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Sustainable Agriculture: Soil, Water and Environmental Practices in Climate Change

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 11 October 2026 | Viewed by 5884

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lyudmyla Kuzmych

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Guest Editor

Department of Drainage, Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Interests: water–energy–food nexus; water engineering; mechanical measurement; standardization and information technologies

Prof. Dr. André Carlos Auler

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Guest Editor

Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Interests: soil physics; soil management; soil conservation; tillage; cover crops; soil carbon sequestration; irrigation systems; water use efficiency

Dr. Nataliia Voloshchuk

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Guest Editor

Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Interests: food mycology; toxins; plant pathology; biotechnology; antifungal compounds; bioprotection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, titled “Sustainable Agriculture: Soil, Water and Environmental Practices in Climate Change”, explores sustainable agricultural practices with a focus on soil health, water management, and environmental conservation in the context of climate change. It examines strategies for optimizing water use, enhancing soil fertility, and implementing eco-friendly farming techniques to improve agricultural resilience, as well as food quality and security. Key topics include carbon sequestration, adaptive irrigation, drainage optimization, biodiversity preservation, and climate-smart farming methods such as crop rotation, conservation tillage, and organic practices. By integrating scientific research with practical applications, this Special Issue serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, agronomists, and environmental professionals committed to advancing sustainable agriculture and mitigating climate change impacts.

Prof. Dr. Lyudmyla Kuzmych
Prof. Dr. André Carlos Auler
Dr. Nataliia Voloshchuk
Guest Editors

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Keywords

sustainability
agriculture
soil
water
environment
climate
food
ecology
organic farming
regenerative agriculture systems

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 622 KB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Use Efficiency and Carbon Footprint of Inorganic Fertilizer and Liquid Animal Manure in Maize Production Under Semi-Arid Conditions

by Ergün Çıtıl, Kazım Çarman, Osman Özbek, Nicoleta Ungureanu and Nicolae-Valentin Vlăduț

Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 3742; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083742 - 10 Apr 2026

Viewed by 312

Abstract

Improving energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of crop production are critical for sustainable agriculture, particularly in semi-arid regions where resource use efficiency is essential. This study evaluated the effects of different fertilization strategies on energy use efficiency and carbon footprint in maize production. A field experiment was conducted during the 2023 growing season in Konya Province, Türkiye, using a randomized block design with three treatments and three replications. The treatments included an unfertilized control (U1), inorganic fertilizer application (U2), and liquid animal manure application (U3). The results showed that the highest grain yield was obtained in the liquid manure treatment, which was 2.08 times higher than the unfertilized treatment and 1.18 times higher than the inorganic fertilizer treatment. The highest total energy input was recorded in the inorganic fertilizer treatment (26,235.12 MJ ha⁻¹), while the highest total energy output was observed in the liquid manure treatment (203,154 MJ ha⁻¹). The liquid manure treatment also showed higher net energy efficiency, output–input ratio, carbon efficiency, and carbon sustainability index, while producing the lowest carbon footprint per unit of product. These findings indicate that liquid animal manure can improve maize productivity while enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in semi-arid agroecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: Soil, Water and Environmental Practices in Climate Change)

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23 pages, 1578 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Hybrid Fertilization on Winter Triticale Yield and Its Stability Based on SVD Analysis

by Alicja Lerczak, Tomasz Prałat, Maciej Spychalski, Dariusz Kayzer, Rafał Kukawka and Renata Gaj

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11385; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411385 - 18 Dec 2025

Viewed by 744

Abstract

Nitrogen fertilization is extensively applied in agricultural activities to improve food production. However, the applied dose of nitrogen is often higher than that required for the desired productivity level of a given crop. Thus, research on methods that could increase the uptake of nitrogen supplied with fertilizers by plants is of high significance. One way to achieve this goal is to employ a hybrid fertilization technique (a combination of the application of solid fertilizers in the first dose with foliar application of liquid fertilizers in the second and third doses), using reduced doses of nitrogen fertilizers as well as fertilizers enriched with 10% sulfur in the form of thiosulfate. The aim of our study was to assess the productivity resulting from different fertilization treatments and the stability of the resulting yield based on interactions between the method of fertilizer application and environmental conditions. To determine interaction patterns, an additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model was employed. The key finding is that sulfur-enriched fertilizers can significantly increase yield, but at the expense of reduced stability. However, yield stability was more strongly related to meteorological conditions. Understanding of such interactions can help increase the efficiency of selection and accuracy of recommendations for new technologies of crop cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: Soil, Water and Environmental Practices in Climate Change)

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18 pages, 1077 KB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Soil Electrical Conductivity of Saturated Paste Extract Using Pedotransfer Functions in Northeastern Tunisia

by Oumayma Hmidi, Feyda Srarfi, Nadhem Brahim, Paola Bambina and Giuseppe Lo Papa

Sustainability 2025, 17(20), 9177; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209177 - 16 Oct 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1193

Abstract

Soil electrical conductivity is a key indicator of soil salinity and sustainability, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Accurate estimation of EC is essential for managing soil salinity and ensuring crop productivity. Five pedotransfer functions (PTFs) were developed and evaluated for predicting electrical conductivity in a saturated paste extract using soil parameters, such as particle size analysis, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and electrical conductivity in a 1:5 soil-to-water extract, in agricultural soils of northern Tunisia. The accuracy of each PTF was systematically evaluated. PTF1 represented an R² value of 0.85, PTF2 showed an R² of 0.71 for the stepwise regression model, PTF3 achieved an R² of 0.84, PTF4, based on Lasso/Ridge regression, reached an R² of 0.89, and PTF5 reached an R² of 0.83. Our findings revealed regional variations in soil salinity, with certain areas showing elevated salinity levels that could affect agricultural sustainability. This research emphasizes the importance of developing ad hoc PTFs as a reliable tool for predicting soil salinity and, consequently, assuring sustainable soil management in northeastern Tunisia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: Soil, Water and Environmental Practices in Climate Change)

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28 pages, 4410 KB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling Soil–Atmosphere Interactions to Support Sustainable Soil Management and Agricultural Resilience in Temperate Europe Using the SiSPAT Model

by Abdulaziz Alharbi and Mohamed Ghonimy

Sustainability 2025, 17(18), 8114; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188114 - 9 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1371

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the SiSPAT model in simulating surface energy balance components and soil hydrothermal dynamics under temperate oceanic climate conditions, focusing on sparsely vegetated bare soils commonly found in transitional agroecosystems. The model was validated using high-resolution field data from the United Kingdom, including measurements of net radiation, soil heat flux, latent and sensible heat fluxes, and soil temperature and moisture at multiple depths. Results indicated that SiSPAT effectively reproduced the magnitude and diurnal variations in net radiation, soil heat flux, and subsurface thermal and moisture conditions, with overall agreement exceeding 90% in most cases. Minor underestimations (~10%) were observed for midday latent and sensible heat fluxes, while slight overestimations occurred in topsoil moisture during dry periods—remaining within acceptable simulation limits. These outcomes demonstrate the model’s capability to simulate land–atmosphere interactions under variable surface conditions and moderate humidity. The novelty of this study lies in extending the application of SiSPAT to temperate oceanic regions with partially vegetated soils—an underrepresented context—emphasizing its potential as a decision support tool for sustainable soil management, irrigation planning, and climate-resilient land use strategies in temperate regions with climatic and soil conditions similar to those represented in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: Soil, Water and Environmental Practices in Climate Change)

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66 pages, 1559 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

A Systematic Review of Land- and Water-Management Technologies for Resilient Agriculture in the Sahel: Insights from Climate Analogues in Sub-Saharan Africa

by Wilson Nguru, Issa Ouedraogo, Cyrus Muriithi, Stanley Karanja, Michael Kinyua and Alex Nduah

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020787 - 13 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1298

Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa, land degradation and climate change continue to undermine agricultural productivity by reducing soil productivity and water availability. This review identifies soil and water conservation technologies successfully applied in climatically analogous regions of sub-Saharan Africa with the aim of informing effective technology transfer to Senegal, particularly Sédhiou and Tambacounda. Using K-means clustering on WorldClim bioclimatic variables, 35 comparable countries were identified, of which 17 met inclusion criteria based on data availability and ≥60% climatic similarity. Eighty-five technologies were documented and assessed for their compatibility across rainfall patterns, land gradients, and uses, with 12 emerging as consistently effective. Quantitative evidence shows that zai/tassa pits, stone bunds, and half-moons increase crop yields by 50–200%, while stone bunds and mulching reduce runoff by up to 80% and improve soil moisture retention. Terracing and tied-ridging were also linked to higher water-use efficiency, with tied-ridging increasing soil moisture by 13%. Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Malawi lead in adoption and diversity, whereas Senegal lags due to institutional gaps, limited funding, and weak extension systems. These technologies offer a readily available, evidence-based toolkit for building agricultural resilience in Senegal. However, their successful adoption requires stronger policy integration, stakeholder empowerment, cross-border learning, and private-sector engagement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: Soil, Water and Environmental Practices in Climate Change)

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