Climate change is among the most crucial concerns of the world. It is a serious threat to the global agriculture and its overall impact on global agriculture is yet not clear. A rise of 2.5-4.5◦C is expected in the global temperature until the end of 21st century. The amount of greenhouse gases particularly CO2 is increasing at an alarming rate and is enhancing the plant photosynthesis and productivity. However, this increase in productivity is counteract by the more negative effects of climate change on agriculture like increased evapotranspiration, drought, floods, changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall, higher pest infestations and more irrigation demand. Climate change also affects the nutrients availability and efficiency by influencing microbial activities and population in the soil. Therefore, adaptation of agriculture sector to the changing climate is indispensable because of its sensitivity and size. This review is aimed to document the possible impacts of climate change on agriculture, its causes and future projections. Some strategies are also advised to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases, to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on agriculture and to make new policies keeping in view their broader consequences on agriculture.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a promising oilseed crop with potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors. Understanding the oil content and fatty acid composition of safflower germplasm is crucial for breeding programs aimed at enhancing its agronomic and nutritional traits. This study assessed the oil content and fatty acid composition in 87 safflower accessions. Significant variations were observed, with the oil content ranging from 36.88% to 18.44%. Genotype Egypt 1 exhibited the highest oil content. Among fatty acids, China 1 had the highest myristic acid (0.170%) content, while Remzibey had the lowest (0.100%). Palmitic acid ranged from 6.13% to 8.20%, with Egypt 3 and Bangladesh 3 at the extremes. For palmitoleic acid, Jordan 5 had the highest content (0.53%) and Bangladesh 2/Portugal 2 the lowest (0.03%). Linoleic acid varied from 37.7% (China 7) to 77.73% (Iran 1). A correlation analysis indicated strong positive correlations between protein and oil content, as well as between palmitic and myristic acids, and between palmitic and linoleic acids. Conversely, protein exhibited highly negative correlations with myristic, palmitic, and palmitoleic acids. The protein percentage showed a high heritability but a low genetic advance, while palmitic acid, oil percentage, stearic acid, linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and oleic acid showed a high heritability and a moderate genetic advance as a percentage of the mean. These findings can aid in developing cultivars with enhanced fatty acids, oil quality, and nutritional value, facilitating sustainable production for a wide range of industrial applications.

The study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity of 41 sweet sorghum genotypes from seven countries for key biofuel-related traits over two sorghum growing seasons (2020 and 2021) in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment. Genotypes were assessed for key bioethanol production traits such as fresh stalk yield (FSY), juice yield (JY), Brix, dry biomass yield (DBY), theoretical juice ethanol yield (JEY), theoretical lignocellulosic ethanol yield (LEY), theoretical total ethanol yield (TEY), as well as their potential for solid biofuel production, measured through bagasse ash, nitrogen, and moisture content. Significant variations were observed among genotypes across most traits, analyzed using analysis of variance, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis, identifying DBY, LEY, and TEY as the primary contributors to overall genetic variation. Cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into five distinct clusters, highlighting the diversity in biofuel-related traits. The correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between traits such as FSY, DBY, and TEY, indicating that higher biomass production directly enhances ethanol output. Strong positive correlations between FSY and TEY underscore the importance of biomass yield in maximizing ethanol production. However, traits like bagasse ash and nitrogen contents, which were negatively correlated with JEY, LEY, and TEY, present challenges in improving biomass combustion quality. The study concludes that certain genotypes, particularly ‘Yellow Bonnet’ and ‘IS 3556’, exhibited strong potential for biofuel production in semi-arid Mediterranean climates where water scarcity and high temperature favor genotypes with high biomass and sugar yields. These genotypes demonstrated high JEYs, LEYs, and TEYs, suggesting their adaptability to the unique environmental stresses of this region, making them good candidates for sustainable biofuel production in similar climates.

Nature-based solutions play an essential role in enhancing urban soil hydrology by improving water retention properties, reducing surface runoff, and improving water infiltration. This bibliometric analysis study reviewed the literature and identified the current trends in research related to nature-based solutions in urban soil hydrology. The study has the potential to highlight current research areas and future hot topics in this specific field. The research used the Scopus database to collect published articles from 1973 to 2023. The keywords (“trees” OR “vegetation” OR “green infrastructure” OR “blue green infrastructure” OR “greenery” OR “nature-based solutions” AND “hydrolog*” AND “urban” OR “city” OR “soil”) were searched in the Scopus database, and 13,276 articles were retrieved. The obtained publications were analyzed for bibliometric analysis by using Bibliometrix (v4.3.0) and VOSviewer (v1.6.20) software. The maximum number of publications (970) related to nature-based solutions and urban soil hydrology was published in 2023. Additionally, countries such as the United States and China published 54.2% of articles of the global research in the field of nature-based solutions and urban soil hydrology, with 36% from the USA and 18.2% of articles from China. The bibliometric analysis depicted that Beijing Normal University led this specific research field with 540 articles. The top country in terms of collaboration was the USA, with 26.17% as compared to the global countries. The most productive researcher identified was Jackson, T.J., as he had the highest number of publications, showing his considerable contribution to the field. Furthermore, the most frequent keywords used in this research area were hydrology, ecosystem services, urban hydrology, remote sensing, nature-based solutions, climate change, runoff, stormwater management, water quality, vegetation, green roof, bioretention, and land use. The early research trending topics in this field from 2015 to 2023 were remote sensing, soil moisture, climate change, drought, green infrastructure, machine learning, and nature-based solutions. The bibliometric analysis identified limited interdisciplinary research integrations, not using well-significant and standardized methodologies for the evaluation of urban soil hydrology, and under-representation of research from developing countries as current research gaps. Future research directions highlight advanced methods such as combining data-driven technologies with traditional hydrological approaches, and increasing international collaboration, specifically in developing nations, to address urban soil hydrological problems properly.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a globally significant crop with high economic and nutritional importance. Its productivity, however, relies heavily on nitrogen (N) inputs, often resulting in low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Enhancing NUE necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the biochemical and physiological mechanisms driving N uptake and utilization. The study evaluated the NUE heterosis of 7 inbred lines and their 12 hybrids under low and high N conditions during early vegetative growth. Significant genotypic variations across traits were analyzed using analysis of variance, principal component analysis, correlation, regression, and structural equation modeling. The key contributors to genetic variation included shoot dry weight, N accumulation, and NUE. Hybrids demonstrated enhanced root architecture, superior enzymatic activities of nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS), and improved morphological traits, photosynthetic efficiency, and N accumulation, resulting in greater biomass production, N accumulation, and NUE compared to inbred lines. Among hybrids, Zheng58 × PH4CV exhibited the highest NUE, driven by efficient N uptake, robust enzymatic activity, and substantial N accumulation. Nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE) correlated strongly with root traits such as activity (r = 0.80 ***), length (r = 0.73 ***), surface area (r = 0.67 ***), GS activity (r = 0.84 ***), and dry weight (r = 0.92). Similarly, nitrogen utilization efficiency (NutE) was positively correlated with shoot NR activity (r = 0.90 ***), shoot GS activity (r = 0.56 ***), leaf area (r = 0.73 ***), shoot dry weight (r = 0.82 ***), and shoot N accumulation (r = 0.55 ***), particularly under high N conditions. Based on key traits such as shoot dry weight, N accumulation, and NUE, hybrids Zheng58 × PH4CV, 444 × PH4CV, 444 × MO17, and B73 × MO17 emerged as N-efficient genotypes, confirmed by contrasting root systems, enhanced N metabolism, and superior NUE. These findings reveal the pivotal roles of root architecture and N metabolism in optimizing NUE, emphasizing the biochemical and physiological traits crucial for developing highly N-efficient maize hybrids.

Millets, including pearl millet, foxtail millet, and finger millet, among others, offer a complementary solution to traditional staple crops such as wheat, rice and maize, particularly in the context of climate change. Known for their resilience to heat, drought, and poor soil conditions, millets can be integrated into existing agricultural systems to enhance food security and nutritional diversity in regions increasingly affected by climate change. While millets may not replace staple crops, their cultivation alongside these staples provide several benefits, including improved nutritional outcomes and reduced environmental impact. Pearl millet, for instance, is rich in iron and zinc, addressing micronutrient deficiencies that are common in many developing regions. Finger millet’s high calcium content makes it a valuable addition to diets in areas with limited access to dairy. These grains thrive in marginal environments, contributing to more sustainable farming practices with a lower environmental footprint. Incorporating millets into agricultural systems can reduce dependency on water-intensive crops, lower the risk of crop failure, and provide a buffer against the impacts of climate change. By diversifying cropping systems, millets could help to stabilize food production and improve nutritional outcomes without displacing the critical role of traditional staples in global diets. To maximize the benefits of millets, efforts should focus on improving value chains, supporting smallholder farmers, and increasing consumer awareness. Moreover, targeted research and supportive policies are critical to unlocking their full potential and integrating them effectively into global food systems. As the world faces the dual challenges of climate change and malnutrition, millets offer a viable pathway to enhance resilience and sustainability in agriculture, complementing staple crops and enriching global food systems.