Journal Article

Targeting critical source areas for phosphorus losses

Elmquist, Helena, Djodjic, Faruk, Collentine, Dennis

2018

Overview

Diffuse phosphorus (P) losses from arable land need to be reduced in a cost-efficient way, taking into account their temporal and spatial variability. This study, based on 16 farms across southern Sweden, examined possibilities for identifying critical source areas for P losses based on the combined results of high-resolution erosion modelling, independent risk assessments by farmers, soil survey and SWOT analysis performed by farmers. Statistically significant differences in dissolved P release were found between soil P test classes in the studied area, whereas soil textural classes and not P content governed potential mobilisation of soil particles and unreactive P. Spatial comparison of problem areas identified by farmers and modelled features showed that the modelled erosion pathways intersected 109 in a total of 128 (85%) observed problem areas. The study demonstrates the value in involving farmers in the identification of critical source areas in order to select and support implementation of effective countermeasures.

• Publisher: Springer Science + Business Media,Springer Netherlands,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Agricultural land / Agriculture / Arable land / arable soils / Atmospheric Sciences / cost effectiveness / Decision analysis / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecology / Environment / Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology / Environmental Management / Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use / Erosion / Erosion models / Farmers / Farms / Function words / Humans / Markvetenskap / Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap / Modelling / Models, Theoretical / Phosphorus / Phosphorus - analysis / Physical Geography / Risk assessment / Soil / Soil analysis / Soil erosion / Soil particles / Soil Science / Soil surveys / Soil testing / Soils / Spatial analysis / Spatial variability / Statistical analysis / Sweden / SWOT analysis / Tests