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Global trends of cropland phosphorus use and sustainability challenges

Author

Listed:
  • T. Zou

    (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science)

  • X. Zhang

    (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science)

  • E. A. Davidson

    (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science)

Abstract

To meet the growing food demand while addressing the multiple challenges of exacerbating phosphorus (P) pollution and depleting P rock reserves1–15, P use efficiency (PUE, the ratio of productive P output to P input in a defined system) in crop production needs to be improved. Although many efforts have been devoted to improving nutrient management practices on farms, few studies have examined the historical trajectories of PUE and their socioeconomic and agronomic drivers on a national scale1,2,6,7,11,16,17. Here we present a database of the P budget (the input and output of the crop production system) and PUE by country and by crop type for 1961–2019, and examine the substantial contribution of several drivers for PUE, such as economic development stages and crop portfolios. To address the P management challenges, we found that global PUE in crop production must increase to 68–81%, and recent trends indicate some meaningful progress towards this goal. However, P management challenges and opportunities in croplands vary widely among countries.

Suggested Citation

  • T. Zou & X. Zhang & E. A. Davidson, 2022. "Global trends of cropland phosphorus use and sustainability challenges," Nature, Nature, vol. 611(7934), pages 81-87, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:611:y:2022:i:7934:d:10.1038_s41586-022-05220-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05220-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Henrique Rasera Raniro & Jéssica Papera & Lucas Urbano José & Rodrigo Maia Valença & Paulo Sergio Pavinato & Ludwig Hermann & Jakob Santner, 2023. "New investments in phosphorus research and training are paramount for Brazilian long-term environmental and food security," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 504-508, September.
    2. Qiang Wang & Yuanfan Li & Rongrong Li, 2024. "Rethinking the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis across 214 countries: the impacts of 12 economic, institutional, technological, resource, and social factors," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Zhao, Danyue & Liu, Wenxin & Gao, Rong & Zhang, Ping & Li, Meng & Wu, Pute & Zhuo, La, 2023. "Spatiotemporal evolution of crop grey water footprint and associated water pollution levels in arid regions of western China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    4. Yifan Wu & Jingyu Liu & Yong Geng & Dong Wu, 2023. "Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency and Status of Phosphorus Reuse in China from 1990 to 2019," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Panpan Ji & Jianhui Chen & Ruijin Chen & Jianbao Liu & Chaoqing Yu & Fahu Chen, 2024. "Nitrogen and phosphorus trends in lake sediments of China may diverge," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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