Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices

Abstract An increase in nitrogen (N) recovery efficiency, also denoted as N use efficiency (NUEr), is crucial to reconcile food production and environmental health. This study assessed the effects of nutrient, crop and soil management on NUEr accounting for its dependency on site conditions, includi...

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Main Authors: Luncheng You, Gerard H. Ros, Yongliang Chen, Qi Shao, Madaline D. Young, Fusuo Zhang, Wim de Vries
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-09-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41504-2
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author Luncheng You
Gerard H. Ros
Yongliang Chen
Qi Shao
Madaline D. Young
Fusuo Zhang
Wim de Vries
author_facet Luncheng You
Gerard H. Ros
Yongliang Chen
Qi Shao
Madaline D. Young
Fusuo Zhang
Wim de Vries
author_sort Luncheng You
collection DOAJ
description Abstract An increase in nitrogen (N) recovery efficiency, also denoted as N use efficiency (NUEr), is crucial to reconcile food production and environmental health. This study assessed the effects of nutrient, crop and soil management on NUEr accounting for its dependency on site conditions, including mean annual temperature and precipitation, soil organic carbon, clay and pH, by meta-regression models using 2436 pairs of observations from 407 primary studies. Nutrient management increased NUEr by 3.6-11%, crop management by 4.4–8%, while reduction in tillage had no significant impact. Site conditions strongly affected management induced changes in NUEr, highlighting their relevance for site-specific practices. Data driven models showed that the global mean NUEr can increase by 30%, from the current average of 48% to 78%, using optimal combinations of nutrient (27%), crop (6.6%) and soil (0.6%) management. This increase will in most cases allow to reconcile crop production with acceptable N losses to water. The predicted increase in NUEr was below average in most high-income regions but above average in middle-income regions.
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publishDate 2023-09-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-1d0ea64170ea4e37a6d03ea25f5884882025-08-20T04:03:07ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-09-0114111210.1038/s41467-023-41504-2Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practicesLuncheng You0Gerard H. Ros1Yongliang Chen2Qi Shao3Madaline D. Young4Fusuo Zhang5Wim de Vries6College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant–Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, China Agricultural UniversityWageningen University and Research, Environmental Systems Analysis GroupCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant–Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant–Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, China Agricultural UniversityWageningen University and Research, Environmental Systems Analysis GroupCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant–Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, China Agricultural UniversityWageningen University and Research, Environmental Systems Analysis GroupAbstract An increase in nitrogen (N) recovery efficiency, also denoted as N use efficiency (NUEr), is crucial to reconcile food production and environmental health. This study assessed the effects of nutrient, crop and soil management on NUEr accounting for its dependency on site conditions, including mean annual temperature and precipitation, soil organic carbon, clay and pH, by meta-regression models using 2436 pairs of observations from 407 primary studies. Nutrient management increased NUEr by 3.6-11%, crop management by 4.4–8%, while reduction in tillage had no significant impact. Site conditions strongly affected management induced changes in NUEr, highlighting their relevance for site-specific practices. Data driven models showed that the global mean NUEr can increase by 30%, from the current average of 48% to 78%, using optimal combinations of nutrient (27%), crop (6.6%) and soil (0.6%) management. This increase will in most cases allow to reconcile crop production with acceptable N losses to water. The predicted increase in NUEr was below average in most high-income regions but above average in middle-income regions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41504-2
spellingShingle Luncheng You
Gerard H. Ros
Yongliang Chen
Qi Shao
Madaline D. Young
Fusuo Zhang
Wim de Vries
Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices
Nature Communications
title Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices
title_full Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices
title_fullStr Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices
title_full_unstemmed Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices
title_short Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices
title_sort global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient crop and soil management practices
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41504-2
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