Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

Spatially differentiated nitrogen supply is key in a global food–fertilizer price crisis

Sieglinde S. Snapp, Tek B. Sapkota, Jordan Chamberlin, Cindy M. Cox, S. Gameda, M.L. Jat, Paswel Marenya, Khondoker Abdul Mottaleb, Christine Negra, Kalimuthu Senthilkumar, Tesfaye Shiferaw Sida, Upendra Singh, Zachary Stewart, Kindie Tesfaye, Bram Govaerts

Nature Sustainability · 2023

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Summary

Abstract A regional geopolitical conflict and sudden massive supply disruptions have revealed vulnerabilities in our global fuel–fertilizer–food nexus. As nitrogen (N) fertilizer price spikes threaten food security, differentiated responses are required to maintain staple cereal yields across over- and underfertilized agricultural systems. Through integrated management of organic and inorganic N sources in high- to low-input cereal production systems, we estimate potential total N-fertilizer savings of 11% in India, 49% in Ethiopia and 44% in Malawi. Shifting to more cost-effective, high-N fertilizer (such as urea), combined with compost and integration of legumes, can optimize N in N-deficient systems. Better targeted and more efficient N-fertilizer use will benefit systems with surplus N

Source type
Peer-reviewed study
DOI
10.1038/s41893-023-01166-w
Catalogue ID
SNmokbvprg-ny0p3j
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