Biological Phosphorus Cycling in Grasslands: Interactions with Nitrogen

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is indispensable for all living organisms and cannot be replaced in most of its biological functions. Whereas agricultural production is limited in many areas by the lack of available P, excessive P inputs in other agro-ecosystems result in the pollution of surface waters (Frossard et al. 2009). Furthermore, there are indications that the current reserves of rock phosphates that can be mined at a relatively low cost to be processed into fertilizers will be exhausted within the next century (Cordell et al. 2009). P use must therefore become much more efficient in the future. Concepts and management practices for a better crop P use efficiency of P derived from soil or from fertilizer will be based on a better understanding and quantification of soilplant processes at different spatial and temporal scales.