Ecophysiological Principles for Sustainable Rice and Wheat Cultivation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 1949

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Physiology, Research Institute of Rice Industrial Engineering Technology, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Interests: high-yield; high-quality and high-efficiency crop cultivation and physiology;modern farmland tillage and unmanned cultivation;innovative integration of agronomy and agricultural machinery

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Guest Editor
College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Interests: high-yield, high-quality and high-efficiency cultivation techniques in rice; mechanized unmanned cultivation technology in rice and wheat
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Special Issue Information

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

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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-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.

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Keywords

  • ecophysiology
  • sustainable agriculture
  • rice and wheat
  • stress adaptation
  • resource use efficiency
  • climate resilience
  • soil–plant interactions

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 3929 KB  
Article
Application of Integrated Multi-Operation Paddy Field Leveling Machine in Rice Production
by Yangjie Shi, Jiawang Hong, Xingye Shen, Peng Xu, Jintao Xu, Xiaobo Xi, Qun Hu and Hui Shen
Agronomy 2025, 15(12), 2877; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15122877 - 14 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1613
Abstract
Paddy field leveling is the foundation of high-yield rice cultivation. In response to the current issues of low leveling accuracy and the lack of efficient multi-operation machinery, an Integrated Multi-operation Paddy Field Leveling Machine was designed in this study. This machine can complete [...] Read more.
Paddy field leveling is the foundation of high-yield rice cultivation. In response to the current issues of low leveling accuracy and the lack of efficient multi-operation machinery, an Integrated Multi-operation Paddy Field Leveling Machine was designed in this study. This machine can complete soil crushing, stubble burying, mud stirring, and leveling in a single pass. Combined with an adaptive control system based on Global Navigation Satellite System—Real-Time Kinematic (GNSS-RTK) technology, it enables adaptive and precise paddy field leveling operations. To verify the operational performance of the equipment, field tests were conducted. The results showed that the machine achieved an average puddling depth of 14.21 cm, a surface levelness of 2.16 cm, an average stubble burial depth of 8.15 cm, and a vegetation coverage rate of 89.33%, demonstrating satisfactory leveling performance. Furthermore, to clarify the feasibility and superiority of applying this equipment in actual rice production, experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different field leveling methods on early rice growth, yield, and its components. One-way analysis of variance was employed to examine the differences in agronomic indicators between the different field leveling treatments. The results indicated that using this equipment for paddy field leveling, compared to traditional methods and dry land preparation, can improve the seedling emergence rate, thereby laying a solid population foundation for the formation of effective panicles. It also promoted root growth and development and increased the total dry matter accumulation at maturity, thereby contributing to high yield formation. Over the two-year experimental period, the rice yield remained above 9.8 t·hm−2. This research provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the further optimization and development of subsequent paddy field preparation equipment, thereby promoting the widespread application of this technology in rice production. Full article
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