Carbon and Nitrogen in Mitigating and Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change

As climate change intensifies, extreme weather events are increasingly threatening crop yields. While agricultural systems are sources of greenhouse gas emissions, they also present opportunities for climate change mitigation and adaptation. A key aspect of addressing these challenges lies in improving the cycling of carbon and nitrogen within agricultural systems. Effective management of these elements can increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are essential for food security and the resilience of agroecosystems.

This Research Topic invites contributions that focus on sustainable agricultural practices designed to reduce emissions—especially of nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide—and increase carbon storage in soils and plants. We aim to explore innovative strategies and technologies that improve nitrogen use efficiency and enhance carbon sequestration in crop production. Developing these practices can help build more resilient systems that mitigate the impacts of climate change while ensuring food production.

We particularly welcome submissions of original research articles, review articles, and case studies on the following themes:

- Nitrogen Management: Practices and technologies that enhance nitrogen use efficiency, both from organic and synthetic fertilizers, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

- Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Approaches such as no-till farming, minimum tillage, agroforestry, perennial crops, and cover cropping, which promote carbon sequestration in soils and plants.

- Techniques: Techniques for measuring, monitoring, and verifying soil carbon storage, as well as assessing the impacts of various management practices.

- Plant Varieties: The selection and development of plant varieties with higher carbon storage potential and lower nitrogen demand.

- Climate-Resilient Systems: Production systems that reduce either carbon and nitrogen footprints, while maintaining or enhancing productivity in the face of climate challenges.

- Conservation and Natural Farming: Practices that conserve natural resources and reduce the overall carbon and nitrogen footprints of agricultural operations.

This Research Topic will focus on crop production systems, excluding studies on livestock or modelling, to provide insights and practical solutions for mitigating climate impacts on agriculture.

Article types and fees

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

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

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

Article types

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

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Climate Change Mitigation, Greenhouse Gas Emission, Carbon Sequestration, Low Carbon Agri-culture, Conservation Farming, Nitrogen cycling, Carbon cycling

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.