Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Identifying potential strategies in the key sectors of China’s food chain to implement sustainable phosphorus management: a review

  • Perspective
  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

High extraction of phosphate reserves and low phosphorus utilization efficiency in the food chain in China result in large P losses and serious environmental pollution. The P fertilizer industry, soil P surplus, livestock manure P and wastewater P recycling have been identified as the priority sectors based on summarizing several systemic and in-depth reviews of P flows analysis. Mineral P fertilizer production has reached 7.4 Mt P in 2012, which is more than seven times the value in 1980. The large P surpluses in arable land resulted in soil P accumulation of up to 64 Mt during the period 1951–2010. Livestock numbers have increased dramatically (more than ten times) during the period 1949–2012 in China, especially pigs and poultry, and so has the quantity of manure that they produce. The average loading of manure P on arable land in China has increased significantly from 9.5 kg P ha−1 in 1980 to 20.4 kg P ha−1 in 2010. Up to 0.49 Mt of wastewater P discharged without treatment also exerted great pressure on the environment in 2012. Based on an understanding of P interactions in these key sectors, an integrated set of policy options and technical measures is proposed. Taking P flows in China in 2010 as an example, if all of the strategies recommended in this study are adopted in P management, about 4.3, 2.5, 1.6 and 0.3 Mt of P resources, respectively, will be saved in the P fertilizer industry, arable land production, livestock manure and wastewater sectors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antikainen R, Lemola R, Nousiainen JI, Sokka L, Esala M, Huhtanen P, Rekolainen S (2005) Stocks and flows of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Finnish food production and consumption system. Agric Ecosyst Environ 107(2–3):287–305. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2004.10.025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Augspurger N, Webel D, Lei X, Baker D (2003) Efficacy of an E. coli phytase expressed in yeast for releasing phytate-bound phosphorus in young chicks and pigs. J Anim Sci 81(2):474–483

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bai ZH, Ma L, Qin W, Chen Q, Oenema O, Zhang FS (2014) Changes in pig production in China and their effects on nitrogen and phosphorus use and losses. Environ Sci Technol 48:12742–12749

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baker MJ, Blowes DW, Ptacek CJ (1998) Laboratory development of permeable reactive mixtures for the removal of phosphorus from onsite wastewater disposal systems. Environ Sci Technol 32(15):2308–2316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barberis E, Marsan FA, Scalenghe R, Lammers A, Schwertmann U, Edwards A, Maguire R, Wilson M, Delgado A, Torrent J (1995) European soils overfertilized with phosphorus: part 1. Basic properties. Fertil Res 45(3):199–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belevi H (2002) Material flow analysis as a strategic planning tool for regional waste water and solid waste management. In: Proceedings of the workshop in “Globale Zukunft: Kreislaufwirtschaftskonzepte im kommunalen Abwasser-und Fäkalienmanagement”. GTZ/BMZ and ATV-DVWK workshop during the IFAT, pp 13–15

  • Bennett EM, Carpenter SR, Caraco NF (2001) Human impact on erodable phosphorus and eutrophication: a global perspective. BioScience 51(3):227–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bi J, Chen Q, Zhang L, Yuan Z (2013) Quantifying phosphorus flow pathways through socioeconomic systems at the county level in China. J Ind Ecol 17(3):452–460

  • Burton CH, Turner C (2003) Manure management: treatment strategies for sustainable agriculture. Editions Quae, Flitwick

  • Canut MMC, Jacomino VMF, Bråtveit K, Gomes AM, Yoshida MI (2008) Microstructural analyses of phosphogypsum generated by Brazilian fertilizer industries. Mater Charact 59(4):365–373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao N (2006) Phosphorus management in Chinese agroecosystem based on forecasting the change of soil phosphorus fertility. Ph.D. thesis (in Chinese)

  • Chen M, Chen J, Sun F (2008) Agricultural phosphorus flow and its environmental impacts in China. Sci Total Environ 405(1):140–152

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen M, Chen J, Sun F (2010) Estimating nutrient releases from agriculture in China: an extended substance flow analysis framework and a modeling tool. Sci Total Environ 408(21):5123–5136. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.07.030

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen XP, Cui ZL, Fan MS, Vitousek P, Zhao M, Ma WQ, Wang ZL, Zhang WJ, Yan XY, Yang JC, Deng XP, Gao Q, Zhang Q, Guo SW, Ren J, Li SQ, Ye YL, Wang ZH, Huang JL, Tang QY, Sun YX, Peng XL, Zhang JW, He MR, Zhu YJ, Xue JQ, Wang GL, Wu L, An N, Wu LQ, Ma L, Zhang WF, Zhang FS (2014) Producing more grain with lower environmental costs. Nature 514(7523):486–489

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper J, Carliell-Marquet C (2013) A substance flow analysis of phosphorus in the UK food production and consumption system. Resour Conserv Recycl 74:82–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cordell D, Neset T-S (2014) Phosphorus vulnerability: a qualitative framework for assessing the vulnerability of national and regional food systems to the multi-dimensional stressors of phosphorus scarcity. Glob Environ Chang 24:108–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cordell D, White S (2013) Sustainable phosphorus measures: strategies and technologies for achieving phosphorus security. Agronomy 3(1):86–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cordell D, White S (2014) Life’s bottleneck: sustaining the world’s phosphorus for a food secure future. Annu Rev Environ Resour 39:161–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cordell D, Drangert J-O, White S (2009) The story of phosphorus: global food security and food for thought. Glob Environ Chang 19(2):292–305. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.10.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cordell D, Jackson M, White S (2013) Phosphorus flows through the Australian food system: identifying intervention points as a roadmap to phosphorus security. Environ Sci Policy 29:87–102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De-Bashan LE, Bashan Y (2004) Recent advances in removing phosphorus from wastewater and its future use as fertilizer (1997–2003). Water Res 38(19):4222–4246

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Djodjic F, Bergström L, Grant C (2005) Phosphorus management in balanced agricultural systems. Soil Use Manag 21(1):94–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donnert D, Salecker M (1999) Elimination of phosphorus from waste water by crystallization. Environ Technol 20(7):735–742

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dou Z, Knowlton KF, Kohn RA, Wu Z, Satter LD, Zhang G, Toth JD, Ferguson JD (2002) Phosphorus characteristics of dairy feces affected by diets. J Environ Qual 31(6):2058–2065

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ECCEY (1995) China environment yearbook. China Environment Yearbook Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • ECCEY (2003) China environment yearbook. China Environment Yearbook Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • ECCEY (2012) China environment yearbook. China Environment Yearbook Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ensink JH, Mahmood T, van der Hoek W, Raschid-Sally L, Amerasinghe FP (2004) A nationwide assessment of wastewater use in Pakistan: an obscure activity or a vitally important one? Water Policy 6(3):197–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein E (1972) Mineral nutrition of plants: principles and perspectives, Wiley, New York, p 142

  • Gachter R, Imboden D (1985) Lake restoration. Chemical processes in lakes. Wiley, New York, pp 365–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao L, Ma L, Zhang W, Wang F, Ma W, Zhang F (2009) Estimation of nutrient resource quantity of crop straw and its utilization situation in China. Trans Chin Soc Agric Eng 25(7):173–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Giller KE, Cadisch G, Palm C (2002) The north–south divide! organic wastes, or resources for nutrient management? Agronomie 22(7–8):703–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou Y, Ma L, Gao Z, Wang F, Sims J, Ma W, Zhang F (2013) The driving forces for nitrogen and phosphorus flows in the food chain of China, 1980–2010. J Environ Qual 42(4):962–971

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jeong Y-S, Matsubae-Yokoyama K, Kubo H, Pak J-J, Nagasaka T (2009) Substance flow analysis of phosphorus and manganese correlated with South Korean steel industry. Resour Conserv Recycl 53(9):479–489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin X, Xu Q, Huang C (2005) Current status and future tendency of lake eutrophication in China. Sci China Ser C Life Sci 48(2):948–954

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jing J, Rui Y, Zhang F, Rengel Z, Shen J (2010) Localized application of phosphorus and ammonium improves growth of maize seedlings by stimulating root proliferation and rhizosphere acidification. Field Crops Res 119(2):355–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ju X, Zhang F, Bao X, Römheld V, Roelcke M (2005) Utilization and management of organic wastes in Chinese agriculture: past, present and perspectives. Sci China Ser C Life Sci 48(2):965–979

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Junfa T (2009) Locate correctly the present status and outlook for phosphate rock resources reserves of China-analysis on serve life of phosphate rock reserves in China. Phosphorus Compd Fertil 24(3):6–8 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Khasawneh F, Sample E, Kamprath E (1980) Evaluation and utilization of residual phosphorus in soils. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim T, Mullaney EJ, Porres JM, Roneker KR, Crowe S, Rice S, Ko T, Ullah AH, Daly CB, Welch R (2006) Shifting the pH profile of Aspergillus niger PhyA phytase to match the stomach pH enhances its effectiveness as an animal feed additive. Appl Environ Microbiol 72(6):4397–4403

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lei X, Stahl C (2001) Biotechnological development of effective phytases for mineral nutrition and environmental protection. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 57(4):474–481

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Zhang F, Li X, Christie P, Sun J, Yang S, Tang C (2003) Interspecific facilitation of nutrient uptake by intercropped maize and faba bean. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 65(1):61–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Yuan Z, Bi J, Wu H (2010) Anthropogenic phosphorus flow analysis of Hefei City, China. Sci. Total Environ 408(23):5715–5722. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.08.052

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Huang G, Meng Q, Ma L, Yuan L, Wang F, Zhang W, Cui Z, Shen J, Chen X, Jiang R, Zhang F (2011) Integrated soil and plant phosphorus management for crop and environment in China. A review. Plant Soil 349(1–2):157–167. doi:10.1007/s11104-011-0909-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li YX, Zhang WF, Ma L, Huang GQ, Oenema O, Zhang FS, Dou ZX (2013) An analysis of China’s fertilizer policies: impacts on the industry, food security, and the environment. J Environ Qual 42:972–981

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li G, Li H, Leffelaar PA, Shen J, Zhang F (2014) Characterization of phosphorus in animal manures collected from three (dairy, swine, and broiler) farms in China. PLoS One 9(7):e102698. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102698

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Diamond J (2005) China’s environment in a globalizing world. Nature 435(7046):1179–1186

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Liao W, Zhang Z, Zhang H, Wang X, Meng N (2007) The response of vegetable yield to phosphate fertilizer and organic manure and environmental risk assessment of phosphorus accumulated in soil. Sci Agric Sin 40(5):959–965

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Villalba G, Ayres RU, Schroder H (2008) Global phosphorus flows and environmental impacts from a consumption perspective. J Ind Ecol 12(2):229–247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lott JN, Kolasa J, Batten GD, Campbell LC (2011) The critical role of phosphorus in world production of cereal grains and legume seeds. Food Secur 3(4):451–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma L, Ma WQ, Velthof GL, Wang FH, Qin W, Zhang FS, Oenema O (2010) Modeling nutrient flows in the food chain of China. J Environ Qual 39(4):1279. doi:10.2134/jeq2009.0403

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ma D, Hu S, Chen D, Li Y (2012) Substance flow analysis as a tool for the elucidation of anthropogenic phosphorus metabolism in China. J Clean Prod 29–30:188–198. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.01.033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma L, Wang F, Zhang W, Ma W, Velthof G, Qin W, Oenema O, Zhang F (2013) Environmental assessment of management options for nutrient flows in the food chain in China. Environ Sci Technol 47(13):7260–7268. doi:10.1021/es400456u

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald GK, Bennett EM, Potter PA, Ramankutty N (2011) Agronomic phosphorus imbalances across the world’s croplands. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108(7):3086–3091. doi:10.1073/pnas.1010808108

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Matsubae-Yokoyama K, Kubo H, Nakajima K, Nagasaka T (2009) A material flow analysis of phosphorus in Japan. J Ind Ecol 13(5):687–705. doi:10.1111/j.1530-9290.2009.00162.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MEP (2010) The first national pollution census bulletin. The Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Metson GS, Bennett EM, Elser JJ (2012) The role of diet in phosphorus demand. Environ Res Lett 7(4):044043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MOA (Minister of Agriculture) (1949–2012) Chinese animal husbandry yearbook. China Statistics Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

  • Moore P, Daniel T, Edwards D (2000) Reducing phosphorus runoff and inhibiting ammonia loss from poultry manure with aluminum sulfate. J Environ Qual 29(1):37–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moriyama K, Kojima T, Minawa Y, Matsumoto S, Nakamachi K (2001) Development of artificial seed crystal for crystallization of calcium phosphate. Environ Technol 22(11):1245–1252

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morse D (1995) Environmental considerations of livestock producers. J Anim Sci 73(9):2733–2740

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • NBSC (National Bureau of Statistics of China) (1949–2013) China statistic yearbook. China Statistics Press, Beijing

  • Oenema O, Oudendag D, Velthof GL (2007) Nutrient losses from manure management in the European Union. Livest Sci 112(3):261–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ott C, Rechberger H (2012) The European phosphorus balance. Resour Conserv Recycl 60:159–172. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2011.12.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oyang Z, Wang R (2000) Water environmental problems and ecological options in China. In: China water vision: meeting the water challenge in rapid transition. The 2nd world water forum, The Hague, pp 17–22

  • Qi G, Gao C (2008) Application of the controlled-release fertilizer in agriculture. Mod Agric Sci 11:022

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiao M, Zheng Y-M, Zhu Y-G (2011) Material flow analysis of phosphorus through food consumption in two megacities in northern China. Chemosphere 84(6):773–778. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.01.050

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu J (2010) Phosphate fertilizer warning for China. Nat News 10:498

  • Rabalais N, Diaz R, Levin L, Turner R, Gilbert D, Zhang J (2010) Dynamics and distribution of natural and human-caused hypoxia. Biogeosciences 7(2):585–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reindl J (2007) Phosphorus removal from wastewater and manure through struvite formation: An annotated bibliography. Dane County Dept of Highway. Transportation and Public Works, Wisconsin

    Google Scholar 

  • Sattari SZ, Bouwman AF, Giller KE, van Ittersum MK (2012) Residual soil phosphorus as the missing piece in the global phosphorus crisis puzzle. Proc Natl Acad Sci 109(16):6348–6353

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sattari S, van Ittersum M, Giller K, Zhang F, Bouwman A (2014) Key role of China and its agriculture in global sustainable phosphorus management. Environ Res Lett 9(5):054003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid Neset T-S, Bader H-P, Scheidegger R, Lohm U (2008) The flow of phosphorus in food production and consumption—Linköping, Sweden, 1870–2000. Sci Total Environ 396(2–3):111–120. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.02.010

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schröder B, Breves G, Rodehutscord M (1996) Mechanisms of intestinal phosphorus absorption and availability of dietary phosphorus in pigs. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr 103(6):209–214

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Senthilkumar K, Nesme T, Mollier A, Pellerin S (2012) Conceptual design and quantification of phosphorus flows and balances at the country scale: the case of France. Glob Biogeochem, Cycles 26

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpley AN, Herron S, Daniel T (2007) Overcoming the challenges of phosphorus-based management in poultry farming. J Soil Water Conserv 62(6):375

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheng H, Xia X, Yang L, Zhao H, Luan S, Feng K (2003) Effects of phosphorus application on soil available P and different P form in runoff. Acta Ecol Sin 24(12):2837–2840

    Google Scholar 

  • Shin H, Lee S (1998) Removal of nutrients in wastewater by using magnesium salts. Environ Technol 19(3):283–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smadi MM, Haddad RH, Akour AM (1999) Potential use of phosphogypsum in concrete. Cem Concr Res 29(9):1419–1425

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smit B, Middelkoop JC, Dijk W, Reuler H, Buck AJ, Sanden P (2010) A quantification of phosphorus flows in the Netherlands through agricultural production, industrial processing and households. Plant Research International, Business Unit Agrosysteemkunde, Wageningen

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart W, Hammond L, Kauwenbergh S (2005) Phosphorus as a natural resource. Phosphorus: agriculture and the environment, agronomy monograph no. 46. American Society of Agronomy, Madison

  • Suh S, Yee S (2011) Phosphorus use-efficiency of agriculture and food system in the US. Chemosphere 84(6):806–813. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.01.051

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sun B, Zhang L, Yang L, Zhang F, Norse D, Zhu Z (2012) Agricultural non-point source pollution in China: causes and mitigation measures. Ambio 41(4):370–379

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Syers K, Bekunda M, Cordell D, Corman J, Johnston J, Rosemarin A, Salcedo I (2011) Phosphorus and food production. UNEP year book, United Nations Environmental Program, Nairobi, pp 34–45

  • Tayibi H, Choura M, López FA, Alguacil FJ, López-Delgado A (2009) Environmental impact and management of phosphogypsum. J Environ Manag 90(8):2377–2386

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D, Cassman KG, Matson PA, Naylor R, Polasky S (2002) Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature 418(6898):671–677

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • USGS (2014) Mineral commodity summaries. http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/phosphate_rock/mcs-2014-phosp.pdf

  • Vaccari DA (2009) Phosphorus: a looming crisis. Sci Am 300(6):54–59

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Kauwenbergh SJ, Stewart M, Mikkelsen R (2013) World reserves of phosphate rock a dynamic and unfolding story. Better Crops 97:18–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Villalba G, Liu Y, Schroder H, Ayres RU (2008) Global phosphorus flows in the industrial economy from a production perspective. J Ind Ecol 12(4):557–569. doi:10.1111/j.1530-9290.2008.00050.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J (2013) Sulphur phosphorus and bulk materials handling related engineering. SP BMH Rel Eng 1:7–12 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang F-H, Ma W-Q, Dou Z-X, Ma L, Liu X-L, Xu J-X, Zhang F-S (2006) The estimation of the production amount of animal manure and its environmental effect in China. China Environ Sci 26(5):614–617

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Sims JT, Ma L, Ma W, Dou Z, Zhang F (2011) The phosphorus footprint of China’s food chain: implications for food security, natural resource management, and environmental quality. J Environ Qual 40(4):1081. doi:10.2134/jeq2010.0444

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Xue S, Xie G (2012) Value-taking for residue factor as a parameter to assess the field residue of field crops. J China Agric Univ 17:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Q, Bishop P, Keener T, Stallard J, Stile L (2001) Sludge digestion enhancement and nutrient removal from anaerobic supernatant by Mg(OH)2 application. Water Sci Technol 44(1):161–166

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu H, Yuan Z, Zhang Y, Gao L, Liu S (2014) Life-cycle phosphorus use efficiency of the farming system in Anhui Province, Central China. Resour Conserv Recycl 83:1–14. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2013.12.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan Z, Liu X, Wu H, Zhang L, Bi J (2011a) Anthropogenic phosphorus flow analysis of Lujiang County, Anhui Province, Central China. Ecol Model 222(8):1534–1543. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.01.016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan Z, Shi J, Wu H, Zhang L, Bi J (2011b) Understanding the anthropogenic phosphorus pathway with substance flow analysis at the city level. J Environ Manag 92(8):2021–2028. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.03.025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Wu S, Ji H, Kolbe H (2004) Estimation of agricultural non-point source pollution in China and the alleviating strategies. I. Estimation of agricultural non-point source pollution in China in early 21 century. Sci Agric Sin 37(7):1008–1017

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Ma W, Zhang F, Ma J (2005) Comparing the superiority of Chinese phosphate rock and the using strategy with that of United States and Morocco. J Nat Resour 20:378–386 (Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Ma W, Ji Y, Fan M, Oenema O, Zhang F (2008) Efficiency, economics, and environmental implications of phosphorus resource use and the fertilizer industry in China. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 80(2):131–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng C, Bluemling B, Liu Y, Mol AP, Chen J (2013) Managing manure from China’s pigs and poultry: the influence of ecological rationality 43(5):661–672

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Basic Research Program (973-2015CB150405) and the Innovative Group Grant of the National Science Foundation of China (31421092). We also thank Dr. Peter Christie from Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK for his linguistic revision.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security (CREFS), China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing, 100193, China

    Guohua Li, Haigang Li & Fusuo Zhang

  2. Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Guohua Li, M. K. van Ittersum & P. A. Leffelaar

  3. Shenzhen K+S Trading Co., Ltd, Fuhua 3 Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, 518048, China

    Gaoqiang Huang

Authors
  1. Guohua Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gaoqiang Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Haigang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. K. van Ittersum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. A. Leffelaar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fusuo Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fusuo Zhang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, G., Huang, G., Li, H. et al. Identifying potential strategies in the key sectors of China’s food chain to implement sustainable phosphorus management: a review. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 104, 341–359 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9736-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9736-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation