About this Research Topic

Background

Worldwide, more than 80% of cropped area is dependent on rainfall. Dryland agriculture is practiced in almost all hydro-climatic zones and can be highly productive. Research has shown that better water management, coupled with improved soil and crop management, can more than double agricultural productivity in rainfed areas with currently low yields. Abiotic stresses aggravated by climate change pose a serious threat to the sustainability of crop yields and account for substantial yield reductions. Plant breeding was highly successful during the second half of the 20th century, contributing substantially to keeping production ahead of population growth. Improved varieties and efficient crop husbandry practices in dryland agriculture resulted in significant increases in the productivity of cereals, grain legumes, and fodder crops.

Breeding achievements in yield and yield stability under dryland agriculture are attributable predominately to genetic improvement of crop species. However, future research to increase the level of drought tolerance in crops needs to address the interaction between a number of traits and assemble those combinations of traits to maximize crop productivity in drought-prone environments. Although changes in tillage systems and crop practices can improve production by conserving water, enhancement of the genetic tolerance of crops to drought stress is considered an essential strategy for addressing moisture deficits. Therefore, the main strategies should be focused on capturing the potential of both beneficial genetic adaptations and new technologies for higher productivity in drylands that are increasingly affected by climate change.

This Research Topic is devoted, but not limited, to recent scientific progress in the following areas:

• Efficient breeding programs combining approaches for enhancing productivity in dryland conditions
• Agronomic options for improving rainfall-use efficiency of crops in dryland agriculture
• Environmental impact of water-efficient cropping systems
• The impact of conservation agriculture as an innovative alternate model of regenerative, ecological, and sustainable agriculture, replacing conventional tillage-based practices.
• Agronomic, physiological, and phenological traits enhancing adaption of crops to dryland conditions.

We welcome original research and review papers on the above themes.

Keywords: dryland agriculture, climate change, drought, productivity, water-efficient crops, sustainable agriculture, conservation agriculture

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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