Environmental damage caused by reactive nitrogen is not just a European problem (Nature 472, 159–161; 2011). China must also rein in its overuse of nitrogen fertilizers — which accounts for 40% of global production since 2006 — to balance food-security requirements with the protection of human health and the environment.
Despite China's nitrogen consumption almost doubling between 1990 and 2009, its grain production increased by just 22%. Although the research community widely recognizes the problem of fertilizer overuse, farmers in China continue the practice, which is promoted by some agricultural-extension advisers and by sellers of fertilizer.
Chinese farmers need to be taught how, when and in what quantities fertilizer should be applied. The existing agricultural-extension system must revert to its role of assisting farmers by methods other than promoting fertilizer sales. Establishing an environmental-extension system at the township level could also help to prevent overuse of fertilizers and pesticides.
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Gong, P., Liang, L. & Zhang, Q. China must reduce fertilizer use too. Nature 473, 284–285 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/473284e
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/473284e
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