Sustainable Soil and Fertility Management Strategies for Tree Crops in Arid Environments Under Climate Stress

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2026 | Viewed by 34

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Institute of Soil and Water Resources, Department of Soil Science of Athens, 1 S. Venizelou Str., 141 23 Lykovrisi, Greece
Interests: soil fertility and conservation; agricultural waste and crops residue management; soil contamination and remediation strategies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change poses unique challenges for tree crop cultivation in arid regions, where water scarcity and extreme temperatures threaten agricultural sustainability. The adaptation of tree crops in arid environments under climate change is critical to ensure agricultural sustainability and resilience.  In this issue the necessity of developing resilient soil management systems and innovative fertilization strategies pivotal for maintaining agricultural sustainability is discussed Soil degradation remains a primary concern, requiring enhanced soil quality through innovative practices. Traditional tillage methods can be improved by integrating cover crops and mulching techniques, which have been shown to enhance water use efficiency and soil health, ultimately leading to better yields and environmental sustainability. These practices work synergistically by reducing evapotranspiration rates while increasing organic matter content, forming resilient soil ecosystems that can tolerate climatic stresses. Improved fertilization practices should be followed by conservation practices to maximize agricultural resilience. Crop rotation and cover crops greatly contribute to improving soil structure and water retention, particularly beneficial in areas affected by soil degradation. Furthermore, organic amendments and conservation practices must be employed to improve crop resilience because these practices improve soil fertility and stimulate beneficial microbial activity. This aligns with climate-smart agriculture, which aims to adapt to climate impacts while enhancing carbon sequestration and food security. Pre-adaptation measures focusing on diversification of crops and better management of soil fertility guarantee long-term viability and resilience of tree crops in arid environments.

Dr. Victor Kavvadias
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. Forests 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

  • resilient soil management
  • fertilization strategies
  • soil quality
  • soil conservation practices
  • climate change
  • arid environments

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

This special issue is now open for submission.
Back to TopTop