Declining spatial efficiency of global cropland nitrogen allocation

Global Biogeochemical Cycles - Tập 31 Số 2 - Trang 245-257 - 2017
Nathaniel D. Mueller1,2, Luis Lassaletta3, Bryan C. Runck4, Gilles Billen5, Josette Garnier5, James Gerber6
1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
3Department of Water, Agriculture and Food PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency The Hague Netherlands
4Department of Geography, Environment and Society University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Minneapolis Minnesota USA
5Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris France
6Institute on the Environment University of Minnesota, Twin Cities St. Paul Minnesota USA

Tóm tắt

AbstractEfficiently allocating nitrogen (N) across space maximizes crop productivity for a given amount of N input and reduces N losses to the environment. Here we quantify changes in the global spatial efficiency of cropland N use by calculating historical trade‐off frontiers relating N inputs to possible N yield assuming efficient allocation. Time series cropland N budgets from 1961 to 2009 characterize the evolution of N input‐yield response functions across 12 regions and are the basis for constructing trade‐off frontiers. Improvements in agronomic technology have substantially increased cropping system yield potentials and expanded N‐driven crop production possibilities. However, we find that these gains are compromised by the declining spatial efficiency of N use across regions. Since the start of the Green Revolution, N inputs and yields have moved farther from the optimal frontier over time; in recent years (1994–2009), global N surplus has grown to a value that is 69% greater than what is possible with efficient N allocation between regions. To reflect regional pollution and agricultural development goals, we construct scenarios that restrict reallocation, finding that these changes only slightly decrease potential gains in nitrogen use efficiency. Our results are inherently conservative due to the regional unit of analysis, meaning a larger potential exists than is quantified here for cross‐scale policies to promote spatially efficient N use.

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Global Biogeochemical Cycles

Tập 31 Số 2

245-257

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