Sustainable nitrogen management index

Definition

A one-dimensional ranking score that combines two efficiency measures in crop production: Nitrogen use efficiency and land use efficiency (crop yield), to provide a measure of the environmental efficiency of agricultural production.

Relevance

Overuse of synthetic fertilizers pollutes the biosphere at all levels, with specific risk to aquifers and pollution downstream and into the oceans. Reducing use and reverting current trends is a fundamental component of sustainable agricultural production and hence food systems.