Utilization of Phosphorus at Farm Level in Denmark

Abstract

The Baltic Sea is one of the marine water bodies suffering most from eutrophication with phosphorus deriving from agricultural operations. The countries sharing the marine environment of the Baltic Sea are gathered under the so-called HELSINKI convention, which among others aims to reduce the phosphorus input. Although since more than two decades in function the convention shows no significant effect on the P discharge from agriculture. This seems not to be the result of lack of knowledge involved in P dynamics in soils and handling options for P fertilizers but lack of handling of otherwise efficient codes of good agricultural practice. This chapter shows how Denmark as the first HELCOM state succeeded to reduce P discharges from agriculture by implementing a mandatory advisory/recommendation system.