This document discusses the status and challenges of global soil fertility and fertilizer use. It outlines that underuse of fertilizers is a problem in developing countries, leading to food production losses. However, overuse and misuse of fertilizers in other areas causes issues like harmful algal blooms and eutrophication. Moving forward, wider dissemination and stakeholder input on sustainable fertilizer practices are needed to help implement guidelines for improving global soil fertility while avoiding environmental problems from overuse.

1. The Status and Challenges
of Global Soil Fertility and
the Use of Fertilizers
Gary Pierzynski
ITPS Member
The Ohio State University

2. Outline
• Justification for project
• Underuse of fertilizers
• Food security: Nutrition and yield
• Overuse/misuse of fertilizers
• Path forward

3. Justification for Project
• World Soil Charter
• Global Soil Partnership/ITPS Pillars of
Action
• Status of the World’s Soil Resources
• Sustainable Development Goals
• Implementation of Voluntary Guidelines
for Sustainable Soil Management
• Absence of any similar publication

4. Underuse of Fertilizers
Country Category N P K
------------------------------------- Tg/yr --------------------------------------
Developed -61.9 -162.5 -0.03
Developing -123.6 -295.3 -397.0
Least Developed -25.0 -33.8 -36.5
Global Mean -210.6 -491.5 -433.4
Production loss from nutrient deficits, equivalent rice yield
Source: Tan et al., 2005

5. Underuse of Fertilizers
Soil Fertility Assessment, Soil Factors, Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: Stewart et al., 2020
Limiting Factor
East
Africa
Ethiopia Great Lakes
West
Africa
----------------------- rank ----------------------
N deficiency 1 1 1 2
Low SOC content 2 3 3 1
P deficiency 3 2 4 3
Acidity 4 4 2
Micronutrient deficiency - 5 5 5
Low Available Water Holding
Capacity
5 - - 4

6. Underuse of Fertilizers
Soil Fertility Assessment, Socioeconomic Factors, Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: Stewart et al., 2020
Limiting Factor
East
Africa Ethiopia
Great
Lakes
West
Africa
-------------------- rank ---------------------
Access to financial resources 1 1 1 1
Avail/Capacity of public sector extension 2 2 2 2
Suitable info on the composition of manures, etc. 4 4 3 -
Avail of private sector service providers 3 3 4 4
Biophysical Factors: Access to quality soil testing; Availability of inorganic fertilizers

7. BIOAVAILABILITY
Food Security: Nutrition and Yield
Processed Food
Ingredients
Feed
Animals
Animal
Products
Humans
* *
*
*
*
*Nutrient entry points
PlantsSoil

8. Welston - Lake Alma 2010
Akron-Lake Rockwell 2011
Lima 2011
Findlay 2012
Bur Oak 2010
Clermont CO-
Harsha Lake 2012
Overuse: Examples of Harmful Algal Bloom on Ohio’s
Inland Public Water Supply Lakes and Reservoirs
Bowling Green 2013

9. World Balance
(1000 tonnes)
N = +15.4
P = +2.9
K = +12.2
Industry Meets Demand/Regional Differences
Source: FAO, 2019

10. Consequences of Misuse/Overuse
• Eutrophication
• Drinking water contamination
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Ammonia emissions
• Soil acidification
• Soil pollution
• Loss of nonrenewable resources

11. Path Forward
• Dissemination, Implementation, Stakeholder Input
• Basis for, or supplement to, informed policy and practices
regarding sustainable use and management of fertilizers
• Getting the document to influencers
• Overcoming barriers to effective implementation of the
Fertilizer Code