Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.2
3.3
Journals
Agronomy
Special Issues
Crop Management in Water-Limited Cropping Systems
share announcement

Crop Management in Water-Limited 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 December 2025 | Viewed by 3446

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Shoutian Ma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Farmland Irrigation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453003, China
Interests: water-saving irrigation; crop water physiology; crop high-efficiency water use; soil physical and chemicals; crop system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global population is projected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050, necessitating sustainable adaptations in agricultural production. This entails increasing the total production and improving resource use efficiency. Currently, irrigation accounts for approximately 70% of freshwater withdrawals worldwide. The scarcity of water resources remains the most constraining factor in arid and semi-arid regions. Furthermore, climate change exacerbates uncertainties surrounding water supplies and food production. As a result, we must confront the challenge of increasing agricultural output with a restricted amount of freshwater.

Therefore, the aim and scope of this Special Issue is to present recent advances in the development of the theory of, and technology and methods for efficient water use in agriculture. Potential submissions could be focused on the improvement of water productivity in any cropping system, from rainwater harvesting and water management in rainfed areas, to the optimization of deficit irrigation strategies on intensive cropping systems. We encourage the submission of innovative and original articles, as well as systematic reviews and short commentaries.

Dr. Shoutian Ma
Guest Editor

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.

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 monthly 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

  • irrigation method
  • deficit irrigation
  • precision irrigation
  • evapotranspiration
  • yield gap
  • irrigation efficiency
  • water productivity
  • crop management

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.

Published Papers (4 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

18 pages, 2947 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Comprehensive Effects of Biodegradable Mulch Films on the Soil Hydrothermal Flux, Root Architecture, and Yield of Drip-Irrigated Rice
by Zhiwen Song, Guodong Wang, Quanyou Hao, Xin Zhu, Qingyun Tang, Lei Zhao, Qifeng Wu and Yuxiang Li
Agronomy 2025, 15(6), 1292; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061292 - 25 May 2025
Viewed by 175
Abstract
Biodegradable mulch films not only provide similar field benefits to conventional mulch films but also degrade naturally, rendering them an effective alternative to traditional polyethylene mulch films for mitigating “white pollution”. However, recent studies have focused on the material selection and soil ecological [...] Read more.
Biodegradable mulch films not only provide similar field benefits to conventional mulch films but also degrade naturally, rendering them an effective alternative to traditional polyethylene mulch films for mitigating “white pollution”. However, recent studies have focused on the material selection and soil ecological impacts of biodegradable mulch films, while their effects on soil water temperature regulation and root architecture in drip-irrigated rice cultivation remain unclear. To address this research gap, in this study, various treatments including no mulch (NM), conventional plastic mulch (PM), and four types of biodegradable mulch films (BM-W1, BM-B1, BM-B2, and BM-B3) were established, and their effects on the soil hydrothermal flux, root architecture, biomass accumulation, and resource use efficiency of drip-irrigated rice were analyzed at different growth stages. The results indicated the following: (1) Compared with the NM treatment, film mulching increased the soil hydrothermal fluxes and water retention capacity, thereby promoting root growth and biomass accumulation, ultimately increasing the effective panicle number and grain yield. (2) Among the biodegradable film treatments, BM-B3 (with a degradation period of 105 days) maintained relatively higher soil temperature for a longer duration, which increased surface root distribution in the mid-to-late growth stages, further improving fine root growth and biomass accumulation, consequently enhancing both yield and water use efficiency. In contrast, BM-B1 and BM-B2 exhibited excessively rapid degradation rates, leading to significant fluctuations in soil moisture and temperature, thereby negatively affecting water supply and nutrient uptake and ultimately restricting root growth and development. (3) The entropy weight (EW) technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) model results revealed that although the PM treatment was more advantageous in terms of soil temperature, root dry weight, and soil moisture content, BM-B3 provided a slightly higher yield than the PM treatment did and offered the advantage of biodegradability, making it a preferred alternative to conventional mulch film. In summary, this study revealed the mechanism by which biodegradable mulch films enhanced biomass accumulation and yield formation in drip-irrigated rice production by optimizing soil hydrothermal dynamics and root architecture, thereby exploring their potential as replacements for conventional mulch films. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the efficient and sustainable production of drip-irrigated rice in arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Management in Water-Limited Cropping Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3330 KiB  
Article
Physiological Effects and Economic Impact of Plant Growth Regulator Applications on Soybean
by Brenna Cannon, Hannah Shear, Colton Johnson, Josie Rice and Josh Lofton
Agronomy 2025, 15(4), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040965 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 390
Abstract
Soybean production in the southern Great Plains (SGP) faces challenges due to yield-limiting factors, including high temperatures and inconsistent precipitation. These conditions can lead to excess vegetative growth, similar to what occurs in crops like cotton. Management strategies utilizing plant growth regulators (PGRs) [...] Read more.
Soybean production in the southern Great Plains (SGP) faces challenges due to yield-limiting factors, including high temperatures and inconsistent precipitation. These conditions can lead to excess vegetative growth, similar to what occurs in crops like cotton. Management strategies utilizing plant growth regulators (PGRs) have been applied to control this excessive growth, yet there is limited information on methods to mitigate vegetative growth in soybeans through modifications to the apical meristem. Field trials conducted in 2022 and 2023 investigated the effects of altering the apical growth using Ascend SL, Compact, Cobra, Cygin Pro, and physical removal, with treatments applied at the V4 and R2 growth stages. This study highlights the significance of customized application strategies to enhance profitability under diverse environmental conditions. Ascend and Cygin Pro demonstrate improving yield stability under adverse climatic conditions. Both applications of Compact produced relatively stable yields across site years, while Cobra and physical removal methods necessitate careful consideration of timing to minimize yield losses. Further research is essential to optimize these management strategies for soybean production in the SGP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Management in Water-Limited Cropping Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3967 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Sustainability of Wheat–Maize System with a Long-Term Fertilization Experiment
by Yun Shao, Jiahui An, Xueping Wang, Shouchen Ma, Ye Meng, Yang Gao and Shoutian Ma
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010210 - 16 Jan 2025
Viewed by 806
Abstract
In light of the issue concerning excessive fertilization that prevails in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, through conducting a 13-year long-term positioning experiment, the sustainability of a wheat and maize double-cropping soil system under different fertilization strategies is evaluated using the triangular area method. The [...] Read more.
In light of the issue concerning excessive fertilization that prevails in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, through conducting a 13-year long-term positioning experiment, the sustainability of a wheat and maize double-cropping soil system under different fertilization strategies is evaluated using the triangular area method. The objective is to establish a theoretical basis for the development and implementation of appropriate fertilization practices in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. In the protracted long-term experiment, chemical fertilizer (F) was taken as the control (CK) and three distinct treatments combining organic and inorganic fertilizers were used: chemical fertilizer with straw mulching (FS), chemical fertilizer with cow dung (FM), and chemical fertilizer with cow dung and straw mulching (FMS). Between 2018 and 2019, a non-fertilization treatment was concurrently incorporated in parallel on the foundation of each existing fertilization treatment. The results indicated that following prolonged fertilization, the soil nutrient content, enzyme activity, and crop yield of each organic fertilizer treatment were significantly greater than those of the chemical fertilizer treatment alone, resulting in a more stable yield. After two years of discontinuation of fertilizer cultivation, the soil fertility indexes of each treatment exhibited a notable decline. However, the rate of decrease in soil fertility indexes for the three organic fertilizer treatments was lower compared to that of the single application of chemical fertilizer treatment, suggesting that long-term allocation of organic + inorganic fertilizers contributes to better preservation of soil fertility. Through an assessment of the soil system’s sustainability under various treatments, it becomes evident that following a two-year cessation of fertilization, the sustainability indexes of the soils subjected to three long-term organic + inorganic fertilizer treatments (1.26, 1.29, and 1.27) exceeded that of the soil treated solely with chemical fertilizer (1.00). These findings provide further evidence supporting the notion that the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers can enhance the soil system’s capacity for sustainable production in wheat–maize farmland within the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Management in Water-Limited Cropping Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 2030 KiB  
Article
Foliar Application of Selenium Enhances Drought Tolerance in Tomatoes by Modulating the Antioxidative System and Restoring Photosynthesis
by Yuan Zhong, Haixue Cui, Huanhuan Li, Xiaoman Qiang, Qisheng Han and Hao Liu
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1184; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061184 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1263
Abstract
Drought stress can impact the physiological and biochemical properties of crops. However, selenium (Se) can effectively alleviate the abiotic stress experienced by plants. This study aims to investigate how applying selenium to tomato leaves affects their antioxidant system and photosynthetic traits when subjected [...] Read more.
Drought stress can impact the physiological and biochemical properties of crops. However, selenium (Se) can effectively alleviate the abiotic stress experienced by plants. This study aims to investigate how applying selenium to tomato leaves affects their antioxidant system and photosynthetic traits when subjected to drought conditions. The experiment used four different foliar selenium concentrations and three different irrigation levels. The investigation scrutinized the effects of foliar spraying employing different selenium concentrations on the antioxidant system, osmotic adjustment substances, photosynthetic performance, and growth indices of tomatoes under drought stress. The findings indicated that drought stress led to cellular oxidative damage, significantly elevating peroxide, MDA, proline, and soluble sugar content (p < 0.001). Under severe drought stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline levels increased by 21.2% and 110.0% respectively, compared to well-watered conditions. Concurrently, the net photosynthetic rate exhibited a reduction of 26.0% and dry matter accumulation decreased by 35.5%. However, after spraying with a low concentration of selenium, selenium reduced oxidative damage and malondialdehyde content by reducing the content of peroxide in leaves, restoring photosynthesis, and promoting the normal growth of tomato. Compared to the control group, spraying with 2.5 mg·L−1 selenium resulted in a 21.5% reduction in MDA content, a 111.8% increase in net photosynthetic rate, and a 29.0% increase in dry matter accumulation. When subjected to drought stress conditions, foliar spraying of low concentrations of selenium (2.5 mg·L−1) can effectively reduce oxidative damage caused by drought stress and alleviate growth constraints in tomatoes. In addition, treatments with high selenium concentrations exhibited specific toxic effects. These findings offer valuable insights into the mechanisms governing selenium-induced drought tolerance in tomatoes, thus advancing our comprehension of standard tomato production practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Management in Water-Limited Cropping Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop