More Efficient Phosphorus Use Can Avoid Cropland Expansion

Overview

Journal Nat Food

Specialties Environmental Health
Nutritional Sciences

Date 2023 Apr 28

PMID 37117673

Authors

Jose M Mogollon

Alexander F Bouwman

Arthur H W Beusen

Luis Lassaletta

Hans J M van Grinsven

Henk Westhoek

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Global projections indicate that approximately 500 Mha of new arable land will be required to meet crop demand by 2050. Applying a dynamic phosphorus (P) pool simulator under different socioeconomic scenarios, we find that cropland expansion can be avoided with less than 7% additional cumulative P fertilizer over 2006-2050 when comparing with cropland expansion scenarios, mostly targeted at nutrient-depleted soils of sub-Saharan Africa. Additional P fertilizer would replenish P withdrawn from crop production, thereby allowing higher productivity levels. We also show that further agronomic improvements such as those that allow for better (legacy) P use in soils could reduce both P outflows to freshwater and coastal ecosystems and the overall demand for P fertilizer.

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