Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2025 | Viewed by 1667

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Apple Research Center, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Gunwi-gun, Daegu 43100, Republic of Korea
Interests: smart farming; cultivation technology; horticultural machinery; plant physiology; crop production; plant nutrients; bioactive compounds; post-harvest technology; fruit quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Horticultural Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
Interests: cultivation technology; post-harvest technology; crop physiology; fruit quality; cell wall; plant metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Horticulture & Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38526, Republic of Korea
Interests: cultivation technology; crop physiology; post-harvest technology; fruit quality; bioactive compounds

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agricultural activities including the cultivation, production, distribution, storage, and consumption of agricultural products directly influence the quality of natural resources and human life. Advanced cultivation research and technologies are essential for developing climate-smart, resource-efficient, and high-yielding horticultural systems. By adopting modern cultivation technologies, growers can improve productivity, reduce production costs, and ensure food security while maintaining ecological balance.

The aim of this Special Issue is to contribute to current scientific knowledge on advanced cultivation technologies for horticultural and fruit crop production. We encourage the submission of manuscripts focused on smart farming systems for fruit crop growing, cultivation techniques for horticultural and fruit crops, mechanization studies for crop production, eco-friendly cultivation and production of fruit crops, the impact of controlled environmental conditions on the development of fruit crops, pre- and post-harvest management strategies to improve the quality of crops, and research on plant metabolites, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant metabolism in fruit crop production.

Dr. Nay Myo Win
Prof. Dr. Inkyu Kang
Dr. Jingi Yoo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • smart farming
  • cultivation technology
  • crop physiology and quality
  • mechanization of horticultural crops
  • precision agriculture
  • bioactive compounds
  • antioxidants

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1037 KiB  
Article
Assessing Nutrient Losses and Recycling in Sweet Cherry Orchards: A Yield-Based Approach
by Ilias Karampatzakis, Fotis Bilias, Chrysanthi Polychroniadou, Georgia Tanou, Panagiotis Kekelis, Aphrodite Theofilidou, Georgios Giannopoulos, Athina Pavlatou-Ve and Vassilis Aschonitis
Agriculture 2025, 15(12), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121312 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 536
Abstract
Mineral nutrition management in sweet cherry orchards remains a critical challenge due to the lack of site-specific fertilization guidelines, particularly in Greece, a significant cherry-producing country. This study aimed to develop a predictive framework for total nutrient losses in sweet cherry orchards by [...] Read more.
Mineral nutrition management in sweet cherry orchards remains a critical challenge due to the lack of site-specific fertilization guidelines, particularly in Greece, a significant cherry-producing country. This study aimed to develop a predictive framework for total nutrient losses in sweet cherry orchards by proposing simplified estimations using fresh fruit yield as the sole input variable. Field experiments were conducted in two orchards with distinct rootstocks (MxM 14 and CAB-6P), analyzing soil properties, leaf nutrient status, and uptake patterns on different plant components. Results indicated that despite differences in soil texture and pH, nutrient availability was generally sufficient, with only Fe and Zn marginally below optimal levels in leaf tissue. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed distinct nutrient distribution patterns, with N evenly distributed across fruits, peduncles, and prunings, while K was concentrated in fruits and peduncles, and Ca and Mg predominantly in fallen leaves. Notably, K was redistributed from leaves to fruits under high yields, evidenced by negative correlations between leaf biomass and K uptake. Strong relationships (r2 > 0.8) were found between fresh fruit yield and uptake of N, P, K, Mg, B, and Cu, enabling reliable predictions of total nutrient losses. Estimated annual nutrient removals were 85.6 kg ha−1 N, 8.94 kg ha−1 P, 42.7 kg ha−1 K, and 12.0 kg ha−1 Mg, with significant fractions retained in prunings and fallen leaves (e.g., 51.8 kg ha−1 N, 6.2 kg ha−1 P). The developed yield-based models provide a practical tool for optimizing fertilization strategies, while our findings highlight the potential for nutrient recycling through sustainable residue management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)
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25 pages, 1341 KiB  
Article
Phenological Performance, Thermal Demand, and Qualitative Potential of Wine Grape Cultivars Under Double Pruning
by Carolina Ragoni Maniero, Marco Antonio Tecchio, Harleson Sidney Almeida Monteiro, Camilo André Pereira Contreras Sánchez, Giuliano Elias Pereira, Juliane Barreto de Oliveira, Sinara de Nazaré Santana Brito, Francisco José Domingues Neto, Sarita Leonel, Marcelo de Souza Silva, Ricardo Figueira and Pricila Veiga dos Santos
Agriculture 2025, 15(12), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121241 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 673
Abstract
The production of winter wines in Southeastern Brazil represents a relatively recent but expanding viticultural approach, with increasing adoption across diverse wine-growing regions. This system relies on the double-pruning technique, which allows for the harvest of grapes during the dry and cooler winter [...] Read more.
The production of winter wines in Southeastern Brazil represents a relatively recent but expanding viticultural approach, with increasing adoption across diverse wine-growing regions. This system relies on the double-pruning technique, which allows for the harvest of grapes during the dry and cooler winter season, favoring a greater accumulation of sugars, acids, and phenolic compounds. This study aimed to characterize the phenological stages, thermal requirements, yield, and fruit quality of the fine wine grape cultivars ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, ‘Merlot’, ‘Tannat’, ‘Pinot Noir’, ‘Malbec’, and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ under double-pruning management in a subtropical climate. The vineyard was established in 2020, and two production cycles were evaluated (2022/2023 and 2023/2024). Significant differences in the duration of phenological stages were observed among cultivars, ranging from 146 to 172 days from pruning to harvest. The accumulated thermal demand was higher in the first cycle, with a mean of 1476.9 growing degree days (GDD) across cultivars. The results demonstrate the potential of Vitis vinifera L. cultivars managed with double pruning for high-quality wine production under subtropical conditions, supporting the viability of expanding viticulture in the state of São Paulo. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ showed the highest yields, reaching 3.03 and 2.75 kg per plant, respectively, with productivity values of up to 10.8 t ha−1. ‘Tannat’ stood out for its high sugar accumulation (23.4 °Brix), while ‘Merlot’ exhibited the highest phenolic (234.9 mg 100 g−1) and flavonoid (15.3 mg 100 g−1) contents. These results highlight the enological potential of the evaluated cultivars and confirm the efficiency of the double-pruning system in improving grape composition and wine quality in non-traditional viticultural regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)
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