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Innovations in Sustainable Crop Production: Adapting to Climate Change
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Innovations in Sustainable Crop Production: Adapting to Climate Change

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 September 2025 | Viewed by 3441

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ke Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Newnham Drive, Launceston, TAS 7248, Australia
Interests: agriculture; crop modeling; climate change and agriculture; climate change adaptation; genotype x environment interaction; farming systems; soil carbon; GHG emissions; yield gap
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yunbo Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
Interests: sustainable agriculture; environment; crop production; climate change and agriculture; environmental impact assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change poses significant challenges to global agriculture, impacting crop productivity, food security, and the sustainability of farming systems. This Special Issue aims to explore innovative strategies and technologies that enhance the resilience and sustainability of crop production in the face of climate change. We invite researchers, scientists, and practitioners to contribute original research articles, reviews, and case studies that address the multifaceted aspects of sustainable crop production under changing climatic conditions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties: breeding and genetic advancements in developing crops that can withstand extreme weather conditions such as drought, heat, and flooding.
  • Sustainable Farming Practices: innovative agronomic practices, including precision agriculture, conservation tillage, crop rotation, and organic farming, that improve soil health, water use efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Advanced Irrigation Techniques: development and implementation of efficient irrigation methods, such as drip irrigation and sensor-based irrigation systems, to optimize water use and improve crop yields.
  • Soil Management and Health: strategies for maintaining and enhancing soil fertility, structure, and microbiome diversity to support sustainable crop production.
  • Integrated Pest and Disease Management: approaches to managing pests and diseases through biological control, resistant varieties, and integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
  • Technological Innovations: the role of digital tools, remote sensing, and data analytics in monitoring crop growth, predicting climate impacts, and making informed management decisions.
  • Carbon Sequestration and Soil Organic Carbon: practices that enhance carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, contributing to climate change mitigation.
  • Socio-Economic Aspects: examining the economic viability and social implications of adopting sustainable crop production practices, including policy frameworks and farmer adoption.
  • Climate Adaptation Strategies: case studies and success stories of regions or farms that have effectively implemented climate adaptation strategies to sustain crop production.
  • Interdisciplinary Approaches: collaborative research that integrates agronomy, ecology, economics, and social sciences to address the complex challenges of sustainable crop production in a changing climate.

This Special Issue seeks to bring together cutting-edge research and practical insights that can guide farmers, policymakers, and researchers in developing and implementing sustainable practices to adapt to climate change. Contributions should emphasize innovative approaches, scientific rigor, and practical relevance to fostering resilient agricultural systems worldwide.

Dr. Ke Liu
Prof. Dr. Yunbo Zhang
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

  • climate-adaptation strategies
  • food security
  • soil health and management
  • sustainable farming practices

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2930 KB  
Article
Legacy Effects of Different Preceding Crops on Grain Yield, Protein Fractions and Soil Nutrients in Subsequent Winter Wheat
by Rui Wang, Jiayun Wu, Yang Wang, Zhimei Sun, Wenqi Ma, Cheng Xue and Huasen Xu
Plants 2025, 14(16), 2598; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162598 - 21 Aug 2025
Viewed by 322
Abstract
Given the pressing global food security crisis and climate change-induced constraints on agricultural productivity, crop rotation proves critical for boosting yield and grain quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) alongside ameliorating soil quality. However, the legacy effect of different preceding crops [...] Read more.
Given the pressing global food security crisis and climate change-induced constraints on agricultural productivity, crop rotation proves critical for boosting yield and grain quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) alongside ameliorating soil quality. However, the legacy effect of different preceding crops on synergistic increments of wheat productivity and soil fertility remains to be fully clarified. Five different preceding crop–winter wheat rotations were conducted in a field experiment established in Huanghua, China. Maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and millet (Setaria italica) were designated as preceding gramineous crops, and soybean (Glycine max) and mung bean (Vigna radiata) were assigned as preceding legume crops. Grain yield, protein fraction, and soil nutrients were measured to elucidate the legacy effect of the preceding crops on the subsequent winter wheat. Leguminous predecessors significantly evaluated the grain yield of winter wheat compared to gramineous predecessors, particularly that the mung–winter wheat rotation (Mun-W) was 11.56% higher than that of the maize–winter wheat rotation (Mai-W). This rising yield was attributed to the increase of 4.05% in spike number per hectare and 14.31% in kernel number per spike. The Mun-W facilitated the highest gluten protein content (8.22%) in winter wheat among five treatments, which was 6.06% higher than that in the sorghum–winter wheat system. Soil organic matter (SOM) showed an advantage in legume–winter wheat rotations (Leg-Ws) compared to gramineous crop–winter wheat systems (Gra-Ws). Notably among these, the Mun-W significantly enhanced SOM content by 0.99% relative to the Mai-W. The soybean–winter wheat system decreased soil pH by 0.36 compared to the Mai-W system. Coupling coordination degree (CCD) and co-benefit index (CBI) in the Leg-Ws exhibited significant superiority of 62.41% and 42.22% over the Gra-Ws, respectively, and the Mun-W attained maximum CCD by 0.84 and CBI by 0.77. From a multi-objective assessment perspective of the legacy effect of the preceding crops, legume-based rotations facilitate synergistic improvements of yield, protein quality, and soil nutrients in winter wheat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Sustainable Crop Production: Adapting to Climate Change)
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18 pages, 853 KB  
Article
Elucidating Genotypic Variation in Quinoa via Multidimensional Agronomic, Physiological, and Biochemical Assessments
by Samreen Nazeer and Muhammad Zubair Akram
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2332; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152332 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 429
Abstract
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has emerged as a climate-resilient, nutrient-dense crop with increasing global popularity because of its adaptability under current environmental variations. To address the limited understanding of quinoa’s genotypic performance under local agro-environmental conditions, this study hypothesized that elite genotypes [...] Read more.
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has emerged as a climate-resilient, nutrient-dense crop with increasing global popularity because of its adaptability under current environmental variations. To address the limited understanding of quinoa’s genotypic performance under local agro-environmental conditions, this study hypothesized that elite genotypes would exhibit significant variation in agronomic, physiological, and biochemical traits. This study aimed to elucidate genotypic variability among 23 elite quinoa lines under field conditions in Faisalabad, Pakistan, using a multidimensional framework that integrated phenological, physiological, biochemical, root developmental, and yield-related attributes. The results revealed that significant variation was observed across all measured parameters, highlighting the diverse adaptive strategies and functional capacities among the tested genotypes. More specifically, genotypes Q4, Q11, Q15, and Q126 demonstrated superior agronomic potential and canopy-level physiological efficiencies, including high biomass accumulation, low infrared canopy temperatures and sustained NDVI values. Moreover, Q9 and Q52 showed enhanced accumulation of antioxidant compounds such as phenolics and anthocyanins, suggesting potential for functional food applications and breeding program for improving these traits in high-yielding varieties. Furthermore, root trait analysis revealed Q15, Q24, and Q82 with well-developed root systems, suggesting efficient resource acquisition and sufficient support for above-ground plant parts. Moreover, principal component analysis further clarified genotype clustering based on trait synergistic effects. These findings support the use of multidimensional phenotyping to identify ideotypes with high yield potential, physiological efficiency and nutritional value. The study provides a foundational basis for quinoa improvement programs targeting climate adaptability and quality enhancement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Sustainable Crop Production: Adapting to Climate Change)
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18 pages, 4639 KB  
Article
High Stubble Height Enhances Ratoon Rice Yield by Optimizing Light–Temperature Resource Utilization and Photothermal Quotient
by Yin Zhang, Tian Sheng, Liyan Shang, Beiyou Zhang, Long Jin, Fangfang Hou, Matthew Tom Harrison, Liying Huang, Zhaoqiang Jin, Xiaohai Tian, Ke Liu, Shijie Shi, Yunbo Zhang and Dayong Li
Plants 2025, 14(14), 2222; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14142222 - 18 Jul 2025
Viewed by 364
Abstract
Ratoon rice is a sustainable planting model, and its yield is closely linked to the light and temperature use efficiency. The photothermal quotient (PQ), a key parameter for evaluating the light and temperature use efficiency, significantly influences ratoon rice yield. However, research on [...] Read more.
Ratoon rice is a sustainable planting model, and its yield is closely linked to the light and temperature use efficiency. The photothermal quotient (PQ), a key parameter for evaluating the light and temperature use efficiency, significantly influences ratoon rice yield. However, research on how different stubble heights affect PQ and the utilization efficiency of light and temperature resources remains limited. Here, we conducted a two-year field experiment to investigate the radiation use efficiency (RUE), effective accumulated temperature use efficiency (TUE), PQ, interception percentage (IP), intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR), and total dry weight (TDW) of six ratoon rice varieties under two stubble height treatments (HS: high stubble, LS: low stubble) during the ratoon season. This study aimed to analyze how different stubble heights impact ratoon rice yield by evaluating light and temperature resource utilization efficiency and investigates the relationship between PQ and ratoon rice yield. The results showed that the HS treatment significantly increased ratoon season yield compared to LS treatment, with average yield increases of 21.2% and 28.1% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. This yield enhancement was attributed to improved TDW under HS treatment, driven by increased IP, IPAR, RUE, and TUE. Notably, PQ was significantly lower under HS than under LS treatment. This reduction was primarily attributed to the decreased duration available for light and heat accumulation, consequently lowering PQ. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between main season yield and PQ, while ratoon season yield exhibited a negative correlation with PQ. In conclusion, the HS treatment increased IP and IPAR, enhanced TUE and RUE, and reduced PQ, collectively contributing to higher ratoon season yields. Importantly, our findings indicate that PQ can more effectively predict yield changes in the ratoon season under HS treatment, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing light and temperature resource utilization in ratoon rice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Sustainable Crop Production: Adapting to Climate Change)
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Review

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21 pages, 3234 KB  
Review
Current Biological Insights of Castanea sativa Mill. to Improve Crop Sustainability to Climate Change
by Tiago Marques, Andrea Ferreira-Pinto, Pedro Fevereiro, Teresa Pinto and José Gomes-Laranjo
Plants 2025, 14(3), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030335 - 23 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1730
Abstract
The sustainability of agriculture is seriously threatened by climate change. In Europe, chestnut ecosystems, which are growing mainly in Mediterranean climate, are facing during summertime increasing of heat and drought stresses. These induce fragilities on trees, leading to a reduction in productivity and [...] Read more.
The sustainability of agriculture is seriously threatened by climate change. In Europe, chestnut ecosystems, which are growing mainly in Mediterranean climate, are facing during summertime increasing of heat and drought stresses. These induce fragilities on trees, leading to a reduction in productivity and predisposing them to pest and disease attacks. The plasticity of chestnut species under contrasting climate is known. Understanding the specific adaptation of cultivars to different climate features is now important to anticipating climate changes. Caucasian Region is considered the origin center of chestnut (Castanea sativa), which is characterized by climatic transition from the Mediterranean to the Euro-Siberian area. Mostly, areas of chestnut are concentrated in the countries around the Mediterranean Basin, thriving in regions with humid and Pré-Atlantic bioclimates. In Portugal, more than 95% of the chestnut area is located in the Center and North side of Portugal. This is an anisohydry species, characterized by good hydroplasticity: 90% reduction in A occurs when Ψwstem drops to −1.25 MPa, and a 50% reduction in A occurs at values of −1.7 MPa. The highest fatty acid contents in chestnut chloroplasts are a-linolenic acid (18:3), ranging between 40 and 50% of the total amount and being the unsaturated/saturated 2.27 for Longal. New strategies are being investigated in order to increase tolerance against those abiotic factors in chestnut species. They include the use of innovative irrigation techniques, which can increase production 22–37%. Fertilization with silicone (Si) has been investigated to promote the tolerance of plants against heat and drought stresses. Breeding programs, mostly (in Europe) against ink disease, have been performed since the middle of the XX century to create new genotypes (such the Portuguese ColUTAD®). ClimCast, a network of orchards, was created in Portugal with the aim of responding to the new challenges facing orchards in the context of climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Sustainable Crop Production: Adapting to Climate Change)
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