Balancing crop productivity and environmental benefits: The comprehensive effects of phosphate application on wheat...

The widespread unscientific use of phosphate (P) fertilizer in China's wheat production has negatively impacted sustainable agricultural development. Therefore, a scientific P management strategy is urgently needed for achieving a win-win situation in both economic and environmental benefits of wheat production. We synthesized 3118 comparisons from 296 publications to comprehensively assess the effects of P application on crop productivity and environmental benefits while identifying key associated factors through meta-analysis. P application significantly increased yield (26.6%), protein (2.1%), and P uptake (45.4%). Conditions with mean annual temperature of 7-12 °C and mean annual precipitation of 400-800 mm showed the greatest increases of yield and P uptake, but were unfavorable for improving protein. The greatest increases in yield and P uptake were observed under loamy soils with lower fertility. P application at 150-200 kg ha^-1 could promote yield, protein, and P uptake. Under basal application conditions, triple superphosphate fertilizer achieved the optimal yield increase, whereas diammonium P fertilizer obtained the optimal protein increase. Increasing planting density had a positive impact on yield and P uptake. P application at 69.6 kg ha^-1, 92.2 kg ha^-1, 101.8 kg ha^-1, and 128.4 kg ha^-1 in the southwest, northwest, north, and middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River regions, respectively, could synergistically improve the economic and environmental benefits of wheat production. Our findings provide important insights for developing sustainable P management strategy for wheat production in China.