Addressing phosphorus related problems in farm practice

In 2005, on behalf of the European Commission, the Soil Service of Belgium, in collaboration with the Spatial Applications Division Leuven (SADL) of the Catholic University of Leuven, prepared a study on phosphorus related problems in the EU farming sector. The focus of this study is on the role and use of phosphorus in the agricultural sector of the current 25 European Member States, its actual and potential risk on the environment, on phosphorus legislation and on legal and practical measures that are or can be taken to reduce the losses of P from agricultural activities to the aquatic environment. The prhosphorus pressure on the agricultural land has been assessed at the regional scale (NUT II and NUT III) by means of the surface balance method, which calculates surpluses on the basis of inflow and outflow pathways. The inputs considered were mineral P-fertilisers and livestock manure; the outputs were crop production, including pasture, all for the year 2003. The results calculated per NUTS II/III region varied from -20 kg P/ha of farmland (deficit) to just over 50 kg P/ha (surplus) but most regions fall within the range of -5 to +20 kg/ha. High P-surplus levels are most often, but not always, linked to high livestock density. Pedotransfer-rules using the Soil Geographic Database of Europe (SGDBE) were used to define areas at potential risk to P-surplus, i.e. land with a low sorption capacity, high erosion rates and increased risk of accelerated drainage. Because of the unclear effect of the factor drainage and the lack of reliable data for the EU 25, efforts were focused on sorption capacity and erosion risk. Limited sorption capacity is typical of the dominant soils of northern countries. Erosion risk appears to be the major driving force to P-loss in the southern member states. The resulting phosphorus sensitivity map was subjected to frequency analyses at European, Member State and NUTS II/III level. The results of the surface balance model were confronted with the proportion of vulnerable soils in order to indicate areas at risk of encountering potential phosphorus excess. The document further analyses in extenso the steps already taken by the member states in compliance with the Water Framework Directive (including the Nitrate directive), the Midterm Review of the Common Agricultural Policy and other EU legislations to monitor and combat P-related problems, in particular those affecting the quality of surface water and groundwater. Legislation regarding the application of fertilisers exists in most member states, most often as a means to comply with the Good Agricultural Practices as outlined in the Nitrates Directive, with the Codes of usual Good Farming Practices or with the Cross-Reference Requirements (GAEC Practices). However, only a few member states have put in place specific measures to control P-excess. These instruments can be of a legal, mandatory nature or can take the form of financial incentives. An assessment was made of the financial and technical effectiveness of manure treatment and manure export, currently proposed as a means of reducing the nutrient surplus in areas with particularly high livestock density. The role of systematic soil testing for a better nutrient management was also highlighted. Three European regions with known or expected problems of phosphorus surplus were studied and compared in detail: Flanders (Belgium), the Brittany region of France and the Po-valley region of Italy. The last chapter contains a series of recommendations on measures to be taken by authorities at European, national or local level, as well as by farmers level to tackle the P-problem and to reduce the P-surplus at regional level or at farm level.