Agriculture and Phosphorus Management

Phosphorus is an essential element for plant and animals growth, but too much of it can accelerate the natural aging of lakes and streams. Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for plant and animal growth and is necessary to maintain profitable crop and livestock production. It also can increase the biological productivity of surface waters by accelerating eutrophication, the natural aging of lakes or streams brought on by nutrient enrichment. Although eutrophication is a natural process, it can be sped up by changes in the land use of a watershed that increase the amount of nutrients added to an aquatic system (Figure 1) Nitrogen (N) and P both affect eutrophication, but P is the critical element in most fresh waters. Where water salinity increases, as in estuaries, N generally controls aquatic plant growth. Phosphorus functions in the plant as a structural element and also in energy transfer. The structural components that rely on P include nucieic acids (the building blocks of DNA) and phospholipids (fats and oils), which are important membrane constituents. Phosphorus plays a significant role in energy transfer in all living organisms. The P energy transfer compounds are phosphate esters about 50 different esters have been identified. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the principal phosphate energy compound used for starch synthesis and nutrient uptake. Energy produced during respiration and photosynthesis is captured by these phosphate compounds, which then are transported to areas that are building plant tissue. This book is covers essential scientific information about phosphorus and how it behaves in soil, current concerns about phosphorus runoff from agriculture and how farms can manage this nutrient. Contents: Importance of Phosphorus in Plant Nutrient. Potassium Supply from the Soil. Agricultural and Water Management. Mineral Nutrient Efficiency of Soils and Nutrient Efficient Plants Nutrient Management of Soils and the Phosphorus Cycle Essential Role of Phosphorus in Plants Crop Ammoniation , Phosphorus Fertilizer and Nutrition