Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization of Characteristic Economic Crops

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Physiology and Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 948

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, China
Interests: bast fiber crop; genomics; genetic improvement; molecular breeding
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Guest Editor
Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Interests: stress physiology

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Guest Editor
School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650504, China
Interests: high-efficiency crop cultivation; crop system simulation model; development and application

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As an important part of the regional agricultural economy, the development and technological innovation of characteristic economic crops need urgent attention. Fiber crops such as hemp, flax, kenaf, and jute, alongside specialty vegetables like okra, possess traditional cultivation value but also have enormous potential to extend the industrial chain to alternative fields, including medicine, textiles, and food processing. However, research progress on these crops has been slow, especially the development of new varieties with stress resistance, high yield, and high-quality traits and the advancement of cultivation practices and product utilization technologies. Although significant progress has been made in biological breeding, cultivation, and product utilization technologies over the past few decades, resulting in significant improvements to major crops, research remains stagnant and limited. To promote the development of characteristic economic crops and support regional economic revitalization, this Special Issue of Plants will focus on researching potential mechanisms and innovative technologies, including new varieties of breeding, cultivation practices, and product processing.

Prof. Dr. Siyuan Zhu
Dr. Xia An
Dr. Kailei Tang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • characteristic economic crops
  • breeding
  • cultivation practices
  • product processing
  • physiological mechanisms

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 2650 KB  
Article
Effects of Raw Materials and Pyrolysis Temperatures on Physicochemical Properties of Biochars Derived from Hemp Stalks
by Xia An, Ziyi Zhu, Xiahong Luo, Changli Chen, Tingting Liu, Lina Zou, Shaocui Li and Yuxue Liu
Plants 2025, 14(16), 2564; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162564 - 18 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Hemp stalk, a widely available agricultural waste, is an ideal eco-friendly raw material for biochar production. Carbonization experiments were conducted as a novel approach for the scalable and value-added utilization of hemp stalk under oxygen-exclusion conditions. The effects of feedstock types—Hibiscus cannabinus [...] Read more.
Hemp stalk, a widely available agricultural waste, is an ideal eco-friendly raw material for biochar production. Carbonization experiments were conducted as a novel approach for the scalable and value-added utilization of hemp stalk under oxygen-exclusion conditions. The effects of feedstock types—Hibiscus cannabinus (KS), Corchorus spp. (JS), and Boehmeria spp. (RS)—and pyrolysis temperatures on biochar properties were analyzed through the measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of biochars increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Notably, EC was significantly higher for RS (940–2278 μS/cm) than for KS (517–879 μS/cm) and JS (583–863 μS/cm). The C content in these three biochars increased as the temperature increased, whereas the H/C atomic ratio decreased, most notably in JS (by 0.33%). According to FTIR and XRD data, with the pyrolysis temperature increasing, the acidic oxygen-containing groups on biochar surfaces reduced. KS700, with superior aromatic structure and stability, may be able to effectively adsorb heavy metal ions. RS700, with relatively high pH and EC, was suitable for alleviating soil acidification and nutrient deficiency. The feedstock and pyrolysis temperature significantly affected the element content, pore structure, and stability of biochars derived from hemp stalk. Full article
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