The Effect of Climate Change on Crops and Natural Ecosystems, 3rd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the two previous topic volumes (The Effect of Climate Change on Crops and Natural Ecosystems, volumes 1 and 2), this new topic is a collection of research contributions that explores the  influence of climate change on the growth, yield, and quality of crops will be considered.

This includes the influence of long-term climate change as well as severe weather events such as periods of drought, heat, and flooding due to heavy rain. Furthermore, methods and trials will be described to make crop production under field conditions more resilient to weather extremes. Answers to the questions related to this Topic are essential for sustainable crop production in the future.

Dr. Arnd Jürgen Kuhn
Dr. Giuseppe Fenu
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	4.5	7.8	2011	17.4 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Agronomy agronomy	4.1	7.6	2011	17.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
International Journal of Plant Biology ijpb	-	4.2	2010	17.5 Days	CHF 1400	Submit
Plants plants	4.7	8.5	2012	14.8 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Stresses stresses	-	10.0	2021	16.5 Days	CHF 1200	Submit

Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform offering a preprint service designed to facilitate the early sharing of your research. It supports and empowers your research journey from the very beginning.

MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:

1. Share your research immediately: disseminate your ideas prior to publication and establish priority for your work.
2. Safeguard your intellectual contribution: Protect your ideas with a time-stamped preprint that serves as proof of your research timeline.
3. Boost visibility and impact: Increase the reach and influence of your research by making it accessible to a global audience.
4. Gain early feedback: Receive valuable input and insights from peers before submitting to a journal.
5. Ensure broad indexing: Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Related Topics

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results

Content type Publication Date

Result details

Normal Extended Compact

Journals

All Agriculture Stresses IJPB Plants Agronomy

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

21 pages, 527 KB  

Open AccessReview

Climate Change Threats to Medicinal Plants: Progress in Impact Assessments and Implications for Pharmaceutical Sustainability

by Yixian Cheng and Zilong Zhang

Plants 2026, 15(13), 2009; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15132009 - 29 Jun 2026

Viewed by 404

Abstract

With the intensification of global climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, medicinal plants are facing unprecedented challenges to their survival environments. Understanding the impacts of ecological threats on medicinal plants is crucial for formulating conservation strategies and ensuring the [...] Read more.

With the intensification of global climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, medicinal plants are facing unprecedented challenges to their survival environments. Understanding the impacts of ecological threats on medicinal plants is crucial for formulating conservation strategies and ensuring the sustainable utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) resources. This study employed a scoping review methodology to systematically search databases including CNKI, Wanfang Data, and PubMed, incorporating both the Chinese and English literature. A conceptual map was constructed to analyze the response mechanisms, distribution changes, and conservation status of medicinal plants under ecological threats. The review synthesizes evidence from 65 articles retrieved from both the Chinese and international literature. Our mapping reveals that (1) ecological threats are extensively documented, with habitat loss and climate change being the primary drivers; (2) the responses of medicinal plants are mainly manifested as population decline, range shifts, and alterations in secondary metabolites; (3) current conservation efforts focus heavily on ex situ protection, while research on climate change adaptation management remains insufficient. This study systematically outlines the current research landscape regarding medicinal plants under ecological threats, revealing the characteristics and gaps in existing evidence. Future research should strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, focusing on adaptive evolution and ecological restoration technologies to address the escalating environmental challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Effect of Climate Change on Crops and Natural Ecosystems, 3rd Edition)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1146 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Adoption of Drought-Tolerant Maize Genotypes as a Climate Adaptation Measure in Northern Ghana

by Dauda Abdul-Rahaman Salam, Joseph Sarkodie-Addo, Isaac Kankam-Boadu, Gloria Boakyewaa Adu and Thomas Adjei-Gyapong

Agriculture 2026, 16(7), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070815 - 7 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1065

Abstract

The study examines the adoption of drought-tolerant maize (DTM) as a climate adaptation measure among smallholder farmers in northern Ghana, using data from 500 households and probit model analysis to determine key adoption drivers. The findings reveal that only 28% of the sampled [...] Read more.

The study examines the adoption of drought-tolerant maize (DTM) as a climate adaptation measure among smallholder farmers in northern Ghana, using data from 500 households and probit model analysis to determine key adoption drivers. The findings reveal that only 28% of the sampled farmers have adopted DTM, with maize yield, awareness of DTM, access to extension services, and geographical location being significant influencing factors. Among these, maize yield and awareness of DTM have the strongest association with adoption decisions. Additionally, 29% of smallholder farmers employ early planting as a climate adaptation measure. Seed sourcing patterns show that 66% rely on saved seeds, while 33% obtain seeds from input dealers. Encouragingly, 96% of farmers expressed willingness to adopt improved maize varieties. Despite the relatively low adoption rate, targeted policy interventions, such as strengthening agricultural extension services, promoting climate-smart practices, and ensuring continuous research on DTM varieties, can enhance adoption and improve farmers’ resilience to climate change. These findings provide crucial insights for policymakers and agricultural stakeholders aiming to promote sustainable maize production in northern Ghana. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Effect of Climate Change on Crops and Natural Ecosystems, 3rd Edition)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2264 KB  

Open AccessCommunication

Atypical Summer Flowering in Date Palms in the Middle Drâa Oases

by Ali Ait Youssef, Reda Meziani, Samira Serghat, Timothy O. Jobe, Mohamed Fokar and Allal Douira

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17(3), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17030015 - 27 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1257

Abstract

Date palms, a vital Moroccan crop that typically flowers once a year, displayed a rare double flowering phenomenon in the summer of 2023. This study investigated the occurrence of this phenomenon across three small oases in the Zagora region of southeastern Morocco. Field [...] Read more.

Date palms, a vital Moroccan crop that typically flowers once a year, displayed a rare double flowering phenomenon in the summer of 2023. This study investigated the occurrence of this phenomenon across three small oases in the Zagora region of southeastern Morocco. Field surveys revealed that 60% of spring-blooming palms also produced a second bloom in July, affecting trees of all ages, sexes, and varieties. This secondary flowering cycle featured a compressed development period, leading to limited fruit enlargement and a failure of most fruit to reach maturity. Analysis suggests that climatic fluctuations, specifically a delayed temperature rise during the normal spring cycle and relatively cooler shifts in July 2023, likely disrupted the palms’ reproductive schedule, triggering the anomaly. Despite the failed second harvest, the phenomenon did not have a negative impact on the palms’ productivity for the subsequent year, confirming that double flowering is a complex, climate-influenced event that requires further research to understand its full implications for local date production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Effect of Climate Change on Crops and Natural Ecosystems, 3rd Edition)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

attachment

Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 281 KB)

23 pages, 1881 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Modeling the Effects of Climate Change on Potato Production in Myanmar Using DSSAT

by Nan San Nyunt, Tsai-Wei Chiang, Khun San Oo and Li-Yu Daisy Liu

Agriculture 2025, 15(24), 2525; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15242525 - 5 Dec 2025

Viewed by 1459

Abstract

Climate change significantly impacts crop yields, necessitating an evaluation of its effects and the development of adaptation strategies for future potato production. This study utilized the SUBSTOR-Potato model from the DSSAT software version 4.8 and daily weather data from LARS.WG to simulate potato [...] Read more.

Climate change significantly impacts crop yields, necessitating an evaluation of its effects and the development of adaptation strategies for future potato production. This study utilized the SUBSTOR-Potato model from the DSSAT software version 4.8 and daily weather data from LARS.WG to simulate potato production under three climate change scenarios (ssps 126, 245, and 585) from 2025 to 2087 in Southern Shan State, Myanmar. High-emission scenarios are associated with extreme weather, characterized by higher temperatures and variable precipitation. The results indicated that yields would be lowest under the ssp585 scenario, with around a 25% difference between ssp126 and ssp585. Adaptation strategies, such as delaying planting dates, positively impacted yields, while early planting resulted in lower outcomes. Extending the crop cycle by adjusting harvest times helped early-planted potatoes achieve yields similar to optimally timed ones. However, increasing fertilizer use did not significantly enhance yields under climate change conditions. The study emphasizes the importance of selecting cultivars, as heat-resistant varieties struggled in lower emission scenarios. This study provides comprehensive insights into climate change impacts on potato cultivation in Southern Shan State and offers practical, cost-effective adaptation strategies applicable to similar rainfed potato systems across Southeast Asia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Effect of Climate Change on Crops and Natural Ecosystems, 3rd Edition)

►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

 

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

Displaying articles 1-4