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Agronomy
Special Issues
Alternative Cropping Systems for Climate Change
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Alternative Cropping Systems for Climate Change

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Innovative Cropping Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2022) | Viewed by 12185

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Christos A. Dordas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: cropping systems; intercropping; sustainable agriculture; ecological intensification; response of plant to abiotic stress; climate change; bioeconomy; sustainable utilization of resources; precision agriculture; phenotyping
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change and increased climate variability are significant contemporary issues and create new challenges for agriculture and the whole food production chain. In addition, agriculture is one of the most vulnerable and influential sectors on actions in science, society, policy, and practice to build proactive adaptation. Designing alternative cropping systems that are stable and resilient to climate change is the one of the greatest challenges in agronomy. Alternative cropping systems should ensure farmer profitability and delivering multiple ecosystem services. This Special Issue invites original research, reviews, and meta-analyses concerning:

  • Alternative and sustainable cropping systems and their management;
  • Efficient use of water and nutrients;
  • Improvement of resource use efficiency;
  • Reduced pesticide use toward a pesticide-free agriculture;
  • Increase crop diversification in time and in space;
  • Modeling of crops and cropping systems;
  • Technology-based approaches for sustainable agriculture (precision agriculture, smart farming, digital farming etc.);
  • Organic production systems;
  • Alternative crop species to increase biodiversity, such as aromatic and medicinal plants, feed and forage crops, fiber crops, cash crops, crops for fuel production, etc.;
  • Agrobiodiversity in cropping systems, such as intercropping, agroforestry, polyculture, etc.;
  • Exploration of agronomic, social, political, and environmental aspects to manage sustainable cropping systems.

Prof. Dr. Christos A. Dordas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cropping systems
  • biodiversity
  • intercropping
  • agroforestry
  • sustainable agriculture
  • ecological intensification
  • modeling
  • climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture
  • ecosystem services
  • agroecosystem diversification

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

3 pages, 164 KiB  
Editorial
Alternative Cropping Systems for Climate Change
by Christos Dordas
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1131; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041131 - 15 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1036
Abstract
Climate change and increased climate variability are significant contemporary issues and create new challenges for agriculture and the whole food production chain [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Cropping Systems for Climate Change)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

22 pages, 1083 KiB  
Article
A New Approach on Making European Agriculture More Efficient under Uncertainty Conditions
by Romeo Victor Ionescu, Monica Laura Zlati and Valentin Marian Antohi
Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2559; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102559 - 19 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1317
Abstract
Agriculture is a strategic sector of the European economy in the current economic, social, climatic, and geo-political conditions generated by global crisis and the war in Ukraine. The main objective of the research is to quantify the vulnerabilities of EU agricultural evolution and [...] Read more.
Agriculture is a strategic sector of the European economy in the current economic, social, climatic, and geo-political conditions generated by global crisis and the war in Ukraine. The main objective of the research is to quantify the vulnerabilities of EU agricultural evolution and to assess the opportunities for development through the building of a scoreboard of viable agricultural development solutions in line with the needs expressed in the current unfavourable context. The importance of this research is related to smart agriculture as a solution to the food crisis generated by the same uncertainty conditions. The methods used are empirical literature review and econometric modelling of vulnerabilities based on the dynamic evolution of branch efficiency and effectiveness indicators under exogenous events (economic crisis, geo-political crisis, soil and climate crisis, health crisis), collected from official data sources. The outcome of the study is the identification of viable, implementable solutions to ensure the planned success of the sustainable development of the branch. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Cropping Systems for Climate Change)
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17 pages, 2253 KiB  
Article
Importance of Selection of Cultivars in Wheat–Pea Intercropping Systems for High Productivity
by Chrysanthi Pankou, Anastasios Lithourgidis, George Menexes and Christos Dordas
Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2367; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102367 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1708
Abstract
Intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crop species in the same space for a considerable proportion of the growth period. Farmers use cultivars that were bred under monoculture and there are no cultivars that have been evaluated under intercropping systems. The [...] Read more.
Intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crop species in the same space for a considerable proportion of the growth period. Farmers use cultivars that were bred under monoculture and there are no cultivars that have been evaluated under intercropping systems. The objective of the present study was to evaluate different cultivars of pea and wheat on intercropping systems. The experiment was conducted for two successive growing seasons (2018–2019 and 2019–2020) at the University Farm of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, using two cultivars of field pea and six cultivars of bread wheat, and all their mixture combinations. The growing seasons, the intercropping treatments, and the cultivars affected the grain yield, the yield components, and the land equivalent ratio (LER) and actual yield loss (AYL) values. The different cultivars showed different responses under the intercropping treatments, indicating that there are cultivars that show higher grain yield in mixtures. Based on the mean grain yield for both growing seasons, the mixture ‘Isard’–‘Mavragani’ showed higher grain yield by 86.5% and 55.7% compared with the mean grain yield of all other mixtures and monocultures, respectively. The total LER value of ‘Isard’–‘Mavragani’ was high in both years: 1.954 and 1.693 in 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, respectively. This multicriteria evaluation of winter wheat and field pea varieties exhibited the need for the selection of appropriate cultivars for intercropping systems that were previously assessed under intercropping conditions before their exploitation from the farmers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Cropping Systems for Climate Change)
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18 pages, 614 KiB  
Article
Genotype and Seasonal Variation Affect Yield and Oil Quality of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under Mediterranean Conditions
by Lara Abou Chehade, Luciana G. Angelini and Silvia Tavarini
Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010122 - 04 Jan 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2175
Abstract
The adoption of climate-resilient and resource-use efficient crop species and varieties is a key adaptation action for farmers in the face of climate change. Safflower, an emerging oilseed crop, has been recognized for its high oil quality and its favorable agronomic traits such [...] Read more.
The adoption of climate-resilient and resource-use efficient crop species and varieties is a key adaptation action for farmers in the face of climate change. Safflower, an emerging oilseed crop, has been recognized for its high oil quality and its favorable agronomic traits such as drought and cold tolerance, making it particularly suitable to Mediterranean conditions. A 2-year field study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the genotype and growing season on the crop phenology, seed and oil production, macronutrient accumulation and partitioning, and fatty acid composition of spring-sown safflower grown under rainfed conditions. The experiment was conducted during the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons on an alluvial deep loam soil (Typic Xerofluvent) at the Centre for Agri-environmental Research “E. Avanzi” of the University of Pisa (Pisa, Central Italy). Higher seed yield and yield components (plant density, plant height, branching, number of capitula per plant and seeds per capitulum) were found in almost all genotypes when the seeds were sown in mid-March 2012 compared to in late April 2013. More favorable conditions in 2012, i.e., early sowing date, higher precipitation, and quite mild temperatures, led to a better seed and oil yield and greater aboveground biomass and nitrogen uptake, with the highest amounts being removed by straw. Greater seed yield was found to be associated with a greater plant height and a higher number of capitula per plant. Oil content was negatively affected by the higher temperatures and the lower amounts of precipitation that occurred during the 2012 growing season. Seasonal variation in fatty acid composition depended on the genotype. Lower precipitation and higher temperatures during 2013 favored oleic acid content in high linoleic acid genotypes and linoleic acid in medium to high oleic acid genotypes. Among the genotypes, the linoleic-type Sabina and the oleic-type Montola 2000 performed the best in both seasons. The results, besides identifying promising safflower genotypes for spring sowing in the Mediterranean region and for future breeding programs, pointed out the importance of early sowing to contrast unfavorable environmental conditions during seed-filling, thus ensuring higher yields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Cropping Systems for Climate Change)
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17 pages, 1704 KiB  
Article
Intercropping Pattern and N Fertilizer Schedule Affect the Performance of Additively Intercropped Maize and Forage Cowpea in the Mediterranean Region
by Heba S. A. Salama, Ali I. Nawar and Hassan E. Khalil
Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010107 - 02 Jan 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2455
Abstract
Intercropping maize and forage cowpea is a widely proposed strategy to improve land use efficiency, and maximize the economic value of the farming system, especially in developing countries with restricted resources. The current study was carried out during the successive summers of 2020 [...] Read more.
Intercropping maize and forage cowpea is a widely proposed strategy to improve land use efficiency, and maximize the economic value of the farming system, especially in developing countries with restricted resources. The current study was carried out during the successive summers of 2020 and 2021 in Northern Egypt. The main objective was to evaluate the effect of three N schedules (NS1, NS2, NS3), when three different maize–cowpea intercropping patterns (IP1, IP2, IP3) were applied, on the grain yield of maize, forage yield and quality of forage cowpea. In addition, yield gain and land use efficiency were evaluated using the land equivalent ratio (LER) and dry matter equivalent ratio (DMER) indices. Results revealed that the intercropping patterns that provided wider spacings for the component crops and reduced the competition between them, mainly IP3, resulted in the best performances for the two crops. This was clear for maize ear and grain yields, 100-grain weight and harvest index, in addition to cowpea fresh and dry forage yields, crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrates of the three cuts. Regarding the applied N schedules, NS1 which included the application of a N starter dose with sowing proved to be the most efficient schedule that led to the best performance for both crops. Maize produced 9.07 t ha−1 grain yield under IP3 and NS1. In addition, the application of IP3 resulted in the highest significant cowpea dry forage yield (DFY), with the highest crude protein (CP) content. The DFY of cuts 1, 2, and 3 amounted to 1.27, 0.45, and 0.24 t ha−1, while the CP content for the three respective cuts reached 159.49, 157.96, and 148.91 g kg−1. Nonetheless, NS1 produced a reasonable amount of DFY with high CP content. It is recommended to follow the third proposed intercropping pattern (IP3) and to include a nitrogen starter dose (NS1) in the fertilization scheme to ensure highest productivity from the intercropped maize and forage cowpea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Cropping Systems for Climate Change)
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15 pages, 2369 KiB  
Article
The Effect of the Application of Stimulants on the Photosynthetic Apparatus and the Yield of Winter Wheat
by Kamil Kraus, Helena Hnilickova, Jan Pecka, Marie Lhotska, Alena Bezdickova, Petr Martinek, Lenka Kucirkova and Frantisek Hnilicka
Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010078 - 30 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2252
Abstract
The use of stimulation preparations seems to be a promising means for mitigating the effects of abiotic and biotic stressors. Their significance includes plant organism stimulation and metabolism optimisation, water regime, and nutrition during periods of stress. They help bridge it over and [...] Read more.
The use of stimulation preparations seems to be a promising means for mitigating the effects of abiotic and biotic stressors. Their significance includes plant organism stimulation and metabolism optimisation, water regime, and nutrition during periods of stress. They help bridge it over and create conditions for rapid regeneration. In a field experiment, the effect of the application of stimulation preparations on cultivars Triticum aestivum L. with different genetic composition was evaluated (donor of blue aleurone colour KM-72-18; donor of a multi-row spike (MRS) KM-94-18). Our results show a predominantly positive effect of the application of stimulants on the yield and thousand-grain weight (TKW). The results obtained were influenced by the year, based on different temperatures and precipitation. Higher yields were achieved in 2020 with higher total precipitation during the grain filling period and with a higher maximum quantum yield of the photosystem II (Fv/Fm). In 2019, this period was significantly dry and warm, which was reflected in a lower yield and TKM, higher proline content in the leaves, and lower Fv/Fm values. In both experimental years, there was a higher yield of the cultivar with blue aleurone (KM-72-18). In the case of cultivars with coloured grains, the promising use of the content substances in cultivars as natural means of increasing resistance to abiotic and biotic stressors seems to be promising. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Cropping Systems for Climate Change)
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