*Sustainable Management of Phosphorus in Agriculture for Environmental Conservation DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.113086*

(especially in newly fertilized plots, when the amount of soluble P in the fertilizer source is predominantly responsible for the dissolved P in surface runoff), with P-rate, and the timing of application, according to Mullins et al. [112]. Runoff water from fields getting broadcast P-fertilizer was shown to have a higher concentration of dissolved P than runoff water from locations where comparable quantities of P were absorbed 5 cm below the soil surface. All factors that enhance the danger of fertilizer loss, such as high fertilizer application rates and high rainfall regions, can be mitigated [113].

Additionally, some regions (e.g., areas with a lot of rainfall) should use less watersoluble fertilizers to decrease the transfer of P in runoff water [114]. When limiting incidental P-losses from fertilizer applications, scheduling the fertilizer P applications to correspond with dry weather is critical, especially in places with a lot of rainfall or regular irrigation [113]. Avoiding solid storms, which account for a significant portion of annual runoff P-loss, would prevent runoff P-loss. It has been found that delaying the application of P-nutrition sources until after a rainfall or runoff event reduces



#### **Table 3.**

*Selected reports on the management of phosphorus in agroecosystems.*

the amount of P that makes its way into runoff [115]. When it comes to runoff, the number of rainstorms following application can affect the concentration of nutrients more than the amount of runoff or rainfall that occurs each year, according to [114].

When managing P for environmental protection, the ultimate goal is to avoid the transportation of P-sources. According to this perspective, preventive and intercepting procedures have been developed by Sharpley et al. [116] to reduce P-transport. There are two distinct approaches to dealing with P pollution: preventive measures like cover crops and interception technology like buffer strips meant to remove P from the landscape [117]. In addition to conservation tillage and crop-residue management measures, buffer strips and terracing have been advocated to reduce P-movement through erosion and runoff. Cover crops, grassed waterways, and the development of riparian zones have also been proposed [118–120]. In **Table 3**, we have presented different management strategies that can reduce the P-losses from agricultural soils.
