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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #103648
Title: PRACTICAL AND INNOVATIVE MEASURES FOR THE CONTROL OF AGRICULTURAL PHOSPHORUS LOSSES TO WATER: AN OVERVIEW

Author
item Sharpley, Andrew
item FOY, BOB - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
item WITHERS, PAUL - MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/1999
Publication Date: 1/5/2000
Citation: Sharpley, A.N., Foy, B.H., Withers, P. 2000. Practical and innovative measures for the control of agricultural phosphorus losses to water: An overview. Journal of Environmental Quality. 29:1-9.

Interpretive Summary: Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for plant growth and its input has long been recognized as necessary to maintain profitable crop production. Phosphorus inputs can also increase the biological productivity of surface waters. Thus, reducing P loss in runoff is of prime importance in minimizing accelerated eutrophication of fresh waters. More intensive crop pand livestock production in many parts of the world has generally increase the potential for P export from watersheds. Thus, a greater understanding of where P is coming from, how much P in soil and water is too much, and how and where we can reduce these losses and inputs, is needed to develop economically and environmentally sound P management systems. We have not been successful at translating this basic knowledge to implementation of management programs that are both effective and practical to farmers. In many areas, participation in such programs is still voluntary, thus, we must continue to emphasize interdisciplinary research to highlight the economic and environmental benefits of remedial programs.

Technical Abstract: Inputs of P are essential for profitable crop and livestock agriculture. However, its export in watershed runoff can accelerate the eutrophication of receiving fresh waters. The specialization of crop and livestock farming has created regional imbalances in P inputs in feed and fertilizer and output in farm produce. In many of these areas, soil P exceeds crop needs and has enriched surface runoff with P. This paper provides a brief overview of P management to maintain agricultural production and protect water quality, that were discussed at the Conference "Practical and innovative measures for the control of agricultural phosphorus losses to water," sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and held in Antrim, Northern Ireland, June, 1998. The purpose of the Conference was to assess current strategies for reducing the loads and concentrations of P from agricultural land to surface waters. Topics discussed at the interdisciplinary Conference and reviewed here included sustainable P management in productive agriculture; assessing land application of P; evaluating and modeling P transport and transformations in soil, runoff, streams, and lakes; and implementation of integrated BMPs. From these discussions, measures to control agricultural P losses to water may be brought about by optimizing fertilizer P use-efficiency, refining animal feed rations, using feed additives to increase P absorption by the animal, moving manure from surplus to deficit areas, and targeting conservation practices, such as reduced tillage, buffer strips and cover crops, to critical areas of P export from a watershed.