Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.7
3.4
Journals
Agronomy
Special Issues
Effects of Agrotechnical Factors and Farming Systems on Soil Properties...
share announcement

Effects of Agrotechnical Factors and Farming Systems on Soil Properties and Plant Productivity—2nd Edition

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 2967

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Cezary A. Kwiatkowski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Herbology and Plant Cultivation Techniques, Faculty of Agrobioengineering, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Interests: agricultural systems; organic farming; agrotechnical factors influencing soil properties and fertility; optimization of agronomic practices
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elżbieta Harasim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Herbology and Plant Cultivation Techniques, Faculty of Agrobioengineering, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Interests: agrotechnics of cereal, root and herbal crops; organic farming; soil properties; quality of agricultural produce
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fertile soil, rich in nutrients and beneficial microorganisms, guarantees high-quality crops. It is also an indicator of the condition of the natural environment, especially in areas and lands subject to anthropopressure. High soil quality is particularly important in sustainable and ecological farming. The level of agricultural technology used, including the type and amount of fertilization, plays an important role in shaping the quality of the soil. Due to the growing consumer demand for high-quality food (including organic food), it is important to properly manage crops, with particular emphasis on the conscious shaping of soil properties. Another important consideration is monitoring the condition of soils subjected to broadly understood anthropopressure. Health monitoring soil can help to guarantee the production of healthy and safe food that is free from chemical contamination and pathogens. To achieve the goals outlined above, knowledge is required about how to improve crop management and soil quality. This knowledge should be widely disseminated not only in the scientific community, but also to agricultural practice, the agricultural advisory industry, processors, and other stakeholders.

The Guest Editors invite submissions on innovative solutions in crop management, with particular emphasis on the fertility and quality of soil, as well as soil condition monitoring. Both original research papers and thematic reviews will be accepted.

Prof. Dr. Cezary A. Kwiatkowski
Dr. Elżbieta Harasim
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 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. Agronomy 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

  • farming system versus soil quality
  • crop rotation and agrotechnical factors versus soil quality
  • physical and chemical properties of soil
  • soil biological properties and enzymatic activity
  • soil contamination and soil pathogens
  • soil quality versus yield and quality of agricultural crops
  • soil condition monitoring and anthropopressure

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 5171 KB  
Article
Field Cultivation of Medicinal Earthworms Increases Soil Large Macroaggregates and Subsurface Organic Carbon Storage
by Lingyou Zhu, Menghao Zhang, Yiying Wang, Yuanye Xiao, Hesen Zhong, Weiqing Xu, Jialong Wu, Qi Chao and Chi Zhang
Agronomy 2026, 16(2), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020264 - 22 Jan 2026
Viewed by 31
Abstract
Field cultivation of medicinal earthworms is a distinctive agricultural practice in South China, characterized by large-scale rearing of the anecic earthworm species through substantial organic matter input. However, the effects of varying cultivation durations on soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution across aggregates and [...] Read more.
Field cultivation of medicinal earthworms is a distinctive agricultural practice in South China, characterized by large-scale rearing of the anecic earthworm species through substantial organic matter input. However, the effects of varying cultivation durations on soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution across aggregates and soil layers remain unclear. This study compared commercial cultivation plots with adjacent controls at two sites with different cultivation histories: Yangshan (6 months) and Yingde (12 months). Soil samples from three layers (0–20, 20–40, 40–60 cm) were wet-sieved into aggregate fractions for SOC and labile organic carbon (LOC) analysis. Results indicated that earthworm cultivation significantly enhanced the proportion of water-stable large macroaggregates, increased the organic carbon content within them, and elevated the overall SOC storage, particularly in subsurface layers (20–60 cm). The responses of LOC exhibited temporal variation, with a significant reduction observed only at the sites with longer cultivation duration. Overall, cultivation duration modulates the responses of labile carbon pools, whereas field cultivation of medicinal earthworms consistently promotes large macroaggregate formation and their carbon enrichment, increases total SOC stocks, drives subsurface carbon sequestration, and improves aggregate stability. These findings offer a practical strategy for enhancing soil carbon sinks in subtropical red soil ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agrotechnical Factors and Farming Systems on Soil Properties and Plant Productivity—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 3154 KB  
Article
Subsurface Irrigation Depth Affects High-Yield Triticum aestivum Cultivation in Saline-Alkali Soils: Evidence from Soil–Microbe–Crop Interaction
by Tieqiang Wang, Hanbo Wang, Kai Guo, Xiaobin Li, Weidong Li, Zhenxing Yan and Wenbin Chen
Agronomy 2026, 16(2), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020245 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 169
Abstract
Drip irrigation burial depth is a critical management factor for saline-alkali agriculture, yet its mechanisms of influencing crop productivity through soil–microbe–plant interactions remain poorly understood. To explore the regulatory effects of drip irrigation burial depth on the growth and rhizosphere microenvironment of dryland [...] Read more.
Drip irrigation burial depth is a critical management factor for saline-alkali agriculture, yet its mechanisms of influencing crop productivity through soil–microbe–plant interactions remain poorly understood. To explore the regulatory effects of drip irrigation burial depth on the growth and rhizosphere microenvironment of dryland wheat in saline-alkali soil, three treatments (no irrigation control, CK; 5 cm shallow-buried drip irrigation, T5; 25 cm deep-buried drip irrigation, T25) were set up, with soil physicochemical properties, microbial community characteristics, and crop yield analyzed. The results showed that drip irrigation significantly improved soil environment and yield, and T25 exhibited superior comprehensive benefits: soil electrical conductivity was reduced by 63%, organic matter content increased by 44%, and water-salt status was significantly optimized; meanwhile, microbial community structure was altered and root nutrient uptake capacity was enhanced, ultimately achieving a yield of 5347.1 kg ha−1, 55.0% higher than CK. In conclusion, 25 cm deep-buried drip irrigation may provide advantages for wheat cultivation primarily through improved water distribution, desalination, and soil structure enhancement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agrotechnical Factors and Farming Systems on Soil Properties and Plant Productivity—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1259 KB  
Article
Long-Term Organic Fertilization and Straw Return Affect Shajiang Black Soil (Vertisol) Nutrient Availability, Aggregate Stability, and Crop Yield with the Winter Wheat–Summer Maize Double-Cropping System in Northern China
by Jianrong Zhao, Yingying Tang, Yangfan Qu, Songling Chen, Fuwei Wang, Xiaoliang Li, Hongsheng Wu and Xian Tang
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2558; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112558 - 5 Nov 2025
Viewed by 824
Abstract
Long-term fertilization affects soil nutrient levels and aggregate stability, eventually altering crop yield. However, their responses to organic fertilizer application and straw returning are still unclear, particularly as the contributions of soil nutrient levels and aggregate stability on crop yields remain poorly quantified. [...] Read more.
Long-term fertilization affects soil nutrient levels and aggregate stability, eventually altering crop yield. However, their responses to organic fertilizer application and straw returning are still unclear, particularly as the contributions of soil nutrient levels and aggregate stability on crop yields remain poorly quantified. Therefore, topsoil samples (0–20 cm) were collected from six fertilization treatments in a long-term (13-year) Shajiang black soil field experiment with no fertilization (CK), chemical fertilization (NPK), 50% NPK plus pig manure (50%NPKP), 50% NPK plus cattle manure (50%NPKC), 70% NPK plus pig manure with straw return (70%NPKPS), and 70% NPK plus cattle manure with straw return (70%NPKCS). We examined the characteristics of crop yield, soil nutrient levels, and soil aggregate stability parameters, including under different long-term fertilization treatments. The results show that long-term fertilization significantly influenced the distribution of soil nutrients and soil aggregates in Shajiang black soil. Compared to CK, organic fertilizers and straw returning significantly increased the soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents but decreased soil pH, respectively, indicating the best strategies for improving soil fertility. Compared to the CK and NPK treatments, long-term organic fertilization and straw returning significantly increased the mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) values and significantly decreased the fractal dimension (Dm) and mean weight-specific surface area (MWSSA) values, with the 70%NPKCS treatment showing the most pronounced effect of improving aggregate stability. A redundancy analysis revealed that SOM and TN exert significant effects on aggregate stability. Furthermore, a stepwise regression analysis showed that SOM and TN were positive factors affecting the yields of wheat and maize, while MWD and pH were negative factors affecting wheat yield, demonstrating that high crop yields are derived from soils with limited stability and high fertility. Thus, our findings indicate that the integrated application of cattle manure with straw returning was the most effective strategy to promote soil nutrient accumulation, improve aggregate stability, and enhance crop yield, albeit with the potential risk of soil acidification, which requires management in the Shajiang black soil (Vertisol) region of Northern China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agrotechnical Factors and Farming Systems on Soil Properties and Plant Productivity—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3146 KB  
Article
Compost and Vermicompost from Vine Pruning and Sewage Sludge as Peat Alternatives in Cucumber Seedling Production
by Maria Cristina Morais, Tiago Azevedo, Henda Lopes, Ana Maria Coimbra, João Ricardo Sousa, Marta Roboredo, Paula Alexandra Oliveira and Elisabete Nascimento-Gonçalves
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2519; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112519 - 29 Oct 2025
Viewed by 697
Abstract
The replacement of peat in horticultural substrates is a priority for sustainable plant production. This study evaluated compost and vermicompost, derived from vine pruning and sewage sludge, as partial peat substitutes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedling production. Germination, early growth traits, [...] Read more.
The replacement of peat in horticultural substrates is a priority for sustainable plant production. This study evaluated compost and vermicompost, derived from vine pruning and sewage sludge, as partial peat substitutes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedling production. Germination, early growth traits, growth efficiency indices, and leaf nutrient contents were assessed, and the relationships among variables were explored using correlation analysis and principal component analysis. Five substrates were tested: peat-perlite alone (control) and mixtures containing 10%, 20%, or 40% compost or vermicompost as peat replacements. Results showed that incorporating 10% vermicompost significantly improved germination, seedling vigor, and biomass accumulation, with performance comparable to, or exceeding, the control. In contrast, higher proportions of compost or vermicompost negatively affected germination and seedling quality. Nutrient analysis revealed that 10% vermicompost enhanced Ca and K accumulation, traits positively correlated with growth, whereas 20% compost and 20% vermicompost were associated with higher P and Mg contents but reduced seedling performance. Overall, these promising findings demonstrate that a low proportion of vermicompost (10%) is sufficient to successfully partially replace peat in cucumber seedling production, benefiting both performance and sustainability, whereas higher compost or vermicompost levels disrupt nutrient balance and limit this species’ growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agrotechnical Factors and Farming Systems on Soil Properties and Plant Productivity—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5469 KB  
Article
Trade-Offs Between Soil Environmental Impacts and Economic Returns in Optimizing Drip Fertigation for North China Greenhouse Tomatoes
by Lijuan Wang, Hanbo Wang, Tieqiang Wang and Daozhi Gong
Agronomy 2025, 15(10), 2363; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102363 - 9 Oct 2025
Viewed by 940
Abstract
Balancing soil nitrogen leaching with production benefits remains a critical challenge in sustainable greenhouse tomato cultivation. This study evaluated the effects of reduced water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer (N) application rates on soil environmental parameters and production outcomes to optimize nitrogen management strategies. Four treatments [...] Read more.
Balancing soil nitrogen leaching with production benefits remains a critical challenge in sustainable greenhouse tomato cultivation. This study evaluated the effects of reduced water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer (N) application rates on soil environmental parameters and production outcomes to optimize nitrogen management strategies. Four treatments were implemented across two growing seasons: control (CK), high-N (H), medium-N (M), and low-N (L) nitrogen fertilizer applications in soil solution (SS) and autumn–winter (AW) systems. Results demonstrated that reduced nitrogen inputs significantly decreased soil electrical conductivity and soil nitrogen retention by 88% and 83% in SS and AW, respectively, while reducing soil residual nitrate nitrogen. The tomato yield decreased by 14–26% under low fertilizer treatment, while fruit quality was substantially enhanced, with soluble solid content increasing by 56% in SS and 217% in AW for the L treatment compared to the CK. Nitrogen-use efficiency improved by 54.7% and 34.78% in SS and AW, respectively, demonstrating superior resource utilization under reduced fertilizer applications. Principal component analysis revealed that fruit quality was primarily influenced by soluble solid content, organic acid, total soluble solids, and sugar–acid ratio. Gray relational analysis identified the L treatment (361.62 kg ha−1 in SS and 182.6 kg ha−1 in AW) as optimal for comprehensive performance evaluation. The findings demonstrate that strategic nitrogen reduction effectively balances production benefits with environmental sustainability, providing a practical framework for sustainable nitrogen management in controlled environment agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agrotechnical Factors and Farming Systems on Soil Properties and Plant Productivity—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop