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Plants
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Integrated Soil–Plant Management for Resilient and Sustainable Agroecosystems
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Integrated Soil–Plant Management for Resilient and Sustainable Agroecosystems

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant–Soil Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2885

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Fhatuwani N. Mudau

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Guest Editor
School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
Interests: soil; plant nutrition; abiotic stress; sustainable agriculture
Dr. Adornis Nciizah

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Guest Editor
Soil Science, Agricultural Research Council—Natural Resources and Engineering, Pretoria 0083, South Africa
Interests: agronomy; cropping systems; climate smart agriculture; soil science; sustainable agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Khayalethu Ntushelo

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Guest Editor
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida 1710, South Africa
Interests: plant soil interations
Dr. Ntakadzeni Edwin Madala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
Interests: metabolomics and postharvest quality

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Integrated soil–plant management (ISPM) is a holistic approach that aims to optimize the interaction between soil and plants to enhance agricultural productivity while ensuring the long-term sustainability of agrosystems. Soil performs numerous essential functions such as regulating water, sustaining plant and animal life, filtering and buffering potential pollutants, andcycling nutrients, thus providing physical stability and support to plants. ISPM recognizes the intricate relationship between soil and plants and seeks to manage this relationship in a way that maximizes productivity, minimizes environmental impact, and enhances resilience to various stressors such as climate change, pests, and diseases.

This Special Issue explores the importance of ISPM in building resilient and sustainable agrosystems, as well as exploring the key principles and practices that underpin this approach. We invite submissions that examine various perspectives of ISPM, including both theoretical and practical applications.

Key areas of interest and principles of ISPM include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Soil Health Management: ISPM emphasizes the importance of maintaining and improving soil health through practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, organic matter addition, and reduced tillage. Healthy soils are essential for providing a supportive environment for plant growth, improving water retention, and enhancing nutrient cycling.
  • Crop physiology (Resilience and Adaptation strategies): ISPM recognizes the need to build resilient agrosystems that can withstand environmental challenges such as droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures in the wake of global climate change. By promoting diverse cropping systems, drought-tolerant crops, crop rotations, and agroforestry practices, ISPM enhances the resilience of agrosystems and their ability to adapt to changing conditions.
  • Integrated Nutrient Management: ISPM promotes efficient nutrient management strategies that aim to optimize nutrient availability for plants while minimizing losses to the environment. This includes practices such as fertilizer use efficiency, the use of organic amendments, and precision agriculture techniques to tailor nutrient applications based on plant and soil requirements.
  • Integrated Pest and Disease Management: ISPM advocates for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that combine cultural, biological, and chemical control methods to manage pests and diseases in a sustainable manner. By promoting biodiversity and natural enemies of pests, ISPM reduces the reliance on synthetic agrochemicals.
  • Water Management: Efficient water management is essential for sustainable agriculture, especially in the face of increasing water scarcity and climate variability. ISPM encourages practices such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and soil moisture monitoring to optimize water use efficiency and minimize water wastage.

We welcome submissions that showcase successful case studies, present novel research findings, or offer critical reviews of existing knowledge. This Special Issue aims to bridge the gap between science and practice, providing valuable insights for researchers, extension agents, and farmers alike.

The comprehensive understanding of ISPM and its role in building resilient agroecosystems can contribute to sustainable and productive agriculture.

Prof. Dr. Fhatuwani N. Mudau
Dr. Adornis Nciizah
Dr. Khayalethu Ntushelo
Dr. Ntakadzeni Edwin Madala
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 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. Plants 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 2700 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

  • agroecosystem resilience
  • agroecological adaptation
  • integrated nutrient management
  • conservation agriculture
  • water management (ISM)
  • nutrient cycling
  • organic matter management
  • sustainable agriculture
  • soil health
  • integrated pest and disease management

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1295 KiB  
Article
Physiological, Chemical and Metabolite Profiling of Pectobacterium carotovorum-Inoculated Tomato Plants Grown in Nutrient-Amended Soils
by Sandra Maluleke, Udoka Vitus Ogugua, Njabulo Mdluli, Ntakadzeni Edwin Madala and Khayalethu Ntushelo
Plants 2025, 14(12), 1876; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14121876 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 47
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of a plant pathogenic bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum strain BD163 inoculation and nutrient solution (CaCO3 (2 mM), NaCl (1 mM) and K2Cr2O7 (0.001 mM)) on the growth, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and metabolomics of [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effects of a plant pathogenic bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum strain BD163 inoculation and nutrient solution (CaCO3 (2 mM), NaCl (1 mM) and K2Cr2O7 (0.001 mM)) on the growth, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and metabolomics of tomato seedlings. The experiment had four experimental treatments (1. solution + BD163 inoculation, 2. solution alone, 3. BD163 inoculation, 4. control). Plant growth and photosynthesis responses were minimal, and differences in nutrient assimilation and metabolite profiles were clear-cut. Of the photosynthesis parameters, only water use efficiency was impacted; it was higher in the bacterium-only treatment and unchanged in the other treatments. The quantities of boron, bismuth and nickel were affected, accumulating mostly in the “solution + BD163 inoculation” experimental set. Principal component analysis of metabolomics data separated the treatments into three groupings; group 1 was the double treatment, group 2 was the nutrient solution treatment and, finally, group 3 was the P. carotovorum and control treatments. Correlation analysis of the data showed an assumed interdependence of several plant factors. The authors concluded that the interaction between the bacterium, the plant and the nutrient solution is complex and more pronounced at the chemical and metabolite level than at the growth and photosynthesis level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil–Plant Management for Resilient and Sustainable Agroecosystems)
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15 pages, 1513 KiB  
Article
Plant Growth, Yield, and Quality of Bush Tea (Athrixia phylicoides) as Affected by Deficit Hidrico and Mulching
by Vhuhwavho Tshilidzi Ndou, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, Mangaliso Goge, Tshephiso Papo, Mzamo Shozi, Maanea Lonia Ramphinwa and Fhatuwani Nixwell Mudau
Plants 2025, 14(12), 1743; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14121743 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 300
Abstract
Native to South Africa, Bush tea is a plant that thrives in various climates. Cultural practices such as mineral nutrition, fertigation, pruning, and harvesting have been shown to influence bush tea’s quality, growth, and yield. This study set out to determine the effects [...] Read more.
Native to South Africa, Bush tea is a plant that thrives in various climates. Cultural practices such as mineral nutrition, fertigation, pruning, and harvesting have been shown to influence bush tea’s quality, growth, and yield. This study set out to determine the effects of mulching and deficit irrigation on the growth, yield, and quality of bush tea. Three deficit irrigation treatments (0%, 30%, and 100% Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) on field capacity) and three mulch treatments (sawdust, black plastic mulch, and no mulch) were included in a two-factor experiment, which was set up in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Physiological and growth parameters were taken every two weeks. The number of branches was counted, and measurements of chlorophyll content and the proportion of radiation intercepted by the canopy were recorded. Yield and secondary metabolites such as sugar residuals, fatty acids, and phenols of bush tea were determined after harvest. Growing bush tea under various water regimes showed that a 30% water regime significantly enhanced plant growth characteristics, including the proportion of intercepted radiation, plant height, and both fresh and dry weight. Furthermore, under different water regimes, sawdust improved plant growth in bush tea grown in the field. Black plastic mulch and a 0% water regime produced more compounds beneficial to health than tea treated with half or full irrigation. The extraction of data for Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry analyses was conducted for quality components. Our study did not show any distinct structural differences in the tea under different water regimes or mulching. Flavones, phenols, diterpenes, and gardoside were some of the most abundant compounds found in bush tea using mass spectrometry. Principal Component Analysis was performed on the NMR spectral data across 27 samples of bush tea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil–Plant Management for Resilient and Sustainable Agroecosystems)
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17 pages, 1585 KiB  
Article
Effect of Clay Amendment and Strategic Deep Tillage on Soil Water Dynamics and Plant Growth Under Controlled Environments
by Kanchana Wickramarachchi, Giacomo Betti and Gaus Azam
Plants 2025, 14(5), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14050799 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 906
Abstract
Strategic deep tillage (SDT) practices, such as soil mixing following the application of soil amendments, are promising approaches to alleviate topsoil water repellence and other subsoil constraints and improve crop productivity. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the effect of SDT [...] Read more.
Strategic deep tillage (SDT) practices, such as soil mixing following the application of soil amendments, are promising approaches to alleviate topsoil water repellence and other subsoil constraints and improve crop productivity. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the effect of SDT on soil water dynamics, especially under water-limited environments. This study evaluates the effects of clay incorporation, soil inversion and deep soil mixing on soil water infiltration, surface evaporation rates, soil water storage and subsequent impacts on the below and aboveground growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var Scepter) in controlled environments. Results show that soil mixing significantly improved water infiltration compared to an untreated control. Clay incorporation exhibited the highest bare soil surface evaporation rates immediately and two years post-tillage, leading to substantial water losses under warm and dry ambient conditions. Despite improving soil water storage in deeper layers, high evaporation rates in clay-incorporated soils negatively impacted wheat growth, with reduced shoot biomass and root length density. Conversely, soil inversion and mixing-only treatments demonstrated balanced improvements in water infiltration, soil water use, and wheat shoot biomass. These findings underscore the trade-offs associated with SDT practices, particularly in managing soil water loss and crop productivity in water-limited environments. This study also highlights the need for the careful selection of SDT for soil amelioration strategies tailored to soil types and climatic conditions to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil–Plant Management for Resilient and Sustainable Agroecosystems)
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18 pages, 2589 KiB  
Article
Effect of Compound Fertilizer on Foxtail Millet Productivity and Soil Environment
by Yanyan Duan, Chenyang Wang, Lizhi Li, Ruihua Han, Xiao Shen, Genlan Han, Jiang Wang, Mengen Nie, Xinlei Zhou, Huiling Du, Xiangyang Yuan and Shuqi Dong
Plants 2024, 13(22), 3167; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223167 - 11 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1186
Abstract
The effects of balanced fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) on foxtail millet productivity and the soil environment under the same conditions of total nutrients have received limited research attention. Therefore, in this study, three balanced fertilization patterns of 27-14-10 (T1), 27-17-7 [...] Read more.
The effects of balanced fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) on foxtail millet productivity and the soil environment under the same conditions of total nutrients have received limited research attention. Therefore, in this study, three balanced fertilization patterns of 27-14-10 (T1), 27-17-7 (T2), and 30-10-11 (T3), and one no fertilization treatment (CK), a total of four treatments, were set up through a two-year field experiment to study the effects of balanced fertilization patterns on foxtail millet yield and soil environment. Mantel analysis was conducted to reveal the correlation between soil environmental factors and the community and their contribution to productivity. The results showed that: (1) all balanced fertilization treatments significantly increased foxtail millet yield, with the highest yield in the T1 treatment. (2) The contents of EC, available K, available P, and alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen in the soil of the two-year TI treatments were higher than those of the other treatments and increased by 7.20–9.36%, 24.87–52.35%, 55.83–56.38%, and 21.05–43.95%, respectively, compared with CK. (3) Soil urease activity in the T1 treatment increased significantly by 26.67% and 9.00% compared with the control over the two years. Sucrase activity increased by 36.27% and 23.88% in the T1 treatment compared to CK, and glutaminase activity increased by 33.33% and 19.23% in the T1 treatment compared to CK. (4) T1 treatment significantly increased the OUT number and diversity index of the soil bacterial community. (5) Mantel analysis and principal component analysis showed that available soil nutrients and soil enzymes were positively correlated, and soil enzymes and soil nutrients contributed more to foxtail millet productivity. In this study, the 27-14-10 balanced fertilization pattern was more effective, providing a theoretical basis for the research and development of special fertilizers for foxtail millet and offering technical guidance for realizing the light simplified cultivation of foxtail millet and sustainable development of cost–saving and increased efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil–Plant Management for Resilient and Sustainable Agroecosystems)
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