Towards Sustainable Management of Mineral Fertilizers in China: An Integrative Analysis and Review

Xiaomin Yu, Haigang Li and Reiner Doluschitz
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Xiaomin Yu: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Schwerzstr. 42, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
Haigang Li: College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
Reiner Doluschitz: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Schwerzstr. 42, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 17, 1-17

Abstract: China has not only successfully fed 20% of the world’s population using only 9% of the world’s arable land; it has also become the world’s largest producer of various agricultural products. The widespread application of mineral fertilizers played a critical role in accomplishing this achievement. In this study, we conducted an integrative analysis of China’s mineral fertilizers over the last six decades from multiple perspectives—domestic production, consumption and international trade at national and international levels, and the agricultural use of fertilizers at a regional level. In addition, we quantitatively estimated fertilizer nutrient surpluses for 30 provinces in mainland China for the time period spanning from 1987 to 2018 and integrated the results as a reference to the evaluation of the implementation of the Zero Growth Action Plan regulating fertilizer use by 2020. We concluded that by 2019, 83% and 93% of the provinces had already achieved zero growth in fertilizer use and fertilizer nutrient surpluses, respectively. This shows promising potential for China in finalising the Zero Growth Action Plan of Fertilizers nationwide by 2020.

Keywords: mineral fertilizer; China; sustainability; quantitative review; Zero Growth Action Plan of fertilizers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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