Reducing phosphorus losses from agricultural land to surface water

McDowell, Richard W and Haygarth, Philip M (2024) Reducing phosphorus losses from agricultural land to surface water. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 89: 103181. ISSN 0958-1669

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Abstract

Phosphorus (P) enrichment of water impairs its quality by stimulating algal growth and eutrophication, affecting an estimated 1.7 billion people. Remediation costs are substantial, estimated at $1 billion annually in Europe and $2.4 billion in the USA. Agricultural intensification over the past 50 years has increased P use brought into the system from mined fertiliser sources. This has enriched soil P concentrations and loss to surface waters via pathways such as surface runoff and subsurface flow, which are influenced by precipitation, slope, and farming practices. Effective mitigation of losses involves managing P sources, mobilisation, and transport/delivery mechanisms. The cost-effectiveness of mitigation actions can be improved if they are targeted to critical source areas (CSAs), which are small zones that disproportionately contribute to P loss. While targeting CSAs works well in areas with variable topography, flatter landscapes require managing legacy sources, such as enriched soil P to prevent P losses.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Current Opinion in Biotechnology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2200/2204
Subjects:
?? biomedical engineeringbioengineeringbiotechnology ??
ID Code:
223781
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
06 Sep 2024 12:00
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
06 Sep 2024 12:00