Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United States
United States: Fertilizer application rates over the long-run was 137.6 kilograms per hectare in 2014. ◆ Volatile
Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United States, 1880–2014
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and Federico (2017) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per hectare.
Analysis
United States recorded 137.6 kilograms per hectare for fertilizer application rates over the long-run in 2014.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and up 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United States peaked at 139.71 kilograms per hectare in 2013 and was at its lowest, 1.4 kilograms per hectare, in 1880.
United States ranks 65th of 161 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United States, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1.4 kilograms per hectare | — |
| 1890 | 1.9 kilograms per hectare | +35.7% |
| 1900 | 2.9 kilograms per hectare | +52.6% |
| 1913 | 5.8 kilograms per hectare | +100.0% |
| 1922 | 7 kilograms per hectare | +20.7% |
| 1937 | 8.7 kilograms per hectare | +24.3% |
| 1957 | 23.4 kilograms per hectare | +169.0% |
| 1999 | 108.3 kilograms per hectare | +362.8% |
| 2002 | 112.52 kilograms per hectare | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 119.56 kilograms per hectare | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 122.67 kilograms per hectare | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 118.6 kilograms per hectare | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 126.2 kilograms per hectare | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 123.27 kilograms per hectare | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 112.43 kilograms per hectare | -8.8% |
| 2009 | 108.49 kilograms per hectare | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 117.12 kilograms per hectare | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 132.33 kilograms per hectare | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 136.52 kilograms per hectare | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 139.71 kilograms per hectare | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 137.6 kilograms per hectare | -1.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 137.6 kilograms per hectare is below the median for high income countries, which is 190.38 kilograms per hectare, 72% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +362.8% | 23.4 kilograms per hectare | 108.3 kilograms per hectare |
| 1957 | +169.0% | 8.7 kilograms per hectare | 23.4 kilograms per hectare |
| 1913 | +100.0% | 2.9 kilograms per hectare | 5.8 kilograms per hectare |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1.4 kilograms per hectare | 1.4 kilograms per hectare | 1.4 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.9 kilograms per hectare | 1.9 kilograms per hectare | 1.9 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.9 kilograms per hectare | 2.9 kilograms per hectare | 2.9 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1910s | 5.8 kilograms per hectare | 5.8 kilograms per hectare | 5.8 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1920s | 7 kilograms per hectare | 7 kilograms per hectare | 7 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1930s | 8.7 kilograms per hectare | 8.7 kilograms per hectare | 8.7 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1950s | 23.4 kilograms per hectare | 23.4 kilograms per hectare | 23.4 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 1990s | 108.3 kilograms per hectare | 108.3 kilograms per hectare | 108.3 kilograms per hectare | 1 |
| 2000s | 117.97 kilograms per hectare | 108.49 kilograms per hectare | 126.2 kilograms per hectare | 8 |
| 2010s | 132.66 kilograms per hectare | 117.12 kilograms per hectare | 139.71 kilograms per hectare | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More agriculture & rural data for United States
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.96 % change on previous year (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0094 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 673.66 current US$ per person (2021)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1831 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1981 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.9% (2021)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.9% (2021)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United States?
- Fertilizer application rates over the long-run in United States was 137.6 kilograms per hectare in 2014, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and Federico (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertilizer application rates over the long-run recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 139.71 kilograms per hectare in 2013.
- What is the lowest fertilizer application rates over the long-run recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4 kilograms per hectare in 1880.
- How does United States rank for fertilizer application rates over the long-run?
- United States ranks 65th out of 161 countries with data for 2014.
- Is fertilizer application rates over the long-run rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and Federico (2017) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertilizer application rates over the long-run. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average fertilizer application rates for select countries over the long-run, measured in kilograms of nutrient per hectare of arable land.