Abiotic stress is a major cause of the declining crop yield worldwide, especially in tropical agricultural areas. Meeting the global food demand has become a serious challenge, especially in tropical areas, because of soil acidity, Al and Fe toxicity, drought and heat stress, and climate change. In this article, we reviewed several research and review papers from Google Scholar to list the different solutions available for the mitigation of abiotic stress, especially in tropical regions where several major crops, such as maize, sorghum, wheat, rice, soybean, and millet, are affected by abiotic stress and fertilizer input. In particular, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been affected by the low use of fertilizers owing to their high cost. Therefore, soil and plant researchers and farmers have developed many techniques to mitigate the effects of stress and improve the crop yield based on the agroecological zone and crop type. Nutrient management using chemical fertilizers alone or in combination with organic crops is a strategy recommended to cope with abiotic stress and increase the crop yield, particularly in developing countries. Notably, integrated soil fertility management has been effective in semi-arid areas under drought and heat stress and in subhumid and humid areas with high soil acidity and Fe toxicity in Africa. Recent advances in the molecular physiology of various crops considered a staple food in SSA have facilitated the breeding of transgenic tolerant plants with high yield. However, the feasibility and implementation of this technique in the African continent and most tropical developing countries are major issues that can be solved via adequate subsidies and support to farmers. This review can aid in the development of novel strategies to decrease hunger and food insecurity in SSA.

Aluminum (Al³⁺) toxicity in rice plants is a significant concern in acidic soils, particularly in Southeast Asia, where large areas of arable land are affected. This is an environmental and agricultural hazard that severely reduces rice yields, leading to food scarcity, as rice is the dietary food of half of the world’s population. The study highlights current knowledge of Al³⁺ interactions with growth-restricting factors, adaptive mechanisms in rice, and progress in identifying Al³⁺ tolerance genes. Al³⁺-induced organic acid exudation, such as citrate and malate mediated by OsFRDL4, involves complex signaling cascade with phytohormones, yet transmembrane signaling remains poorly understood. We describe the regulation of novel genes such as ART1, Nrat1, STAR1 and STAR2 at transcriptional level to reveal their role in Al³⁺ tolerance. Additionally, microbial interactions in acidic soils and the contribution of root border cells to Al³⁺ tolerance are discussed. While many QTLs associated with Al³⁺ tolerance have been mapped across rice populations, candidate gene identification and functional validation are still lacking. Integrating genomic, physiological, and microbial insights will be critical for advancing rice breeding programs aimed at enhancing Al³⁺ tolerance and ensuring sustainable production in acidic soils.