Abstract
Given the need to increase crop production in the future while minimizing any associated impact on the environment, it is important to understand the relationship between global crop production and fertilization. Tilman et al.1 argue that fertilization beyond current levels is unlikely to increase crop yields (production per unit area) as effectively as in the past, due to diminishing returns. However, their evidence is misleading and does not support their conclusions. Diminishing returns are not readily apparent on a global scale.
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References
Tilman, D., Cassman, K. G., Matson, P. A., Naylor, R. & Polasky, S. Nature 418, 671–677 (2002).
Sraffa, P. & Dobb, M. H. (eds) The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo Vol. 3, 1809–1811 (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1951).
Sraffa, P. & Dobb, M. H. (eds) The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo Vol. 4, 1815–1823 (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1951).
Case, K. E. & Fair, R. C. Principles of Microeconomics 4th edn (Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 1996).
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Hafner, S. Is fertilization efficiency misleading?. Nature 422, 397–398 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/422397a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/422397a
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