Special Issue "Integration of Sustainable Agriculture Approaches for Food Security under Climate Change"

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Prashant Kaushik
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Interests: climate change; plant stress; crop wild relatives; crop modelling; agronomy; genomics; priming; rationing; salinity; transgenics; stability analysis; growth regulators
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change has a significant effect on food security, and recent studies have established that climate change will adversely affect food security. Moreover, the impact of climate change is becoming prominent in our daily lives. Similarly, crop production and climate change influence each other, as climate change is a significant constraint to a balanced environment and food security, leading virtually all researchers to search for superior adaptation strategies for plant life under this problem. Nevertheless, crop production methods and technologies are available to combat the effects of climate change. Modern techniques and tools, such as the use of wild species, new agronomical practices, genomic tools, genetic engineering, and use of growth regulators are some of the strategies to combat the effects of climate change on crop production. With the advancement of these approaches to combat climate change, it has become easier to sketch a method for a specific crop and a stress which is hampering its production. Moreover, there are several approaches targeted for a region, and sometimes there is a need to incorporate several strategies to achieve targets. In this Special Issue, prominent researchers are invited to communicate their original research and review articles that explore the “Integration of Sustainable Agriculture Approaches for Food Security under Climate Change”. The Special Issue critically follows the policies of Sustainability concerning submission, publication, review process, etc.; kindly review these before attempting a submission.

Dr. Prashant Kaushik
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • agriculture
  • agronomical amendments
  • biological control
  • climate change and agriculture
  • crop modelling
  • genomics
  • mycorrhiza
  • organic farming
  • plant growth regulators
  • plant stresses
  • seed priming
  • stability analysis
  • stress tolerance
  • wild species

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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Article
Quantitative Dissection of Salt Tolerance for Sustainable Wheat Production in Sodic Agro-Ecosystems through Farmers’ Participatory Approach: An Indian Experience
Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3378; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063378 - 18 Mar 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 559
Abstract
To explore the comparative effects of field sodicity (soil pH) and irrigation water residual alkalinity (RSCiw) on physiological and biochemical attributes of salt tolerance, and crop performance of two wheat varieties (KRL 210, HD 2967), a total of 308 on-farm trials [...] Read more.
To explore the comparative effects of field sodicity (soil pH) and irrigation water residual alkalinity (RSCiw) on physiological and biochemical attributes of salt tolerance, and crop performance of two wheat varieties (KRL 210, HD 2967), a total of 308 on-farm trials were carried out in sodicity affected Ghaghar Basin of Haryana, India. Salt tolerant variety KRL 210 maintained relatively higher leaf relative water content (RWC; 1.9%), photosynthetic rate (Pn; 5.1%), stomatal conductance (gS; 6.6%), and transpiration (E; 4.1%) with lower membrane injury (MII; −8.5%), and better control on accumulation of free proline (P; −18.4%), Na+/K+ in shoot (NaK_S; −23.1%) and root (NaK_R; −18.7%) portion compared to traditional HD 2967. Altered physiological response suppressed important yield-related traits revealing repressive effects of sodicity stress on wheat yields; albeit to a lesser extent in KRL 210 with each gradual increase in soil pH (0.77–1.10 t ha−1) and RSCiw (0.29–0.33 t ha−1). HD 2967 significantly outyielded KRL 210 only at soil pH ≤ 8.2 and RSCiw ≤ 2.5 me L−1. By comparisons, substantial improvements in salt tolerance potential of KRL 210 with increasing sodicity stress compensated in attaining significantly higher yields as and when soil pH becomes >8.7 and RSCiw > 4 me L−1. Designing such variety-oriented threshold limits of sodicity tolerance in wheat will help address the challenge to enhance crop resilience, closing the yield gaps and improve rural livelihood under the existing or predicted levels of salt stress. Full article
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Review

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Review
Frontiers in the Solicitation of Machine Learning Approaches in Vegetable Science Research
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8600; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158600 - 02 Aug 2021
Viewed by 434
Abstract
Along with essential nutrients and trace elements, vegetables provide raw materials for the food processing industry. Despite this, plant diseases and unfavorable weather patterns continue to threaten the delicate balance between vegetable production and consumption. It is critical to utilize machine learning (ML) [...] Read more.
Along with essential nutrients and trace elements, vegetables provide raw materials for the food processing industry. Despite this, plant diseases and unfavorable weather patterns continue to threaten the delicate balance between vegetable production and consumption. It is critical to utilize machine learning (ML) in this setting because it provides context for decision-making related to breeding goals. Cutting-edge technologies for crop genome sequencing and phenotyping, combined with advances in computer science, are currently fueling a revolution in vegetable science and technology. Additionally, various ML techniques such as prediction, classification, and clustering are frequently used to forecast vegetable crop production in the field. In the vegetable seed industry, machine learning algorithms are used to assess seed quality before germination and have the potential to improve vegetable production with desired features significantly; whereas, in plant disease detection and management, the ML approaches can improve decision-support systems that assist in converting massive amounts of data into valuable recommendations. On similar lines, in vegetable breeding, ML approaches are helpful in predicting treatment results, such as what will happen if a gene is silenced. Furthermore, ML approaches can be a saviour to insufficient coverage and noisy data generated using various omics platforms. This article examines ML models in the field of vegetable sciences, which encompasses breeding, biotechnology, and genome sequencing. Full article
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Review
Herbicide Resistance to Metsulfuron-Methyl in Rumex dentatus L. in North-West India and Its Management Perspectives for Sustainable Wheat Production
Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6947; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126947 - 21 Jun 2021
Viewed by 1012
Abstract
Herbicide resistance in weeds is a global threat to sustaining food security. In India, herbicide-resistant Phalaris minor was the major problem in wheat for more than two decades, but the continuous use of metsulfuron-methyl (an ALS inhibitor) to control broadleaf weeds has resulted [...] Read more.
Herbicide resistance in weeds is a global threat to sustaining food security. In India, herbicide-resistant Phalaris minor was the major problem in wheat for more than two decades, but the continuous use of metsulfuron-methyl (an ALS inhibitor) to control broadleaf weeds has resulted in the evolution of ALS inhibitor-resistant Rumex dentatus L. This review summarizes the current scenario of herbicide resistance in R. dentatus, along with its ecology and management perspectives. Studies have provided valuable insights on the emergence pattern of R. dentatus under different environments in relation to tillage, cropping systems, nutrients, and irrigation. Moreover, R. dentatus has exhibited higher emergence under zero tillage, with high infestation levels in rice-wheat compared to other wheat-based cropping systems (sorghum-wheat). Alternative herbicides for the management of resistant R. dentatus include pendimethalin, 2,4-D, carfentrazone, isoproturon, and metribuzin. Although the pre-emergence application of pendimethalin is highly successful in suppressing R. dentatus, but its efficiency is questionable under lower field soil moisture and heavy residue load conditions. Nevertheless, the biological data may be utilized to control R. dentatus. Therefore, herbicide rotation with suitable spray techniques, collecting weed seeds at differential heights from wheat, crop rotation, alternate tillage practices, and straw retention are recommended for addressing the resistance issue in R. dentatus in North India conditions. Overall, we discuss the current state of herbicide resistance in R. dentatus, the agronomic factors affecting its population, its proliferation in specific cropping systems (rice-wheat), and management strategies for containing an infestation of a resistant population. Full article
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Review
Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Its Mitigation Strategies: A Review
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1318; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031318 - 27 Jan 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2269
Abstract
Climate change is a global threat to the food and nutritional security of the world. As greenhouse-gas emissions in the atmosphere are increasing, the temperature is also rising due to the greenhouse effect. The average global temperature is increasing continuously and is predicted [...] Read more.
Climate change is a global threat to the food and nutritional security of the world. As greenhouse-gas emissions in the atmosphere are increasing, the temperature is also rising due to the greenhouse effect. The average global temperature is increasing continuously and is predicted to rise by 2 °C until 2100, which would cause substantial economic losses at the global level. The concentration of CO2, which accounts for a major proportion of greenhouse gases, is increasing at an alarming rate, and has led to higher growth and plant productivity due to increased photosynthesis, but increased temperature offsets this effect as it leads to increased crop respiration rate and evapotranspiration, higher pest infestation, a shift in weed flora, and reduced crop duration. Climate change also affects the microbial population and their enzymatic activities in soil. This paper reviews the information collected through the literature regarding the issue of climate change, its possible causes, its projection in the near future, its impact on the agriculture sector as an influence on physiological and metabolic activities of plants, and its potential and reported implications for growth and plant productivity, pest infestation, and mitigation strategies and their economic impact. Full article
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