Crop Physiology and Management Under Saline and Arid Conditions

Dear Colleagues,

Saline and arid environments impose major constraints on crop growth, productivity, and agricultural sustainability. High soil salinity, limited water availability, extreme temperatures, and poor soil conditions affect plant development through complex physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses. Nevertheless, many crop species and genotypes have developed remarkable stress resistance mechanisms that enable them to tolerate or adapt to these harsh conditions. Understanding these mechanisms, together with developing appropriate crop and resource management strategies, is essential for sustaining agricultural production in salt-affected and water-scarce regions.

With increasing pressure from climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, and soil salinization, the need to develop resilient cropping systems has become more urgent than ever. Significant progress has been made in understanding plant responses to salinity and drought; however, further research is needed to translate this knowledge into practical and sustainable solutions for farmers and agricultural systems.

For this Special Issue, we welcome the contribution of research articles and reviews exploring crop physiological responses, adaptation mechanisms, stress-tolerant genotypes, plant water relations, nutrient dynamics, and innovative crop management practices under saline and arid conditions. Studies integrating physiology with breeding, molecular biology, irrigation management, soil management, precision agriculture, and climate-smart approaches are particularly encouraged. We aim to bring together multidisciplinary research that contributes to improving crop productivity, resource-use efficiency, and agricultural resilience under challenging environmental conditions.

Dr. Henda Mahmoudi
Guest Editor

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