Evaluating measures to control the impact of agricultural phosphorus on water quality

Abstract

Current issues in phosphorus loss from non-point sources are reviewed. The need to balance both source and transport control mechanisms in field approaches aimed at controlling P loss from agricultural land is explored. Other control measures such as P source manipulation are evaluated. A case is made for integrating work on P loss at various research scales, from plot to hillslope to catchment, and a simple field-scale model to evaluate the factors controlling P loss in surface runoff is presented.