Nitrogen and water resources commonly limit crop yield increases, not necessarily plant genetics

Sinclair, Thomas R.; Rufty, Thomas W.

doi:10.1016/j.gfs.2012.07.001

Cited by 275 publications

(148 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Crop water stress is also a major driver of yield loss (103,137) and is generally coupled with high temperatures both because low soil moisture leads to a decrease in evaporative cooling from the landscape (104) and because high temperatures increase crop water loss (90).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change and Global Food Systems: Potential Impacts on Food Security and Undernutrition

Myers

Smith

Guth

et al. 2017

Annu. Rev. Public Health

736

365

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Great progress has been made in addressing global undernutrition over the past several decades, in part because of large increases in food production from agricultural expansion and intensification. Food systems, however, face continued increases in demand and growing environmental pressures. Most prominently, human-caused climate change will influence the quality and quantity of food we produce and our ability to distribute it equitably. Our capacity to ensure food security and nutritional adequacy in the face of rapidly changing biophysical conditions will be a major determinant of the next century's global burden of disease. In this article, we review the main pathways by which climate change may affect our food production systems-agriculture, fisheries, and livestock-as well as the socioeconomic forces that may influence equitable distribution.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change and Global Food Systems: Potential Impacts on Food Security and Undernutrition

Myers

Smith

Guth

et al. 2017

Annu. Rev. Public Health

736

365

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Here, we argue that a more unified knowledge of nutrient biochemical pathways in plants could help in targeting nutrient delivery to where most required and could facilitate further development of viable alternative uptake mechanisms such as foliar fertilisers (Voogt et al 2013). In addition, understanding the ability of plants to increase their nutrient storage capacity could help to increase uptake, yield and food quality (Sinclair and Rufty 2012).…”

Section: Plant Physiology and Metabolic Pathwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting fertilisers and fertilisation strategies for improved nutrient uptake by plants

et al. 2015

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Meeting human needs within the ecological limits of our planet calls for continuous reflection on, and redesigning of, agricultural technologies and practices. Such technologies include fertilisers, the discovery and use of which have been one of the key factors for increasing crop yield, agricultural productivity and food security. Fertiliser use comes, however, at an environmental cost, and fertilisers have also not been a very economically effective production factor to lift many poor farmers out of poverty, especially in African countries where application on poor soils of unbalanced compositions of nutrients in fertilisers has shown limited impact on yield increase. Agronomic practices to apply existing mineral fertilisers, primarily containing N, P and K, at the right time, the right place, in the right amount, and of the right composition can improve the use efficiency of fertilisers. However, the overall progress to reduce the negative side effects is inadequate for the desired transformation toward sustainable agriculture in poor countries. Globally, there have been no fundamental reflections about the role and functioning of mineral fertilisers over the past 5 decades or more, and compared to other sectors, dismal investments have been made in mineral fertiliser research and development (R&D).In this paper, we reflect on current fertilisers and propose a more deliberate adoption of knowledge of plant physiological processes-including the diversity of mineral nutrient uptake mechanisms, their translocation and metabolism-as an entry point in identifying the physicochemical "packaging" of nutrients, their composition, amount and timing of application to meet plant physiological needs for improved instantaneous uptake. In addition to delivery through the root, we suggest that efforts be redoubled with several other uptake avenues, which as of now are at best haphazard, for the delivery of nutrients to the plant, including above ground parts and seed coating. Furthermore, ecological processes, including nutrient-specific interactions in plant and soil, plantmicroorganism symbiosis, and nanotechnology, have to be exploited to enhance nutrient uptake. It is hoped that concerted R&D efforts will be pursued to achieve these strategies.

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“…However, early in the summer maize-growing season, large quantities of basal fertilizer are easily lost to the environment under the rainy climate, because the root system is not extensive [55]. Furthermore, the type of fertilizers and the timing and methods of top-dressing also affect N use efficiency [56,57].…”

Section: Effects Of Plant Density and N Application On Yield And Pfp Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Summer Maize on Smallholder Farms in the North China Plain

et al. 2018

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Abstract:The summer maize yields and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (N) fertilizer (PFP N , grain yield per unit N fertilizer) on smallholder farms in China are low, and differ between farms due to complex, sub-optimal management practices. We collected data on management practices and yields from smallholder farms in three major summer maize-producing sites-Laoling, Quzhou and Xushui-in the North China Plain (NCP) for two growing seasons, during 2015-2016. Boundary line analysis and a Proc Mixed Model were used to evaluate the contribution of individual factors and their interactions. Summer maize grain yields and PFP N ranged from 6.6 t ha −1 to 14.2 t ha −1 and 15.4 kg kg −1 to 96.1 kg kg −1 , respectively, and averaged 10.5 t ha −1 and 49.1 kg kg −1 , respectively. The mean total yield gap and PFP N gap were 3.6 t ha −1 and 43.3 kg kg −1 in Laoling, 2.2 t ha −1 and 24.5 kg kg −1 in Xushui, and 2.8 t ha −1 and 41.1 kg kg −1 in Quzhou. A positive correlation was observed between the yield gap and PFP N gap; the PFP N gap could be reduced by 6.0 kg kg −1 (3.6-6.6 kg kg −1 ) by reducing the yield gap by 1 t ha −1 . The high yield and high PFP N (HH) fields had a higher plant density and lower N fertilization rate than the low yield and low PFP N (LL) fields. Our results show that multiple management factors caused the yield gap, but the relative contribution of plant density is slightly higher than that of other management practices, such as N input, the sowing date, and potassium fertilizer input. The low PFP N was mainly attributed to an over-application of N fertilizer. To enhance the sustainable production of summer maize, the production gaps should be tackled through programs that guide smallholder farmers on the adoption of optimal management practices.

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Nitrogen and water resources commonly limit crop yield increases, not necessarily plant genetics

Cited by 275 publications

References 13 publications

Climate Change and Global Food Systems: Potential Impacts on Food Security and Undernutrition

Climate Change and Global Food Systems: Potential Impacts on Food Security and Undernutrition

Revisiting fertilisers and fertilisation strategies for improved nutrient uptake by plants

Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Summer Maize on Smallholder Farms in the North China Plain

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