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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146503
Title: STRATEGIES FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF PHOSPHORUS

Author
item Sharpley, Andrew
item WITHERS, PAUL - ADAS, SALISBURY UK
item ABDALLA, CHARLES - PENN STATE UNIV
item DODD, ALYSSA - PENN STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Special Publication
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2003
Publication Date: 7/20/2005
Citation: Sharpley, A.N., Withers, P., Abdalla, C., Dodd, A. 2005. Strategies for the sustainable management of phosphorus. Chapter VI-5. In: Sims, J.T., Sharpley, A. N., editors. Phosphorus: Agriculture and the Environment. Madison, WI:American Society of Agronomy Special Publication. p. 1069-1070.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This review is part of a revised and updated version of the American Society of Agronomy's book "Phosphorus in Agriculture and the Environment." The present review describes strategies for the sustainable management of phosphorus (P) in agriculture, where sustainable agriculture is defined as "...farming systems that are environmentally sound, profitable, productive, and maintain the social fabric of the rural community." In terms of sustainable P management, it is necessary to consider the interdependent processes and controls at farm, watershed, and ecosystem scales, as well as recent changes in farming systems. This chapter discusses how agricultural P use may become more sustainable within the confines of production and environmental pressures. In order to do this though, consideration must be given to the major sources and pathways of P within and among watersheds and where strategic weak links occur and the factors controlling them. In light of historic and current P flows and export to surface waters, background or pristine conditions must be determined in order to define impairment and effectively target remedial measures. Measures to help move towards sustainable P management that will be discussed include short-term remedial options, land management changes, long-term policy mechanisms, economic mechanisms, voluntary and regulatory mechanisms that will facilitate system changes, and how science and technology can be rapidly and effectively incorporated into more sustainable agricultural management strategies.