Summary
This study compiled field-condition data on Olsen P threshold values for different crops across Europe and developed regression models to predict these thresholds, identifying environmental factors—particularly soil pH, clay content, and rainfall—as more influential than crop type. Analysis of EU agricultural soils revealed that only a minority of European cropland is phosphorus-responsive, suggesting more precise resource allocation is possible and that most European phosphorus demand could be met through recycling from manure, wastewater, and municipal solid waste.
UK applicability
The predictive models developed using European soil and climatic data should be directly applicable to UK conditions, which fall within the study's geographic scope. The findings on P-responsive site identification and circular economy potential for phosphorus recycling are relevant to UK agricultural policy and sustainable nutrient management practice.
Key measures
Olsen P threshold values; explained variance in threshold prediction models (61% with three variables, 49% with two); proportion of P-responsive soils (27.8% of EU cropland, 42.7% of grassland); soil pH, clay content, annual average rainfall
Outcomes reported
The study developed predictive models for Olsen P threshold values across European soils using soil pH, clay content, and rainfall as explanatory variables, and assessed the proportion of EU cropland and grassland requiring phosphorus fertilisation. The analysis evaluated how circular economy approaches to phosphorus recycling could meet European agricultural phosphorus demand.
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