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Einarsson, RAuthorLassaletta, LAuthor

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April 11, 2024
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A global FAOSTAT reference database of cropland nutrient budgets and nutrient use efficiency (1961-2020): nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium

Publicated to: Earth System Science Data. 16 (1): 525-541 - 2024-01-22 16(1), DOI: 10.5194/essd-16-525-2024

Authors:

Ludemann, CI; Wanner, N; Chivenge, P; Dobermann, A; Einarsson, R; Grassini, P; Gruere, A; Jackson, K; Lassaletta, L; Maggi, F; Obli-Laryea, G; van Ittersum, MK; Vishwakarma, S; Zhang, X; Tubiello, FN
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Affiliations

Food & Agr Org, Stat Div - Author
Int Fertilizer Assoc - Author
Int Rice Res Inst IRRI, Sustainable Impact Dept - Author
Pacific Northwest Natl Lab, Joint Global Change Res Inst - Author
Swedish Univ Agr Sci, Dept Energy & Technol - Author
Univ Maryland, Ctr Environm Sci, Appalachian Lab - Author
Univ Nebraska Lincoln, Dept Agron & Hort - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, CEIGRAM - Author
Univ Sydney, Sch Civil Engn, Environm Engn, Sydney - Author
Wageningen Univ & Res, Plant Prod Syst Grp - Author
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Abstract

Nutrient budgets help to identify the excess or insufficient use of fertilizers and other nutrient sources in agriculture. They allow for the calculation of indicators, such as the nutrient balance (surplus if positive or deficit if negative) and nutrient use efficiency, that help to monitor agricultural productivity and sustainability across the world. We present a global database of country-level budget estimates for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on cropland. The database, disseminated in FAOSTAT, is meant to provide a global reference, synthesizing and continuously updating the state of the art on this topic. The database covers 205 countries and territories, as well as regional and global aggregates, for the period from 1961 to 2020. Results highlight the wide range in nutrient use and nutrient use efficiencies across geographic regions, nutrients, and time. The average N balance on global cropland has remained fairly steady at about 50-55 kg ha(- 1) yr(- 1) during the past 15 years, despite increasing N inputs. Regional trends, however, show recent average N surpluses that range from a low of about 10 kg N ha(- 1) yr (- 1) in Africa to more than 90 kg N ha( - 1) yr (- 1) in Asia. Encouragingly, average global cropland N use efficiency decreased from about 59 % in 1961 to a low of 43 % in 1988, but it has risen since then to a level of 55 %. Phosphorus deficits are mainly found in Africa, whereas potassium deficits occur in Africa and the Americas. This study introduces improvements over previous work in relation to the key nutrient coefficients affecting nutrient budgets and nutrient use efficiency estimates, especially with respect to nutrient removal in crop products, manure nutrient content, atmospheric deposition and crop biological N fixation rates. We conclude by discussing future research directions and highlighting the need to align statistical definitions across research groups as well as to further refine plant and livestock coefficients and expand estimates to all agricultural land, including nutrient flows in meadows and pastures.
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Keywords

BalancesUncertainties

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Earth System Science Data due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position 2/111, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-12-21:

  • WoS: 14
  • Scopus: 40
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-12-21:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 136.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 129 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 14.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 2 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Australia; France; Italy; Morocco; Netherlands; Sweden; Tanzania; United States of America.

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