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Citrus are the most produced fruits worldwide. It is expected that these crops will be severely affected by climate change. However, the literature lacks works that attempt to understand the influence of climate change on citrus. For this reason, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on climate change and citrus to investigate its development and current trends in this research domain. The main trends, keywords, and their relations were identified. The period from 1992 to 2022 was analyzed, resulting in 178 documents in the Scopus database. The most significant publishers' countries were also the largest citrus producers in the world besides being G7 members. Three main research areas were identified: modeling, socio-political issues, and plant physiology. A tendency to change interest from modeling and risk analysis to physiology and stress studies was observed. Additionally, some of the most cited papers observed the positive impacts of climate change on certain citrus crops. Despite the multidisciplinary publications, two main gaps were identified: (i) the lack of investigations with combined stresses (abiotic and biotic) instead of isolated studies, and (ii) the lack of studies of predictive models for citrus production in different conditions and climate change scenarios. Finally, there was a tendency toward studying water use and irrigation alternatives due to water scarcity and management solutions to improve the production system's resilience, considering the potential impacts of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation, as one of the most impactful human interventions in the terrestrial water cycle, has been arousing great attention due to research on the impacts of its interaction with climate. In this paper, we used a scientometric analysis method to explore the overall publication output of the climatic effects of irrigation (CEI) field from the Web of Science Core Collection (WSCC) database, covering the time period from 1993 to 2022. And, through a visual scientific citation analysis tool, CiteSpace, we studied the knowledge structure, disciplinary trajectory, frontier hotspots, and academic impacts in the field of CEI. Using topic screening, 2919 publications related to irrigation climate were searched. CEI research has gone through the knowledge germination stage (1993–2005), knowledge accretion stage (2006–2012), and the knowledge prosperity stage (2013–2022), respectively. Ecology, earth, and marine are the most influential disciplines of research in this field, and they are influenced by earth, geology, geophysics and plant, ecology, zoology. AWM and SOTTE are the most popular journals currently. The academic impacts of scientific stakeholders are uneven. European and American countries have profound influence in the research field. The keyword of "Climate change" is the turning point in the co-word analysis network, and research hotspots focus on "carbon dioxide", "model", "climate", "growth", "temperature", "biomass", "global warming", "CO2", "global change", "dynamics", "adjustments", and "atmospheric CO2". The knowledge base of the CEI field can be divided into 14 clusters, such as cotton production, semi-arid condition, and irrigation water supply, and these three clusters are the three largest among them. This paper offers a comprehensive scientometric review of CEI, and, to some degree, provides some reference for the relevant research on the climate effects of irrigation, which will be beneficial to understand the current research situation and development trend in this field, as well as provide state-of-the-art and future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper addresses the importance of increasing agrobiodiversity to cope with climate change and, at the same time, providing a sufficient amount of healthy food. This is in agreement with the messages from ecology and medicine indicating the advantages of biodiversity in general and agrobiodiversity in particular for the planet and for our health. Plant breeding is considered to be one of the causes of the decline in agrobiodiversity, and therefore, this paper illustrates alternatives to the commonly used approach based on centralized selection. The first alternative is decentralized participatory breeding, which adapts crops to both different agronomic environments and client preferences, representing an "option by context" model of research. The second alternative is evolutionary breeding, which is a more dynamic strategy than participatory plant breeding because it merges the advantages of decentralization with the ability of dynamic mixtures and evolutionary populations to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses and evolve, thus adapting to climate change and to the associated changes in the spectrum of pests. A crop capable of evolving as the environment around it evolves appears to be the most ideal way of responding to climate change and increasing agricultural biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The priority problem in intensive viticulture is reducing pesticides, and fertilizers, and improving water-use efficiency. This is driven by global and EU regulatory efforts. This review, systematically examines 92 papers, focusing on progress in satellite solutions over time, and (pre)processing improvements of spatio-temporal and spectral resolution. The importance of the integration of satellites with ground truth data is highlighted. The results provide precise on-field adaptation strategies through the generation of prescription maps and variable rate application. This enhances sustainability and efficiency in vineyard management and reduces the environmental footprint of vineyard techniques. The effectiveness of different vegetation indices in capturing spatial and temporal variations in vine health, water content, chlorophyll levels, and overall vigor is discussed. The challenges in the use of satellite data in viticulture are addressed. Advanced satellite technologies provide detailed vineyard monitoring, offering insights into spatio-temporal variability, soil moisture, and vine health. These are crucial for optimizing water-use efficiency and targeted management practices. By integrating satellite data with ground-based measurements, viticulturists can enhance precision viticulture, reduce reliance on chemical interventions, and improve overall vineyard sustainability and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affected by global warming, the frequency of crop pests and diseases have increased, causing huge losses to agricultural production. To better grasp the development and trends of research on the effects of climate change on crop pests and diseases, the literature on the impact of climate change on crop pests and diseases published from 1990 to 2021 in the Web of Science (WOS) core collection database was used. This study explores the literature characteristics and hotspot evolution through the bibliometric visualization analysis software COOC, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace, with a view to identifying the changing characteristics and trends of research changes in this field. The results showed that the number of literature on the impact of climate change on crop pests and diseases increased rapidly. The main fields involved include environmental sciences, ecology, and agronomy. Papers in these fields mainly published in journals, such as PLos One, Forest Ecology and Management, and Frontiers in Plant Science. The country with the highest number of publications was the United States, followed by China and Australia. The most prolific authors in the top 20 are research scholars from China. The first author of the top 20 highly cited papers was from the United States. It was found that that current research on the impact of climate change on crop pests and diseases mainly focuses on agricultural production and food safety. Modelling and crop growth has maintained steady development. At present, research in this field mainly focuses on pest management strategies under the impact of climate change, the response of single species, and the complex ecological mechanisms behind the response. This study provides unique insights into the research field of the impact of climate change on crop pests and diseases and provides a reference direction for future research development in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paddy-rice cultivation using the traditional continuous flooding method requires much water, up to 2500 L, to produce 1 kg of rice. Decreasing water availability is being exacerbated by climate dynamics, i.e., droughts and rainfall variability negatively affecting food security in developing regions, particularly Africa. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) practice is a climate-smart water management strategy that, together with puddling (a critical field preparation process), significantly affects soil hydrological and physicochemical regimes, such as soil water dynamics and oxidation states in paddy fields. However, there are limited reviews on the effects and interaction of the AWD duration on hydrological conditions in the paddy-rice rhizosphere continuum under AWD practice at different rice growth stages. Our review synthesizes key scientific literature to examine water management and hydrological properties of paddy soils under AWD practice with climate change and sheds light on why farmers are skeptical in adopting the practice. To develop this paper, we reviewed scientific information from published journal articles, reliable reports, and our knowledge on paddy-rice cultivation and water management with climate change in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Several studies confirm that AWD practice increases water–rice–crop productivity, yields, and reduces methane emissions. Limitations and challenges of AWD irrigation, including changes in soil structure that influence irrigation water application, variations in hydraulic conductivity caused by the duration and frequency of irrigation cycles, and frequent manual water level (WL) monitoring, are discussed. Opportunities to improve the integration of AWD strategies within government policies, irrigation schemes, and farmer acceptance due to skepticism, limited knowledge, and fear of unreliable water hindering adoption are highlighted. Future research suggestions include the following: (i) long-term measurement of water stress indices using infrared thermometers; (ii) seasonal suitability mapping using NDVI, GIS, and remote sensing; and (iii) application of smart sensors based on the Internet of Things (IoT) to address AWD challenges for precision water management in paddy fields with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is one of the greatest threats to the social development of human beings. It is a typical example of global climate change, and has profoundly affected human production and life in various aspects. As the foundation of human existence, agricultural production is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which has altered environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, and wind speed, and affected crop growth cycles, the frequency of extreme weather events, and the occurrence patterns of pests and diseases directly or indirectly, ultimately influencing crop yield and quality. This article reviews the latest research progress in this field, summarizes the impact of global climate change on agricultural production as well as the feedback mechanisms of agricultural activities on climate change, and proposes strategies for agricultural production to cope with global climate change. This paper aims to provide a scientific basis and suggestions for ensuring the sustainable development of agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of the agrifood industry is key to mitigating the impact of climate change, as it is one of the industrial sectors with the highest energy consumption. The optimisation of photovoltaic systems in agroindustries faces problems such as the fluctuation of energy prices or the evident seasonal nature of some producers. This paper provides a global view of the profitability and optimal sizing of photovoltaic (PV) systems in the new energy context. For this purpose, almost 4 million cases were analysed, including different consumption patterns, energy prices, etc. Some general conclusions can be drawn from the results. First, the adaptation to the new context requires adjustments in the sizing of PV systems in all industries analysed, which is also associated with changes in the return on investment. Second, seasonality strongly conditions the optimal size of PV installations, the return on the investment and the potential savings. Finally, in the face of future energy price variations, the ratio "Savings/payback" seems to be an appropriate reference for sizing, combining savings and profitability. In addition, they may justify special subsidies to seasonal industries. The conclusions of this paper should be considered to optimise the design of PVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology, nanosensors in particular, has increasingly drawn researchers' attention in recent years since it has been shown to be a powerful tool for several fields like mining, robotics, medicine and agriculture amongst others. Challenges ahead, such as food availability, climate change and sustainability, have promoted such attention and pushed forward the use of nanosensors in agroindustry and environmental applications. However, issues with noise and confounding signals make the use of these tools a non-trivial technical challenge. Great advances in artificial intelligence, and more particularly machine learning, have provided new tools that have allowed researchers to improve the quality and functionality of nanosensor systems. This short review presents the latest work in the analysis of data from nanosensors using machine learning for agroenvironmental applications. It consists of an introduction to the topics of nanosensors and machine learning and the application of machine learning to the field of nanosensors. The rest of the paper consists of examples of the application of machine learning techniques to the utilisation of electrochemical, luminescent, SERS and colourimetric nanosensor classes. The final section consists of a short discussion and conclusion concerning the relevance of the material discussed in the review to the future of the agroenvironmental sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.), as one of the most important cash crops in China, plays an important role in increasing farmers' incomes and guaranteeing a high quality of life. Tea production has been greatly influenced by both climate change and economic development in China. However, without a scientific understanding of the interaction mechanism of climate change and the impetus from rapid economic development on tea production practices in China, it is difficult to take adaptive actions to meet the climate change challenges for the tea industry. In this paper, we firstly assessed the potential impacts of climate change on tea climate suitability by empirical formula calculation using meteorological data; then, the effects from the additional climatic stress due to warming on tea production were detected with the annual statistical tea yield record on a municipal level. The contribution of socioeconomic development to the tea industry was evaluated with the comparison of the movement of China's national economy's and tea industry's gravity center during the period of 1987–2017. Finally, a conceptual adaptation framework was built to demonstrate the interaction mechanisms between climate change, tea production, and the economic development. The results showed that there was a negative impact of climate change on tea production in mainland China, with the percentage of high tea climate suitability (>0.9) areas dropping by 45% to 32%, while opportunities of enlarging the tea cultivating area emerged in the north tea production region where the tea climate suitability increased. We found that the tea planting area expanded northwards from 33° N in 1987 to 35° N in 2017 to take advantage of the favorable climatic resources due to warming, and tea planting decreased at an altitude of 100–400 m while increasing to higher altitude of 400–2000 m to avoid hot temperature damage and seek the optimum environment in high mountainous areas for tea production. In addition, the tea production moved westward along the longitude, decreasing obviously at 117–121° E while increasing significantly at 98–104° E and 107–110° E. Meanwhile, the tea production gravity center showed a westward movement consistent with the national economic gravity center moving trend, which means that tea industry development was driven by multiple socioeconomic factors and climatic forcings. A conceptual framework was built in this paper, aiming to show a robust adaptation mechanism for the tea system to maximize the benefits and minimize the damages from the altered climatic resources under rapid economic development in mainland China. The results in this study would help deepen the understanding of the adaptation process and practices for tea production in mainland China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop quality is directly related to national food security and people's living standards, and it is also key to the improvement of agricultural quality and efficiency. According to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change has already exerted a negative impact on crop quality. To address climate change scientifically, this paper reviews the latest progress in studies on the impact of climate change on crop quality, and points out limitations of existing studies: (1) Climate factors affecting crop quality are not yet clearly identified; (2) The climate change influencing mechanism and disaster-inducing critical meteorological conditions for crop quality are not clearly established; and (3) No climatic suitability model for crop quality has been constructed to reflect the synergy of multiple climate factors. To ensure food quality and security, and to adjust and optimize the industrial planning of grain crops, promote a high crop quality and yield, and address climate change scientifically, this paper argues that subsequent studies should discuss the following topics, focusing on the climatic suitability of crop quality and resistance mechanisms: (1) changing laws involving the climate sensitivity of crop quality in the context of climate change; (2) response mechanisms of crop quality to climate change; (3) crop quality monitoring and assessment modelling; (4) climatic suitability zoning of crop quality; (5) spatiotemporal evolution trends of crop quality and its responses; and (6) crop quality and its legal measures in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteorological drought (MDr) causes considerable economic losses in many countries, including in relation to agriculture. To examine the diversity of seasonal meteorological drought in Poland, the study uses monthly precipitation sums in the period from March to November, collected from 74 ground-based meteorological stations in 1951–2020. The paper defines meteorological drought on the basis of the standardized precipitation index in three seasons (SPI-3) and differentiates three degrees of drought intensity: extreme, severe and moderate. The study also calculates the size of Poland's area affected by meteorological drought (AAMDr) and determines the relationship between AAMDr and SPI-3. MDr in Poland occurred more frequently in spring and autumn (every 4–5 years) than in summer (every 7 years). In the areas affected by extreme drought, precipitation was below the average, mainly ≤50% of the climatic norm, and air temperature values were below or above the average of the climatic norm, mainly ranging from −1.0 to 1.0 °C. A significant negative correlation between AAMDr and SPI-3 indices was found. The obtained results could be useful for managing climatic risk and developing regional and local agriculture adaptation plans aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global drylands, covering about 41% of Earth's surface and inhabited by 38% of the world's population, are facing the stark challenges of water scarcity, low water productivity, and food insecurity. This paper highlights the major constraints to agricultural productivity, traditional irrigation scheduling methods, and associated challenges, efforts, and progress to enhance water use efficiency (WUE), conserve water, and guarantee food security by overviewing different smart irrigation approaches. Widely used traditional irrigation scheduling methods (based on weather, plant, and soil moisture conditions) usually lack important information needed for precise irrigation, which leads to over- or under-irrigation of fields. On the other hand, by using several factors, including soil and climate variation, soil properties, plant responses to water deficits, and changes in weather factors, smart irrigation can drive better irrigation decisions that can help save water and increase yields. Various smart irrigation approaches, such as artificial intelligence and deep learning (artificial neural network, fuzzy logic, expert system, hybrid intelligent system, and deep learning), model predictive irrigation systems, variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could ensure high water use efficiency in water-scarce regions. These smart irrigation technologies can improve water management and accelerate the progress in achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where no one gets left behind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kañawa/Cañihua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen) is the lesser-known cousin of the domesticated Andean pseudocereal quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). In 1970, Daniel Gade hypothesized that Andean farmers may have domesticated volunteer wild kañawa plants that occupied quinoa or potato fields after observing that they could survive harsh climatic events such as drought or frost. To revisit this question of kañawa domestication, this paper provides an overview of the current botanical, genetic, and archaeological knowledge of kañawa domestication. It then provides patterns in the presence of wild and domesticated kañawa seeds from archaeological sites in the southern Lake Titicaca Basin of Bolivia, spanning the Formative and Tiwanaku periods from approximately 1500 BCE to 1100 CE. This archaeobotanical evidence supports Gade's hypothesis that kañawa was a later domesticate, not appearing until after 250 CE. Regional paleoclimatic evidence of frequent climatic fluctuations lends support to the argument that kañawa contributed to a diversified food supply, which could provide a buffer against climate risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the estimated changes in the soil water content, the total runoff, the sediment yield and the actual evapotranspiration for the small Bystra catchment in the east of Poland. The findings are based on the results of three simulations covering the years of 2041–2050. The simulations were based on a calibrated and validated SWAT model (2010–2017). The first variant covers just the climate change and the existing structure of soil cultivation for the three regional climate models supported by the EC-EARTH global climate model in the emission scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Variants two and three are based on the first variant in terms of the changing climate. The second variant, however, involves placing a pond in each farm in the catchment, while the third variant involves designing huge reservoirs as a result of land consolidation. Variants two and three occur in five adaptation scenarios each. The first adaptation scenario (V2.1 and V3.1) involves only increasing the number of ponds on the farm or increasing the number of reservoirs for non-irrigated arable land crops, i.e., WWHT (winter cereals), BARL (spring cereals), CANP (rapeseed) and CRDY (other crops). The second adaptation scenario (V2.2 and V3.2) involves growing vegetables without irrigation (instead of cereals). The third adaptation scenario (V2.3 and V3.3) involves growing vegetables with irrigation (instead of cereals). The fourth adaptation scenario (V2.4 and V3.4) involves partial cultivation of vegetables and cereals. The fifth adaptation scenario (V2.5 and V3.5) involves partial cultivation of orchards and cereals. The adaptation scenarios of the irrigation of vegetables from deep water-bearing layers (second variant) or reservoirs (third variant) contribute to the increase in water content in the soil, especially in summer, in comparison with the adaptation scenarios for vegetable cultivation without irrigation. What is more, the actual evapotranspiration was higher in the adaptation scenarios involving irrigation than in scenarios without irrigation. It is known that the changes in water content in soil and the intensification of water erosion are gravely affected by modifications in crops and soil cultivation. A change from cereal cultivation to irrigated vegetable cultivation or orchards increased the water content in the soil in most climatic projections. However, the increase in the number of ponds in the second variant had little impact on the soil water content, actual evapotranspiration and overall runoff, while the erosion loss decreased. With the lower precipitation levels in the years 2041–2050 relative to 2010–2017, as presented in the emissive scenario RCP 4.5, the soil water content decreases by up to 14% for most variants. Total runoff for most variants will also be lower by 4–35%. The percentage change in sediment yield will fluctuate between −86% and 116%. On the other hand, the actual evapotranspiration for most variants will be higher. With higher precipitation levels in the years 2041–2050 relative to 2010–2017, as presented in the emissive scenario RCP 8.5, the soil water content changes slightly from −7% to +3%. Total runoff for most variants will also be higher by as much as 43%. Sediment yield for most scenarios may increase by 226%. The actual evapotranspiration for most variants will also be higher. Irrigation variants tend to increase soil available water while increasing evapotranspiration and total outflow in the catchment as compared to non-irrigated LULC. The largest increase in the soil water content is observed in most irrigation variants for RCP 4.5 (annual average 316–319 mm) (V2.3-V2.5, V3.2, and V3.3) and RCP 8.5 (annual average 326–327 mm) (V2.3-V2.5 and V3.3) as compared to V1 (BaU) (315 mm–RCP 4.5 and 324 mm–RCP 8.5) for the years 2041–2050. On the other hand, the lowest increase in soil water content is observed in the V3.5 variant, with an annual average of 292 mm for RCP 4.5 and an annual average of 311 mm for RCP 8.5. Thus, for future climate change scenarios, irrigation with water reservoirs (ponds and storage reservoirs) should be considered. The study proves the rationale behind building ponds in small catchments in order to increase water resources in a landscape and also to counteract adverse effects of climate changes, i.e., sediment outflow and surface water erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coffee species Coffea arabica is facing numerous challenges regarding climate change, pests and disease pressure. Improved varieties will be part of the solution. Making optimal use of the scarce genetic diversity of the species is hence essential. In this paper, we present the first study of C. arabica genetic diversity covering its complete native habitat in Ethiopia together with its main domestication centers: Yemen and Hararghe region in Ethiopia. All in all, 555 samples were analyzed with a set of Single Sequence Repeat markers. Through admixture genetic analysis, six clusters were identified. A total of two "Core Ethiopian" clusters did not participate in the domestication of the species. There were four clusters that were part of the "Domestication Pathway" of C. arabica. The first one was named "Ethiopian Legacy" as it represents the genetic link between "Core Ethiopia" and the "Domestication Pathway" in Yemen and Hararghe. The geographic origin of this cluster in Ethiopia was the south of Ethiopia, namely Gedio, Guji and Sidama, which hence appears as the source of coffee seeds that led to the domestication of C. arabica. In Yemen, in addition to the "Ethiopian Legacy" cluster, we confirmed the "Typica/Bourbon" and "New-Yemen" clusters. In Hararghe, the "Harrar" cluster, never described before, likely originates from a re-introduction of domesticated coffee from Yemen into this region of Ethiopia. Cultivated varieties around the world today originate from the "Ethiopian Legacy" and "Typica/Bourbon" clusters and but none are related to the "new-Yemen" and "Harrar" clusters. Implications for breeding strategies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat occupies a special role in global food security since, in addition to providing 20% of our carbohydrates and protein, almost 25% of the global production is traded internationally. The importance of wheat for food security was recognised by the Chief Agricultural Scientists of the G20 group of countries when they endorsed the establishment of the Wheat Initiative in 2011. The Wheat Initiative was tasked with supporting the wheat research community by facilitating collaboration, information and resource sharing and helping to build the capacity to address challenges facing production in an increasingly variable environment. Many countries invest in wheat research. Innovations in wheat breeding and agronomy have delivered enormous gains over the past few decades, with the average global yield increasing from just over 1 tonne per hectare in the early 1960s to around 3.5 tonnes in the past decade. These gains are threatened by climate change, the rapidly rising financial and environmental costs of fertilizer, and pesticides, combined with declines in water availability for irrigation in many regions. The international wheat research community has worked to identify major opportunities to help ensure that global wheat production can meet demand. The outcomes of these discussions are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural practices of smallholder farming systems of Latin America can play an important role in reducing their exposure to the risks associated with climate extremes. To date, however, there is no systematic analysis of scientific evidence for the extent to which these practices can provide the multiple benefits needed for smallholders to adapt to climate extremes. In this paper, we searched scientific databases to review scientific evidence of the benefit provided by twenty-six practices in crops commonly farmed by smallholders in the region and highly relevant for their food and nutrition security; namely, coffee, maize and beans. We reviewed scientific documents (n = 304) published in the period 1953–2021 to register evidence of the practices' effects on fifty-five benefits. Our analysis of these documents found measurement records (n = 924) largely based on field experiments (85%). Our results show strong evidence of the multiple benefits that some ecosystem-based practices (e.g., tree-based practices for coffee and no tillage for maize) can provide to support the adaptation to climate extremes of smallholder farming systems and enhance a farm's natural assets (e.g., biodiversity, water, soil). We also found that the majority of research on practices in the region focused more on the socioeconomic dimension (54%) rather than on the capacity of practices to improve the natural assets of a smallholder farmers or reduce the impact of climate extremes. Given these knowledge gaps, we discuss the importance of a renovated investment in research to address existing knowledge gaps. Our concluding suggestions for future research include the need for systematizing existing knowledge from different sources (e.g., peer-reviewed, gray literature, farmers, extension agencies, etc.), and to assess the extent to which these practices can provide multiple benefits for smallholder farming systems by improving their wellbeing, reducing their vulnerability to different hydroclimatic extremes while also contributing to ecosystem services provision at the landscape level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereal grains and tubers are among the highly consumed staple foods globally; however, due to unfavorable weather conditions and the competition for natural resources, the major staple cereal crops, such as rice, are under production threat. On the other hand, the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase crop yield is deteriorating the growing environment for plants and animals, including humans. As such, sustainable management practices are the key method that can be employed to increase crop production without harming the environment. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), such as the purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB), have recently gained much attention in crop production due to their ability to accumulate higher-value compounds that are highly beneficial to crops. Some of the major benefits PNSB holds are that it can fix atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize phosphate, remediate heavy metals, suppress methane emissions from waterlogged paddy fields, and assist in carbon sequestration. These benefits allow PNSB to be an important bacterium for improving plant growth and yield much more sustainably while benefiting the environment. This review article discusses the beneficial effects of PNSB on rice crop plants through careful screening of previous work in this area. The review also identifies the research gaps and suggests future research pathways to make PNSB an important bacteria for sustainable rice crop production. The review paper aims for the United Nation's sustainable development goal number two, "Zero Hunger," target 2.4, indicator 2.4.1, "Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Nitrogen (N) fertilization practices for tropical perennial grass are still based on annual amounts, following flat N rates instalments. This strategy does not consider variations in climatic conditions along the growing season, their impacts on the plant's demand and the soil N availability. At regrowth cycles where the amount of soil N released from mineralization or through animal excreta surpass the plant's demand, most of the N may be lost (as ammonia, nitrate, and nitrous oxide), increasing production costs and environmental pollution. This paper examines current N fertilization and discusses possible gaps in knowledge for the definition of more precise fertilization guidelines in pasture-based livestock systems based on tropical perennial grasses. More precise fertilization practices, based upon site and seasonal-specific recommendations, will substantially contribute to the establishment of best fertilization guidelines. Sustainable approaches can be defined by combining the identification of regrowth cycles where high N rates are required, with enhanced efficiency fertilizers, and/or using grass species with the potential for biological nitrification inhibition. The lack of information on tropical grasses requirements, and soil and climatic factors driving the N fate into the mineralization and immobilization processes and how these factors affect plant's N demand, still prevents opportunities for tactical applications and the establishment of best management guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitis vinifera L. adapts well to a scarce availability of water in the soil. However, in recent decades, the combination of thermal stress with prolonged water scarcity could have dramatic consequences on the vine's physiological status. In this paper, we evaluated the effects of two canopy shapes and two irrigation regimes at veraison on vine physiology, yield parameters and grape composition through biochemical and molecular approaches. The water shortage strongly influenced the physiology of Sangiovese only when the stress was moderate to severe. Neither the water stress limited to veraison nor the canopy shape were able to influence the yield parameters and sugar content, and a strong induction of the expression of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins was recorded only in conditions of moderate-to-severe stress. This phenomenon led to an increase in the anthocyanin content in berry skins until the end of veraison. Conversely, no significant effects occurred in terms of biochemical and molecular performance after re-watering and at harvest. Though the shape of the canopy could play a role only under elevated temperature and prolonged drought, severe water stress can affect the vine physiology and berry ripening during the veraison stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to identify the trends of changes in atmospheric precipitation percolation under the changing climate conditions of Lithuania (the East Baltic region) based on long-term lysimeter studies. Data from 1987–2022 research (n = 1296) was used to determine trends in precipitation infiltration changes. Two 10-year periods, 1989–1998 and 2011–2020, were selected from the whole observation period (1987–2022) to assess changes in precipitation infiltration due to climate change. The air temperature has increased significantly in November (+3.4 °C) and December (+3.3 °C), with a +2.2 °C increase in the standard climate normal. The distribution of yearly precipitation has changed, with the annual amount decreasing from 686 to 652 mm. Precipitation increased the most in July and August (10.9 and 22.9 mm). In autumn, the amount of precipitation decreased by 7.9–31.1 mm. The number of rainy days did not change during the year, but the frequency of heavy precipitation increased significantly in August. The annual percolation increased by 14.2% over 2011–2020 compared to 1989–1998. Percolation increased by 19.0, 22.3, and 20.1% during the spring, autumn, and winter, respectively, and decreased by 35.0% in summer. The increase in annual percolation is mostly related to the increase in temperature during the cold season: November and December. During these months, the likelihood of early freeze formation, which interrupts gravitational water percolation in soil, is significantly reduced. In the spring, the increase in average air temperatures in March leads to faster melting of the winter snow in a shorter period, which significantly increases percolation processes. In Lithuania, higher percolation in autumn and winter, when part of the agricultural land is not covered by vegetation, may lead to higher leaching of chemical elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

California is a global leader in the agricultural sector and produces more than 400 types of commodities. The state produces over a third of the country's vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. Despite being highly productive, current and future climate change poses many challenges to the agricultural sector. This paper provides a summary of the current state of knowledge on historical and future trends in climate and their impacts on California agriculture. We present a synthesis of climate change impacts on California agriculture in the context of: (1) historic trends and projected changes in temperature, precipitation, snowpack, heat waves, drought, and flood events; and (2) consequent impacts on crop yields, chill hours, pests and diseases, and agricultural vulnerability to climate risks. Finally, we highlight important findings and directions for future research and implementation. The detailed review presented in this paper provides sufficient evidence that the climate in California has changed significantly and is expected to continue changing in the future, and justifies the urgency and importance of enhancing the adaptive capacity of agriculture and reducing vulnerability to climate change. Since agriculture in California is very diverse and each crop responds to climate differently, climate adaptation research should be locally focused along with effective stakeholder engagement and systematic outreach efforts for effective adoption and implementation. The expected readership of this paper includes local stakeholders, researchers, state and national agencies, and international communities interested in learning about climate change and California's agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the abiotic stresses, drought has been shown to have harmful effects on crop productivity worldwide, and this has affected arid and semiarid lands such as the Mediterranean Basin and Asian countries like Pakistan, due to rapid climate change scenarios. The individual climate-change-inducing stressors for plants are abiotic in nature [[2]], and they impose stress upon most plant species. Some abiotic plant stressors include drought, salinity, elevated CO SB 2 sb , and temperature (low and high), among others. After applying 200 µM of MEL, the leaf water, measured as the relative water content (RWC), leaf water content (LWC), and relative saturation deficit (RSD) increased by 1.9%, 100%, and 71.2%, respectively, during mild drought, and 17%, 133%, and 32% under severe drought. [Extracted from the article]

Within the Earth's terrestrial environment, evapotranspiration significantly contributes to the hydrological cycle, accounting for around 80% of the precipitation on landmasses to be reintroduced into the atmosphere. This mechanism profoundly affects the distribution and availability of surface water resources throughout the ecosystem. Gaining insight into the factors influencing local evapotranspiration fluctuations in response to varying climatic and vegetative scenarios is crucial for effective water management strategies and rehabilitating ecosystem resilience. To this end, our study focuses on the Jing River Basin in the Loess Plateau, utilizing multi-source remote sensing data and climatic information to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of evapotranspiration from 1984 to 2018 through the application of the Priestley–Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT-JPL) model. Our research results indicate a general ascending tendency in evapotranspiration across the investigated region, demonstrating a notably discernible escalation at a pace of approximately 3.11 mm/year (p < 0.01), with an annual vegetation ET volume reaching 533.88 mm. Across different vegetation types in the Jing River Basin between 1984 and 2018, the mean yearly ET was observed to be highest in forests (572.88 mm), followed by croplands (564.74 mm), shrublands (536.43 mm), and grasslands (503.42 mm). The leaf area index (LAI) demonstrated the strongest partial correlation with ET (r = 0.35) and contributed the most significantly to the variation in ET within the Jing River Basin (0.41 mm/year). Additionally, LAI indirectly influences ET through its impact on vapor pressure deficit (VPD), precipitation (Pre), and temperature (Temp). Radiation is found to govern most ET changes across the region, while radiation and precipitation notably affected ET by modulating air temperature. In summary, these radiant energy changes directly affect the evaporation rate and total evapotranspiration of surface water. It provides important support for understanding how evapotranspiration in the Jing River Basin is adjusting to climate change and increased vegetation cover. These findings serve as a theoretical foundation for devising sustainable vegetation restoration strategies to optimize water resource utilization within the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil degradation has led to a continuous decline in the quality of phaeozem, which is seriously threatening the foundation of national food security. Therefore, precisely evaluating the health status of phaeozem resources and their spatial and temporal variations are crucial for ensuring the effective implementation of soil degradation prevention and control strategies. In this study, soil data from 140 sites were collected, and eight physical and chemical indices (sand content, silt content, pedon thickness, organic matter, total potassium, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and pH) were utilized to assess the soil health status of phaeozem in Liaoning Province. The results showed the following: (1) The minimum data set is aligned with previous research findings and effectively mirrors the soil's health condition. (2) The substantial coefficients of variation observed for pedon thickness, sand content, and silt content across regions suggest notable differences, likely influenced by climatic variations, parent material differences, and anthropogenic activities. (3) The study area's average soil pH of 6.39 indicates an overall acidic nature, potentially attributed to intense soil weathering and suboptimal fertilization practices. (4) The soil health index (SHI) ranged from 0.33 to 0.91, with an average of 0.62, which indicates that the majority of the phaeozem in Liaoning Province are in a sub-healthy state (SHI < 0.6 = unhealthy, SHI 0.6–0.8 = sub-healthy, SHI ≥ 0.8 = healthy). These sub-healthy areas are primarily located in hills, mountains, and the Liaohe Plain, and are significantly impacted by rainfall and wind erosion. Meanwhile, unhealthy areas are concentrated in the south and center of the province, characterized by fragile ecological environments and challenging agricultural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern rice-growing region plays a crucial role in ensuring national food security in China. However, rice production in this area is often affected by unfavorable weather conditions such as rainy and dim days, which significantly impact rice yield. Therefore, we conducted two field experiments to explore and compare the effects of climate variations and simulated shading on rice yield and quality. The results indicated that (a) both interannual climate variation and simulated shading had adverse effects on rice yield and quality, (b) the impact of interannual climate variation on yield was less severe compared with simulated shading, but it had a more significant negative effect on rice quality, and (c) different cultivars/quality groups of rice exhibited variations in response to weak solar radiation, with high-quality rice being more susceptible. The findings suggest that in the production of high-quality rice, it is important to select cultivars that are resilient to interannual climate variation and to develop supporting cultivation techniques to cope with growing incidence of weakened solar radiation in the future. Breeders can try to tap into potential weak-light-resistance genes and cultivators can try to use different cultivation methods to determine the optimal water and fertilizer regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is estimated to substantially reduce crop yields in Sub-Saharan West Africa by 2050. Yet, a limited number of studies also suggest that several adaptation measures may mitigate the effects of climate change induced yield loss. In this paper, we used AquaCrop, a process-based model developed by the FAO (The Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy), to quantify the risk of climate change on several key cereal crops in the Niger Basin. The crops analyzed include maize, millet, and sorghum under rain fed cultivation systems in various agro-ecological zones within the Niger Basin. We also investigated several adaptation strategies, including changes in the sowing dates, soil nutrient status, and cultivar. Future climate change is estimated using nine ensemble bias-corrected climate model projection results under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 (RCP--Representative Concentration Pathway) emissions scenario at mid future time period, 2021/25-2050. The results show that on average, temperature had a larger effect on crop yields so that the increase in precipitation could still be a net loss of crop yield. Our simulated results showed that climate change effects on maize and sorghum yield would be mostly positive (2% to 6% increase) in the Southern Guinea savanna zone while at the Northern Guinea savanna zone it is mostly negative (2% to 20% decrease). The results show that at the Sahelian zone the projected changes in temperature and precipitation have little to no impact on millet yield for the future time period, 2021/25-2050. In all agro-ecological zones, increasing soil fertility from poor fertility to moderate, near optimal and optimal level significantly reversed the negative yield change respectively by over 20%, 70% and 180% for moderate fertility, near optimal fertility, and optimal fertility. Thus, management or adaptation factors, such as soil fertility, had a much larger effect on crop yield than the climatic change factors. These results provide actionable guidance on effective climate change adaptation strategies for rain fed agriculture in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate-smart agriculture is one of the most important actions for agricultural climate change adaptation, especially in Togo, a sub-Saharan African country with a fragile ecology and where agriculture is profoundly impacted by climate change. Using a multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) and a multinomial endogenous treatment effect (METE) approach, we conducted empirical research to identify the factors influencing the adoption decisions of climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAPs) and their impact on household food security among smallholder farmers in Togo. The findings of this study revealed that the adoption of CSAPs by farmers is influenced by a range of factors, such as age, marital status, the household head's gender, engagement in off-farm activities, level of education, farm size, agroecological zone, regional location, land ownership, distance between homestead and farm, access to credit, the presence of agricultural associations and cooperatives, and access to extension agents. On the one hand, the MESR analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between the number of adopted CSAPs and households' food consumption score. Similarly, greater adoption of CSAPs resulted in a significant reduction in the food insecurity experience scale. On the other hand, the METE model portrayed an increase in acceptable food consumption when households adopted up to three CSAPs. Likewise, it significantly alleviated severe food insecurity. Further results based on the propensity score matching technique showed that the adoption of a crop rotation system, utilization of improved varieties of seeds, plant protection products, inorganic fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and irrigation improved adopters' food consumption scores while reducing their level of food insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasslands have been increasingly impacted by human activities, gradually becoming one of the most threatened ecosystems globally. Advanced geographic information technology and remote sensing techniques allow for a fresh perspective on studying the response of the grassland degradation index ( G D I ) to climate change. This study utilized remote sensing image data of grasslands to calculate the vegetation coverage and derive the G D I for five grassland regions of China from 2001 to 2019. The results indicate that the national degradation status of grasslands remained at a level of mild degradation. The increasing trend of the G D I in some regions was effectively inhibited by regional climate change, especially in the Northeastern and Northern Plain–Mountain–Hill Grassland regions, where the G D I showed a continuous decreasing trend. G D I was strongly correlated with atmospheric pressure, precipitation, temperature, and wind speed. In the arid northern region, the increasing precipitation and decreasing temperatures predominantly contributed to the depressed G D I . In the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Grassland region, the instability of the G D I is attributed to fluctuating atmospheric pressure, with a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.5 to 0.8. Our findings underscore the importance of meteorological factors to evaluate and forecast grassland ecosystem stability. This understanding is vital for developing informed conservation and management strategies to address current and future climate challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most crop species are cultivated in nutrient-deficient soils, in combination with other challenging constraints that are exacerbated by the current climate changes. The significance of micronutrient shortage in stress management is often underappreciated, although their deficiency restricts both plant growth and resistance to abiotic stresses and diseases. While the application of nutrients to growing plants is a potential strategy to improve plant resistance to abiotic stresses, seed nutrient status may also play a role in crop stress tolerance as a storage and accumulation site of nutrients. To avoid hidden hunger problems, developing countries need to increase domestic cereal production, enhance their resilience to extreme weather events, and improve their nutritional status and quality. Here, we analyze the accumulated knowledge about the effects of nutri-priming in cereal crop species with a focus on mechanisms of application and stress tolerance, keeping in mind the risk of crop damage mostly caused by global climate change, which is driving an alarming increase in the frequency and intensity of abiotic stresses. We also propose new approaches to food production, which may be promising solutions for global warming, emerging diseases, and geopolitical conflicts recognized as major drivers of food insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) forage production may be shifting towards the autumn–spring season, or in cooler environments, due to warmer and drier summers in Mediterranean Europe. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of lucerne cultivars with varying winter activity ratings (WAR) and hardiness in divergent environments of Greece: a cool highland versus a warm lowland. Highlywinter-active (HWA) cultivars were compared to semi-winter-active (SWA) ones for dry matter (DM) yield, seasonal harvest ratios, quality, and agronomic parameters. The SWA cultivars exhibited twice as many overwintered plants and higher summer yields, and were more productive (by 10.4%) in the cooler site. Conversely, HWA cultivars showed enhanced autumn yields and greater productivity (by 10.5%) in the warmer site. Notably, stability analyses revealed trade-offs between productivity and stability, with the most stable cultivar showing lower productivity (by 5.3–5.5%). Additionally, SWA cultivars exhibited higher crude protein content. Plant height and node number correlated with yields in the cool site but not in the warm, underscoring their effectiveness as indirect indicators in marginal environments. Outstanding temperature-specific cultivar responses fully justify the negative relation between winter activity and hardiness regarding productivity. This emphasizes the importance of matching cultivar winter activity and hardiness with specific microenvironments. Region-specific early screening could target the decoupling of the association between low winter activity and increased hardiness, enabling the optimization of cultivars for both traits, while interregional advanced line testing could capitalize on stability and resilience to address the challenges of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global human population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, increasing the demand for food and fiber, but also raising concerns about the environmental impact of agricultural production scaled to meet their needs. Silvopastures—integrated tree–forage–livestock systems—have emerged as a viable practice to meet the required productivity and environmental stewardship outcomes. This review consolidates the extensive research on silvopasture practices in the United States and highlights the benefits of these systems. A comprehensive literature search across databases such as ScienceDirect and Google Scholar revealed 152 publications on silvopastures in the United States since 2000, indicating growing interest. These studies have primarily focused on the impacts of silvopastures on livestock welfare and productivity, forage production and composition, soil health and nutrient dynamics, and socio-economic factors. Geographical distribution analysis indicated that the research is more focused in the Southeastern United States, with Florida, Virginia, Alabama, Missouri, and Arkansas being the top five contributing states. The review also offers insights into the tree and forage species used across these states and discusses the challenges to silvopasture adoption among producers and land managers while exploring future prospects. This review may be used as a resource for understanding the multifaceted dimensions of silvopasture adoption, providing insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron isotope compositions, along with the partial extraction of iron in its various forms, can be utilized to investigate the complex interplay of iron migration and transformation with respect to iron isotope patterns. This study investigated the iron composition of a typical loess-paleosol sequence in Northeast China and aimed to understand the influence of iron migration and transformation of the typical loess-paleosol sequence on iron isotopes and environmental and climatic changes that occurred in the region over time by analyzing the distribution and characteristics of iron compositions in sedimentary layers. Samples were collected from Chaoyang in Northeast China, and the iron isotopic composition was analyzed using the multi-receiver inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). The findings revealed depth-dependent variations in the content of different iron forms, reflecting paleoclimatic shifts primarily through pedogenic transformation processes. Notably, iron migration within the section was observed to be limited. The variations in the reddening index and magnetic susceptibility of the loess-paleosol were primarily influenced by the presence of free iron (Fed), exhibiting a range of colors from yellow to red-yellow and red. The δ56Fe values for loess and paleosols ranged from 0.097 ± 0.035‰ to 0.167 ± 0.010‰, with an average of 0.133 ± 0.024‰ and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 15.66% at the stratum scale. These values indicated a systematic enrichment of heavy iron isotopes and a significant negative correlation with the slightly fluctuating total iron content. Specifically, our analysis highlighted distinct differences in δ56Fe values between paleosol (0.126 ± 0.024‰) and loess (0.146 ± 0.021‰). The δ56Fe in Fed was negative, averaging −0.101 ± 0.022‰, while the δ56Fe in silicate-bound iron was positive, averaging 0.156 ± 0.032‰. Intense pedogenesis, driven by warm and wet climates, facilitated iron transformations and migrations, resulting in the accumulation of light iron isotopes in the paleosols. These transformations and migrations were predominantly observed in microdomains characterized by iron depletions and concentrations, as reflected in the profile morphologies. However, the limited iron transformations and migrations did not result in significant Fe redistribution within the soil section, as evidenced by the limited variations in δ56Fe with soil depth at the stratum scale. Sampling from the stratum or pedogenic horizon could potentially create the illusion of the minimal fractionation of iron isotopes within the sequence. Therefore, a detailed examination of the iron isotope composition in the micro-domains of the loess-paleosol sequence is crucial to elucidate the fractionation processes and mechanisms of iron isotopes during the formation of these sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document, titled "Climate Change and Agriculture—Sustainable Plant Production," discusses the impact of climate change on plant growth and agricultural production. It highlights how climate change can affect the growing season, growth rate, and distribution of plants. While climate change can extend the growing season and promote crop photosynthesis, it can also lead to imbalanced nutrient absorption, hinder photosynthesis, and affect crop yields. Irregular precipitation patterns and extreme weather events can cause hypoxia and nutrient loss in plant roots, damage plants directly, and increase the range of diseases and pests. Climate change also affects soil moisture, temperature, microbial activity, nutrient cycling, and quality, which in turn affects plant growth. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding the mechanisms through which climate change impacts plants and agriculture and taking adaptive measures to promote sustainable agricultural development. The document also introduces a special issue of the journal Agronomy, which focuses on the interaction between climate change and agriculture and includes research on crops, soils, and adaptation strategies. The research covers topics such as the impact of temperature/climate change on rice, wheat, and olive oil; the adaptation strategies of crops; the impact of climate change on soil nutrient cycling; and the spatial-temporal characteristics of vegetation. The document provides summaries of some of the articles included in the special issue, which discuss topics such as the stoichiometric relationship of soil nutrients, the impact of climate warming and aridification on vegetation, the impact of heat stress on rice growth, the physiological characteristics [Extracted from the article]

Drought poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, particularly affecting economic crops like tomatoes. To address this challenge, various alternatives have been explored, including the use of elicitors or biostimulants such as salicylic acid (SA). This study aims to assess the stimulatory action of SA in alleviating drought stress in tomato plants under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was designed with two main factors: water availability (controlled versus drought) and the foliar application of SA at four different concentrations ranging from 100 to 250 mg L−1. The application of SA, particularly at a concentration of 250 mg L−1, showed promising results in mitigating the adverse effects of drought stress followed by 200 mg L−1. This was evidenced by the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT). Gene expression analysis revealed optimal APX expression with SA application at concentrations of 200 mg L−1 or 250 mg L−1. Additionally, the application of SA at 250 mg L−1 led to a high accumulation of bioactive compounds without compromising yield. Furthermore, SA application positively influenced both shoot and root weights, with the highest values observed at a concentration of 250 mg L−1. While SA is known to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stress, further research is needed to fully elucidate its biochemical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms in supporting plant tolerance to drought stress. Utilizing salicylic acid can help growers mitigate environmental stresses, enhancing tomato crop yield and quality. Integrating SA treatments into agriculture offers a sustainable alternative elicitor for ensuring food security under challenging climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of agricultural water requirements under future climate projections has received increasing attention in recent decades. The agriculture pattern of the semi-arid North China Plain is a maize–wheat rotation system in which sufficient irrigation is required to maintain production. In this study, the effects of future climate scenarios on the net irrigation requirement of the maize–wheat rotation system were assessed using the Food and Agriculture Organization crop growth model—AquaCrop. First, the baseline net irrigation requirement over the study region was obtained through AquaCrop simulation under ERA5-Land reanalysis from 2011 to 2020. In addition, the AquaCrop model was used to predict irrigation requirements in future scenarios (2021–2050) under the extreme-emission scenario of the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway SSP 5-8.5 (SSP 5-8.5). Finally, the predicted irrigation amount for maize and wheat during the period 2021–2050 under SSP 5-8.5 was compared with the baseline to assess the interannual change in irrigation water requirement. Results reveal significant agreement between the AquaCrop-derived daily soil moisture (SM) and a reference SM product with unbiased root mean square differences of 0.03 m3/m3 and 0.04 m3/m3 over maize and wheat, respectively. Furthermore, the median net irrigation requirement is expected to increase by approximately 107 mm (21%) to guarantee optimum yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, and its production is challenged by global climate change and a shortage of resources. The root system plays a vital role in uptaking water and nutrients and sensing soil environmental signals, and it has great potential to improve the final yield and stress tolerance of wheat. In order to further explore the genes regulating root development, this study focused on qRS-6D, located on chromosome 6D and spanning from 462,701,391 to 465,068,943, which was significantly associated with the total root length, root volume, root surface, and root fresh weight in our previous GWAS analysis. Firstly, its genetic effects were validated using an F6 segregating population by comparing the root-related traits of homologous lines harboring the alternative haplotypes of this QTL. Then, the number of causal genes of this QTL was narrowed down to four with a transcriptome-wide association study. Additionally, qRS-6D has been demonstrated to have genetic effects on several yield- (kernel length, kernel width, and thousand-kernel weight) and plant structure-related traits (plant height, peduncle length, total tiller number, productive tiller number, flag leaf length, and flag leaf angle). Relatively, the frequency of the favorable haplotype increased with the wheat breeding practice. This study provides a reliable genetic locus to improve root development and structure and evaluate its application potential in wheat breeding improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among foods protected by the European Union with the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) mark, several ecotypes of "Fagioli di Sarconi" common beans, typical legumes of Basilicata Region, are included. This work aimed to conduct a survey of seed-borne pathogens isolated from "Ciuoto" and "Cannellino rosso", ecotypes of "Fagioli di Sarconi" common beans, in two years and cultivation areas of the National Park of the Agri Valley, for identifying resistant and climatic changes well-adapted genotypes. Three validated methods were used for the seed-borne pathogens screening. Eighteen fungi were differently found for ecotype and year of observation by the washing test. Saprophyte contaminants pathogens isolated and detected by the blotter test were strongly reduced by 1% sodium hypochlorite treatment. Using the between paper test, specific for detecting Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, the presence of this pathogen for both ecotypes, years and cultivation areas, and also some bacteria were individuated. Therefore, area-, environment- and ecotype-dependent differences were revealed, probably also caused by a different polyphenolic content and thickness of integument of two ecotypes. This study represents a baseline information for further studies, development of forecasting models and management of seed-borne diseases associated with common beans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interconnectedness between climate change and development has generated an increasing interest amongst development organisations to integrate adaptation into government rural development plans in a way that effectively increases resilience at a local level. However, the nature of climate change resilience is widely debated in the literature, and there is a knowledge gap regarding the best way to address adaptation at the interface with development objectives as part of mainstreaming. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap via a case study of a community-based, Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) project in Vietnam. A case study approach was applied with fieldwork at one project site, complemented by semi-structured interviews with government stakeholders, key experts, and project leaders of related projects. The analysis identifies five key factors that enhance rural resilience in a smallholder agricultural context: (i) engaging local governments as partners, (ii) considering broader landscape issues such as markets, (iii) providing farmers with support to facilitate adoption of CSA practices, (iv) fostering community capacity building, and (v) promoting adaptive management and scenario planning to deal with uncertainty. The paper concludes that resilience is multidimensional and not solely in line with any one of the approaches dominant in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is aimed at evaluating the factors affecting the concurrent adoption of two risk coping strategies among hybrid maize farmers, namely income diversification supplemented with off-farm work and contract farming in the wake of changing climatic conditions. Climatic changes and food insecurity at the national level have emerged as key risk elements for hybrid maize production due to varying economic conditions. The present paper addresses these risks by examining various sources of risks faced by hybrid maize farmers and develops ideas to tackle these risks. Bivariate and multinomial probit models were employed to analyze numerous factors that influence farmers' choice of the simultaneous adoption of income diversification (both on and off the farm) and contract farming at the farm level. The results reveal that hybrid maize farmers' socioeconomic attributes significantly affect their adoption of risk coping tools. Similarly, the climatic, economic (price-related), biological, and financial risk perceptions and risk preference significantly influence the utilization of risk coping strategies in maize production. These outcomes extend our understanding of farmers' risk preferences and provide parameters for policymakers to forestall diverse risk sources associated with hybrid maize production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changing global climate, characterized by rising surface air temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and heightened occurrences of extreme weather events, is anticipated to profoundly impact the environment, economy, and society worldwide. This impact is particularly acute in African nations like Angola, where crucial sectors, such as agriculture, rely heavily on climate variability and exhibit limited adaptive capacity. Given that the majority of Angola's agriculture is rain-fed and serves as a vital source of livelihood for the populace, the country is especially vulnerable to climate change, particularly in its southern region. Climate change has caused severe damage in Angola, especially in the southern part of the country, where the worst droughts in decades have affected over 3.81 million people, resulting in food and water shortages. Between 2005 and 2017, climate-related disasters cost the country about 1.2 billion US dollars, further exacerbating the economic and social challenges faced by the population. This study presents a systematic review of the effects of climate change on agriculture in Angola, with a focus on the southern region. Employing the PRISMA2020 methodology, the review examined 431 documents from databases such as Scopus and Web Science, spanning from 1996 to 2023, with 63 meeting inclusion criteria. The review reveals a paucity of research on the short and long-term impacts of climate change on Angolan agriculture. Projections indicate a rise in temperatures and a general decrease in precipitation, with the southern region experiencing a more pronounced decline. Agricultural productivity may suffer significantly, with models suggesting a potential 7% reduction by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paw San Hmwe (PSH) is an indigenous rice variety from Myanmar with a good taste, a pleasant fragrance, and excellent elongation ability during cooking. However, its low yield potential and strong photoperiod sensitivity reduce its productivity, and it is vulnerable to climate changes during growth. To improve the photoperiod insensitivity, yield, and plant stature of PSH, the high-yield genes Grain number 1a (Gn1a) and Wealthy Farmer's Panicle (WFP), together with the photoperiod insensitivity trait, were introgressed into PSH via marker-assisted backcross breeding and phenotype selection. For the photoperiod insensitivity trait, phenotypic selection was performed under long-day conditions during the dry season. After foreground selection of Gn1a and WFP via simple sequence repeat genotyping, genotyping-by-sequencing was conducted to validate the introgression of target genes and determine the recurrent parent genome recovery of the selected lines. The improved lines were insensitive to photoperiod, and the Gn1a and WFP introgression lines showed significantly higher numbers of primary panicle branches and spikelets per panicle than the recurrent parent, with comparative similarity in cooking and eating qualities. This study successfully improved PSH by decreasing its photoperiod sensitivity and introducing high-yield genes via marker-assisted selection. The developed lines can be used for crop rotation and double-season cropping of better-quality rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic products in plant production and protection help farmers increase crop production, enhance food quality, and reduce global water use and their environmental footprint. Simultaneously, plastic has emerged as a critical ecological issue in recent years, and its pollution has significantly impacted soil, water, and plants. Thus, this review examines the multifaceted problems of plastic pollution in agriculture as a risk to food security, the ecosystem, and the environment. The study's objective was to review and present the most recent information on using different plastic products in agriculture, the sources of plastic pollution, the advantages and drawbacks of using plastic products, and the strategies for mitigating plastic pollution in agriculture. Furthermore, after examining current plastic applications, benefits, adverse effects, and risks to soil, plants, and the environment, we addressed the requirements for technological advancements, regulations, and social processes that could contribute to mitigating plastic pollution in our ecosystems. We identified different pathways toward more sustainable use of plastics in agriculture and discussed future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding nine billion people by 2050 will be a challenge due to climate change. There is a significant portion of abandoned and unused marginal lands across the nation and in the Puglia region, in Southern Italy. Innovative techniques and practices in the frame of climate-smart agriculture can help rehabilitate marginal lands into productive and profitable areas. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on marginal areas in Puglia, responding to the lack of information in this context and evaluate their revitalization potential. We systematically reviewed the literature on unused/marginal areas and identified related studies dealing with different types of marginal areas and their potential for sustainable rural development. Marginal areas in Puglia represent a range of historical rural landscapes that support biodiversity, the economy, and ecological services. However, the analysis of the current situation in Puglia's marginal areas indicates a lack of infrastructure and scarce resources, which led to land abandonment and the migration of local residents, resulting in the deterioration of the ecological system. Therefore, establishing a sustainable policy is crucial for preserving the local heritage and economy of the region. However, policymakers should carefully study the challenges and opportunities arising from local contexts before embarking on ambitious place-based innovation strategies. The analysis indicates that both biophysical and socio-economic factors are strategic elements for improving the revitalization potential of marginal areas for sustainable development. This review provides useful information regarding the revitalization potential of marginal areas for food, feed, and non-food production, which is crucial in the implementation of a sustainable development strategy for rural communities in Puglia but can also be applied to similar areas in other countries. However, the success of the sustainable development strategy in Puglia's marginal areas should consider the vital function of farmers' self-organization and social capital as key factors in the adoption of agricultural innovations for the revitalization of these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice provides ~20% of human dietary energy and, for many people, a similar share of their protein. Rice cultivation, however, produces significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, comparable to those from the aviation sector. The main GHG from rice production is methane, mostly a result of conventional rice cultivation (CRC) keeping rice fields continuously flooded during the crop cycle. There is extensive evidence that alternate wetting and drying (AWD) of rice fields substantially reduces methane emissions. AWD is one component of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an agroecological approach to the management of plants, water, soil, and nutrients. This article reviews field studies measuring GHG emissions associated with the adoption of AWD and SRI. The review confirms that both AWD and SRI offer substantial reductions in methane emissions per hectare compared with CRC. These benefits are, however, partly offset by increases in emissions of nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. The studies also show that SRI (but not AWD) improves yield and therefore further reduces GHG emissions per kg of rice. The review concludes that while both AWD and SRI substantially reduce emissions per hectare and per kilogram of rice, SRI can simultaneously contribute to food security while addressing the drivers of climate change. Further investigation of carbon emissions and sequestration under different rice cultivation methods is needed to strengthen the evidence base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica [L.] P. Beauv.) is a climate-change-ready crop, and it is crucial for predicting the impact of ecological factors on grain quality. In this study, multivariate statistical analysis was used to explore the relationship between ecological factors and the key nutritional quality of Jingu 21 from twelve production areas. The results showed that the crude fat and amylopectin content of foxtail millets showed a downward trend from south to north. The nutritional quality was significantly affected by geographical, climatic, and soil factors, and the foxtail millet produced in geographically close areas was extremely similar in nutritional quality. Most nutritional quality indicators of Jingu 21 had a strong correlation with the latitude and climatic factors such as average temperature, diurnal temperature range, and average precipitation, while the content of mineral elements was greatly affected by soil factors. Moreover, higher average precipitation in the jointing, booting–heading, and heading stages, a higher average temperature, and a lower diurnal temperature range in the heading and grain-filling stages are conducive to the establishment of nutritional quality. The findings could facilitate the rational distribution of high-quality foxtail millets under global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroclimatic regionalization is an effective way to utilize agricultural climate resources in a reasonable manner. Accurate and objective agroclimatic regionalization plays a great directive role in ecological layout and decision support for agriculture farming. The purpose of this article was to investigate the influence of climate change on agroclimatic regions in China. Following the same regionalization principle concept as the theory and techniques of agroclimatic regionalization, three agroclimatic regions, the Tibetan High Cold Region (THCR), Northwest Arid Region (NAR), and Eastern Monsoon Region (EMR) were identified in China. The changes in the three agroclimatic regions were analyzed from 1961 to 2020 in the past and from 2006 to 2060 in the future. Future changes in agroclimatic regions were estimated from 2006 to 2030 and from 2031 to 2060 under scenarios RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 for greenhouse gas emissions. The borders of agoclimatic regions had changed as a result of global climate warming and precipitation variability. There was a surplus in the geographical displacement and range of agroclimatic region borders in 1991 to 2020, especially when compared to those in 1961–1990. The TCHR exhibited significant spatial variation, with its northeast corner shifting nearly 170 km to the southwest. In the future, the area ratio of the THCR will be 26% by 2031–2060 under the RCP8.5 scenario, with the highest decline (1% compared to that in the reference period of 1981–2005), while under the RCP4.5 and RCP2.6 scenarios it will stabilize the area ratio at 27%. The eastern boundary of the NAR will migrate south or east, while the center boundary will rise northward. Under all three climatic scenarios, the area ratio will be 25% (down 1%). The range of the EMR will expand. The area ratio of the EMR will increase by 1% under the RCP2.6 and RCP4.5 scenarios and by 2% under the RCP8.5 scenario. Overall, our study may facilitate an in-depth understanding of agroclimatic regions changes and thus provide a scientific reference for the distribution of agricultural production and sustainable development under climate change in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document, titled "Predictions and Estimations in Agricultural Production under a Changing Climate," discusses the challenges that agriculture faces in the 21st century due to climate change. It emphasizes the importance of adapting agricultural practices to maintain profitability and food production. The document highlights various techniques, such as agroecology and precision farming, that can help mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture. It also presents several research articles that explore prediction and estimation tools in agriculture, including predicting corn yield, rice cultivation, pest forecasting, and estimating the impact of climate change on crop yields. The document concludes that implementing these research methods can aid in the adaptation of agriculture to climate change. [Extracted from the article]

Even though climate change is having an increasing impact on tea plants, systematic reviews on the impact of climate change on the tea system are scarce. This review was undertaken to assess and synthesize the knowledge around the impacts of current and future climate on yield, quality, and climate suitability for tea; the historical roots and the most influential papers on the aforementioned topics; and the key adaptation and mitigation strategies that are practiced in tea fields. Our findings show that a large number of studies have focused on the impact of climate change on tea quality, followed by tea yield, while a smaller number of studies have concentrated on climate suitability. Three pronounced reference peaks found in Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RYPS) represent the most significant papers associated with the yield, quality, and climate suitability for tea. Tea yield increases with elevated CO2 levels, but this increment could be substantially affected by an increasing temperature. Other climatic factors are uneven rainfall, extreme weather events, and climate-driven abiotic stressors. An altered climate presents both advantages and disadvantages for tea quality due to the uncertainty of the concentrations of biochemicals in tea leaves. Climate change creates losses, gains, and shifts of climate suitability for tea habitats. Further studies are required in order to fill the knowledge gaps identified through the present review, such as an investigation of the interaction between the tea plant and multiple environmental factors that mimic real-world conditions and then studies on its impact on the tea system, as well as the design of ensemble modeling approaches to predict climate suitability for tea. Finally, we outline multifaceted and evidence-based adaptive and mitigation strategies that can be implemented in tea fields to alleviate the undesirable impacts of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]