Quantification of global and national nitrogen budgets for crop production

Xin Zhang; Tan Zou; Luis Lassaletta; Nathaniel D. Mueller; Francesco N. Tubiello; Matthew D. Lisk; Chaoqun Lu; Richard T. Conant; Christopher D. Dorich; James Gerber; Hanqin Tian; Tom Bruulsema; Tai Mc Clellan Maaz; Kazuya Nishina; Benjamin Leon Bodirsky; Alexander Popp; Lex Bouwman; Arthur Beusen; Jinfeng Chang; Petr Havlík; David Leclère; Josep G. Canadell; Robert B. Jackson; Patrick Heffer; Nathan Wanner; Weifeng Zhang; Eric A. Davidson

doi:10.1038/s43016-021-00318-5

Quantification of global and national nitrogen budgets for crop production

Xin Zhang^*, Tan Zou, Luis Lassaletta, Nathaniel D. Mueller, Francesco N. Tubiello, Matthew D. Lisk, Chaoqun Lu, Richard T. Conant, Christopher D. Dorich, James Gerber, Hanqin Tian, Tom Bruulsema, Tai Mc Clellan Maaz, Kazuya Nishina, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Alexander Popp, Lex Bouwman, Arthur Beusen, Jinfeng Chang, Petr HavlíkDavid Leclère, Josep G. Canadell, Robert B. Jackson, Patrick Heffer, Nathan Wanner, Weifeng Zhang, Eric A. Davidson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Input–output estimates of nitrogen on cropland are essential for improving nitrogen management and better understanding the global nitrogen cycle. Here, we compare 13 nitrogen budget datasets covering 115 countries and regions over 1961–2015. Although most datasets showed similar spatiotemporal patterns, some annual estimates varied widely among them, resulting in large ranges and uncertainty. In 2010, global medians (in TgN yr⁻¹) and associated minimum–maximum ranges were 73 (64–84) for global harvested crop nitrogen; 161 (139–192) for total nitrogen inputs; 86 (68–97) for nitrogen surplus; and 46% (40–53%) for nitrogen use efficiency. Some of the most uncertain nitrogen budget terms by country showed ranges as large as their medians, revealing areas for improvement. A benchmark nitrogen budget dataset, derived from central tendencies of the original datasets, can be used in model comparisons and inform sustainable nitrogen management in food systems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	529-540
Number of pages	12
Journal	Nature Food
Volume	2
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00318-5
Publication status	Published - Jul 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work resulted in part from a workshop supported by NSF Research Coordination Network awards DEB-1049744/1547041 (awarded to E.D.). X.Z. is supported by the National Science Foundation (CNS-1739823, CBET-2047165, and CBET-2025826). K.N. is supported by a project, JPNP18016, commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). FAOSTAT Statistics are collected from FAO member countries, analysed and disseminated with support from the FAO Regular Budget. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the FAO. L.L. is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and European Commission ERDF Ramón y Cajal grant (RYC‐2016‐20269), Programa Propio from UPM, and acknowledges the Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) and structural funds 2014‐2020 (ERDF and ESF), project AGRISOST‐CM S2018/BAA‐4330 and Spanish MINECO AgroScena-UP (PID2019-107972RB-I00). We acknowledge the global Environment Facility and the UN Environment Programme for the ‘Towards INMS Project’ as a key space to improve understanding of the nitrogen cycle, building the bridge between science and policy.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

Funding

This work resulted in part from a workshop supported by NSF Research Coordination Network awards DEB-1049744/1547041 (awarded to E.D.). X.Z. is supported by the National Science Foundation (CNS-1739823, CBET-2047165, and CBET-2025826). K.N. is supported by a project, JPNP18016, commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). FAOSTAT Statistics are collected from FAO member countries, analysed and disseminated with support from the FAO Regular Budget. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the FAO. L.L. is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and European Commission ERDF Ramón y Cajal grant (RYC‐2016‐20269), Programa Propio from UPM, and acknowledges the Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) and structural funds 2014‐2020 (ERDF and ESF), project AGRISOST‐CM S2018/BAA‐4330 and Spanish MINECO AgroScena-UP (PID2019-107972RB-I00). We acknowledge the global Environment Facility and the UN Environment Programme for the ‘Towards INMS Project’ as a key space to improve understanding of the nitrogen cycle, building the bridge between science and policy.

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Zhang, X., Zou, T., Lassaletta, L., Mueller, N. D., Tubiello, F. N., Lisk, M. D., Lu, C., Conant, R. T., Dorich, C. D., Gerber, J., Tian, H., Bruulsema, T., Maaz, T. M. C., Nishina, K., Bodirsky, B. L., Popp, A., Bouwman, L., Beusen, A., Chang, J., ... Davidson, E. A. (2021). Quantification of global and national nitrogen budgets for crop production. Nature Food, 2(7), 529-540. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00318-5

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title = "Quantification of global and national nitrogen budgets for crop production",

abstract = "Input–output estimates of nitrogen on cropland are essential for improving nitrogen management and better understanding the global nitrogen cycle. Here, we compare 13 nitrogen budget datasets covering 115 countries and regions over 1961–2015. Although most datasets showed similar spatiotemporal patterns, some annual estimates varied widely among them, resulting in large ranges and uncertainty. In 2010, global medians (in TgN yr−1) and associated minimum–maximum ranges were 73 (64–84) for global harvested crop nitrogen; 161 (139–192) for total nitrogen inputs; 86 (68–97) for nitrogen surplus; and 46% (40–53%) for nitrogen use efficiency. Some of the most uncertain nitrogen budget terms by country showed ranges as large as their medians, revealing areas for improvement. A benchmark nitrogen budget dataset, derived from central tendencies of the original datasets, can be used in model comparisons and inform sustainable nitrogen management in food systems.",

author = "Xin Zhang and Tan Zou and Luis Lassaletta and Mueller, {Nathaniel D.} and Tubiello, {Francesco N.} and Lisk, {Matthew D.} and Chaoqun Lu and Conant, {Richard T.} and Dorich, {Christopher D.} and James Gerber and Hanqin Tian and Tom Bruulsema and Maaz, {Tai Mc Clellan} and Kazuya Nishina and Bodirsky, {Benjamin Leon} and Alexander Popp and Lex Bouwman and Arthur Beusen and Jinfeng Chang and Petr Havl{\'i}k and David Lecl{\`e}re and Canadell, {Josep G.} and Jackson, {Robert B.} and Patrick Heffer and Nathan Wanner and Weifeng Zhang and Davidson, {Eric A.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work resulted in part from a workshop supported by NSF Research Coordination Network awards DEB-1049744/1547041 (awarded to E.D.). X.Z. is supported by the National Science Foundation (CNS-1739823, CBET-2047165, and CBET-2025826). K.N. is supported by a project, JPNP18016, commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). FAOSTAT Statistics are collected from FAO member countries, analysed and disseminated with support from the FAO Regular Budget. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the FAO. L.L. is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and European Commission ERDF Ram{\'o}n y Cajal grant (RYC‐2016‐20269), Programa Propio from UPM, and acknowledges the Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) and structural funds 2014‐2020 (ERDF and ESF), project AGRISOST‐CM S2018/BAA‐4330 and Spanish MINECO AgroScena-UP (PID2019-107972RB-I00). We acknowledge the global Environment Facility and the UN Environment Programme for the {\textquoteleft}Towards INMS Project{\textquoteright} as a key space to improve understanding of the nitrogen cycle, building the bridge between science and policy. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.",

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month = jul,

doi = "10.1038/s43016-021-00318-5",

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Zhang, X, Zou, T, Lassaletta, L, Mueller, ND, Tubiello, FN, Lisk, MD, Lu, C, Conant, RT, Dorich, CD, Gerber, J, Tian, H, Bruulsema, T, Maaz, TMC, Nishina, K, Bodirsky, BL, Popp, A, Bouwman, L , Beusen, A, Chang, J, Havlík, P, Leclère, D, Canadell, JG, Jackson, RB, Heffer, P, Wanner, N, Zhang, W & Davidson, EA 2021, 'Quantification of global and national nitrogen budgets for crop production', Nature Food, vol. 2, no. 7, pp. 529-540. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00318-5

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T1 - Quantification of global and national nitrogen budgets for crop production

AU - Zhang, Xin

AU - Zou, Tan

AU - Lassaletta, Luis

AU - Mueller, Nathaniel D.

AU - Tubiello, Francesco N.

AU - Lisk, Matthew D.

AU - Lu, Chaoqun

AU - Conant, Richard T.

AU - Dorich, Christopher D.

AU - Gerber, James

AU - Tian, Hanqin

AU - Bruulsema, Tom

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AU - Bodirsky, Benjamin Leon

AU - Popp, Alexander

AU - Bouwman, Lex

AU - Beusen, Arthur

AU - Chang, Jinfeng

AU - Havlík, Petr

AU - Leclère, David

AU - Canadell, Josep G.

AU - Jackson, Robert B.

AU - Heffer, Patrick

AU - Wanner, Nathan

AU - Zhang, Weifeng

AU - Davidson, Eric A.

N1 - Funding Information: This work resulted in part from a workshop supported by NSF Research Coordination Network awards DEB-1049744/1547041 (awarded to E.D.). X.Z. is supported by the National Science Foundation (CNS-1739823, CBET-2047165, and CBET-2025826). K.N. is supported by a project, JPNP18016, commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). FAOSTAT Statistics are collected from FAO member countries, analysed and disseminated with support from the FAO Regular Budget. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the FAO. L.L. is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and European Commission ERDF Ramón y Cajal grant (RYC‐2016‐20269), Programa Propio from UPM, and acknowledges the Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) and structural funds 2014‐2020 (ERDF and ESF), project AGRISOST‐CM S2018/BAA‐4330 and Spanish MINECO AgroScena-UP (PID2019-107972RB-I00). We acknowledge the global Environment Facility and the UN Environment Programme for the ‘Towards INMS Project’ as a key space to improve understanding of the nitrogen cycle, building the bridge between science and policy. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

PY - 2021/7

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N2 - Input–output estimates of nitrogen on cropland are essential for improving nitrogen management and better understanding the global nitrogen cycle. Here, we compare 13 nitrogen budget datasets covering 115 countries and regions over 1961–2015. Although most datasets showed similar spatiotemporal patterns, some annual estimates varied widely among them, resulting in large ranges and uncertainty. In 2010, global medians (in TgN yr−1) and associated minimum–maximum ranges were 73 (64–84) for global harvested crop nitrogen; 161 (139–192) for total nitrogen inputs; 86 (68–97) for nitrogen surplus; and 46% (40–53%) for nitrogen use efficiency. Some of the most uncertain nitrogen budget terms by country showed ranges as large as their medians, revealing areas for improvement. A benchmark nitrogen budget dataset, derived from central tendencies of the original datasets, can be used in model comparisons and inform sustainable nitrogen management in food systems.

AB - Input–output estimates of nitrogen on cropland are essential for improving nitrogen management and better understanding the global nitrogen cycle. Here, we compare 13 nitrogen budget datasets covering 115 countries and regions over 1961–2015. Although most datasets showed similar spatiotemporal patterns, some annual estimates varied widely among them, resulting in large ranges and uncertainty. In 2010, global medians (in TgN yr−1) and associated minimum–maximum ranges were 73 (64–84) for global harvested crop nitrogen; 161 (139–192) for total nitrogen inputs; 86 (68–97) for nitrogen surplus; and 46% (40–53%) for nitrogen use efficiency. Some of the most uncertain nitrogen budget terms by country showed ranges as large as their medians, revealing areas for improvement. A benchmark nitrogen budget dataset, derived from central tendencies of the original datasets, can be used in model comparisons and inform sustainable nitrogen management in food systems.

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DO - 10.1038/s43016-021-00318-5

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VL - 2

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Quantification of global and national nitrogen budgets for crop production

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