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Environment: The disappearing nutrient

Nature volume 461, pages 716–718 (2009)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 25 November 2009

A Correction to this article was published on 21 October 2009

Phosphate-based fertilizers have helped spur agricultural gains in the past century, but the world may soon run out of them. Natasha Gilbert investigates the potential phosphate crisis.

Ten years ago, Don Mavinic was working on a way to get rid of a pesky precipitate that plugs up the works of waste-water treatment plants. Known as struvite, the solid crud forms in pipes and pumps when bacteria are used to clean up sewerage sludge.

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References

  1. Rosemarin, A. Down to Earth June, 27-31 (2004)..

  2. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries: Phosphate Rock (USGS, 2009).

  3. IFDC Global Phosphate Reserves, Resources and Future Production (IFDC, 2008).

  4. http://www.moroccousafta.com/tradedata.htm

  5. Vitousek, P. M. et al. Science 324, 1519-1520 (2009).

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Authors
  1. Natasha Gilbert
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Natasha Gilbert is a reporter based in Nature's London office.

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USGS Minerals report for phosphate with preliminary numbers for 2008 (pdf)

International Center for Soil Fertility & Agricultural Development

International Fertilizer Industry Association

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Gilbert, N. Environment: The disappearing nutrient. Nature 461, 716–718 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/461716a

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