Network resilience of phosphorus cycling in China has shifted by natural flows, fertilizer use and dietary transitions between 1600 and 2012

Liang, S., Yu, Y., Kharrazi, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5881-2568, Fath, B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9440-6842, Feng, C., Daigger, G.T., Chen, S., Ma, T., Zhu, B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2890-7523, Mi, Z., & Yang, Z. (2020). Network resilience of phosphorus cycling in China has shifted by natural flows, fertilizer use and dietary transitions between 1600 and 2012. Nature Food 1 (6) 365-375. 10.1038/s43016-020-0098-6.

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Abstract

The resilience of the phosphorus (P) cycling network is critical to ecosystem functioning and human activities. Although P cycling pathways have been previously mapped, a knowledge gap remains in evaluating the P network’s ability to withstand shocks or disturbances. Applying principles of mass balance and ecological network analysis, we examine the network resilience of P cycling in China from 1600 to 2012. The results show that changes in network resilience have shifted from being driven by natural P flows for food production to being driven by industrial P flows for chemical fertilizer production. Urbanization has intensified the one-way journey of P, further deteriorating network resilience. Over 2000–2012, the network resilience of P cycling has decreased by 11% owing to dietary changes towards more animal-based foods. A trade-off between network resilience improvement and increasing food trade is also observed. These findings can support policy decisions for enhanced P cycling network resilience in China.

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