The critical role of phosphorus in world production of cereal grains and legume seeds

The production of food for the nearly 7 billion people on the earth today requires a large input of phosphorus (P), a non-renewable resource. Over the 14 year period 1995–2008, the global production of dry cereal grains plus legume seeds has not increased per capita and the area farmed to obtain these yields has declined steadily. There is great concern about the availability of food, the rising cost of food and the availability of P to …