Cited by 3,054Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental ImpactAgricultural Science and FertilizationSoil and Water Nutrient Dynamics

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Managing nitrogen for sustainable development.

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Zhang, Xin, Davidson, Eric A., Mauzerall, Denise L., Searchinger, Timothy D., Dumas, Patrice, Shen, Ye·2015·Nature

DOI 10.1038/nature15743

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Abstract

Improvements in nitrogen use efficiency in crop production are critical for addressing the triple challenges of food security, environmental degradation and climate change. Such improvements are conditional not only on technological innovation, but also on socio-economic factors that are at present poorly understood. Here we examine historical patterns of agricultural nitrogen-use efficiency and find a broad range of national approaches to agricultural development and related pollution. We analyse examples of nitrogen use and propose targets, by geographic region and crop type, to meet the 2050 global food demand projected by the Food and Agriculture Organization while also meeting the Sustainable Development Goals pertaining to agriculture recently adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Furthermore, we discuss socio-economic policies and technological innovations that may help achieve them.

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Authors: Zhang, X., Davidson, E. A., Mauzerall, D. L., Searchinger, T. D., Dumas, P., & Shen, Y.
Affiliations: Princeton University (US)
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (US)
Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR)
Corresponding author: Zhang, Xin
Davidson, Eric A.
ORCID: Zhang, Xin
Davidson, Eric A.
Mauzerall, Denise L.
Searchinger, Timothy D.
Dumas, Patrice
Venue: Nature
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2015-11-23
Volume: 528
Issue: 7580
Pages: 51-59
ISSN: 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
1476-4687
DOI: 10.1038/nature15743
OpenAlex: W2190546151
Cited by: 3,054
References: 89
Citations by year: 2026: 488 · 2025: 486 · 2024: 413 · 2023: 352 · 2022: 370 · 2021: 308 · 2020: 238 · 2019: 159 · 2018: 114 · 2017: 95 · 2016: 29
FWCI: 71.79
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
enpc.hal.science
Licence: other-oa
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Nature (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Agritrop (Cirad) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Agricultural Science and Fertilization
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
Keywords: sustainable development, food security, environmental degradation, climate change, agricultural development, nitrogen pollution, Sustainable Development Goals, socioeconomic factors, technological innovation, nitrogen management
MeSH terms: Agriculture, Conservation of Natural Resources, Ecology, Environmental Pollution, Fertilizers, Food Supply, Humans, Nitrogen, Crops, Agricultural, Internationality, Climate Change, Gross Domestic Product

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