Sustainable and Efficient Water Use in the Face of Climate Change
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water and Climate Change".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 166
Special Issue Editors
Interests: plant ecophysiology at different levels; plant–water–environment interactions; plant stress biology; precision and smart agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: efficient use of water and fertilizer; plant–water–environment interactions; physiology of drought stress; fertigation scheduling; tropical crops
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Climate change poses escalating threats to agricultural water security through intensified droughts, shifting precipitation patterns, and reduced freshwater availability. With irrigation efficiency remaining critically low and increasing competition for water resources, innovative technological and agronomic solutions are imperative to enhance water productivity and resilience. This Special Issue in Water seeks cutting-edge research on advanced irrigation practices, crop–soil–water interactions, and physiological adaptations to address these challenges. This Special Issue aims to advance sustainable water management strategies by integrating precision technologies, optimizing root–soil dynamics, and leveraging plants’ physiological responses to water stress. Contributions also emphasize scalable approaches to reduce water waste, improve resource efficiency, and align with climate adaptation goals.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- High-Efficiency Irrigation Systems:
- Precision technologies (drip, subsurface, solar-powered irrigation);
- AI/ML-driven scheduling, IoT sensors, and real-time soil moisture monitoring;
- Deficit irrigation strategies and salinity management.
- Crop–Soil–Water Interactions:
- Root architecture plasticity under drought or salinity stress;
- Hormonal-mediated stomatal regulation and water-use efficiency (WUE) enhancement;
- Soil amendments (biochar, organic matter) for improved water retention.
- Climate Adaptation and Crop Resilience:
- Drought-tolerant crop breeding and gene-editing technologies;
- Recycled/saline water utilization and agroecological practices.
- Technological Innovations:
- Remote sensing of plant water stress (thermal imaging, spectral analysis);
- Smart irrigation systems integrating weather forecasts and crop phenology.
We welcome original research, reviews, and case studies that bridge laboratory findings with field applications. Submissions from climate-vulnerable regions and interdisciplinary collaborations are particularly encouraged.
Prof. Dr. Yaosheng Wang
Dr. Haiyang Ma
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- climate resilience
- precision irrigation
- crop physiology
- water use efficiency
- root–soil dynamics
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