Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil is used for a variety of purposes, including cropping, pasturing, gardening, forestry, agroforestry, construction, etc. The aim is always to find the most suitable type of soil to get the best outcome. About 10% of the total soil resources of the world have little or no considerable limitations when it comes to cropping, yet most of the soils have some kind of limitations in terms of growing crops. Some soils can be productive for only a limited number of crops but offer serious limitations for others. Soils that have serious limitations for agricultural and other land uses are traditionally called problem soils. It is predicted that our planet will be populated with 9 billion people in 2050. This will result in serious issues with food, water, and energy supply, particularly in less developed countries. Considering the human demand, pressure on natural resources has already reached its critical limits. Intensive urbanization has already pressurized available soil resources, and issues around problematic soils are increasing, especially in the developing world, due to mismanagement. Therefore, utilizing problematic soils for agriculture production is inevitable in the current global food demands. This issue will mainly focus on innovative research to attain sustainable crop production from problematic soils including saline, sodic, compact, contaminated, and degraded soils. This issue will cover all the innovative practices to manage soils with problems.

Dr. Zhongbing Chen
Dr. Safdar Bashir
Dr. Saqib Bashir
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	3.3	4.9	2011	19.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Agronomy agronomy	3.3	6.2	2011	17.6 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Crops crops	-	-	2021	22.1 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Horticulturae horticulturae	3.1	3.5	2015	16.9 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Plants plants	4.0	6.5	2012	18.9 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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21 pages, 1365 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Unveiling the Nutrient Signatures in Corn (Zea mays L.) Grains: A Pivotal Indicator of Yield Potential

by Nour Ismail, Lotfi Khiari and Rachid Daoud

Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 597; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030597 - 27 Feb 2025

Viewed by 426

Abstract

The composition simplex (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) of the leaf is the main score used by different approaches, like the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System and Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis, to study nutrient interactions and balance in plant leaves. However, the application [...] Read more.

The composition simplex (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) of the leaf is the main score used by different approaches, like the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System and Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis, to study nutrient interactions and balance in plant leaves. However, the application and validation of these concepts to grain composition remains unexplored. Contrary to foliar analysis’s early intervention for nutrient deficiency detection and correction, applying this approach to seeds assesses diverse cultivars’ potential, enabling anticipation of their adaptation to climate conditions and informed selection for future crops. In the present study, a collected database of more than 924 scores, including the grain yield (kg ha⁻¹) and the nutrient composition (mg kg⁻¹) of different corn varieties, is used to develop a novel nutrient-based diagnostic approach to identify reliable markers of nutrient imbalance. A ‘nutrient signature’ model is proposed based on the impact of the environmental conditions on the nutrient indices and composition (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) of the corn grains. The yield threshold used to differentiate between low- and high-yielding subpopulations is established at 12,000 kg ha⁻¹, and the global nutrient imbalance index (GNII) of 2.2 is determined using the chi-square distribution function and validated by the Cate–Nelson partitioning method, which correlated yield data distribution with the GNII. Therefore, the nutrient compositions were classified into highly balanced (GNII ≤ 1.6), balanced (1.6 < GNII ≤ 2.2), and imbalanced (GNII > 2.2). In addition, we found that the Xgboost model’s predictive accuracy for the GNII is significantly affected by soil pH, organic matter, and rainfall. These results pave the way for adapted agricultural practices by providing insights into the nutrient dynamics of corn grains under varying environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security)

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16 pages, 1543 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Soil and Land Suitability of an Olive–Maize Agroforestry System Using Machine Learning Algorithms

by Asif Hayat, Javed Iqbal, Amanda J. Ashworth and Phillip R. Owens

Crops 2024, 4(3), 308-323; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops4030022 - 9 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1608

Abstract

Exponential population increases are threatening food security, particularly in mountainous areas. One potential solution is dual-use intercropped agroforestry systems such as olive (Olea europaea)–maize (Zea mays), which may mitigate risk by providing multiple market sources (oil and grain) for [...] Read more.

Exponential population increases are threatening food security, particularly in mountainous areas. One potential solution is dual-use intercropped agroforestry systems such as olive (Olea europaea)–maize (Zea mays), which may mitigate risk by providing multiple market sources (oil and grain) for smallholder producers. Several studies have conducted integrated agroforestry land suitability analyses; however, few studies have used machine learning (ML) algorithms to evaluate multiple variables (i.e., soil physicochemical properties and climatic and topographic data) for the selection of suitable rainfed sites in mountainous terrain systems. The goal of this study is therefore to identify suitable land classes for an integrated olive–maize agroforestry system based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) land suitability assessment framework for 1757 km² in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Information on soil physical and chemical properties was obtained from 701 soil samples, along with climatic and topographic data. After determination of land suitability classes for an integrated olive–maize-crop agroforestry system, the region was then mapped through ML algorithms using random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM), as well as using traditional techniques of weighted overlay (WOL). Land suitability classes predicted by ML techniques varied greatly. For example, the S1 area (highly suitable) classified through RF was 9%↑ than that of SVM, and 8%↓ than that through WOL. The area of S2 (moderately suitable) classified through RF was 18%↑ than that of SWM and was 17%↓ than the area classified through WOL; similarly, the S3 (marginally suitable) class area via RF was 27%↓ than that of SVM, and 45%↓ than the area classified through WOL. Conversely, the area of N2 (permanently not suitable class) classified through RF and SVM was 6%↑ than the area classified through WOL. Model performance was assessed through overall accuracy and Kappa Index and indicated that RF performed better than SVM and WOL. Crop suitability limitations of the study area included high elevation, slope, pH, and large gravel content. Results can be used for sustainable intensification in mountainous rainfed regions by expanding intercrop agroforestry systems in developing nations to close yield gaps. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security)

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16 pages, 2139 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Deep Vertical Rotary Tillage on Soil Water Use and Yield Formation of Forage Maize on Semiarid Land

by Yanjie Fang, Weijun Tan, Huizhi Hou, Hongli Wang, Jiade Yin, Guoping Zhang, Kangning Lei, Bo Dong and Anzhen Qin

Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060955 - 18 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1096

Abstract

Forage maize is one of the most important feed crops for livestock production, and is mainly grown in northwest China. However, their growth is often stressed by limited soil water availability due to the arid climate. To provide more soil moisture, a high-efficiency [...] Read more.

Forage maize is one of the most important feed crops for livestock production, and is mainly grown in northwest China. However, their growth is often stressed by limited soil water availability due to the arid climate. To provide more soil moisture, a high-efficiency tillage technique was required to make crops effectively use soil moisture in deep soil layers. Deep vertical rotary tillage is a promising choice for this purpose. In this study, a long-term (2020–2022) field experiment consisting of three treatments, i.e., traditional tillage (TT), deep rotary tillage (DT), and deep vertical rotary tillage (VRT), was carried out in semiarid areas of Loess Plateau, northwest China, to investigate the effects of VRT on soil water storage (SWS), phase crop evapotranspiration (ET_c) during the pre- and post-flowering periods, dry matter accumulation, grain yields and the water use efficiency (WUE) of forage maize. The results showed that VRT significantly improved the absorption of soil moisture from deep layers, especially in dry years. During the pre-flowering period of a dry year (2020), VRT decreased SWS by 7.6%–10.0% in the 60–180 cm layer, and by 17.6%–18.5% in the 180–300 cm layer, respectively, compared to DT and TT. As a result, VRT increased ET_c during the pre-flowering period by 6.1% and 9.2%, respectively. In wet years (2021 and 2022), VRT increased total ET_c by 2.0%–7.9% in 2021, and by 10.1%–14.9% in 2022, respectively. On average, VRT increased the dry matter weight per plant by 1.0%–7.8%, grain yields by 2.4%–38.6%, biomass yields by 3.4%–16.2%, and WUE by 10.1%–30.0%, respectively. Particularly, the benefit of VRT for increasing yields and WUE was more noticeable in dry years. It can be concluded that VRT is a drought-tolerant and yield-boosting tillage technique that is suitable for rain-fed forage maize in semiarid areas of Loess Plateau, northwest China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security)

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18 pages, 4087 KiB  

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Alfalfa Responses to Intensive Soil Compaction: Effects on Plant and Root Growth, Phytohormones and Internal Gene Expression

by Mingke Yan, Dongming Yang, Yijun He, Yonglong Ma, Xin Zhang, Quanzhen Wang and Jinghui Gao

Plants 2024, 13(7), 953; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070953 - 26 Mar 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2218

Abstract

The perennial legume alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is of high value in providing cheap and high-nutritive forages. Due to a lack of tillage during the production period, the soil in which alfalfa grows prunes to become compacted through highly mechanized agriculture. Compaction [...] Read more.

The perennial legume alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is of high value in providing cheap and high-nutritive forages. Due to a lack of tillage during the production period, the soil in which alfalfa grows prunes to become compacted through highly mechanized agriculture. Compaction deteriorates the soil’s structure and fertility, leading to compromised alfalfa development and productivity. However, the way alfalfa responses to different levels of soil compaction and the underlying molecular mechanism are still unclear. In this study, we systematically evaluated the effects of gradient compacted soil on the growth of different cultivars of alfalfa, especially the root system architecture, phytohormones and internal gene expression profile alterations. The results showed that alfalfa growth was facilitated by moderate soil compaction, but drastically inhibited when compaction was intensified. The inhibition effect was universal across different cultivars, but with different severity. Transcriptomic and physiological studies revealed that the expression of a set of genes regulating the biosynthesis of lignin and flavonoids was significantly repressed in compaction treated alfalfa roots, and this might have resulted in a modified secondary cell wall and xylem vessel formation. Phytohormones, like ABA, are supposed to play pivotal roles in the regulation of the overall responses. These findings provide directions for the improvement of field soil management in alfalfa production and the molecular breeding of alfalfa germplasm with better soil compaction resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security)

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17 pages, 9788 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Design and Test of an Arc-Shaped Tooth Press Device for Combined Soil Preparation Equipment for Growing Potatoes

by Zhiming Zhao, Xiaoxin Zhu, Jicheng Li, Jinqing Lyu, Yu Qi and Jinni Liu

Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061193 - 3 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2245

Abstract

In response to the low soil breakage rate and poor flatness of current combined soil preparation equipment for growing potatoes under the clay loam conditions of Northeast China, this paper presents the design of an arc-shaped tooth press device for such equipment, describing [...] Read more.

In response to the low soil breakage rate and poor flatness of current combined soil preparation equipment for growing potatoes under the clay loam conditions of Northeast China, this paper presents the design of an arc-shaped tooth press device for such equipment, describing its overall structure and working principle. By conducting force analysis on the press roller and shear stress analysis with MATLAB, we obtained the structural parameters and the corresponding value ranges impacting the operational effectiveness of the press device. A three-factor, five-level quadratic regression orthogonal rotational combination test was carried out using EDEM discrete element simulation software, taking the soil breakage rate and flatness as the test indicators. The forward speed, roller tooth arc length, and angle between the roller tooth and the vertical direction (ABRTVD) were the test factors. Design-Expert 8.0.6 software was used for data processing and analysis, and the results showed that the optimal parameter combination consisted of a forward speed of 0.72~1.15 m·s⁻¹, a roller tooth arc length of 58.7 mm, and an ABRTVD of 37.74°, at which point the soil breakage rate was 93.58% and the flatness value was 21.36 mm. The optimal combination of parameters was selected for the field test, resulting in a soil breakage rate of 95.6% and a flatness value of 20.6 mm. The results of the simulation test were found to be consistent with the field test results, thus validating the efficacy of the device design. The findings of this study can provide a reference for enhancing the operational performance of combined soil preparation equipment for growing potatoes under clay loam conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security)

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16 pages, 2739 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Amendments of Severe Saline-Sodic Paddy Land: Optimal Combination of Phosphogypsum, Farmyard Fertilizer, and Wood Peat

by Guokang Duan, Miao Liu, Zhengwei Liang, Mingming Wang, Haoyu Yang, Yang Xu, Tianhe Yu, Yangyang Jin, Jiafeng Hu and Junqing Liu

Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1364; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051364 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1805

Abstract

We aimed to determine the optimal combination of amendments to increase rice yields in saline-sodic soil. The effects of different proportions of phosphogypsum (P), farmyard fertilizer (F), and wood peat (W) across the main growth period of rice were studied. A total of [...] Read more.

We aimed to determine the optimal combination of amendments to increase rice yields in saline-sodic soil. The effects of different proportions of phosphogypsum (P), farmyard fertilizer (F), and wood peat (W) across the main growth period of rice were studied. A total of 14 treatments were designed based on the “3414” fertilizer effect field experiment scheme, with 3 factors (P, F, and W) and 4 application levels per factor. Application of a combination of P, F, and W reduced soil pH and electrical conductance (EC) (p < 0.05), increasing rice yields. The theoretical rice yield after treatment P₂F₂W₂ (P 30, F 50, and W 30 t·ha⁻¹) was 5819.20 kg·ha⁻¹, which was 32.52-fold higher than that after P₀F₀W₀ (P, F, and W, 0 t·ha⁻¹). Panicle weight, number of total filled grains, total grain weight, and seed-setting rate were 9.76, 17.35, 32.11, and 3.96 times higher than those in the control treatment, respectively. Compared with the control P₀F₀W₀ treatment, soil pH in P₂F₂W₂ in 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, and 15–20 cm depth decreased by 12.69, 12.32, 11.18, and 10.70%, respectively, and soil EC was 1.06-fold, and 70.79, 49.30, and 47.76% higher, respectively. Overall, we found that the P₂F₂W₂ treatment, with a combination of P, 29.09–32.38 t·ha⁻¹; F, 40.36–46.97 t·ha⁻¹; and W, 19.57–23.95 t·ha⁻¹ was optimal in this experiment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security)

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19 pages, 1885 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Isolation of Glyphosate-Resistant Bacterial Strains to Improve the Growth of Maize and Degrade Glyphosate under Axenic Condition

by Waqas Mohy-Ud-Din, Muhammad Javed Akhtar, Safdar Bashir, Hafiz Naeem Asghar, Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz and Feng Chen

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040886 - 17 Apr 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3775

Abstract

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that is used to control perennial weeds in agriculture. However, its vast application may result in glyphosate residues in the food chain. Due to its toxicity to non-target organisms, glyphosate-contaminated soils needed to be remediated, and bioremediation is [...] Read more.

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that is used to control perennial weeds in agriculture. However, its vast application may result in glyphosate residues in the food chain. Due to its toxicity to non-target organisms, glyphosate-contaminated soils needed to be remediated, and bioremediation is a conventional remedial method. The success of this depends on the isolation of bacteria with the ability to degrade glyphosate. The goal of this study was to isolate glyphosate-degrading bacteria from the rhizosphere of maize and wheat with a repeated application history of glyphosate for 5–10 years and test their roles in promoting the growth of maize (Zea mays) and glyphosate degradation in vitro. Eleven isolated bacteria were inoculated, and their role in plant growth was compared at different levels (100 and 200 mg/kg) of glyphosate. The results revealed that E. ludwigii improved the highest shoot length by 26% and the root length by 34% compared to the control at 100 mg/kg. The relative water contents in leaves significantly improved by 58% using P. aeruginosa at 100 mg/kg. The maximum electrolyte leakage from leaves significantly reduced by 73% using E. ludwigii at 100 mg/kg compared to the control (uninoculated). A high-pressure liquid chromatography instrument was used to assess the glyphosate concentrations. The highest degradation of glyphosate was observed in treatments inoculated with E. ludwigii (99 and 40%), P. aeruginosa (95 and 39%), K. variicola, (91 and 38%) E. cloacae (92 and 38%), and S. liquefaciens (87 and 36%), respectively, at 100 and 200 mg/kg within 28 days. These five strains demonstrated a great potential for degrading glyphosate and promoting the growth of maize in vitro, and they will be further exploited for the biodegradation of glyphosate and the growth promotion of broader crop species in situ in the near future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security)

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19 pages, 4870 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Response to Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost in Two Agroecologies of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

by Kayode Fatokun, Nozipho M. Motsa and Albert T. Modi

Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 3091; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12123091 - 6 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2065

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out during the summer/autumn (first trial) and winter/spring (second trial) seasons of 2019 and 2021 in the Dlangubo, Ngwelezane, and Mtubatuba areas of KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa to study the drought amelioration effects and impact of two locally [...] Read more.

Field experiments were carried out during the summer/autumn (first trial) and winter/spring (second trial) seasons of 2019 and 2021 in the Dlangubo, Ngwelezane, and Mtubatuba areas of KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa to study the drought amelioration effects and impact of two locally available organic wastes (filter cake—a residue derived from sugar cane filtration (FC) and macadamia husk compost (MHC)) on the productivity and physiological responses of four orange-fleshed sweet potato cultivars (Beauregard cv., Impilo, W-119 and 199062.1). The effects of FC and MHC were compared with that of inorganic fertilizer (IF) [2:3:2 (30)], FC + IF, MHC + IF, and the control. The soil amendments were applied in the first trials only. Climatic data such as humidity, temperature, and rainfall were taken via remote sensing. The results of the first trial indicated that filter cake and IF significantly performed better than MHC. The strength of filter cake may be attributable to its rich array of mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, and phosphorus. The limited performance of MHC may be attributable to its ability to hold water. Furthermore, a positive correction occurred between the yield of the test orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) cultivars, rainfall, and vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index, enhanced vegetation index, and normalized difference water index) investigated in the study. In season two, IF treatment did not have any significant effect on the growth and productivity of any of the tested sweet potato cultivars, but, FC, FC + IF, and MHC treatments largely maintained their performances. In conclusion, the use of FC is highly recommended in the production of the test OFSP cultivars. Furthermore, the study indicates that both FC and MHC may not only supply the needed plant nutrients but has the capacity to reduce the impact of drought on the growth of the test cultivars. These findings are of great value to farmers, especially the resource-poor ones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security)

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14 pages, 2139 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Metabolites Facilitating Adaptation of Desert Cyanobacteria to Extremely Arid Environments

by Siarhei A. Dabravolski and Stanislav V. Isayenkov

Plants 2022, 11(23), 3225; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233225 - 24 Nov 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3057

Abstract

Desert is one of the harshest environments on the planet, characterized by exposure to daily fluctuations of extreme conditions (such as high temperature, low nitrogen, low water, high salt, etc.). However, some cyanobacteria are able to live and flourish in such conditions, form [...] Read more.

Desert is one of the harshest environments on the planet, characterized by exposure to daily fluctuations of extreme conditions (such as high temperature, low nitrogen, low water, high salt, etc.). However, some cyanobacteria are able to live and flourish in such conditions, form communities, and facilitate survival of other organisms. Therefore, to ensure survival, desert cyanobacteria must develop sophisticated and comprehensive adaptation strategies to enhance their tolerance to multiple simultaneous stresses. In this review, we discuss the metabolic pathways used by desert cyanobacteria to adapt to extreme arid conditions. In particular, we focus on the extracellular polysaccharides and compatible solutes biosynthesis pathways and their evolution and special features. We also discuss the role of desert cyanobacteria in the improvement of soil properties and their ecological and environmental impact on soil communities. Finally, we summarize recent achievements in the application of desert cyanobacteria to prevent soil erosion and desertification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security)

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