Integrated Soil–Plant Management for Resilient and Sustainable Agroecosystems

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

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• 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