Effects of Different Managements on Soil Quality and Crop Production
A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2024 | Viewed by 300
Special Issue Editors
Interests: soil physics; soil porosity; image analysis; soil physical degradation; soil hydrological properties; soil conservation; soil management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: soil physics; soil hydrology; soil structure; soil degradation; soil erosion; soil conservation; soil management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Soil quality is usually defined as “the capacity of a soil to function within ecosystem and land-use boundaries to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health”. Agricultural management systems and practices can deeply affect soil processes and functions, and those emerging as a result of recent technological advancements may have impacts on the soil that are still little known. In addition to the expected growing demand for agricultural products, other factors (e.g., policies, climate change, technological advancement) contribute to changes in the management of agricultural land. The assessment of soil quality is therefore crucial to provide politicians, farmers, and other stakeholders with scientifically sound information regarding the human impact on soil and its functions. Sustainable soil management should be able to combine production objectives with environmental protection goals. To this end, considering that ongoing climate change and different soil types can induce different responses to diverse management practices, research is crucial to fill the knowledge gaps related to the interaction between these practices and their effects on soil functions and ecosystem services.
This Special Issue will focus on quantifying the effects of management practices on soil quality and agricultural production under diverse pedoclimatic environments and cropping systems. It will also present evaluations of the strategies and tools available (precision agriculture, provisional models, decision support systems) to identify, develop, and implement management strategies to preserve and improve soil ecosystem functioning.
Original research papers, short communications, and reviews are all welcome.
Dr. Nadia Vignozzi
Dr. Sergio Pellegrini
Dr. Maria Costanza Andrenelli
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- soil health
- soil quality indicators
- fertilizers
- organic amendments
- cover crops
- tillage
- irrigation
- climate
- crop models
- decision support system (DSS)
- precision agriculture
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