Quantification of embedded phosphorus in Mexican agriculture

Abstract

Phosphorus is an essential element for agricultural production, and for life in general, whose availability as a mineral is geographically restricted. Considering that Mexico is a major contributor to the global flow of water embedded in agricultural commodities, it is likely that this country is also a major exporter of embedded phosphorus. Thus, we quantified the embedded phosphorus for the 38 major crops produced in Mexico from 1980 to 2015, which were grouped into forages, fruits and vegetables, cereals, legumes, and cash crops. The total embedded phosphorus was 4.4 × 10 6 tonnes in an agricultural production of 5,844 × 10 6 tonnes, which respectively increased by 86% and 145% over 35 years. Food crops, i.e., cereals, fruits and vegetables, and legumes, accounted for 44% of the total embedded phosphorus , forages for 38%, and cash crops for 18%. Forage production exhibited a substantial increase since 1995, becoming the largest compartment of embedded phosphorus by 2000. Our estimation of embedded phosphorus is susceptible of utilization in other countries and is a first step to estimate a country's phosphorus balance, which is necessary to understand the magnitude of the anthropogenic alteration of a biogeochemical cycle that is essential for the maintenance of life on earth.