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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2024) | Viewed by 6534

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Prof. Dr. Marlene Cristina Alves

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Guest Editor

Department of Plant Protection, Rural Engineering and Soils (DEFERS), Faculty of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira 15385-000, São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: soil reclamation; soil management and conservation; soil properties; soil physics; organic matter

Dr. Carolina Dos Santos Batista Bonini

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Guest Editor

Department of Plant Production, School of Agronomic and Technological Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Dracena 17900-000, São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: soil science

Dr. Luis Eduardo Akiyoshi Sanches Suzuki

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Guest Editor

Center of Technology Development, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil
Interests: soil physics; soil and water management and conservation; soil-plant relations; soil-machine relations; soil education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To promote effective and environmentally responsible crop production, this Special Issue emphasizes the significance of sustainable agricultural practices. It addresses many different subjects, such as soil health, pest control, water management, crop breeding, agroecology, biodiversity preservation, climate-smart agriculture, nutrient management, social equality, food systems, and sustainable farming methods. The objective is to compile research that supports socially just, commercially feasible, and ecologically responsible ways to crop agriculture.

This special issue covers a wide range of crop production and sustainable agricultural topics. Sustainable soil management techniques include integrated nutrient management, cover crops, and conservation tillage because they work to increase soil health, fertility, and resilience while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion.

The Special Issue also includes topics on sustainable pest control strategies, such as integrated pest management (IPM), biological control, and cultural practices. These strategies aim to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides and promote natural pest control techniques that protect crops while preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services in an environmentally friendly manner.

In addition to technical factors, the special issue highlights the significance of socioeconomic and policy considerations in sustainable agriculture. The promotion of sustainable agriculture at the local, regional, and global levels includes studies on farmer adoption, economic incentives for sustainable agriculture, legal frameworks, and governance systems.

Overall, the Special Issue "Sustainable Agriculture for Crop Cultivation" provides a full overview of the latest research and advancements in sustainable agriculture practices for crop cultivation, highlighting the need for environmentally responsible, economically viable, and socially acceptable approaches to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and food production.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

Sustainable soil management practices
Sustainable pest management approaches
Water management for sustainability
Sustainable crop breeding and genetics
Socio-economic and policy considerations
Agroecology and biodiversity conservation
Sustainable nutrient management
Sustainable food systems

I/We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Marlene Cristina Alves
Dr. Carolina Dos Santos Batista Bonini
Dr. Luis Eduardo Akiyoshi Sanches Suzuki
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

sustainable agriculture
crop cultivation
soil management
pest management
water management crop breeding
genetics
agroecology
biodiversity conservation
climate-smart agriculture

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 2089 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Sustainable Waste Management Using Biochar: Mitigating the Inhibitory of Food Waste Compost from Methane Fermentation Residue on Komatsuna (Brassica rapa) Yield

by Nur Santi, Ratih Kemala Dewi, Shoji Watanabe, Yutaka Suganuma, Tsutomu Iikubo and Masakazu Komatsuzaki

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2570; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062570 - 21 Mar 2024

Viewed by 669

Abstract

Methane fermentation, utilizing food waste (FW), is viewed as a sustainable strategy that leverages garbage and agricultural waste to conserve the environment. However, FW compost encounters growth inhibition issues, which we examine in this study. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of various compost mixtures on seed germination growth and the yield of Komatsuna (Brassica rapa). The experiment employed FW compost mixtures with biochar (BC), clay (CL), weeds (WD), and a control group in a completely randomized design with three replications to monitor germination. The experimental pots, arranged in a complete factorial design, involved three treatment factors: compost type (FW or HM), biochar presence or absence (WB or NB), and three input rates (25 g pot⁻¹, 50 g pot⁻¹, and 100 g pot⁻¹), each in triplicate. The combination of FW and BC exhibited an enhanced germination rate compared to FW alone. Moreover, the inclusion of biochar significantly amplified this effect, particularly at the input rate of 50 g pot⁻¹ and had a substantial impact on the interaction between input rate, compost type, and biochar on variables such as nitrogen (N) uptake, % N, soil carbon, and yield. Homemade BC demonstrates an increasing fertilizer cost performance (FCP) as the input rate rises across all fertilizer combinations, while commercially priced BC exhibits a reverse relationship with FCP. These findings suggest that the addition of biochar enhances the performance of methane fermentation residue compost, thereby promoting plant growth through the processing of environmentally sustainable waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture for Crop Cultivation)

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16 pages, 1282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Tillage and Cropping System Effects on the Physical-Hydric Properties of a Soil under No-Tillage

by Tiago Stumpf da Silva, Luis Eduardo Akiyoshi Sanches Suzuki, Cássio Antonio Tormena, Marcelo Raul Schmidt, Michael Mazurana and Renato Levien

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15936; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215936 - 14 Nov 2023

Viewed by 759

Abstract

A no-tillage system (NT) is an alternative to replace soil management with intense soil tillage and degradation. Our objective was to evaluate the physical–hydric properties of soil under NT for four years after undergoing 13 years of minimum (4NTM) and conventional tillage (4NTC) with reference to continuous NT for 17 years (17NT). The soil bulk density, porosity, storage capacities of water and air, visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS), and saturated hydraulic conductivity were determined. The root dry biomass of soybean, maize, and palisade grass was also measured. NT during four years established after receiving 13 years of tillage did not significantly affect soil properties compared to 17NT, which means that four years of NT reached structural stability similar to continuous 17NT. The VESS scores were less sensitive to identifying soil compaction. Crops have no significative influence on soil properties, but the roots of maize seem to be less sensitive to soil compaction, which is important considering it is in a crop rotation system. The treatments (soil tillage and crop rotation) presented soil compaction below a 10 cm depth, and to our loamy textural class soil, a Bd > 1.60 Mg m⁻³ restricted soil aeration due to macroporosity < 0.10 m³ m⁻³. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture for Crop Cultivation)

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16 pages, 1429 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inoculation with Biofilm of Bacillus subtilis Promotes the Growth of Lactuca sativa

by Gabriela Cristina Sarti, Mirta Esther Galelli, Silvana Arreghini, Josefina Ana Eva Cristóbal-Miguez, José Alfredo Curá and Antonio Paz-González

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15406; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115406 - 29 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1094

Abstract

In Argentina, the excessive use of fertilizers is common in intensively cultivated zones around highly populated areas. Bioinoculants based on plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could be effective for crop production improvement without negative effects on the environment. The objective of this work was to evaluate an alternative inoculation method, namely the application of the biofilm produced by Bacillus subtilis as a growth promoter on seeds of three varieties of Lactuca sativa, and to compare it with the common planktonic approach. Biofilm was obtained under static culture conditions, while planktonic inoculum was produced at 150 rpm. The major biofilm effects were observed with Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii, that showed antifungal activity against phytopathogens, synthesized plant growth regulators (IAA, cytokinin and ABA) and solubilized phosphates. The Grand Rapid variety inoculated with biofilm showed the best results, with 30% and 37% higher aerial and root biomass, respectively, compared to the planktonic form. Moreover, the biofilm positive effects were observed through successive plant development stages until harvest, when the bacterium was recovered from the interior of the roots. The biofilm of B. subtilis subsp. spizizenii behave as a superior growth-promoting inoculant compared to the traditional planktonic inoculation technique. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture for Crop Cultivation)

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15 pages, 2156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Load-Bearing Capacity of an Oxisol under Burned and Mechanized Harvest Sugarcane Crops

by Fernando Silva Araújo, Zigomar Menezes de Souza, Gustavo Soares Souza, Reginaldo Barboza da Silva, Diego Alexander Aguilera Esteban and Rose Luiza Moraes Tavares

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15185; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115185 - 24 Oct 2023

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Abstract

The change in land use and the expansion of mechanized sugarcane production systems have led to an increase in soil compaction levels. Preconsolidation pressure may be used as a useful measure for soil mechanical state, management, and planning of mechanization systems. This study aimed to assess the soil compressive behavior, soil physical properties, and spatial variability of preconsolidation pressure of an Oxisol in sugarcane fields under burned harvest and mechanized harvest and the effects of land use change. The physical soil attributes (granulometry, soil water content, bulk density, total porosity, and macro and microporosity) and preconsolidation pressure were evaluated at 0.00–0.10-m, 0.10–0.20-m, and 0.20–0.30-m layers. The soil load-bearing capacity models were constructed from σ_p values for soil water contents. We mapped the assessed soil attributes from crossing points in a sampling mesh with regular 10 m intervals in each area and evaluated them via geostatistics. Land-use change towards sugarcane production systems promoted soil compaction. The mechanized harvesting system increased the soil load-bearing capacity in the water range corresponding to the friability region in subsurface layers. The preconsolidation pressure and soil water content exhibited spatial dependence in the sugarcane areas, regardless of the management system employed in the harvesting operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture for Crop Cultivation)

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15 pages, 3398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Agronomic and Economic Responses to the Adoption of Cover Crops for Corn Rotation in the Brazilian Semiarid Region

by João Henrique Silva da Luz, Matheus Batista da Silva, Luana do Nascimento Silva Barbosa, José Wilker Germano de Souza, Maria Raquel da Silva Farias, John Kennedy dos Santos, Maria Gleide Jane Lima De Gois, Sivaldo Soares Paulino, Ricardo Barros Silva, Dayane Mércia Ribeiro Silva, Deyvison de Asevedo Soares, Paulo Sergio Pavinato and Valdevan Rosendo dos Santos

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 15091; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015091 - 20 Oct 2023

Viewed by 790

Abstract

Cover crops (CCs) have demonstrated their significance in enhancing the agronomic and economic performance of corn in succession. In this paper, we assess the agronomic responses and short-term economic returns of adopting cover crops (CCs) for corn cultivation in the sandy soils of the semiarid region of northeast Brazil, with the aim of addressing the additional challenges of CCs adoption in semiarid regions. The field study was conducted in Arapiraca, Alagoas, under no-tillage conditions for two cropping seasons. A randomized complete block design was employed, comprising six CCs (sunn hemp, spectabilis, jack bean, pigeon pea, lab lab, and millet) treatments and one fallow, with 18 replications. The CCs were cultivated for 60 days before corn planting. Drip irrigation was applied during the grain-filling stage of corn growth. Over the two cropping seasons, the biomass and nutrient cycling of the CCs, corn yield, and economic returns were determined, as well as the total organic carbon (TOC) and Mehlich-1 extractable P levels in the soil after corn harvest. The grain yields with sunn hemp, spectabilis, and jack bean were superior (~10%) to that of the fallow (7.7 vs. 7.1 Mg ha⁻¹), irrespective of the cropping season. Sunn hemp exhibited a higher biomass accumulation and ensured greater nutrient cycling, except for K, while lab lab and millet displayed a similar potential, although substantial variations were observed between seasons. Under sunn hemp and jack bean, the TOC increased by ~9%, particularly in the second season. Regarding the available P, spectabilis and jack bean exhibited the highest levels, with an increase of ~74% compared to the fallow (~31.1 vs. 17.9 mg dm⁻³). Spectabilis and lab lab demonstrated more promising results, both agronomically and economically. However, millet and sunn hemp have the potential to reduce costs over multiple cropping seasons. Therefore, the adoption of cover crops is a sustainable and economically viable agricultural practice. However, it is essential to acknowledge that our results do not represent rainfed conditions and require further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture for Crop Cultivation)

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18 pages, 2135 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accumulated Carbon Fractions in Tropical Sandy Soils and Their Effects on Fertility and Grain Yield in an Integrated Crop–Livestock System

by Deyvison de Asevedo Soares, Bianca Midori Souza Sekiya, Viviane Cristina Modesto, Allan Hisashi Nakao, Leandro Alves Freitas, Isabela Malaquias Dalto de Souza, João Henrique Silva da Luz, Fernando Shintate Galindo, Gelci Carlos Lupatini, Gustavo Pavan Mateus, Carolina dos Santos Batista Bonini, Cristiana Andrighetto, Iêda de Carvalho Mendes, Paulo Sergio Pavinato and Marcelo Andreotti

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13829; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813829 - 16 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1041

Abstract

Food production in sandy soils has evolved significantly, most notably through the advent of integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs). ICLSs increase soil cover, which maintains soil moisture and sequesters carbon (C). Here we investigate the influence of ICLSs on soil physical, chemical, and biochemical properties, and grain yield (GY) in tropical sandy soils in short-time. We compared seven ICLSs in two consecutive crops seasons (with soybean or maize as cash crops) in southeastern Brazil. These were (1) corn + Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás—soybean (ICL-Paiaguás); (2) corn + U. brizantha cv. BRS Piatã—soybean; (3) corn + U. ruziziensis—soybean; (4) corn–soybean under conventional tillage (CT) as a negative control; (5) corn–soybean under no-tillage (NT) as a positive control; (6) Paiaguás grass—continuous grazing (Perennial Paiaguás); (7) and Piatã grass—continuous grazing (Perennial Piatã). Soybean and corn GY data, soil physical and chemical attributes, and soil enzymatic activity were subjected to descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis. CT and NT shared high loadings of H + Al, Al, and soil temperature and low loadings of soil pH, SOM physical and chemical fractions, cationic exchange capacity, and arylsulfatase activity. ICL-Paiaguás and Perennial Piatã had a similarly high loading of total N, humin, total organic carbon, and mineral-associated carbon stocks. The fulvic acid fraction was the most sensitive to C accumulation in the sandy soil under ICLSs. Soil water and thermal regimes were limiting in both CT and NT. The study not only confirms the capacity of conservation mechanisms to enhance soil-based ecosystem functions, but it also highlights the potential of ICLSs to aid sustainable food production even in the context of tropical sandy soils, which frequently receive limited attention in intensive agricultural practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture for Crop Cultivation)

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21 pages, 7813 KiB

Open AccessReview

Can Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Crop Productivity and Quality in Hydroponics? A Meta-Analysis

by Yahia A. Othman, Kholoud M. Alananbeh and Monther M. Tahat

Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3662; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093662 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024

Viewed by 205

Abstract

Finding environmentally friendly solutions for crop growth and productivity has been gaining more attention recently. This meta-analysis aims to understand the combined application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and hydroponic systems compared to AMF in conventional (soil) systems. The analysis of up-to-date studies revealed that the root colonization, calculated as the proportion of colonized root segments relative to the total root length, by AMF in conventional (soil-based) culture exceeded hydroponic (or soilless) culture systems by 16.8%. The mean root colonization by AMF was determined to be 52.3% in hydroponic systems and 61.1% in conventional systems. Within hydroponic systems, the root colonization ranged from 2% to 20% after 10 days of inoculation, and notably, it exceeded 50% after 30 to 65 days, depending on the growing substrate and species. Under hydroponics, AMF application had a higher (compared to none-inoculated) positive effect on crop biomass and yield than fruit and leaf quality (antioxidants, phenols, and sugars) as well as leaf nutrients. However, AMF do not always have the potential to improve crop growth, quality and productivity in hydroponics. Among the studies analyzed in this review, approximately 34% (no effect: 29%; negative: 5%) reported no discernible positive effect on biomass or yield, 37% (no effect: 16%; negative: 21%) on fruit or leaf quality, and 60% (no effect: 47%; negative: 13%) on nutrient levels within plant tissues. To improve the performance of AMF in hydroponic systems, the meta-analysis recommended maintaining phosphorus levels in the nutrient solution within the range of 0.15 to 15.5 mg L⁻¹ as elevated levels (40–75 mg L⁻¹) were found to significantly reduce AMF colonization. Additionally, it was observed that certain hydroponic techniques, such as the presence of air bubbles generated by air pumps in floating hydroponic systems (Deep Flow technique) and continuous circulation of the nutrient solution (Ebb and Flow systems), may create dynamic conditions that could potentially hinder the introduction of AMF spores into hydroponic systems and potentially compromise the integrity of the spores and hyphae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture for Crop Cultivation)

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