Dear Colleagues,

Agriculture faces truly important challenges. Food demand increases as the population increases, and this demand must be met in a sustainable way, as water and fertilizer resources are limited and, in some cases, overexploited. A new approach is required that uses the concept of sustainability in a comprehensive way, ecologically, socially, and economically. Horticulture production is one of the most intensive agricultural systems, requiring high input from growers. However, production practices have been changing due to the use of new technologies, increased sensitivity to environmental issues, and consumer concerns about product quality and nutritional value. Global warming and climate change, including rising temperatures and water scarcity, are causing major changes in our food system, making it necessary to modify current horticultural food production strategies to maintain human and planetary health. The SDGs address the global challenges we face, including the need for the food system to be more equitable, environmentally sustainable, and resilient.

This Special Issue is devoted to the publication of original, review, and frontier articles on these concerns about innovative studies, tools, approaches, and techniques that have been successful in addressing ‘Water and Fertilizer Management and Sustainable Use in Horticultural Production’. Contributions will preferably focus on new trends in fertilization and fertigation, including aspects such as the reduction in consumption, efficiency of use, biofertilizers, nanofertilizers, and development stimulants, without excluding other aspects, experiences, and strategies to promote a more sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, there should be a focus on the use of new production strategies and systems: floating, closed soilless growing, soil and media properties, vertical crops, modeling, and any other innovation that has improved the efficiency and sustainability of water and fertilizers, for the production of high-quality commodities that make their management sustainable and efficient.

Dr. Miguel Guzmán
Dr. Raul I. Cabrera
Dr. María Fernanda Quintero Castellanos
Dr. Maria del Carmen Salas Sanjuán
Guest Editors

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. Horticulturae 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 2200 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.

• plant nutrition
• fertigation
• efficiency
• resiliency
• nutritional value
• innovation