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Agriculture
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Enhancing Soil Health and Water Use Efficiency in Sustainable Agriculture—2nd...
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Enhancing Soil Health and Water Use Efficiency in Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Water Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2026 | Viewed by 1337

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Daniel Bucur

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Pedotechnics, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences (IULS), 3 Aleea Mihail Sadoveanu, 700490 Iasi, Romania
Interests: environmental impact assessment; land reclamation; water resources management; hydrological modeling; water quality; soil and water conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on exploring innovative strategies to improve soil health and water use efficiency in agricultural practices. In the face of global environmental challenges, developing sustainable agricultural methods that increase crop yields while preserving soil fertility and conserving water resources is important and necessary.

We aim to provide researchers, farmers, and policymakers with practical solutions that address the complex challenges of modern agriculture.

For this purpose, we ask you to submit impactful studies that address the complex challenges of providing food for a population that is heading towards 10 billion people in the next 25 years, promoting sustainable, ecological, and economically viable agricultural practices.

Based on the first volume, we decided to continue with a second volume, showcasing topics that may include, but are not limited to, soil health restoration, efficient water management techniques, and climate-smart agriculture. By narrowing our focus to these critical aspects, we hope to offer valuable insights and actionable advice for researchers committed to sustainable and resilient farming practices.

Our goal is to contribute to the development of strategies that enhance crop production while ultimately supporting environmental conservation. We believe that, through rigorous scientific investigation and innovative approaches, we can contribute to the development of a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector. We therefore extend this invitation to share your findings, connect with colleagues, and influence the future of agricultural practices around the world, whether you are an experienced and recognized researcher or a new voice in the field.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Bucur
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • soil health
  • water use efficiency
  • sustainable agriculture
  • soil fertility
  • water conservation
  • precision agriculture
  • climate-smart farming
  • soil restoration
  • efficient irrigation
  • sustainable crop production

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

55 pages, 8610 KB  
Article
Geometry-Optimized Strip Tillage for Improving Soil Physical Quality and Hydraulic Function in Semi-Arid Vineyards
by Yurii Syromiatnykov, Farmon Mamatov, Antonina Sholoiko, Ivan Galych, Dilmurod Irgashev, Khamrokul Ravshanov, Nargiza Ravshanova, Gayrat Ergashov, Yarash Rajabov, Feruza Mukumova, Alisher Suyunov and Bektosh Aliev
Agriculture 2026, 16(7), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070751 - 28 Mar 2026
Viewed by 495
Abstract
Soil compaction and reduced infiltration capacity are critical constraints limiting soil physical quality and hydraulic functioning in semi-arid vineyard systems subjected to repeated machinery traffic. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a geometry-optimized strip tillage tool designed to improve structural functionality within [...] Read more.
Soil compaction and reduced infiltration capacity are critical constraints limiting soil physical quality and hydraulic functioning in semi-arid vineyard systems subjected to repeated machinery traffic. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a geometry-optimized strip tillage tool designed to improve structural functionality within the compacted root zone while minimizing inter-row disturbance. A U-shaped working body configuration, consisting of two oppositely inclined shanks and a central chisel, was theoretically substantiated and optimized using multifactor analysis. Field experiments were conducted to assess changes in penetration resistance, bulk density, and infiltration rate within the 20–40 cm soil layer under semi-arid conditions. The optimized geometry significantly reduced penetration resistance and bulk density in the trafficked strip, indicating alleviation of mechanical impedance and improved root-relevant physical conditions. Infiltration capacity increased after treatment, indicating enhanced hydraulic continuity within the root zone. Unlike full-width subsoiling, the localized strip intervention preserved inter-row soil stability and limited unnecessary disturbance, which is consistent with conservation-oriented soil management. The results indicate that geometry-optimized strip tillage is associated with improved soil physical quality and hydraulic function within compacted vineyard strips. The operational applicability of the developed implement may also depend on vineyard layout and terrain conditions. The prototype tool was tested under conditions representative of vineyards with standard row spacing and relatively moderate slopes typical for the experimental site. In vineyards with very narrow row spacing, steep slopes, or highly heterogeneous soil conditions, adjustments in working width, shank spacing, or tractor–implement configuration may be required. Future studies should therefore investigate the performance of the optimized geometry under contrasting vineyard configurations, including steep hillside vineyards and high-density planting systems. By linking implement design to quantitative soil structural and hydraulic indicators, this study contributes to the development of vineyard soil management practices for semi-arid perennial cropping systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Soil Health and Water Use Efficiency in Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)
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26 pages, 1529 KB  
Article
Water Regime Effects on Phosphorus Mobility and the Performance of Liquid Phosphorus Fertilizers in Contrasting Soils
by Lucian Raus and Diana Elena Bolohan
Agriculture 2026, 16(5), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16050568 - 2 Mar 2026
Viewed by 474
Abstract
The behavior of phosphorus (P) fertilizers in soil is governed not only by fertilizer solubility, but also by P mobility and vertical redistribution within the soil profile under contrasting water regime. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of water regime, fertilizer [...] Read more.
The behavior of phosphorus (P) fertilizers in soil is governed not only by fertilizer solubility, but also by P mobility and vertical redistribution within the soil profile under contrasting water regime. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of water regime, fertilizer type, and soil properties on the vertical redistribution of ammonium acetate–lactate extractable phosphorus (P-AL) in the surface soil layer under controlled pot conditions. Experiments were conducted using three soils with contrasting chemical properties: AC-LO (acidic loam, pH 5.9), NE-CL (neutral clay loam, pH 6.8), and AL-SL (alkaline sandy loam, pH 8.0). Four simulated rainfall regimes were applied at a constant rate of 25 mm day−1, corresponding to cumulative water inputs of 0 mm (W0), 50 mm (W50), 100 mm (W100), and 150 mm (W150). Fertilizer treatments included an unfertilized control (NF), a liquid NP 4–18 fertilizer applied at a low dose (L1), a liquid NP 4–18 fertilizer applied at a high dose (L2), and a solid NPK 15–15–15 fertilizer (S). Water regime exerted the strongest control on P mobility, with P-AL increasing by approximately 40–60% from W0 to W150, depending on soil type. In AC-LO, strong P fixation under low moisture minimized differences among fertilizer treatments, whereas under higher moisture (W100–W150), liquid fertilizers—particularly L2—resulted in P-AL levels approximately 10–30% higher than those of the solid fertilizer. In NE-CL, P mobility was moderate and, under W100–W150, L2 produced P-AL values approximately 10–15% higher than the solid fertilizer, promoting a more uniform P redistribution within the 2–8 cm layer. In AL-SL, the response under wet conditions depended on the water regime: at W100, L2 generated P-AL values comparable to the solid fertilizer, whereas at W150, L2 increased P-AL by approximately 11% relative to the solid form. Overall, the results indicate that soil chemical properties primarily regulate the extent of phosphorus redistribution, while water regime controls its intensity and fertilizer form influences the initial spatial configuration of P within the surface soil layer. The findings provide mechanistic insight into short-range phosphorus transport in soil, without allowing direct inferences regarding agronomic efficiency or crop response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Soil Health and Water Use Efficiency in Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)
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