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Fertilizing Nature: A Tragedy of Excess in the Commons

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  • Allen G Good
  • Perrin H Beatty

Abstract

Why has nitrogen fertilizer use declined in some countries while increasing in others, despite significant environmental harm? Proper crop management strategies offer environmental and economic benefits without sacrificing yields. Globally, we are applying excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizers to our agricultural crops, which ultimately causes nitrogen pollution to our ecosphere. The atmosphere is polluted by N2O and NOx gases that directly and indirectly increase atmospheric warming and climate change. Nitrogen is also leached from agricultural lands as the water-soluble form NO3−, which increases nutrient overload in rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing “dead zones”, reducing property values and the diversity of aquatic life, and damaging our drinking water and aquatic-associated industries such as fishing and tourism. Why do some countries show reductions in fertilizer use while others show increasing use? What N fertilizer application reductions could occur, without compromising crop yields? And what are the economic and environmental benefits of using directed nutrient management strategies?

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  • Allen G Good & Perrin H Beatty, 2011. "Fertilizing Nature: A Tragedy of Excess in the Commons," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(8), pages 1-9, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pbio00:1001124
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001124
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    1. Neville Millar & G. Robertson & Peter Grace & Ron Gehl & John Hoben, 2010. "Erratum to: Nitrogen fertilizer management for nitrous oxide (N 2 O) mitigation in intensive corn (Maize) production: an emissions reduction protocol for US Midwest agriculture," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 411-411, April.
    2. Neville Millar & G. Robertson & Peter Grace & Ron Gehl & John Hoben, 2010. "Nitrogen fertilizer management for nitrous oxide (N 2 O) mitigation in intensive corn (Maize) production: an emissions reduction protocol for US Midwest agriculture," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 185-204, February.
    3. Satya Yadav & Willis Peterson & K. Easter, 1997. "Do farmers overuse nitrogen fertilizer to the detriment of the environment?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 9(3), pages 323-340, April.
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    6. Mar Carreras-Sempere & Rafaela Caceres & Marc Viñas & Carmen Biel, 2021. "Use of Recovered Struvite and Ammonium Nitrate in Fertigation in Tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum ) Production for boosting Circular and Sustainable Horticulture," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, October.
    7. Jessica Rudnick & Mark Lubell & Sat Darshan S. Khalsa & Stephanie Tatge & Liza Wood & Molly Sears & Patrick H. Brown, 2021. "A farm systems approach to the adoption of sustainable nitrogen management practices in California," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(3), pages 783-801, September.
    8. Yanhua Xu & Yuzhen Yang & Si Wu & Dongcheng Liu & Yongzhe Ren, 2023. "QTL Mapping for Root Traits and Their Effects on Nutrient Uptake and Yield Performance in Common Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, January.
    9. Minchong Shen & Jiangang Li & Yuanhua Dong & Zhengkun Zhang & Yu Zhao & Qiyun Li & Keke Dang & Junwei Peng & Hong Liu, 2021. "The Effects of Microbial Inoculants on Bacterial Communities of the Rhizosphere Soil of Maize," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, April.
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    11. Clark, Robert & Dahlhaus, Peter & Robinson, Nathan & Larkins, Jo-ann & Morse-McNabb, Elizabeth, 2023. "Matching the model to the available data to predict wheat, barley, or canola yield: A review of recently published models and data," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    12. K. M. Atikur Rahman & Dunfu Zhang, 2018. "Effects of Fertilizer Broadcasting on the Excessive Use of Inorganic Fertilizers and Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    13. Lili Guo & Sihang Guo & Mengqian Tang & Mengying Su & Houjian Li, 2022. "Financial Support for Agriculture, Chemical Fertilizer Use, and Carbon Emissions from Agricultural Production in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-19, June.
    14. Argento, F. & Liebisch, F. & Anken, T. & Walter, A. & El Benni, N., 2022. "Investigating two solutions to balance revenues and N surplus in Swiss winter wheat," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    15. Salvatore Ceccarelli, 2014. "GM Crops, Organic Agriculture and Breeding for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(7), pages 1-14, July.
    16. Baozhi Li & Ni Zhuo & Chen Ji & Qibiao Zhu, 2022. "Influence of Smartphone-Based Digital Extension Service on Farmers’ Sustainable Agricultural Technology Adoption in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.

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