在20世纪农业生产率得到了很大地提高,但是在21世纪要继续保持快速的增长会遭遇许多挑战。全球范围内,到目前为止农业生产率的提高主要归功于无机氮肥的广泛使用,但有人已质疑此种措施长期使用的益处。的确,无机氮肥的生产和使用会产生温室气体(GHG),由此会引起气候的变化,威胁以后种植系统的生产率。这些问题已引起人们对现代农业技术的可持续性的关注。 Agricultural productivity has greatly improved in the twentieth century, but many rapid challenges are to be encountered in continuing to maintain rapid growth in the 21st century. Globally, the increase in agricultural productivity so far has been largely attributed to the widespread use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, but the long-term benefits of such measures have been questioned. Indeed, the production and use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers generate greenhouse gases (GHGs), which can cause climate changes that threaten the future productivity of cropping systems. These issues have drawn people’s attention to the sustainability of modern agricultural technologies.