic-acid-reduced Bray 2 (AR Bray 2), which simulates reducing conditions, for evaluating rice growth under P fertilization. In addition, to investigate the chemical characteristics of the extraction methods, active Al and Fe and P sequential extractions were measured. Soil samples from four representative regions in Yamagata Prefecture were used. Pot cultivation tests using ‘Haenuki’ and ‘Tsuyahime’ cultivars were conducted with varying P fertilizer levels. Variations in P availability across soil types were influenced by levels of active Al and Fe. Sequential extractions identified NaHCO₃-P and NaOH-P fractions as important for P availability. Bray 2 in both soils and AR Bray 2 were the most effective methods, showing a strong saturating exponential correlation with rice growth and P uptake, whereas Mehlich 3 and Truog showed weaker correlations. Bray 2 and AR Bray 2 show potential but require further evaluation for practical application due to the small number of soils. Future efforts should prioritize developing methods that account for P dynamics under reducing conditions, thereby improving P management strategies and supporting sustainable rice production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 3541 KB

Open AccessArticle

Drought Resistance Physiological Responses of Alfalfa to Alternate Partial Root-Zone Drying Irrigation

by Qunce Sun, Ying Wang, Shuzhen Zhang, Xianwei Peng, Xingyu Ge, Binghan Wen, Youping An, Guili Jin and Yingjun Zhang

Agriculture 2025, 15(13), 1446; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131446 - 4 Jul 2025

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Abstract

In arid agricultural production, exploring suitable water-saving irrigation strategies and analyzing their water-saving mechanisms are of great significance. Alternating partial root-zone drying irrigation (APRI), a water-saving strategy, enhances the water use efficiency (WUE) of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) This paper aims to clarify the physiological mechanisms by which the APRI method enhances the physiological WUE of alfalfa, as well as the differences between this water-saving irrigation strategy, conventional irrigation (CI), and their water deficit adjustments, in order to seek higher water use efficiency for alfalfa production in arid regions. In this experiment, alfalfa was used as the research subject, and three irrigation methods, CI, fixed partial root-zone drying (FPRI), and APRI, were set up, each paired with three decreasing moisture supply gradients of 90% water holding capacity (WHC) (W1), 70% WHC (W2), and 50% WHC (W3). Samples were taken and observed once after every three complete irrigation cycles. Through a comparative analysis of the growth status, leaf water status, antioxidant enzyme activity, and osmotic adjustment capabilities of alfalfa under different water supplies for the three irrigation strategies, the following conclusions were drawn: First, the APRI method, through artificially created periodic wet–dry cycles in the rhizosphere soil, provides pseudo-drought stress that enhances the osmotic adjustment capabilities and antioxidant enzyme activity of alfalfa leaves during the early to middle phases of irrigation treatment compared to CI and FPRI methods, resulting in healthier leaf water conditions. Secondly, the stronger drought tolerance and superior growth conditions of alfalfa under the APRI method due to reduced water availability are key factors in enhancing the water use efficiency of alfalfa under this strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition)

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29 pages, 6729 KB

Open AccessArticle

Balancing Productivity and Environmental Sustainability in Pomelo Production Through Controlled-Release Fertilizer Optimization

by Zetian Zhang, Guangzhao Gao, Jinghui Yu, Runzhi Zhan, Hongyu Yang, Zhengjia He, Bin Dong, Jindun Fan, Yina Fang, Sisi Zeng, Xinyu Xuan, Siyi Wang, Liangquan Wu, Wenhao Yang and Lijin Guo

Agriculture 2025, 15(13), 1367; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131367 - 25 Jun 2025

Viewed by 540

Abstract

In the context of agricultural green transformation, the balance between the environmental footprint and economic return is a key indicator for measuring the synergy of high yields, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness in agricultural systems. However, the pathways and mechanisms for achieving this synergy in orchard systems remain unclear. Based on a three-year field experiment in Pinghe County, Fujian Province, a comprehensive evaluation framework integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) was constructed. This framework was used to systematically analyze the differences in the net ecosystem economic benefit (EEB) and environmental impact of four fertilization regimes: the conventional farming regime with no mulching (A; 1084 kg N ha⁻¹, 914 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹, and 906 kg K₂O ha⁻¹), the conventional farming regime with mulching (B), the optimized fertilization regime with water–fertilizer integration (C; 250 kg N ha⁻¹, 200 kg K₂O ha⁻¹, 100 kg MgO ha⁻¹, and 400 kg CaO ha⁻¹), and the optimized fertilization regime with controlled-release fertilizers (D). The results showed that regime D performed best in terms of yield, nutrient-use efficiency, and EEB, which increased by 220.5% and 297.5% compared with regime A, and reduced the input cost by CNY 63,100~69,000 hm⁻². Moreover, compared with regime A, regimes B, C, and D significantly reduced the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus footprints, respectively, with the carbon footprint reduced by 6.7~21.7%, 72.4~74.8%, and 71.6~76.5%; the nitrogen footprint reduced by 2.6~19.0%, 80.7~82.2%, and 80.1~83.4%; and the phosphorus footprint reduced by 15.3%, 100%, and 100%. Furthermore, the comprehensive evaluation index (CEI) is D > C > B > A. In total, the three optimized regimes balanced high yield with environmental sustainability, with the D regime showing the best performance, offering scientific support for transitioning to low-carbon, high-value orchards in smallholder systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 576 KB

Open AccessArticle

Response of Soil Organic Carbon and Its Components to Mixed Sowing of Green Manure

by Bin-Juan Yang, Zhi-Hui Fang, Jing-Rui Chen, Qin Liu and Guo-Qin Huang

Agriculture 2025, 15(12), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121260 - 11 Jun 2025

Viewed by 803

Abstract

Mixed sowing of green manure in winter is a unique farming mode in southern China, which has the potential to replace or partially replace nitrogen fertilizer. To investigate how mixed sowing of green manure combined with nitrogen reduction regulates soil organic carbon and its fractions, this study was conducted in the 3/4 Chinese milk vetch × 1/4 rapeseed farming mode, without nitrogen fertilizer (CK), 100% N fertilizer (150 kg ha⁻¹, N1MR), 20% N fertilizer reduction (120 kg ha⁻¹, N2MR), 40% N fertilizer reduction (90 kg ha⁻¹, N3MR), and 60% N fertilizer reduction (60 kg ha⁻¹, N4MR). The main results were the N2MR treatment could guarantee stable and increased rice yield. The N1MR and N2MR treatments were more conducive to the accumulation of TOC. The N4MR and N2MR treatments were more conducive to the increase and accumulation of AOC and DOC. The effective spikes were positively correlated with TOC and ROC. The grain number per panicle was positively correlated with DOC. The seed-setting rate was positively correlated with ROC. Overall, mixed sowing of Chinese milk vetch and rapeseed combined with 20% nitrogen reduction ensures a stable yield and increase in rice. Nitrogen reduction by 60% and 20% is beneficial to the increase and accumulation of TOC, AOC, and DOC in soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 12431 KB

Open AccessArticle

Land Use Rather than Microplastic Type Determines the Diversity and Structure of Plastisphere Bacterial Communities

by Yangyang Wang, Zixuan Zhang, Shuang Zhang, Wanlin Zhuang, Zhaoji Shi, Ziqiang Liu, Hui Wei and Jiaen Zhang

Agriculture 2025, 15(7), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15070778 - 3 Apr 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 745

Abstract

Microplastic (MP) pollution has raised global concerns, and biodegradable plastics have been recommended to replace conventional ones. The “plastisphere” has been considered a hotspot for the interactions among organisms and environments, but the differences in the properties of soil microbial communities in the plastisphere of conventional and biodegradable MPs remain unclear. This in situ experiment was conducted to compare the diversity and structure of the bacterial community in the plastisphere of conventional MPs (polyethylene [PE]) and biodegradable MPs (polylactic acid [PLA]) in vegetable fields, orchards, paddy fields, and woodlands. It was discovered that the bacterial α-diversity within the plastisphere was significantly lower than that in the soil across all land use. Significant differences between plastic types were only found in the vegetable field. Regarding the community composition, the relative abundances of Actinobacteriota (43.2%) and Proteobacteria (70.9%) in the plastisphere were found to exceed those in the soil, while the relative abundances of Acidobacteriota (45.5%) and Chloroflexi (27.8%) in the soil were significantly higher. The complexity of the microbial network within the plastisphere was lower than that of the soil. Compared with the soil, the proportion of dispersal limitation in the PLA plastisphere significantly decreased, with the greatest reduction observed in the vegetable field treatment, where it dropped from 57.72% to 3.81%. These findings indicate that different land use types have a greater impact on bacterial community diversity and structure than plastics themselves, and that biodegradable MPs may pose a greater challenge to the ecological function and health of soil ecosystems than conventional MPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition)

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Review

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36 pages, 3552 KB

Open AccessReview

Milpa, a Long-Standing Polyculture for Sustainable Agriculture

by Cecilio Mota-Cruz, Alejandro Casas, Rafael Ortega-Paczka, Hugo Perales, Ernesto Vega-Peña and Robert Bye

Agriculture 2025, 15(16), 1737; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15161737 - 13 Aug 2025

Viewed by 1575

Abstract

Polyculture, or intercropping, is the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously in time and space. The milpa is a systematic polyculture involving the simultaneous cultivation of maize (Zea mays), beans (Phaseolus spp.), squash (Cucurbita spp.), and other crops. Milpa polyculture initially emerged in the Mesoamerican region (Mexico and Central America) through the concurrent processes of managing, utilizing, and domesticating its constituent crops. It subsequently spread throughout the Americas via the diffusion of maize and the convergence of its domestication with that of its companion crops and other domesticated plants in the continent. Mesoamerican farmers made an outstanding contribution by domesticating and bringing together crops with contrasting morphological and physiological traits that are ecologically, agronomically, and nutritionally complementary. Despite its importance, few quantitative evaluations of this polyculture exist. However, these evaluations indicate that its productivity and land efficiency use (Land equivalent ratio = 1.34) are comparable to those of other intercrops studied on a global scale. We emphasize the importance of transdisciplinary efforts to study this polyculture and highlight its potential applications related to ecological interactions, plant microbiomes and breeding in order to reach sustainable production goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Conservation Cropping Systems and Practices—2nd Edition)

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