Influence of Management Practices on Plant Growth

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 241

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources and Engineering Technology Research Center of Pinus tabuliformis of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Interests: timber forest cultivation; ecological forest; urban forest; seedling cultivation; tree cultivation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on the "Influence of Management Practices on Plant Growth" explores how various agricultural and horticultural techniques impact plant development and productivity. Key practices like thinning and pruning are highlighted for their role in managing plant density and canopy structure, which improves light penetration and air circulation, ultimately enhancing growth and yield. Thinning helps reduce competition among plants for resources, while pruning removes dead or excess branches, promoting healthier growth and increased fruit quality. Irrigation is another crucial management practice that directly affects plant growth by ensuring an adequate water supply, which is essential for photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and overall plant vitality. The timing and amount of water application are critical for optimizing growth and avoiding issues like water stress or root rot. Fertilizer application provides essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are vital for plant growth. Proper fertilization improves soil fertility, enhances plant development, and boosts yields. However, excessive use can lead to nutrient leaching and environmental pollution. Soil management practices, including tilling, mulching, and crop rotation, are also emphasized for their role in maintaining soil health, enhancing nutrient availability, and preventing soil erosion. Collectively, these management practices are integral to sustainable agriculture and maximizing plant growth as well as productivity.

Dr. Zhongkui Jia
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • plant growth
  • management practices
  • irrigation
  • soil health
  • sustainable agriculture

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 1578 KiB  
Article
Decreased Nitrogen and Carbohydrate Metabolism Activity Leads to Grain Yield Reduction in Qingke Under Continuous Cropping
by Zhiqi Ma, Chaochao He, Jianxin Tan, Tao Jin and Shuijin Hua
Plants 2025, 14(14), 2235; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14142235 (registering DOI) - 19 Jul 2025
Abstract
Qingke (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. f.), a staple crop in the Tibetan Plateau, suffers from severe yield reduction under continuous cropping (by 38.67%), yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study systematically investigated the effects of 23-year continuous cropping (23y-CC) [...] Read more.
Qingke (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. f.), a staple crop in the Tibetan Plateau, suffers from severe yield reduction under continuous cropping (by 38.67%), yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study systematically investigated the effects of 23-year continuous cropping (23y-CC) on the nutrient dynamics, carbohydrate metabolism, and enzymatic activities in Qingke leaves across five developmental stages (T1: seedling; T2: tillering; T3: jointing; T4: flowering; T5: filling). Compared to the control (first-year planting), 23y-CC significantly reduced leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents by 60.94%, 47.96%, and 60.82%, respectively, at early growth stages. Key nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes, including glutamate synthase (GOGAT), glutamine synthase (GS), and nitrate reductase (NR), exhibited reduced activities under 23y-CC, indicating impaired nitrogen assimilation. Carbohydrate profiling revealed lower starch and glucose contents but higher sucrose accumulation in later stages (T4–T5) under 23y-CC, accompanied by the dysregulation of sucrose synthase (SS) and invertase activities. These findings elucidate how continuous cropping disrupts nutrient homeostasis and carbon allocation, ultimately compromising Qingke productivity. This study provides novel insights into agronomic strategies for mitigating continuous cropping obstacles in Qingke. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Influence of Management Practices on Plant Growth)
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