Optimized Fertilizer Management Crucial for Sustainable Potato Production in China

Research from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences highlights the importance of optimized fertilizer management in enhancing global food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study analyzed data from 2011 to 2021 and explored nutrient optimization strategies for China's major potato-growing regions. The findings indicate that both nutrient inputs and environmental footprints per hectare increased during this period, with greenhouse gas emissions predominantly attributed to fertilizer production and transportation. The research concludes that implementing optimized fertilization strategies through the Nutrient Expert for Potato (NE_Potato) could reduce synthetic fertilizer usage, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and lower reactive nitrogen emissions in China's potato production system.

Key Takeaways:

• Optimized fertilizer management is crucial for enhancing global food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in China's potato production system.
• Nutrient inputs and environmental footprints per hectare increased from 2011 to 2021, with greenhouse gas emissions predominantly attributed to fertilizer production and transportation (52.9%-66.8%).
• Reactive nitrogen emissions were primarily due to N leaching (87.0%-88.5%).
• An optimized fertilization strategy based on the Nutrient Expert for Potato (NE_Potato) reduced environmental footprints by 35.9%-51.8%.
• The research concludes that implementing optimized fertilization strategies through NE_Potato could reduce synthetic fertilizer usage by 67.5-85.3 x 104 t, decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 2.1-5.1 Mt CO2 -eq, and lower reactive nitrogen emissions by 4.0-15.6 x 104 N t.

Statistics:

• Nutrient inputs and environmental footprints per hectare increased from 2011 to 2021.
• Greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer production and transportation ranged from 52.9%-66.8% of the total.
• Reactive nitrogen emissions were primarily due to N leaching at 87.0%-88.5%.
• An optimized fertilization strategy based on NE_Potato reduced environmental footprints by 35.9%-51.8%.
• Projections indicate that optimized fertilization strategies could reduce synthetic fertilizer usage by 67.5-85.3 x 104 t, decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 2.1-5.1 Mt CO2 -eq, and lower reactive nitrogen emissions by 4.0-15.6 x 104 N t.

Sources:

• NewsRx. Researchers' Work from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Focuses on Sustainability Research (Integrating Nutrient Balance, Environmental Footprints and Nutrient Optimization Strategies for Sustainable Potato Production System In China). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. July 11, 2025; p 638.
• Resources, Conservation and Recycling. Integrating Nutrient Balance, Environmental Footprints and Nutrient Optimization Strategies for Sustainable Potato Production System In China. 2025;221.
• Elsevier. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. www.journals.elsevier.com/resources-conservation-and-recycling/
• Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning. State Key Lab Efficient Utilizat Arid & Semiarid A. Key Lab Plant Nutr & Fertilizer. Minist Agr & Rural. Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China.