Announcements

The “Agroecology Innovation: Achieving System Resilience” Section of Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395) aims to bridge the gap between agroecosystem theory and agricultural practice. This approach offers insights to develop more adaptive, productive, and sustainable agroecosystems by exploring energy exchange and material cycling among soil, crops, and the atmosphere, along with the biological, physical, chemical, and management processes and their interactions. The Editorial Office has selected a list of highly cited articles from 2023 and 2024. We invite you to read these papers and share them with your peers.

“Effects of Two Biochar Types on Mitigating Drought and Salt Stress in Tomato Seedlings”
by Wenchao Zhang, Jing Wei, Lijuan Guo, Hui Fang, Xin Liu, Kun Liang, Wenjing Niu, Fang Liu and Kadambot H.M. Siddique
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1039; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041039
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1039

“Common Ragweed—Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.: A Review with Special Regards to the Latest Results in Biology and Ecology”
by Borbála Knolmajer, István Jócsák, József Taller, Sándor Keszthelyi and Gábor Kazinczi
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030497
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/497

“Effects of Organic Amendments on Soil Pore Structure under Waterlogging Stress”
by Kefan Xuan, Xiaopeng Li, Jiabao Zhang, Yifei Jiang, Bin Ma and Jianli Liu
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020289
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/289

“Sustainable Management of Anaerobic Digestate: From Biogas Plant to Full-Scale Cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus”
by Veronica Zuffi, Fabio Puliga, Anna Zambonelli, Lara Trincone, Sonia Sanchez-Cortes and Olivo Francioso
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13040950
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/950

“A Method to Estimate Climate Drivers of Maize Yield Predictability Leveraging Genetic-by-Environment Interactions in the US and Canada”
by Pouria Sarzaeim and Fernando Muñoz-Arriola
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040733
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/4/733

“Quantifying CO₂ Emissions and Carbon Sequestration from Digestate-Amended Soil Using Natural ¹³C Abundance as a Tracer”
by Gilles Reuland, Stefaan Sleutel, Haibo Li, Hanne Dekker, István Sigurnjak and Erik Meers
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2501; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102501
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2501

“Exploring the Synergy between Humic Acid Substances, Dehydrogenase Activity and Soil Fertility”
by Katarzyna Kagan, Weronika Goraj, Agnieszka Kuźniar, Anna Kruczyńska, Anna Sochaczewska, Andrzej Słomczewski and Agnieszka Wolińska
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 1031; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14051031
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/5/1031

“Nitrogen Fertilization Using Conventional and Slow-Release Fertilizers at Multiple Levels in Lolium multiflorum Lam. Pastures”
by Cristiana Maduro Dias, Marta Machado, Hugo Nunes, Ana Borba, João Madruga and Paulo Monjardino
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2191; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102191
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/10/2191

“N₂ Use in Perennial Swards Intercropped with Young Poplars, Clone I-214 (Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier), in the Mediterranean Area under Rainfed Conditions”
by Leonardo G. Tramacere, Marco Sbrana and Daniele Antichi
Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1761; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071761
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/7/1761

“Chemical and Biological Profiling of Fish and Seaweed Residues to Be Applied for Plant Fertilization”
by Marios Maroulis, Sevasti Matsia, Georgios Lazopoulos, Oana Cristina Pârvulescu, Violeta Alexandra Ion, Oana-Crina Bujor, Joshua Cabell, Anne-Kristin Løes and Athanasios Salifoglou
Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2258; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092258
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2258

The “Water Use and Irrigation” Section of Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395) aims to explore the various aspects related to water utilization and management in the context of agricultural practices, environmental sustainability, and water resource planning. The Editorial Office has selected a list of highly cited articles from 2023 and 2024. We invite you to read these papers and share them with your peers.

1. “A Review of Plastic Film Mulching on Water, Heat, Nitrogen Balance, and Crop Growth in Farmland in China”
by Yin Zhao, Xiaomin Mao, Sien Li, Xi Huang, Jiangang Che and Changjian Ma
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2515; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102515
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2515

2. “Water Management and Hydrological Characteristics of Paddy-Rice Fields under Alternate Wetting and Drying Irrigation Practice as Climate Smart Practice: A Review”
by Denis Bwire, Hirotaka Saito, Roy C. Sidle and Junko Nishiwaki
Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1421; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071421
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/7/1421

3. “The Mangrove Swamp Rice Production System of Guinea Bissau: Identification of the Main Constraints Associated with Soil Salinity and Rainfall Variability”
by Gabriel Garbanzo, Maria do Rosário Cameira and Paula Paredes
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030468
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/468

4. “Effect of Soil Moisture Deficit on Aerobic Rice in Temperate Australia”
by Matthew Champness, Carlos Ballester and John Hornbuckle
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010168
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/168

5. “Moving toward the Biophysical Characterization of the Mangrove Swamp Rice Production System in Guinea Bissau: Exploring Tools to Improve Soil- and Water-Use Efficiencies”
by Gabriel Garbanzo, Jesus Céspedes, Joseph Sandoval, Marina Temudo, Paula Paredes and Maria do Rosário Cameira
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020335
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/2/335

6. “Methodologies for Water Accounting at the Collective Irrigation System Scale Aiming at Optimizing Water Productivity”
by Antónia Ferreira, João Rolim, Paula Paredes and Maria do Rosário Cameira
Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1938; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071938
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/7/1938

7. “Evaluating the Effects of Flooding Stress during Multiple Growth Stages in Soybean”
by Elizabeth Fletcher, Robert Patterson, Jeffery Dunne, Christopher Saski and Benjamin Fallen
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051243
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1243

8. “Effect of Mulching on Soil Quality in an Agroforestry System Irrigated with Reused Water”
by Ágnes Kun, Barbara Simon, Mihály Zalai, Ildikó Kolozsvári, Csaba Bozán, Mihály Jancsó, János Tamás Körösparti, Gergő Péter Kovács, Csaba Gyuricza and Beatrix Bakti
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1622; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061622
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1622

9. “Exploitation of a Grafting Technique for Improving the Water Use Efficiency of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Grown in a Cold Greenhouse in Mediterranean Climatic Conditions”
by Sergio Argento, Simone Treccarichi, Donata Arena, Giulio Flavio Rizzo and Ferdinando Branca
Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2705; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112705
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/11/2705

10. “Effect of Plastic Film Colours and Perforations on Energy Distribution, Soil Temperature, and Evaporation”
by Zunqiu Xu, Rony Wallach, Jian Song and Xiaomin Mao
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030926
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/926

11. “A Remote-Sensing-Assisted Estimation of Water Use in Rice Paddy Fields: A Study on Lis Valley, Portugal”
by Susana Ferreira, Juan Manuel Sánchez and José Manuel Gonçalves
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051357
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1357

The “Grassland and Pasture Science” Section of Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395) publishes original research articles and reviews on sustainable grassland management and its current and future challenges with respect to global change and landscape features. Methodological contributions, case studies, and advances in modelling in both fundamental and applied studies are welcome, with an emphasis on (i) the role of plant functional diversity in regulating carbon and nitrogen cycling processes; (ii) the complementarity and inter-relations between grasslands and other agricultural lands and landscape elements; (iii) grassland-based agro-ecological farming systems.

1. “Dung Beetle Activity Is Soil-Type-Dependent and Modulates Pasture Growth and Associated Soil Microbiome”
by Long Ma, Nirodha Weeraratne, Saliya Gurusinghe, Jesmin Aktar, K. M. Shamsul Haque, Philip Eberbach, Geoff G. Gurr and Leslie A. Weston
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020325
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/325

2. “Accumulation of Alkaloids in Different Tall Fescue KY31 Clones Harboring the Common Toxic Epichloë coenophiala Endophyte under Field Conditions”
by Randy D. Dinkins, Brenda L. Coe, Timothy D. Phillips and Huihua Ji
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020356
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/356

3. “Foliar Application of Carnosine and Chitosan Improving Drought Tolerance in Bermudagrass”
by Tian Hao, Zhimin Yang, Jianfeng Liang, Jingjin Yu and Jun Liu
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020442
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/442

4. “Karrikin1 Enhances Drought Tolerance in Creeping Bentgrass in Association with Antioxidative Protection and Regulation of Stress-Responsive Gene Expression”
by Zhen-Zhen Tan, Yi-Ting Wang, Xia-Xiang Zhang, Heng-Yue Jiang, Ya Li, Li-Li Zhuang, Jing-Jin Yu and Zhi-Min Yang
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030675
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/675

5. “LANZA® Tedera Is Strongly Suppressed by Competition from Lolium multiflorum and Is Best Adapted to Light-Textured Soils”
by Jesús Fernández-Habas, Daniel Real, Tom Vanwalleghem and Pilar Fernández-Rebollo
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13040965
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/965

6. “Predicting Long-Term Effects of Alternative Management Practices in Conventional and Organic Agricultural Systems on Soil Carbon Stocks Using the DayCent Model”
by Caio Fernandes Zani, Mohamed Abdalla, Geoffrey Denis Abbott, James Arnold Taylor, Marcelo Valadares Galdos, Julia Mary Cooper and Elisa Lopez-Capel
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041093
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1093

7. “The Impact of Rotational Pasture Management for Farm-Bred Fallow Deer (Dama dama) on Fodder Quality in the Context of Animal Welfare”
by Mariusz Kulik, Katarzyna Tajchman, Antoni Lipiec, Maciej Bąkowski, Aleksandra Ukalska-Jaruga, Francisco Ceacero, Monika Pecio and Żaneta Steiner-Bogdaszewska
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1155; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041155
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1155

8. “An Overview of Permanent Grassland Grazing Management Practices and the Impacts on Principal Soil Quality Indicators”
by Filippo Milazzo, Richard M. Francksen, Mohamed Abdalla, Simone Ravetto Enri, Laura Zavattaro, Marco Pittarello, Stanislav Hejduk, Paul Newell-Price, René L. M. Schils, Pete Smith et al.
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1366; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051366
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1366

9. “Yield, Nutritional Composition, and In Vitro Ruminal Digestibility of Conventional and Brown Midrib (BMR) Corn for Silage as Affected by Planting Population and Harvest Maturity”
by Omar Manuel Peña, Cesar Velasquez, Gonzalo Ferreira and Matias Jose Aguerre
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1414; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051414
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1414

10. “Effective Proportion of Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) in Mixed Pastures for Botanical Stability and Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cow Urine Patches”
by Chi Vi, Peter D. Kemp, Surinder Saggar, Soledad Navarrete and David J. Horne
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1447; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061447
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1447

11. “Evaluation of the ECOSSE Model for Estimating Soil Respiration from Eight European Permanent Grassland Sites”
by Mohamed Abdalla, Iris Feigenwinter, Mark Richards, Sylvia Helga Vetter, Georg Wohlfahrt, Ute Skiba, Krisztina Pintér, Zoltán Nagy, Stanislav Hejduk, Nina Buchmann et al.
Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1734; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071734
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/7/1734

12. “Effect of Poultry Litter Application Method and Rainfall and Delayed Wrapping on Warm-Season Grass Baleage”
by Christine C. Nieman, Wayne K. Coblentz, Philip A. Moore, Jr. and Matthew S. Akins
Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1896; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071896
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/7/1896

13. “Corn (Zea mays L.) Production in Living Mulch Systems Using White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Rates”
by Anders Glimskär, Jan Hultgren, Matthew Hiron, Rebecka Westin, Eddie A. M. Bokkers and Linda J. Keeling
Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2377; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092377
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2377

14. “Sustainable Grazing by Cattle and Sheep for Semi-Natural Grasslands in Sweden”
by Anders Glimskär, Jan Hultgren, Matthew Hiron, Rebecka Westin, Eddie A. M. Bokkers and Linda J. Keeling
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2469; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102469
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2469

15. “Alfalfa Stem Cell Wall Digestibility: Current Knowledge and Future Research Directions”
by Krishna B. Bhandari, Hannah L. Rusch and Deborah J. Heuschele
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2875; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122875
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/2875

16. “Emergence and Early Growth of Four Desmanthus Species in Three Alkaline Clay Soils”
by Jonathan W. McLachlan, Sajanee G. Gunadasa and Chris N. Guppy
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2996; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122996
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/2996

17. “Quality Production of Sainfoin Swards Challenged by Global Change in Mountain Areas in the Western Mediterranean”
by Jonathan W. McLachlan, Sajanee G. Gunadasa and Chris N. Guppy
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010006
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/6

18. “Designing Management Strategies for Sheep Production and Bees in Dryland Pastures”
by Mia Caudillo, Andony Melathopoulos, David Eduardo Prado-Tarango, Mary Smallman, Sarah A. Taylor and Serkan Ates
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010024
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/24

19. “How the Management and Environmental Conditions Affect the Weed Vegetation in Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis L.) Fields”
by Zita Dorner, Endre Béla Kovács, Dóra Iványi and Mihály Zalai
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061169
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/6/1169

20. “Biomass Ash as a Substitute for Lime and Its Impact on Grassland Soil, Forage, and Soil Microbiota”
by Felix R. Kurzemann, Marina Fernández-Delgado Juárez, Maraike Probst, María Gómez-Brandón, Heide Spiegel, Reinhard Resch, Heribert Insam and Erich M. Pötsch
Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1568; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071568
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/7/1568

Agriculture faces an alarming number of challenges including threats from a changing climate, diminishing natural resources, degraded soils, a loss of biodiversity, and the risks posed by chemical-intensive industrial agriculture to human health. For global agriculture to become more sustainable, the adoption of supportive farming practices is no longer an option but a necessity. With farmers and agricultural companies adopting sustainable practices in their operations, together with new products and technologies that minimize chemical use and maximize resource use efficiency, the much-needed transformation in agriculture has begun. Further research is of paramount importance in order to find innovative solutions to advance sustainable agriculture practices and food security achievements.

You have free and unlimited access to the full texts of all of the open access articles published in Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395). We invite you to read our most highly cited papers from the “Farming Sustainability” Section published in 2023-2024 listed below:

1. “Integration of Crops, Livestock, and Solar Panels: A Review of Agrivoltaic Systems”
by Diego Soto-Gómez
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081824
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/8/1824

2. “Conservation Tillage Improves Soil Quality and Crop Yield in Hungary”
by Gergo Péter Kovács, Barbara Simon, István Balla, Boglárka Bozóki 1, Igor Dekemati, Csaba Gyuricza, Attila Percze and Márta Birkás
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030894
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/894 

3. “Digestate Not Only Affects Nutrient Availability but Also Soil Quality Indicators”
by Ana María García-López, Antonio Delgado, Ofélia Anjos and Carmo Horta
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1308; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051308
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1308

4. “The Evaluation of Carbon Farming Strategies in Organic Vegetable Cultivation”
by Dan Ioan Avasiloaiei, Mariana Calara, Petre Marian Brezeanu, Nazim S. Gruda and Creola Brezeanu
Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2406; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092406
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2406

5. “Soil Organic Carbon Significantly Increases When Perennial Biomass Plantations Are Reverted Back to Annual Arable Crops”
by Enrico Martani, Andrea Ferrarini, Astley Hastings and Stefano Amaducci
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020447
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/447

6. “Yield and Quality of Processing Tomato as Improved by Biostimulants Based on Trichoderma sp. and Ascophyllum nodosum and Biodegradable Mulching Films”
by Ida Di Mola, Lucia Ottaiano, Eugenio Cozzolino, Roberta Marra, Stefania Vitale, Angela Pironti, Nunzio Fiorentino and Mauro Mori
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030901
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/901

7. “Phytoremediation of Cadmium-, Lead-, and Nickel-Polluted Soils by Industrial Hemp”
by Giorgio Testa, Sebastiano Andrea Corinzia, Salvatore Luciano Cosentino and Barbara Rachele Ciaramella
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 995; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13040995
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/995

8. “Effect of Irrigation and Nitrogen Management on Potato Growth, Yield, and Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiencies”
by Bhimsen Shrestha, Blair L. Stringam, Murali K. Darapuneni, Kevin A. Lombard, Soumaila Sanogo, Charles Higgins and Koffi Djaman
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030560
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/560

9. “Resilience in Food Systems: Concepts and Measurement Options in an Expanding Research Agenda”
by Megan Roosevelt, Eric D. Raile and Jock R. Anderson
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020444
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/444

10. “Impacts of High Temperatures on the Growth and Development of Rice and Measures for Heat Tolerance Regulation: A Review”
by Jianghui Yu, Tianyu Du, Ping Zhang, Zhongtao Ma, Xi Chen, Jiale Cao, Hongjin Li, Tao Li, Ying Zhu, Fangfu Xu et al.
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2811; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122811
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2811

11. “Rare Earth Elements Transfer from Soil to Vegetables and Health Risks Associated with Vegetable Consumption in a Former Mining Area”
by Mirela Miclean, Erika Andrea Levei, Claudiu Tanaselia and Oana Cadar
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1399; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051399
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1399

12. “Silvopastures: Benefits, Past Efforts, Challenges, and Future Prospects in the United States”
by Sanjok Poudel, Gabriel Pent and John Fike
Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071369
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/7/1369

13. “Development of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) Seed Coating Technology to Enhance Germination and Stand Establishment in Red Clover Cover Crop”
by Masoume Amirkhani, Hilary Mayton, Michael Loos and Alan Taylor
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020438
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/438  

14. “Towards Managing Biodiversity of European Marginal Agricultural Land for Biodiversity-Friendly Biomass Production”
by Anna Burland and Moritz von Cossel
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1651; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061651
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1651

15. “Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) for the Summertime in the Period 2000–2021 in Slovenia: The Implication of Heat Stress for Agricultural Workers”
by Zalika Crepinsek, Zala Znidarsic and Tjasa Pogacar
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020331
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/331

16. “The Domestication and Dispersal of Large-Fruiting Prunus spp.: A Metadata Analysis of Archaeobotanical Material”
by Rita Dal Martello, Madelynn von Baeyer, Mark Hudson, Rasmus G. Bjorn, Christian Leipe, Barbara Zach, Basira Mir-Makhamad, Traci N. Billings, Irene M. Muñoz Fernández, Barbara Huber et al.
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041027
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1027

17. “Use of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Residues for Partial Peat Substitution in Growing Media for Sonchus oleraceus Production”
by Antonios Chrysargyris, Christos Goumenos and Nikolaos Tzortzakis
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041074
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1074

18. “Struvite as a Sustainable Fertilizer in Mediterranean Soils”
by Ana Pérez-Piqueres, Marta Ribó, Isabel Rodríguez-Carretero, Ana Quiñones and Rodolfo Canet
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051391
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1391

19. “Effect of Elevated Air Temperature on the Growth and Yield of Paddy Rice”
by Dohyeok Oh, Jae-Hyun Ryu, Hoejeong Jeong, Hyun-Dong Moon, Hyunki Kim, Euni Jo,Bo-Kyeong Kim, Subin Choi and Jaeil Cho
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2887; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122887
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/2887

20. “Evaluation of the Role of Legumes in Crop Rotation Schemes of Organic or Conventionally Cultivated Cabbage”
by Dionisios Yfantopoulos, Georgia Ntatsi, Anestis Karkanis and Dimitrios Savvas
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020297
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/2/297

Agriculture faces the huge challenge of meeting the needs of a growing human population while reducing its environmental impact. It is imperative to develop innovative cropping systems that produce high crop yields while addressing environmental, economic, and social concerns to improve global food security. The “Innovative Cropping Systems” Section of Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395) welcomes novel original research articles and reviews on recent advances in cropping systems.

You have free and unlimited access to the full texts of all of the open access articles published in our journal. We invite you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2023-2024 listed below:

1. “Impacts of Global Climate Change on Agricultural Production: A Comprehensive Review”
by Xiangning Yuan, Sien Li, Jinliang Chen, Haichao Yu, Tianyi Yang, Chunyu Wang, Siyu Huang, Haochong Chen and Xiang Ao
Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1360; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071360
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/7/1360

2. “Machine Learning Applications in Agriculture: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Perspectives”
by Sara Oleiro Araújo, Ricardo Silva Peres, José Cochicho Ramalho, Fernando Lidon and José Barata
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2976; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122976
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/2976

3. “Irrigation Water and Nitrogen Fertilizer Management in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): A Review”
by Bhimsen Shrestha, Murali Darapuneni, Blair L. Stringam, Kevin Lombard and Koffi Djaman
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2566; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102566
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2566 

4. “Germination and Growth Improvement of Some Micro-Greens under the Influence of Reactive Species Produced in a Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP)”
by Iuliana Motrescu, Mihai Alexandru Ciolan, Anca Elena Calistru and Gerard Jitareanu
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010150
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/150

5. “Agrivoltaic Farming Insights: A Case Study on the Cultivation and Quality of Kimchi Cabbage and Garlic”
by Da-Yeong Ko, Seung-Hun Chae, Hyeon-Woo Moon, Hye Joung Kim, Joon Seong, Moon-Sub Lee and Kang-Mo Ku
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2625; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102625
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2625  

6. “Phenological Growth Stages of Abelmoschus manihot: Codification and Description According to the BBCH Scale”
by Wenzhang Qian, Yunyi Hu, Xi Lin, Deshui Yu, Shibing Jia, Yulin Ye, Yidong Mao, Lu Yi and Shun Gao
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1328; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051328
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1328   

7. “Quantitative Approaches in Assessing Soil Organic Matter Dynamics for Sustainable Management”
by Yves Theoneste Murindangabo, Marek Kopecký, Petr Konvalina, Mohammad Ghorbani, Kristýna Perná, Thi Giang Nguyen, Jaroslav Bernas, Sadia Babar Baloch, Trong Nghia Hoang, Festus Onyebuchi Eze et al.
Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1776; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071776
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/7/1776   

8. “Bioponics—An Organic Closed-Loop Soilless Cultivation System: Yields and Characteristics Compared to Hydroponics and Soil Cultivation”
by Florentina Gartmann, Julian Hügly, Nikita Krähenbühl, Nadine Brinkmann, Zala Schmautz, Theo H. M. Smits and Ranka Junge
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061436
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1436

9. “Living Mulch as Sustainable Tool to Improve Leaf Biomass and Phytochemical Yield of Cynara cardunculus var. altilis”
by Andrzej Sałata, Agnieszka Sekara, Gaetano Pandino, Giovanni Mauromicale and Sara Lombardo
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1274; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051274
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1274

10. “Optimizing Biochar Particle Size for Plant Growth and Mitigation of Soil Salinization”
by Esther Tang, Wenxi Liao and Sean C. Thomas
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1394; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051394 
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1394

11. “Performance of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Depending on Fungicide Application and Nitrogen Top-Dressing Rate”
by Zinta Gaile, Biruta Bankina, Ieva Pluduma-Paunina, Linda Sterna, Gunita Bimsteine, Agrita Svarta, Janis Kaneps, Irina Arhipova and Aigars Sutka
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020318  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/318

12. “AMMI Analysis of Genotype × Environment Interaction on Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Yield, Sugar Content and Production in Romania”
by Camelia Oroian, Florin Ugrutan, Iulia Cristina Muresan, Ioan Oroian, Antonia Odagiu, Ioan Valentin Petrescu-Mag and Petru Burduhos
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2549; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102549
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2549

In collaboration with the University of Zielona Góra, Sustainability, Agronomy, and Horticulturae are jointly hosting an Academic Publishing Workshop designed to educate attendees on MDPI’s paper publication process and the ecosystem surrounding open access publishing. The session will cover an introduction to Sustainability, Agronomy, Horticulturae, and MDPI journals as a collective, delving into the editorial process to provide valuable insights and instilling essential skills for structuring papers and replying to reviewers effectively. Additionally, participants will be instructed on methods to improve their scientific writing, with our expert speakers leading the way to ensure a thorough understanding of how attendees can improve their publishing potential.

Date: 2 December 2025
Time: 10:00–12:00 (CET)
Venue: University of Zielona Góra

Schedule:

Speakers:

The “Pest and Disease Management” Section of Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395) publishes original research papers, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and methodology articles related to pest and disease biology, ecology, and control in all types of field crops and orchards at the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages of all agricultural commodities. In this context, this Section emphasizes pest- and disease-related problems that are associated with quantitative losses and qualitative degradations in agriculture, ranging from ecological aspects including key biology attributes, chemical/non-chemical control methods, genetics, quality preservation techniques, and identification to socio-economic surveillance and regulatory attributes. We thus welcome high-quality submissions on the above topics, covering either basic or applied research.

You have free and unlimited access to the full texts of all of the open access articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2023 and 2024, listed below:

1. “The Role of Symbiont-Targeted Strategies in the Management of Pentatomidae and Tephritidae Pests under an Integrated Vision”
by Palatino Linotype and Alberto Alma
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030868
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/868 

2. “Promoting Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) Stress Resistance, Growth, and Yield Using Native Bacterial Biostimulants”
by Daniela Sangiorgio, Antonio Cellini, Francesco Spinelli and Irene Donati
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020529
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/529

3. “Phytochemical Profile and Activity against Fusarium Species of Tamarix gallica Bark Aqueous Ammonia Extract”
by Eva Sánchez-Hernández, Vicente González-García, Adriana Correa-Guimarães, José Casanova-Gascón, Jesús Martín-Gil and Pablo Martín-Ramos
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020496
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/496 

4. “Impact of Fusarium Head Blight on Wheat Flour Quality: Examination of Protease Activity, Technological Quality and Rheological Properties”
by Vesna Peršić, Iva Božinović, Ivan Varnica, Jurislav Babić and Valentina Španić
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 662; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030662
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/662

5. “Three-Year Survey of Fusarium Multi-Metabolites/Mycotoxins Contamination in Wheat Samples in Potentially Epidemic FHB Conditions”
by Valentina Spanic, Marko Maricevic, Ivica Ikic, Michael Sulyok and Hrvoje Sarcevic
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030805
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/805

6. “Laboratory Investigation of Five Inert Dusts of Local Origin as Insecticides against the Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata [Say])”
by Luka Batistič, Tanja Bohinc, Aleksander Horvat, Iztok Jože Košir and Stanislav Trdan
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1165; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041165
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1165

7. “Control of Bacterial Canker in Stone Fruit Trees by Chemical and Biological Products”
by Agata Broniarek-Niemiec, Jorunn Børve and Joanna Puławska
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1166; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041166
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1166

8. “Sour Orange Microbiome Is Affected by Infections of Plenodomus tracheiphilus Causal Agent of Citrus Mal Secco Disease”
by Giulio Dimaria, Alexandros Mosca, Alice Anzalone, Giuseppe Paradiso, Daniele Nicotra, Grete Francesca Privitera, Alfredo Pulvirenti and Vittoria Catara
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 654; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030654
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/654

9. “Fungicidal Activity of Caproate Produced by Clostridium sp. strain E801, a Bacterium Isolated from Cocopeat Medium Subjected to Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation”
by Shota Shirane, Noriaki Momma, Toshiyuki Usami, Chiharu Suzuki, Tomoyuki Hori, Tomo Aoyagi and Seigo Amachi
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030747
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/747

10. “Infection Biology of Bipolaris oryzae in Rice and Defence Responses in Compatible and Less Compatible Interactions”
by Tran Thi Thu Thuy, Mette Lübeck, Viggo Smedegaard-Petersen, Eigil de Neergaard and Hans J. L. Jørgensen
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010231
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/231

11. “Secondary Metabolites of Pathogenic Fungi in Triticum durum Grain Protected with Debaryomyces hansenii in Two Different Locations in Poland”
by Urszula Wachowska, Michael Sulyok, Marian Wiwart, Elżbieta Suchowilska, Weronika Giedrojć, Dariusz Gontarz, Wolfgang Kandler and Rudolf Krska
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030721
Full text available online:  https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/721

12. “Brewer’s Spent Grain with Yeast Amendment Shows Potential for Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation of Weeds and Pythium irregulare”
by Danyang Liu, Jayesh Samtani, Charles Johnson, Xuemei Zhang, David M. Butler and Jeffrey Derr
Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 2081; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082081
Full text available online:  https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/8/2081

13. “Binucleate Rhizoctonia Strain: A Potential Biocontrol Agent in Wheat Production”
by Grzegorz Lemańczyk, Karol Lisiecki and Dariusz Piesik
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020523
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/523

14. “Discovery of Oscheius myriophilus (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) in Gastropods and Its Similar Virulence to Phasmarhabditis papillosa against Arion vulgaris, Deroceras reticulatum, and Cernuella virgata”
by Žiga Laznik, Stanislav Trdan, Tímea Tóth, Szabolcs Ádám, Tamás Lakatos and Ivana Majić
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051386
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1386

15. “Resistance to Anthracnose Rot Disease in Capsicum”
by Lei Cui, Michiel C. van den Munckhof and Roeland E. Voorrips
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1434; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051434
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1434 

16. “Fungi Parasitizing Powdery Mildew Fungi: Ampelomyces Strains as Biocontrol Agents against Powdery Mildews”
by Márk Z. Németh, Diána Seress and Teruo Nonomura
Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 1991; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13081991
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/8/1991

17. “Plant Defence Induction by Meyerozyma guilliermondii in Vitis vinifera L.”
by José María Alonso de Robador, Nora Ortega Pérez, M. Teresa Sanchez-Ballesta, M. Luisa Tello Mariscal, Beatriz Pintos López and Arancha Gómez-Garay
Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2780; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112780
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/11/2780 

18. “Microwaves Induce Histological Alteration of Ovaries and Testis in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)”
by Manuela Martano, Rita Massa, Brunella Restucci, Emilio Caprio, Raffaele Griffo, Karen Power and Paola Maiolino
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020420
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/420

19. “Different Trap Types Depict Dissimilar Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Cotton Fields”
by Elina Karakantza, Christos I. Rumbos, Chris Cavalaris and Christos G. Athanassiou
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1256; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051256
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1256

20. “Chemical and Biological Control of Wet Bubble Disease (Hypomyces perniciosus) in Mushroom Crops”
by María Jesús Navarro, Mila Santos, Fernando Diánez and Francisco José Gea
Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1672; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071672
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/7/1672

21. “Infection Risk-Based Application of Plant Resistance Inducers for the Control of Downy and Powdery Mildews in Vineyards”
by Othmane Taibi, Giorgia Fedele, Irene Salotti and Vittorio Rossi
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2959; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122959
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/2959

22. “Benefiting from Complexity: Exploring Enhanced Biological Control Effectiveness via the Simultaneous Use of Various Methods for Combating Pest Pressure in Agriculture”
by Miha Curk and Stanislav Trdan
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010199
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/199

23. “Arthropod Pests, Nematodes, and Microbial Pathogens of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and Their Management—A Review”
by Samara Ounis, György Turóczi and József Kiss
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2841; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122841
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2841

24. “Effect of Fungicide Protection of Sugar Beet Leaves (Beta vulgaris L.): Results of Many Years Experiments”
by Iwona Jaskulska, Dariusz Jaskulski, Jarosław Kamieniarz, Maja Radziemska, Martin Brtnický and Emilian Różniak
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020346
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/346

25. “Will Climate Change Affect the Disease Progression of Septoria Tritici Blotch in Northern Europe?”
by Ketel Christian Prahl, Holger Klink, Mario Hasler, Joseph-Alexander Verreet and Tim Birr
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1005; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041005
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1005

The “Weed Science and Weed Management” Section of Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395) welcomes novel research contributions and review articles on recent advances related to the following topics: precision weed management, new technologies for weed management, herbicide resistance surveillance and management, the physiology and genetics of herbicide resistance, weed ecology and biology, weed invasion, weed identification, taxonomy and systematics, weed genomics, new and alternative technologies for weed management, weed seed/progagule biology, weed biosecurity, and weed physiology.

You have free and unlimited access to the full texts of all of the open access articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2023 and 2024, listed below:

1. “Herbicide Resistance: Managing Weeds in a Changing World”
by Rita Ofosu, Evans Duah Agyemang, Adrienn Márton, György Pásztor, János Taller and Gabriella Kazinczi
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1595; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061595
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1595

2. “Phytotoxic Effects of Essential Oils from Six Lamiaceae Species”
by Francesca Casella, Maurizio Vurro, Francesca Valerio, Enrico Vito Perrino, Giuseppe N. Mezzapesa and Angela Boari
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010257
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/257

3. “Assessing Herbicide Efficacy of Pelargonic Acid on Several Weed Species”
by Donato Loddo, Kishore Kumar Jagarapu, Elisa Strati, Giacomo Trespidi, Nebojša Nikolić, Roberta Masin, Antonio Berti and Stefan Otto
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061511
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1511 

4. “Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz as a Promising Cover Crop Species with Allelopathic Potential”
by Martina Ghidoli, Michele Pesenti, Federico Colombo, Fabio Francesco Nocito, Roberto Pilu and
Fabrizio Araniti
Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 2187; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082187
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/8/2187 

5. “Effect of Fertilization and Weed Management Practices on Weed Diversity and Hemp Agronomic Performance”
by Angeliki Kousta, Panayiota Papastylianou, Ilias Travlos, Antonios Mavroeidis and Ioanna Kakabouki
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1060; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041060
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1060 

6. “Herbicidal Potential of the Natural Compounds Carvacrol, Thymol, Eugenol, p-Cymene, Citral and Pelargonic Acid in Field Conditions: Indications for Better Performance”
by Natalia Torres-Pagán, Marta Muñoz, Sara Barbero, Roberta Mamone, Rosa Peiró, Alessandra Carrubba, Adela M. Sánchez-Moreiras, Diego Gómez de Barreda and Mercedes Verdeguer
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030537
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/537

7. “Laser Weeding Technology in Cropping Systems: A Comprehensive Review”
by Muhammad Usama Yaseen and John M. Long
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2253; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102253
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/10/2253

8. “Biomass from Allelopathic Agroforestry and Invasive Plant Species as Soil Amendments for Weed Control—A Review”
by Antía Valiño, María Pardo-Muras, Carolina G. Puig, J. Eugenio López-Periago and Nuria Pedrol
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2880; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122880
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/2880

9. “Allelopathic Activity of Three Wild Mediterranean Asteraceae: Silybum marianum, Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris, Galactites tomentosus”
by Mirko La Iacona, Sara Lombardo, Giovanni Mauromicale, Aurelio Scavo and Gaetano Pandino
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030575
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/575

10. “Genetic and Morphological Variation of Belgian Cyperus esculentus L. Clonal Populations and Their Significance for Integrated Management”
by Sander De Ryck, Dirk Reheul, Jan De Riek, Ellen De Keyser and Benny De Cauwer
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020572
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/572

11. “Efficacy of Pendimethalin Rates on Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv) and Their Effect on Photosynthetic Performance in Ric”
by Chinaza B. Onwuchekwa-Henry, Robert Coe, Floris Van Ogtrop, Rose Roche and Daniel K. Y. Tan
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 582; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020582
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/582

12. “The Potential of Three Summer Legume Cover Crops to Suppress Weeds and Provide Ecosystem Services—A Review”
by Stavros Zannopoulos, Ioannis Gazoulis, Metaxia Kokkini, Nikolaos Antonopoulos, Panagiotis Kanatas, Marianna Kanetsi and Ilias Travlos
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061192
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/6/1192

13. “Critical Period of Weed Control in Maize as Influenced by Soil Tillage Practices and Glyphosate Application”
by Sergeja Adamič Zamljen and Robert Leskovšek
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010093
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/93

14. “The Influence of Sugar Beet Cultivation Technologies on the Intensity and Species Biodiversity of Weeds”
by Barbora Kotlánová, Pavel Hledík, Stanislav Hudec, Petra Martínez Barroso, Magdalena Daria Vaverková, Martin Jiroušek and Jan Winkler
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020390
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/2/390 

15. “The Potential of a Precision Agriculture (PA) Practice for In Situ Evaluation of Herbicide Efficacy and Selectivity in Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)”
by Panagiotis Kanatas, Ioannis Gazoulis, Nikolaos Antonopoulos, Alexandros Tataridas and Ilias Travlos
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030732
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/732

As a fundamental part of feeding growing global populations and animals, soil and plant management requires significant innovations to maintain sustainable development, aiming for sustainable high productivity and low environmental hazards. It is crucial for supporting plant growth and improving crop productivity and yield. Effective management practices ensure optimal soil health, nutrient availability, and water retention while preventing soil degradation and promoting long-term agricultural viability. Therefore, the focus of the “Soil and Plant Nutrition” Section of Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395) is to utilize soil resources and plants wisely.

All our readers have free and unlimited access to the full texts of all the open access articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2023-2024, which are listed below:

1. “Effects of Balancing Exchangeable Cations Ca, Mg, and K on the Growth of Tomato Seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Based on Increased Soil Cation Exchange Capacity”
by Mengyuan Yang, Dongxian Zhou, Huixian Hang, Shuo Chen, Hua Liu, Jikang Su, Huilin Lv, Huixin Jia and Gengmao Zhao
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030629
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/629

2. “Interactions of Microplastics with Pesticides in Soils and Their Ecotoxicological Implications”
by Aránzazu Peña, José Antonio Rodríguez-Liébana and Laura Delgado-Moreno
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030701
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/701

3. “Effects of Different Proportions of Organic Fertilizer Replacing Chemical Fertilizer on Soil Nutrients and Fertilizer Utilization in Gray Desert Soil”
by Weidan Lu, Zhiqiang Hao, Xiaolong Ma, Jianglong Gao, Xiaoqin Fan, Jianfu Guo, Jianqiang Li, Ming Lin, and Yuanhang Zhou
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010228
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/228

4. “Effect of Soil Texture on Soil Nutrient Status and Rice Nutrient Absorption in Paddy Soils”
by Chang Ye, Guangjie Zheng, Yi Tao, Yanan Xu, Guang Chu, Chunmei Xu, Song Chen, Yuanhui Liu, Xiufu Zhang and Danying Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1339; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061339
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/6/1339

5. “Long-Term Application of Organic Fertilizers in Relation to Soil Organic Matter Quality”
by Ondřej Sedlář, Jiří Balík, Jindřich Černý, Martin Kulhánek and Michaela Smatanová
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010175
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/175

6. “Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum on Nodulation and Yielding of Soybean”
by Ewa Szpunar-Krok, Dorota Bobrecka-Jamro, Wojciech Pikuła and Marta Jańczak-Pieniążek
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1341; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051341
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1341

7. “Dry Matter Losses in Silages Resulting from Epiphytic Microbiota Activity—A Comprehensive Study”
by Barbara Wróbel, Janusz Nowak, Agata Fabiszewska, Anna Paszkiewicz-Jasińska and Wojciech Przystupa
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020450
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/450

8. “How Do Microplastics Affect Physical Properties of Silt Loam Soil under Wetting–Drying Cycles?”
by Xiaoyuan Jing, Liuchang Su, Yisen Wang, Miao Yu and Xuguang Xing
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 844; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030844
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/844

9. “CO₂ Emissions from Soils under Different Tillage Practices and Weather Conditions”
by Gabriela Mühlbachová, Pavel Růžek, Helena Kusá and Radek Vavera
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 3084; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13123084
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/3084

10. “Effects of Liquid Manure Application Techniques on Ammonia Emission and Winter Wheat Yield”
by Martin ten Huf, Thorsten Reinsch, Mareike Zutz, Christoph Essich, Reiner Ruser, Caroline Buchen-Tschiskale, Heinz Flessa and Hans-Werner Olfs
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020472
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/472

11. “Deciphering the Interactions in the Root–Soil Nexus Caused by Urease and Nitrification Inhibitors: A Review”
by Sneha Gupta, Sibel Yildirim, Benjamin Andrikopoulos, Uta Wille and Ute Roessner
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1603; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061603
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1603

12. “Effect of L-Tryptophan and L-Glutamic Acid on Carrot Yield and Its Quality”
by Robert Rosa, Larysa Hajko, Jolanta Franczuk, Anna Zaniewicz-Bajkowska, Alena Andrejiová and Ivana Mezeyová
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020562
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/562

13. “Effects of a Photovoltaic Plant on Microclimate and Crops’ Growth in a Mediterranean Area”
by Massimo Fagnano, Nunzio Fiorentino, Donato Visconti, Gian Maria Baldi, Michele Falce, Marco Acutis, Maria Genovese and Miriam Di Blasi
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030466
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/466

14. “Calcium- and Magnesium-Enriched Organic Fertilizer and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Affect Soil Nutrient Availability, Plant Nutrient Uptake, and Secondary Metabolite Production in Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) Grown under Field Conditions”
by Christina N. Nikolaou, Artemios Chatziartemiou, Myrto Tsiknia, Asimina Georgia Karyda, Constantinos Ehaliotis and Dionisios Gasparatos
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020482
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/482

15. “Macromolecular Size and Architecture of Humic Substances Used in the Dyes’ Adsorptive Removal from Water and Soil”
by Panagiota G. Fragouli, Maria Roulia and Alexandros A. Vassiliadis
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2926; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122926
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/2926

16. “An Assessment of Plant Growth and Soil Properties Using Coal Char and Biochar as a Soil Amendment”
by Resham B. Thapa, Roger H. Coupal, Mohan B. Dangi and Peter D. Stahl
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020320
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/2/320

17. “Biofertilizers Enriched with PGPB Improve Soil Fertility and the Productivity of an Intensive Tomato Crop”
by Raúl Ortega Pérez, José Carlos Nieto García, Victor M. Gallegos-Cedillo, Miguel Ángel Domene Ruiz, Mila Santos Hernández, Cinthia Nájera, Isabel Miralles Mellado and Fernando Diánez Martínez
Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2286; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092286
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2286

18. “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
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/11/2821

19. “Soybean Response to N Fertilization Compared with Co-Inoculation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Azospirillum brasilense”
by Jose Bais, Hans Kandel, Thomas DeSutter, Edward Deckard and Clair Keene
Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 2022; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082022
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/8/2022

20. “Circular Economy Approach to Enhance Soil Fertility Based on Recovering Phosphorus from Wastewater”
by Tolulope Ayeyemi, Ramiro Recena, Ana María García-López and Antonio Delgado
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1513; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061513
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1513

21. “Effect of Calcium Fertilization on Calcium Uptake and Its Partitioning in Citrus Trees”
by Julia Morales, Belén Martínez-Alcántara, Almudena Bermejo, Jorge Millos, Francisco Legaz and Ana Quiñones
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2971; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122971
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/2971

22. “Splitting Nitrogen Fertilization Is More Important than Nitrogen Level When Mixed Wheat Varieties Are Cultivated in a Conservation Agriculture System”
by Kévin Allart, Ali Almoussawi, Louay Kerbey, Manuella Catterou, David Roger, David Mortier, Elisa Blanc, Bastien Robert, Fabien Spicher, Léa Emery et al.
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1295; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051295
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1295

23. “Agronomic Performance and Phytochemical Profile of Lettuce Grown in Anaerobic Dairy Digestate”
by Muhammad Faran, Muhammad Nadeem, Charles F. Manful, Lakshman Galagedara, Raymond H. Thomas and Mumtaz Cheema
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010182
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/182

24. “Effect of Incorporation Techniques and Soil Properties on NH₃ and N₂O Emissions after Urea Application”
by Hannah Götze, Melanie Saul, Yanyan Jiang and Andreas Pacholski
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2632; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102632
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2632

25. “Exploring the Macroscopic Properties of Humic Substances Using Modeling and Molecular Simulations”
by Yerko Escalona, Drazen Petrov, Edgar Galicia-Andrés and Chris Oostenbrink
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1044; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041044
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/4/1044

Welcome to the MDPI World Soil Day 2025 Webinar! 

We are delighted to invite you to the World Soil Day 2025 Webinar, taking place on 5 December 2025, as part of the global celebrations organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. World Soil Day is an international initiative dedicated to raising awareness of the vital role that healthy soils play in sustaining life on Earth, ensuring food security, and maintaining ecosystem balance.

This year’s theme, “Soil and Water: Sources of Life,” highlights the intrinsic connection between soil and water as the foundation of our agricultural systems, biodiversity, and climate resilience. By recognizing their interdependence, this year’s observance calls for global action to protect and manage these essential resources sustainably. 

The webinar will feature leading experts and researchers from around the world who will share their latest findings, insights, and experiences in soil science and sustainable land management. It will also provide an interactive platform for dialog and collaboration, inspiring innovative approaches to safeguard soil health and promote a more sustainable and resilient future for all. 

Date: 5 December at 10:00 a.m. CET | 4.00 a.m. EST | 5.00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 815 3701 6073
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/WSDW-1 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations made with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized. 

Unable to attend? Register regardless, and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch online.

Register now for free!

Program:

Webinar Chair and Speaker:

• Dr. Elisa Pellegrino, Institute of Crop Science, Italy;
• Dr. Cátia Venâncio, University of Aveiro, Portugal.