Unveiling trends and environmental impacts of global black soil crop production: A comprehensive assessment

Abstract

Black soil (BS) is essential for in global crop production, yet long-term cultivation of crops on BS has significantly impacted its sustainable use. Evaluation of crop production's environmental impacts on BS is imperative. Existing datasets often lack specificity and are insufficient to achieve the task. This study constructed a tailored inventory for crop production on BS to analyze its environmental impacts. The results reveal an increasing trend in major crop production on BS from 274.02 million tons (Mt) (2000) to 351.73 Mt (2010) and 442.80 Mt (2015). The top five producers — Russia, China, the United States, Ukraine, and Argentina—contribute about 80 % of BS crop production. The environmental impact of global BS crop production has been steadily increasing. Russia plays an influential role in the environmental impacts of crop production on BS, with land use, green water use, blue water use, and greenhouse gas emissions reaching 42.06 million hectares, 226.01 billion m3, 9.02 billion m3, and 166.74 Mt CO2-eq, respectively, in 2015. Productivity consistently promoted the use of green and blue water across these five countries. Environmental efficiency was the largest contributor to GHGs in the five countries rich in BS resources. The research also notes a shift in maize's environmental impact transfer pattern over time. China and the United States gradually relinquished their positions as the primary bearers of environmental impact, being replaced by Ukraine and Russia. Several suggestions are proposed to enhance BS's sustainable management, emphasizing the importance of legal frameworks and sustainable agricultural practices.