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Title: Distant views and local realities: The limits of global assessments to restore the fragmented phosphorus cycle

Author
item SHARPLEY, ANDREW - University Of Arkansas
item Kleinman, Peter
item JARVIE, HELEN - Centre For Ecology And Hydrology
item FLATEN, DON - University Of Manitoba

Submitted to: Agricultural and Environmental Letters
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2016
Publication Date: 10/6/2016
Citation: Sharpley, A., Kleinman, P.J., Jarvie, H., Flaten, D. 2016. Distant views and local realities: The limits of global assessments to restore the fragmented phosphorus cycle. Agricultural and Environmental Letters. L. 1:160024. doi: 10.2134/ae12016.07.0024.

Interpretive Summary: The era of “big data” has resulted in an explosion of global studies providing insight into the need for more strategic approaches to phosphorus management in agriculture. This paper highlights the benefits and limitations of these studies, pointing out how they can best be used to help address the very real needs of society as a whole as well as the challenges to agriculture and the environment.

Technical Abstract: With more sophisticated data compilation and analytical capabilities, the evolution of “big data” analysis has occurred rapidly. We examine the meta-analysis of “big data” representing phosphorus (P) flows and stocks in global agriculture and address the need to consider local nuances of farm operations to avoid erroneous or misleading recommendations. As P-related surface water impairment continues, agriculture is subject to increased scrutiny, amid calls for more restrictive P use. Of concern is the disconnect between macro-needs for better P resource management at regional and national scales, versus local realities of P management at farm scales. Both agricultural and environmental researchers should focus on providing solutions to disconnects identified by meta-analyses and ensure that production and conservation strategies consider farming realities.