About this Research Topic

Background

Industrial crops are defined as crops that are not usually sold directly for consumption due to the need for industrial processing before final use and include oilseeds, fiber crops, tobacco, hemp, hops, energy crops, crops used for renewable energy production, etc. Several plant-based industrial products and bioenergy are expected to be in high demand over the next decade, increasing industrial crop production. Furthermore, the global population explosion has resulted in new urban settlements being built on fertile agricultural lands, reducing crop-producing areas. The abrupt changes in regional and global climates have also caused several biotic and abiotic stresses, which pose a threat to agricultural production and land use. In addition to the abovementioned, agricultural practices impose an unpredictably high demand on natural resources, compromising environmental protection and degrading agricultural land.

The potential authors of this Research Topic are welcome to submit articles relating to recent discoveries in soil tillage and nitrogen (N) fertilization management practices in industrial crops, in order to enhance soil health, crop yields, and their adaptability to sustainable agricultural practices. Novel research, reviews, and opinion papers covering all related topics are welcome. The goal of this Research Topic is to facilitate our understanding of new agricultural practices that enhance and maintain soil fertility through the application of reasonable tillage practices; new methods and technologies for crop fertilization; as well as new sources and processes for providing high-quality crop products without adverse impacts on the soil.
Sustainable agricultural practices preserve soil and environmental quality and increase soil and water conservation, which are indicators of sustainable crop production. Agriculture sustainability is primarily driven by land management strategies, which can improve soil physico-chemical, biological, and hydrological characteristics. Sustainable production therefore requires measures that conserve and preserve natural resources without compromising productivity. The tillage method has an impact on the transport and destination of nitrogen through several mechanisms, including changes to the soil structure, aeration, macropore continuity, the placement of crop residues, mineralization of organic matter, leaching, and the availability of water for the crop. Due to the effect on soil-plant dynamics, crop productivity, and the efficiency of N fertilizer use, a transition from intensive to conservative tillage systems will require the modification of N use. N availability of fertilizer is determined by the source and placement of the fertilizer, as well as how tillage is performed. In order to conserve soil and water and ensure the sustainability of agricultural systems, tillage reduction and N fertilization optimization are important strategies. The interactions between these practices can alter soil water and N availability, thereby affecting N uptake, water use efficiency, and crop yield. Through the use of these techniques, it is possible to ensure sustainable agriculture by producing sufficient quantities of high-quality industrial crops.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: nutrient interactions, eco-friendly fertilizers, organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, crop residues, soil quality, soil fertility, organic carbon, Conservation tillage, fertilization methods, nitrogen use efficiency, reduced tillage

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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