Distinguishing anthropogenic and natural contributions to coproduction of national crop yields globally

[en] Crop production is a crucial ecosystem service that requires a combination of natural and anthropogenic contributions to high and stable yields, which is a coproduction process. We analysed this coproduction based on nationally aggregated data for 15 major crops for 67 countries and the European Union with data for four time steps (2000, 2006, 2010, 2014). We found strong increases in fertilizer use, net capital stock and manure use intensity for lower-middle-income countries and stagnation or decrease of these for high-income countries. We used a multiple linear regression model predicting yield to distinguish the effect of anthropogenic contributions (crop-specific fertilizer use intensity, net capital stock intensity, manure use intensity) and natural contributions (crop-specific agricultural suitability, including soil characteristics, topography and climate). We found that in particular fertilizer use intensity, manure use intensity and agricultural suitability explained variation in yields to a considerable degree (R2 = 0.62).

Research center :

Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems (LCSES)

Disciplines :

Agriculture & agronomy
Environmental sciences & ecology

Author, co-author :

Schröter, Matthias

Egli, Lukas

Brüning, Lilith

SEPPELT, Ralf ; University of Luxembourg > Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems (LCSES)

External co-authors :

yes

Language :

English

Title :

Distinguishing anthropogenic and natural contributions to coproduction of national crop yields globally

Publication date :

2021

Journal title :

Scientific Reports

eISSN :

2045-2322

Publisher :

Nature Publishing Group, London, Gb

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

1 - 8

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Focus Area :

Sustainable Development

Development Goals :

2. Zero hunger
15. Life on land

Additional URL :

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-90340-1

Available on ORBilu :

since 04 June 2025

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