Ecophysiological Principles for Sustainable Rice and Wheat Cultivation

Dear Colleagues,

The growing global issue of food security, coupled with the urgent need for environmental sustainability, underscores the importance of understanding the ecophysiological mechanisms that underpin cereal production systems. Rice and wheat, as two of the world’s most vital staple crops, play a critical role in meeting nutritional needs and sustaining livelihoods. However, achieving high productivity while minimizing environmental impacts remains a significant challenge. By integrating ecophysiological knowledge into innovative agronomic practices, it is possible to develop sustainable cultivation systems that support both yield stability and ecosystem health.

This Special Issue, titled "Ecophysiological Principles for Sustainable Rice and Wheat Cultivation", will showcase research bridging fundamental plant physiology, ecology, and applied agronomy. We invite the submission of original research articles, reviews, and methodological papers addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

1. Ecophysiological traits and mechanisms associated with stress tolerance (e.g., drought, heat, salinity, submergence) in rice and wheat;
2. Physiological processes driving nutrient and water use efficiency in cereal cropping systems;
3. Interactions among crop plants, soil health, and microbial communities in sustaining productivity;
4. Cultivation techniques and management strategies that leverage ecophysiological insights for reduced input use and enhanced sustainability.

We encourage studies conducted across experimental scales, including controlled environments, field trials, and long-term agricultural systems. Interdisciplinary research integrating physiology, genetics, ecology, and technology is particularly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Qun Hu
Prof. Dr. Zhipeng Xing
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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-anonymized 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.