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Nutrients Metabolism of Agricultural Production in Argentina: NPK Input and Output Flows from 1961 to 2015

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  • Díaz de Astarloa, D.A.
  • Pengue, W.A.

Abstract

Argentina has historically collected large amounts of nutrients in harvested products for worldwide consumption, relying on the high productivity of its soils. We estimated NPK nutrient flows and partial balance based on historical data for biomass production and fertilizer use, from 1961 to 2015, to better understand intensity and temporal variability of nutrient dynamics in Argentina. Estimated NPK output accumulated 113.6Mt. (78.4Mt. N, 10.8Mt. P, 24.4Mt. K), or an annual average of 67kg N, 9kg P and 21kg K per harvested hectare. Cumulate NPK supplied in fertilizers explained 15% N, 44% P and 4% K total extraction. Nutrient balance shows 53% (60Mt) of total NPK outputs came from sources other than fertilizer, fixation or deposition, implying soil depletion. Nutrient deficits cumulate −30Mt. N, −6Mt. P and −24Mt. K, equal to −26kg N, −5kg P and −20kg K per harvested hectare each year. Soybean was the most extractive crop, with 54% of accumulated NPK removed. The estimation approach is robust because it focuses on NPK major sinks and sources from long and reliable data sets, as an indirect way to assess soil nutrient use and stock tendency.

Suggested Citation

  • Díaz de Astarloa, D.A. & Pengue, W.A., 2018. "Nutrients Metabolism of Agricultural Production in Argentina: NPK Input and Output Flows from 1961 to 2015," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 74-83.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:147:y:2018:i:c:p:74-83
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.01.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leguizamón, Yamila & Goldenberg, Matías G. & Jobbágy, Esteban & Seppelt, Ralf & Garibaldi, Lucas A., 2023. "Environmental potential for crop production and tenure regime influence fertilizer application and soil nutrient mining in soybean and maize crops," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    2. Infante-Amate, Juan & Aguilera, Eduardo & de Molina, Manuel González, 2018. "Energy transition in Agri-food systems. Structural change, drivers and policy implications (Spain, 1960–2010)," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 570-579.
    3. Zijuan Zhao & Beilei Fan & Dong Liu, 2021. "Evaluating the Impact of Crop Layout Changes on N and P Nutrient Balance: A Case Study in the West Liaohe River Basin, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Infante-Amate, Juan & Aguilera, Eduardo & Palmeri, Francesco & Guzmán, Gloria & Soto, David & García-Ruiz, Roberto & de Molina, Manuel González, 2018. "Land embodied in Spain’s biomass trade and consumption (1900–2008): Historical changes, drivers and impacts," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 493-502.

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