Conservation Agricultural Practices for Improving Crop Production and Quality
A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Innovative Cropping Systems".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 13491
Special Issue Editors
Interests: plant production; abiotic stress; plant physiology; weed control; biodiversity; organic farming; legumes; cover crops
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: legumes; sustainable agriculture; abiotic stress; plant physiology; plant fertilization; plant product quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: soil and plant health under different tillage practices and waste utilization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Over the past four decades, intensive, high-efficiency technologies based on the heavy use of industrial inputs have been introduced in the agricultural sector. This is primarily due to the desire for profit, but also due to increasing pressure on agriculture to be able to support world population growth with an adequate food supply. In crop production, conventional management of agroecosystems often leads to a reduction in soil quality and alters the soil processes involved in providing many ecosystem services. Intensive tillage, combined with high mineral fertilization, increases the mineralization of organic carbon in the soil, thereby contributing to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Conservation agriculture (CA) may be the answer to these threats. CA is a crop and soil management practice for sustainable agriculture, defined by three related principles: minimum tillage and soil disturbance, permanent organic soil cover, and diversified crop rotations. Adherence to these principles improves soil quality, optimizes yields, and reduces production costs. Conservation practices help minimize soil erosion, directly increase CO2 sequestration in the soil due to increased organic matter, improve the efficiency of water capture and use, stimulate internal C and N cycling, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. CA's success is driven by component technologies such as water, weed, and nutrient management strategies to support crops under reduced tillage conditions.
Our aim is to present agricultural practices that combine high production of quality raw materials with the provision of environmental services.
Both original research and review articles are welcome.
Prof. Dr. Mariola Staniak
Dr. Ewa Szpunar-Krok
Dr. Małgorzata Szostek
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- conservation agriculture
- farming systems
- reduced tillage
- crop rotation
- intercropping
- cover crops
- crop residue management
- water management
- soil organic matter management
- weed management
- yield and crop quality
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