Launched in November 2022, the Global Nutrient Balance database offers comprehensive estimates of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium inputs and outputs across all cropland worldwide.
The database serves as a central knowledge bank for quantifying nutrient balances and nutrient use efficiency at national, regional and global levels, and as a foundation for vigilance on the impact of nutrient use on food production, climate, biodiversity, water and air quality.
This initiative is jointly led by IFA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in close collaboration with leading agricultural research institutions, including:
University of Maryland Center for Env. Science
Wageningen University & Research
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
INTA Oliveros, Argentina
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Minnesota, Institute on the Environment
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CREAF
Explore the database, methodology and analytical briefs here.
Source: FAO
Cropland nutrient use efficiency is calculated as the ratio of outputs/inputs and reported as percentage (%). Inputs: Atmospheric deposition, Biological fixation, Manure applied, Mineral fertilizers, Seed. There is no atmospheric deposition and biological fixation for P and K. Outputs: Crop harvest removal.