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Global phosphorus shortage will be aggravated by soil erosion

Earth Sciences

Global phosphorus shortage will be aggravated by soil erosion

C. Alewell, B. Ringeval, et al.

Discover how soil phosphorus loss poses a significant threat to future food production in this insightful study by Christine Alewell, Bruno Ringeval, Cristiano Ballabio, David A. Robinson, Panos Panagos, and Pasquale Borrelli. The research reveals alarming depletion rates across continents and a potential future scenario where erosion exacerbates phosphorus loss. Don’t miss this critical examination of agricultural sustainability!

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Playback language: English
Abstract
Soil phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural systems will limit food and feed production in the future. This study combines spatially distributed global soil erosion estimates with spatially distributed global P content for cropland soils to assess global soil P loss. The world’s soils are currently being depleted in P despite high chemical fertilizer input. Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe show the highest P depletion rates. In a future scenario with an assumed absolute shortage of mineral P fertilizer, agricultural soils worldwide will be depleted, with water erosion contributing over 50% of total P losses.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Sep 11, 2020
Authors
Christine Alewell, Bruno Ringeval, Cristiano Ballabio, David A. Robinson, Panos Panagos, Pasquale Borrelli
Tags
soil phosphorus
agricultural systems
soil erosion
phosphorus depletion
food production
mineral fertilizer
water erosion

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