The Effect of Combined Environmental Pressures on Crop Production

Dear Colleagues,

Crop production depends on a multitude of factors, such as temperature, precipitation, soil quality, pests and diseases, and atmospheric conditions. Traditionally studies have primarily focused on assessing the impacts of these factors on crop growth and productivity. However, in reality, agricultural systems face pressures under interactive and combined effects scenarios that are, sometimes, difficult to foresee.

Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and an increase in weather events like droughts, floods, and heatwaves present challenges to agricultural systems across the globe. These climatic changes can disrupt crop growth patterns, decrease photosynthetic activity, hamper water availability, and impede nutrients uptake, resulting in yield losses. Additionally, agriculture is also impacted by other environmental stressors, including soil degradation, water scarcity, pollution, and the emergence of new pests and diseases. Soil erosion, nutrient depletion, salinization, and contamination from chemical inputs can degrade soil fertility and reduce its capacity to support crop growth.

Understanding the combined effects of these environmental pressures on crop production is of utmost importance. We need to understand better the vulnerability and resilience of agricultural systems in the face of changing environmental conditions. This will help to develop appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies and will be essential for designing sustainable agricultural practices that enhance resilience, minimize environmental harm, and ensure food security for future generations.

Furthermore, the research in this area contributes to the development and improvement of crop management techniques and breeding programs. By identifying the genetic traits and agronomic practices that confer resilience to multiple stressors, it is possible to achieve climate-smart crop varieties and management strategies that are better equipped to withstand the challenges posed by combined environmental pressures.

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

• Climate change and crop resilience;
• Soil health and nutrient management;
• Water management and irrigation strategies;
• Integrated pest management;
• Agroecology and biodiversity conservation;
• Systems modelling and data analysis.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Carla Sofia Sancho Dos Santos
Dr. Joana Machado
Dr. Marta Nunes da Silva
Guest Editors

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• combined environmental pressures
• crop production
• breeding
• plant nutrition
• plant–pathogen interactions
• water and nutrient stress
• climate scenarios prediction