Bio-Based Solutions for Sustainable Plant Systems
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Physiology and Crop Production".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 40
Special Issue Editor
Interests: bio-based product; wood distillate; biochar; crop production; secondary metabolites; sustainable agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Sustainable agriculture is fundamental in addressing global challenges such as climate change, food security, and environmental protection. This Special Issue explores bio-based solutions that enhance plant systems while reducing the environmental impact of agricultural practices. A major focus is on biostimulants, natural substances that stimulate plant growth, improve nutrient uptake, and increase resilience to stress. Their role in enhancing root development, crop productivity, and overall plant health is crucial for sustainable agriculture.
Specifically, wood distillates and essential oils are gaining interest for their ability to enhance crop yield and nutritional value, providing eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals. Another key topic is biochar, a carbon-rich material that improves soil fertility, water retention, and carbon sequestration, making it an essential tool for regenerative agriculture.
This Special Issue also explores green solutions for mitigating abiotic stress, such as drought, salinity, and temperature fluctuations, which significantly impact crop growth. In addition, it examines the effects of bio-based products on crop species as well as spontaneous species within agroecosystems, which may be affected during the application of these products.
By integrating these bio-based strategies, this Special Issue provides innovative insights into sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly plant protection, and improved crop resilience, fostering a transition toward a more environmentally conscious agricultural model.
Dr. Riccardo Fedeli
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. 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
- biostimulant
- wood distillate
- biochar
- essential oils
- green solutions
- sustainable agriculture
- crop production
- abiotic stress
- spontaneous plants
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