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Data

Nitrogen inputs per hectare of cropland

About this data

Source
West et al. (2014) – processed by Our World in Data
Last updated
January 1, 2014
Date range
2009–2009

Sources and processing

This data is based on the following sources

West et al. – Leverage points for improving global food security and the environment

This data represents the nutrient balance of global croplands for nitrogen and phosphorous. It quantifies nutrient inputs to the crops across multiple sources – synthetic fertilizers, organic fertilizers such as manures, and nutrient fixation from legume crops.

Nutrient removal at harvest was estimated using nutrient density data for the dry fraction of harvested material. "Excess nutrients" is the difference between nutrient inputs and the amount harvested in crop material. This represents nutrients that are lost to the environment and can create ecological imbalances on ecosystems and in water bodies.

Retrieved on
January 1, 2014
Retrieved from
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/345/6194/325
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
West, P. C., Gerber, J. S., Engstrom, P. M., Mueller, N. D., Brauman, K. A., Carlson, K. M., Cassidy, E. S., Johnston, M., MacDonald, G. K., Ray, D. K., and Siebert, S. (2014). Leverage points for improving global food security and the environment. Science, 345(6194), 325-328.

This data represents the nutrient balance of global croplands for nitrogen and phosphorous. It quantifies nutrient inputs to the crops across multiple sources – synthetic fertilizers, organic fertilizers such as manures, and nutrient fixation from legume crops.

Nutrient removal at harvest was estimated using nutrient density data for the dry fraction of harvested material. "Excess nutrients" is the difference between nutrient inputs and the amount harvested in crop material. This represents nutrients that are lost to the environment and can create ecological imbalances on ecosystems and in water bodies.

Retrieved on
January 1, 2014
Retrieved from
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/345/6194/325
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
West, P. C., Gerber, J. S., Engstrom, P. M., Mueller, N. D., Brauman, K. A., Carlson, K. M., Cassidy, E. S., Johnston, M., MacDonald, G. K., Ray, D. K., and Siebert, S. (2014). Leverage points for improving global food security and the environment. Science, 345(6194), 325-328.

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Citations

How to cite this page

To cite this page overall, including any descriptions, FAQs or explanations of the data authored by Our World in Data, please use the following citation:

“Data Page: Nitrogen inputs per hectare of cropland”. Our World in Data (2026). Data adapted from West et al.. Retrieved from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260512-085513/grapher/nitrogen-inputs-per-hectare.html [online resource] (archived on May 12, 2026).

How to cite this data

In-line citationIf you have limited space (e.g. in data visualizations), you can use this abbreviated in-line citation:

West et al. (2014) – processed by Our World in Data

Full citation

West et al. (2014) – processed by Our World in Data. “Nitrogen inputs per hectare of cropland” [dataset]. West et al., “Leverage points for improving global food security and the environment” [original data]. Retrieved May 12, 2026 from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260512-085513/grapher/nitrogen-inputs-per-hectare.html (archived on May 12, 2026).

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