PHOSPHORUS LOSSES AND ON-FARM MITIGATION OPTIONS FOR DAIRY FARMING SYSTEMS: A REVIEW - U. Tayyab; F.A. McLean (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2015)
Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient in livestock production systems. It together with calcium functions in the skeletal development of animal and also essential for energy metabolism and cell replication within animals. In livestock production, the P requirements are met by feeding animals with both organic and inorganic sources of P.This elementis a major limiting nutrient controlling biological productivity in surface waters. Its excess losses from agricultural systems and from point or diffuse sources can lead to several environmental consequences like eutrophication. On dairy farms non-point source like mineral fertilizer, manure or slurry fertilizer and point sources like grazing with help of overland and subsurface water flow are potential P losses pathways. For efficient mitigation strategy, the quantification of potential P losses is prerequisite e.g., Danish P index. Precise use of P fertilizer with riparian buffer strips, conservation tillage, precise feeding, animal health, exogenous enzymes and rotational grazing are best ways to reduce P losses. Additional to these, manure storage, management and transport can be managed efficiently to reduce P losses from dairy farms.
Keywords: journal article; Phosphorus; Dairy farms; Point Source; Non-point source; Danish P index; Feeding; Manure management