Whereas fertilizers are meant to be taken up by agricultural crops only,
a substantial portion of the nutrients are lost, adversely affecting both
ecosystem and human well-being alike. Losses may range from only 20% to
about 80% and remain substantial even under the most efficient agricultural
production systems, which are often highly knowledge intensive. Fertilizer
overuse contributes to eutrophication and climate change.
Fertilizer underuse, however, leads to soil degradation, poverty and
hunger; and the low yields result in encroachment into biodiversity-rich
ecosystems in search for new, fertile agricultural land (Figure 2). The use
of fertilizers in low production systems can be profitable on average,
but it tends to be more risky, which creates a disincentive for farmers
to adopt fertilizers.7 Risk, such as due to rainfall variability, is a cause
of perpetuating poverty. Interventions to reduce risks include a more
favorable price ratio of fertilizer to crop product, risk-reducing strategies
like drought-resistant varieties, integrated water management and also
insurance schemes. Fertilizers designed to cope with erratic conditions
resulting in increased uptake efficiency and stronger yield response
are an as-of-yet unexplored avenue.
Biol Fertil Soils (2015) 51:897-911
DOI 10.1007/s00374-015-1039-7
ed
Rainf lizers
ti
+ fer
CrossMark
REVIEW
Revisiting fertilisers and fertilisation strategies for
improved nutrient uptake by plants
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Rainf izers
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– fert
Prem S. Bindraban1 • Christian Dimpka1 • Latha Nagarajan2 • Amit Roy2 • Rudy Rabbinge3
Figure 2. Maize yields have remained stagnant on the African continent (dots are
annual yields from 1960 to 2005).8 The picture (courtesy Marcel Gabila) shows the
compelling evidence that it is not the amount of water through rainfall that limits
yields, but the poor fertility of the soil.
7