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Fertilizer use in Asian agriculture: implications for sustaining food security and the environment

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Abstract

This paper studies the role of chemical fertilizers in sustaining the growth in foodgrain production in the major rice growing countries in Asia. The trends in fertilizer consumption are reviewed, the yield response and change in policies in the fertilizer sector and their impact on fertilizer prices are assessed and factors affecting fertilizer demand are analyzed. The implications of sustaining food security and the environment on fertilizer use are critically examined, future projections on food and fertilizer demand are made and areas of research needed to achieve the targets are suggested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Science Division, Philippines

    M. Hossain

  2. Agronomy, Plant Physiology and Agroecology Division, The International Rice Research Institute, P.O. Box 933, Manila, Philippines

    V.P. Singh

Authors
  1. M. Hossain
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  2. V.P. Singh
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Hossain, M., Singh, V. Fertilizer use in Asian agriculture: implications for sustaining food security and the environment. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 57, 155–169 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009865819925

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009865819925

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