How does farming affect the phosphorus cycle?
1 Answer
Agricultural runoff in fertilized fields
Explanation:
Farmers tend to use excessive amounts of phosphorus. Therefore, runoff from agricultural fields cause phosphorus problem in lakes, reservoirs, streams, ponds. It has been guessed that even with no-point source inputs, approximately 90 percent of the impaired lakes would still not meet water quality standards due to the non-point type sources in the USA (Carpenter et al., 1998).
Both in industrial fertilizers and manure, added phosphorus onto agricultural fields caused a phosphorus accumulation in farm and pasture lands that is nearly 25 percent higher than background levels in the USA (Carpenter et al., 1998).
Reference:
Carpenter, S., Caraco, N. F., Correll, D. L.,Howarth, R. W., Sharpley, A. N., Smith, V. H. (1998). Nonpoint pollution of surface waters with phosphorus and nitrogen. Issues in Ecology, 3: 1-12.
