Abstract
Global food security must address the dual challenges of closing yield gaps (i.e., actual vs. potential yield) while improving environmental sustainability. Nutrient balance is essential for achieving global food security. Historical (in distinct “Eras” from late 1800s to 2012) and geographical (in United States vs. remainder of World) changes in maize ( Zea mays L.) grain yields and plant nutrient content (N, P, and K) were characterized from studies (>150) with known plant densities. At the community scale, greater yield to nutrient content ratios (physiological efficiency, PE) were documented for United States vs. World. The U.S. historical trend displayed increasing gains for community‐scale yield and nutrient uptake, except for a recent decline attributed to weather. At the individual‐plant scale, geographic PE differences over time were primarily explained by changes in yield, and secondarily by nutrient content changes. Despite wide variation, high‐yield maize in both geographies was associated with balanced N/P (5:1) and N/K (1:1) ratios. More scope exists for maize nutrient PE gains in developing regions. Achieving balanced nutrition in optimally integrated soil‐crop management cropping systems will facilitate simultaneous realization of high‐yield and bio‐fortification goals in maize improvement efforts.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Community-scale physiological efficiency was greater in the United States than elsewhere.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“greater yield to nutrient content ratios (physiological efficiency, PE) were documented for United States vs. World”
Claim · model-written summary
US community-scale yield and nutrient uptake increased historically, apart from a recent weather-related decline.
- Outcome
- community‐scale yield and nutrient uptakee0
- Direction
- increasing gainse0
- Qualifier
- except for a recent decline attributed to weathere0
- Setting
- U.S.e0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The U.S. historical trend displayed increasing gains for community‐scale yield and nutrient uptake, except for a recent decline attributed to weather”
Claim · model-written summary
Individual-plant geographic PE differences were explained primarily by yield changes and secondarily by nutrient content changes.
- Outcome
- geographic PE differencese0
- Qualifier
- changes in yield, and secondarily by nutrient content changese0
Not reportedTaxonDirection
Verbatim
e0“geographic PE differences over time were primarily explained by changes in yield, and secondarily by nutrient content changes”
Claim · model-written summary
High-yield maize was associated with balanced N/P ratio of 5:1.
Zea maysNot reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“high‐yield maize in both geographies was associated with balanced N/P (5:1) and N/K (1:1) ratios”
Claim · model-written summary
High-yield maize was associated with balanced N/K ratio of 1:1.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“high‐yield maize in both geographies was associated with balanced N/P (5:1) and N/K (1:1) ratios”
Claim · model-written summary
Developing regions have more scope for maize nutrient physiological efficiency gains.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“More scope exists for maize nutrient PE gains in developing regions”
Claim · model-written summary
Balanced nutrition and integrated soil-crop management are recommended for high yield and biofortification.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Achieving balanced nutrition in optimally integrated soil‐crop management cropping systems will facilitate simultaneous realization of high‐yield and bio‐fortification goals in maize improvement efforts”