Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development in Tropical Cropping Systems

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Innovative Cropping Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1219

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Postgraduate Program in Soil Science, Department of Soil and Rural Engineering, Center of Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia 58397-000, PB, Brazil
Interests: tropical soil; pedology; sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Postgraduate Program in Soil Science, Department of Soil and Rural Engineering, Center of Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia 58397-000, PB, Brazil
Interests: tropical soil; soil physics; soil management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Historically, agricultural production systems in tropical ecosystems have played a rather predatory role in land use and crop management (agricultural and forage). Thus, it was possible to observe how deforestation practices, conventional agriculture and intensive pasture led to losses of soil, water and nutrients, thus implying a change in the production model towards conservationist use systems. However, in the last 50 years, there has been a revolution in production systems. Thus, the objective of this Special Issue is to focus on scientific productions (manuscripts) that address the theme: Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development in Tropical Cropping Systems. These changes have occurred in the various stages of the production process, whether in soil use and management, in the genetic improvement of plantain cultivars in the most diverse environmental conditions or in the control of pests and diseases, which has resulted in the advancement of production and productivity. We are therefore accepting Scientific Research and Review Manuscripts that address the theme of Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development in Tropical Cropping Systems.

Prof. Dr. Milton César Costa Campos
Dr. Flavio Pereira de Oliveira
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

  • tropical cropping systems
  • use and management of tropical soil
  • agricultural production in the tropics
  • innovations in tropical systems

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2219 KiB  
Article
Treated Wastewater Affects the Fertility and Geochemistry of Degraded Soil in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region
by Victor Junior Lima Felix, Salomão de Sousa Medeiros, Rodrigo Santana Macedo, Cristiano dos Santos Sousa, Renato Francisco da Silva Souza, Vânia da Silva Fraga, Alexandre Pereira Bakker, Robson Vinício dos Santos, Bruno de Oliveira Dias and Milton César Costa Campos
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030721 - 17 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Projections for the Brazilian semi-arid (BSA) region estimate a reduction in water bodies and an increase in degraded areas. Recovering degraded soils using treated wastewater (TWW) is a strategy to increase the resilience of the local population to these climatic adversities. This study [...] Read more.
Projections for the Brazilian semi-arid (BSA) region estimate a reduction in water bodies and an increase in degraded areas. Recovering degraded soils using treated wastewater (TWW) is a strategy to increase the resilience of the local population to these climatic adversities. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of deficit irrigation with treated effluent on the (geo)chemistry of degraded soil in the BSA. An experiment with the application of TWW was conducted on soil degraded within an agroforestry system. The treatments arranged in randomized block design were WS0.5 (water supply at 0.5 L/plant/week), TE0.5 (treated effluent at 0.5 L/plant/week), and TE1 (treated effluent at 1 L/plant/week). Soil samples were collected (0–15 and 15–30 cm) at the initial condition, after two years of irrigation, and two years after the end of irrigation. Analyses of chemicals and geochemicals were carried out. All treatments increased soil fertility after two years in both layers, with TE1 resulting in higher Ca2+ (0–15 cm: 2.88; 15–30; 3.14; cmolc kg−1), Mg2+ (0–15 cm: 2.13; 15–30; 2.00; cmolc kg−1), and K+ (0–15 cm: 0.11; 15–30; 0.12; cmolc kg−1), generating a residual effect two years post-irrigation suspension and no risk of salinization. However, TE1 and mainly TE0.5 showed an increase in sodium content, making the soil solodic (6–11%). The application of TWW changed the CaO, MgO, and K2O contents of silt fraction, contributing to the availability of Ca, Mg, and K in soils. Future studies should monitor sodium levels and confirm K-bearing phyllosilicate (illitization) after irrigation with TWW. The application of TWW for a short period (two years) and in small volumes (0.5 L/plant/week) affects (geo)chemistry of degraded soil from the BSA. Full article
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Review

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15 pages, 6945 KiB  
Review
Integrated Weed Seed Impact Mills for Southeast Asian Rice Systems: Could They Aid Sustainable Weed Management?
by Leigh Vial, Jhoana Opeña and Jaquie Mitchell
Agronomy 2025, 15(6), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061333 - 29 May 2025
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Abstract
Weed management is a persistent challenge in Southeast Asian rice production, particularly in direct-seeded rice (DSR), due to the diversity of weed species and variable field and environmental conditions that can compromise weed control, necessitating innovative solutions. An integrated weed seed impact mill [...] Read more.
Weed management is a persistent challenge in Southeast Asian rice production, particularly in direct-seeded rice (DSR), due to the diversity of weed species and variable field and environmental conditions that can compromise weed control, necessitating innovative solutions. An integrated weed seed impact mill (iWSIM) reduces weed seed banks by destroying weed seeds during the harvest process. This mixed study is the first to fully explore the applicability of iWSIM technology in Southeast Asian rice systems, focusing on both combine harvester and iWSIM specifications and operation, determinants of efficacy, and field and harvest conditions. Weed seed bank reduction with an iWSIM depends on several factors, including weed seed retention and subsequent capture by the combine at harvest, weed seed separation into the chaff fraction, and the iWSIM’s efficacy against weed seeds captured in the chaff fraction. Observations from Southeast Asia indicate variable seed retention among key weed species, presenting challenges for harvesting strategies and iWSIM effectiveness. To optimize the iWSIM efficacy, recommendations include larger fields to reduce the weed seed produced on bunds, achieving complete early-season weed control, lowering the harvest header height to about 15 cm to capture more weed seeds, cleaning mechanism adjustments to ensure weed seeds are retained in the chaff fraction, and greater combine harvester engine power to allow a lower header height and power the iWSIM. The estimated weed control benefits of the iWSIM should also be weighed against additional equipment operating costs. iWSIM technology holds promise as part of a sustainable solution for weed control in Southeast Asian rice, contingent upon further region-specific research and adaptation. Full article
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