2021
Alcántara-Plazola, J. J.; de la Barrera, E.
Quantification of embedded phosphorus in Mexican agriculture Journal Article
In: Sustainable Production and Consumption, vol. 28C, pp. 824-828, 2021, ISSN: 2352-5509.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: agriculture, embedded phosphorus, food security, phosphorus, planetary boundaries, telecoupling
@article{Alcántara-Plazola2021,
title = {Quantification of embedded phosphorus in Mexican agriculture},
author = {J. J. Alcántara-Plazola and E. de la Barrera},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352550921002104},
doi = {10.1016/j.spc.2021.07.011},
issn = {2352-5509},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-07-14},
journal = {Sustainable Production and Consumption},
volume = {28C},
pages = {824-828},
abstract = {Phosphorus is an essential element for agricultural production, and for life in general, whose availability as a mineral is geographically restricted. Considering that Mexico is a major contributor to the global flow of water embedded in agricultural commodities, it is likely that this country is also a major exporter of embedded phosphorus. Thus, we quantified the embedded phosphorus for the 38 major crops produced in Mexico from 1980 to 2015, which were grouped into forages, fruits and vegetables, cereals, legumes, and cash crops. The total phosphorus extracted was 4.4 × 106 tonnes for an agricultural production of 5,844 × 106 tonnes, which respectively increased by 86% and 145% over 35 years. Food crops, i.e., cereals, fruits and vegetables, and legumes, accounted for 44% of the total phosphorus extracted, forages for 38%, and cash crops for 18%. Forage production exhibited a substantial increase since 1995, becoming the largest phosphorus extractor by 2000. Our estimation of embedded phosphorus is susceptible of utilization in other countries and is a first step to estimate a country's phosphorus balance, which is necessary to understand the magnitude of the anthropogenic alteration of a biogeochemical cycle that is essential for the maintenance of life on earth.},
keywords = {agriculture, embedded phosphorus, food security, phosphorus, planetary boundaries, telecoupling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Phosphorus is an essential element for agricultural production, and for life in general, whose availability as a mineral is geographically restricted. Considering that Mexico is a major contributor to the global flow of water embedded in agricultural commodities, it is likely that this country is also a major exporter of embedded phosphorus. Thus, we quantified the embedded phosphorus for the 38 major crops produced in Mexico from 1980 to 2015, which were grouped into forages, fruits and vegetables, cereals, legumes, and cash crops. The total phosphorus extracted was 4.4 × 106 tonnes for an agricultural production of 5,844 × 106 tonnes, which respectively increased by 86% and 145% over 35 years. Food crops, i.e., cereals, fruits and vegetables, and legumes, accounted for 44% of the total phosphorus extracted, forages for 38%, and cash crops for 18%. Forage production exhibited a substantial increase since 1995, becoming the largest phosphorus extractor by 2000. Our estimation of embedded phosphorus is susceptible of utilization in other countries and is a first step to estimate a country's phosphorus balance, which is necessary to understand the magnitude of the anthropogenic alteration of a biogeochemical cycle that is essential for the maintenance of life on earth.