Key role of China and its agriculture in global sustainable phosphorus management

Sattari, Sheida Z.; Ittersum, M.K. van; Giller, Ken E.; Zhang, Fusuo; Bouwman, A. F.

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/9/5/054003

Cited by 77 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…3; SI Movie). Recent analyses indicate that in China P application rates can be reduced while increasing the P uptake by crops5, confirming our finding that accumulated P per hectare of crop soils in China and India exceeds the residual P in the USA, Western Europe, and the Russian Federation, revealing huge potential to reduce P application.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Depletion of phosphate rock reserves and increasing environmental problems associated with inefficient use of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in agriculture have induced many new research efforts which mostly focused on either N or P123456. Since in the absence of fertilization both nutrients are normally limiting agricultural crop production, and because of the large differences between the biogeochemical cycles of N and P, their joint study is essential to understand their limitation, surplus and balance78.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Lessons from temporal and spatial patterns in global use of N and P fertilizer on cropland

Bouwman

Beusen

Lassaletta

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

211

138

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In recent decades farmers in high-income countries and China and India have built up a large reserve of residual soil P in cropland. This reserve can now be used by crops, and in high-income countries the use of mineral P fertilizer has recently been decreasing with even negative soil P budgets in Europe. In contrast to P, much of N surpluses are emitted to the environment via air and water and large quantities of N are transported in aquifers with long travel times (decades and longer). N fertilizer use in high-income countries has not been decreasing in recent years; increasing N use efficiency and utilization of accumulated residual soil P allowed continued increases in crop yields. However, there are ecological risks associated with the legacy of excessive nutrient mobilization in the 1970s and 1980s. Landscapes have a memory for N and P; N concentrations in many rivers do not respond to increased agricultural N use efficiency, and European water quality is threatened by rapidly increasing N:P ratios. Developing countries can avoid such problems by integrated management of N, P and other nutrients accounting for residual soil P, while avoiding legacies associated with the type of past or continuing mismanagement of high-income countries, China and India.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessons from temporal and spatial patterns in global use of N and P fertilizer on cropland

Bouwman

Beusen

Lassaletta

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

211

138

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“…Here we discuss the main drivers for such change, the importance of local innovation and the rationale for policy intervention. Full utilization of legacy P could considerably reduce pressure on global PR resources and the dependence of some regions on PR imports; model outputs suggest at least 50 % saving in EU fertilizer imports (Sattari et al 2012) and a 20 % saving in P use in China up to 2050 (Sattari et al 2014). However compared to other 5R strategies, the utilization of legacy P is relatively short term (Fig.…”

Section: Facilitating a System Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating legacy soil phosphorus into sustainable nutrient management strategies for future food, bioenergy and water security

Rowe

Withers

Baas

et al. 2015

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

238

185

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Legacy phosphorus (P) that has accumulated in soils from past inputs of fertilizers and manures is a large secondary global source of P that could substitute manufactured fertilizers, help preserve critical reserves of finite phosphate rock to ensure future food and bioenergy supply, and gradually improve water quality. We explore the issues and management options to better utilize legacy soil P and conclude that it represents a valuable and largely accessible P resource. The future value and period over which legacy soil P can be accessed depends on the amount present and its distribution, its availability to crops and rates of drawdown determined by the cropping system. Full exploitation of legacy P requires a transition to a more holistic system approach to nutrient management based on technological advances in precision farming, plant breeding and microbial engineering together with a greater reliance on recovered and recycled P. We propose the term 'agro-engineering' to encompass this integrated approach. Smaller targeted applications of fertilizer P may still be needed to optimize crop yields where legacy soil P cannot fully meet crop demands. Farm profitability margins, the need to recycle animal manures and the extent of local eutrophication problems will dictate when, where and how quickly legacy P is best exploited. Based on our analysis, we outline the stages and drivers in a transition to the full utilization of legacy soil P as part of more sustainable regional and global nutrient management.

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“…Expected future scarcity is already reflected in that the US and China have stopped export for strategic reasons. China is presently the largest producer of P with 37.5 % of world production in 2010 (Sattari et al 2014). The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies recently pointed out that the EU is particularly vulnerable to market availability of rock Pi as it is almost entirely dependent on imports from the rest of the world (De Ridder et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving phosphorus use efficiency in agriculture: opportunities for breeding

Wiel¹,

Linden²,

Scholten³

2015

Euphytica

195

115

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Phosphorus (P) is often an important limiting factor for crop yields, but rock phosphate as fertilizer is a non-renewable resource and expected to become scarce in the future. High P input levels in agriculture have led to environmental problems. One of the ways to tackle these issues simultaneously is improving phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) of the crops through breeding. In this review, we describe plant architectural and physiological traits important for PUE. Subsequently, we discuss efficient methods of screening for PUE traits. We address targeted cultivation methods, including solid and hydroponic systems, as well as testing methods, such as image analysis systems, and biomass and photosynthesis measurements. Genetic variation for PUE traits has been assessed in many crops, and genetics of PUE has been studied by quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses and genome-wide association study. A number of genes involved in the plant's response to low P have been characterized. These genes include transcription factors, and genes involved in signal transduction, hormonal pathways, sugar signalling, P saving metabolic pathways, and in P scavenging, including transporters and metabolites and/or ATP-ases mobilizing P in the soil. In addition, the role of microorganisms promoting PUE of plants, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is discussed. An overview is given of methods for selecting for optimal combinations of plant and fungal genotypes, and their genetics, incl. QTLs and genes involved. In conclusion, significant progress has been made in selecting for traits for PUE, developing systems for the difficult but highly relevant root phenotyping, and in identifying QTLs and genes involved.

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Key role of China and its agriculture in global sustainable phosphorus management

Cited by 77 publications

References 27 publications

Lessons from temporal and spatial patterns in global use of N and P fertilizer on cropland

Lessons from temporal and spatial patterns in global use of N and P fertilizer on cropland

Integrating legacy soil phosphorus into sustainable nutrient management strategies for future food, bioenergy and water security

Improving phosphorus use efficiency in agriculture: opportunities for breeding

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