Physiological Growth of Crops in Saline-Alkali Land and Its New Quality Productive Control Methods

Soil salinization and alkalization pose significant global challenges, severely limiting the effective use of arable land and the improvement of agricultural productivity, which is critical for sustainable development. These saline-alkaline conditions inhibit plant growth through multiple mechanisms including osmotic stress, ion imbalance, toxic damage, and soil structure degradation, which collectively lead to decreased crop yields and lower food production. Globally, and especially in developing countries, the urgent challenge of meeting the increasing food production demands of a growing population emphasizes the need for improved agricultural practices on affected lands. Recent advances in soil reclamation technologies, such as microbial fertilizers and soil conditioners, have shown promise in enhancing soil quality, increasing efficiency, and boosting soil fertility, thus attracting significant attention for their potential in saline-alkaline agriculture.

This research topic aims to delve into the mechanisms by which saline-alkaline soils affect crop physiological growth and develops new methods for controlling yield and quality. It focuses on the physiological responses of crops to saline-alkaline stress, including root plasticity, the soil microenvironment, microbial communities, and enzyme activity. Through detailed mechanistic studies at the chemical, biochemical, molecular, and microbiological levels, this work aims to provide scientific evidence and technical support for the sustainable use of saline-alkaline soils and the improvement of crop yield and quality.

The scope of this Research Topic includes all article types accepted in Frontiers in Plant Science, targeting a range of dynamic and significant themes:

• Crop Physiological Responses to Saline-Alkaline Stress: Explorations of the effects of saline-alkaline stress on crop growth and development, with an emphasis on ion toxicity, membrane system damage, and osmotic stress, alongside studies on root plasticity and its effectiveness in stress adaptation.

• Soil Microenvironment and Microbial Ecology: Investigations into how soil microenvironment factors (such as pH and salinity) affect crop growth, and the diversity, function, and ecological roles of microbial communities within saline-alkali soils.

• Saline-Alkaline Soil Reclamation Mechanisms and Technologies: Research into chemical, biochemical, molecular, and microbiological soil reclamation mechanisms, evaluating new and existing technologies such as microbial fertilizers, soil conditioners, and magnetized water, and their impacts on crop yield and quality.

• Interaction between Soil Water and Salt Movement: Studies assessing how water and salt dynamics in the root zone impact crop growth under saline conditions.

• Methods for Soil Water and Salt Regulation: Evaluations of strategies like mulched drip irrigation or soil conditioner applications, and their effectiveness under saline-alkali conditions.

Keywords: Saline-Alkaline Soil Reclamation, Crop Physiological Responses, Soil Microenvironment, Crop Yield and Quality Improvement, Agricultural Sustainability

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.