This study examines historical trends in crop production, land area expansion, and fertilizer consumption across four major crop categories—cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and tubers—in selected global regions from 1961 to 2022. The analysis reveals substantial growth in both crop yields and cultivated land, with tubers experiencing the most significant production increases across all regions. For example, in the MEA-M zone, tuber crops exhibited an annual production growth of 3.2%, outpacing cereals (2.5%) and pulses (2.1%), while oilseeds grew steadily at 2.8%. Total land area devoted to these crops expanded notably, with pulses and cereals occupying a larger share of agricultural land in regions such as SSA-M and the EEU. Concurrently, fertilizer consumption increased across all regions, with average annual rises of 2.5% for nitrogen (N), 3.0% for phosphorus (P), and 2.8% for potassium (K). However, the study also highlights a decline in nutrient use efficiency over time, especially in regions with higher fertilizer application rates, such as the EEU and MEX. For example, N and P use efficiency in the MEA-M region decreased by 0.8% and 1.1% annually. In contrast, regions like KOR and SSA-M saw notable improvements in P efficiency, with annual increases of 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively. These findings underscore the dual challenge of maintaining agricultural productivity while enhancing nutrient management. The study advocates for a more refined approach to fertilizer use, focusing on N-specific strategies to optimize nutrient application, improve fertilizer efficiency, and reduce the environmental impact of intensive agricultural practices. The results emphasize the importance of sustainable agricultural policies to balance production growth with ecological stewardship, especially in the context of rising global food demand.
