Phosphorus mirabilis: Illuminating the Past and Future of Phosphorus Stewardship

Abstract

After its discovery in 1669, phosphorus (P) was named Phosphorus mirabilis (“the miraculous bearer of light”), arising from the chemoluminescence when white P is exposed to the atmosphere. The metaphoric association between P and light resonates through history: from the discovery of P at the start of the Enlightenment period to the vital role of P in photosynthetic capture of light in crop and food production through to new technologies, which seek to capitalize on the interactions between novel ultrathin P allotropes and light, including photocatalysis, solar energy production, and storage. In this introduction to the Journal of Environmental Quality special section “Celebrating the 350th Anniversary of Discovering Phosphorus—For Better or Worse,” which brings together 22 paper contributions, we shine a spotlight on the historical and emerging challenges and opportunities in research and understanding of the agricultural, environmental, and societal significance of this vital element. We highlight the role of P in water quality impairment and the variable successes of P mitigation measures. We reflect on the need to improve P use efficiency and on the kaleidoscope of challenges facing efficient use of P. We discuss the requirement to focus on place‐based solutions for developing effective and lasting P management. Finally, we consider how cross‐disciplinary collaborations in P stewardship offer a guiding light for the future, and we explore the glimmers of hope for reconnecting our broken P cycle and the bright new horizons needed to ensure future food, water, and bioresource security for growing global populations. Core Ideas This special section comprises 22 papers celebrating the 350th anniversary of P discovery. Historical and emerging challenges and opportunities exist in P research and understanding. Authors address P use efficiency and a kaleidoscope of challenges for efficient P use. Focusing on place‐based solutions is required for effective P management. Cross‐disciplinary collaborations in P stewardship are needed for food and water security.

Particulate macronutrient exports from tropical African montane catchments point to the impoverishment of agricultural soils

“…Geology is composed of folded volcanics from the early Miocene. Kericho phonolites cover the lower catchment (teatree plantations), followed by phonolitic nephelinites with intercalated tuffs and Mau ashes with basal tuff encompassing the natural forest, while phonolitic nephelinites comprise the upper catchment in the smallholder agriculture (Binge, 1949;Jennings, 1962). The catchments are covered by deep (> 1.8 m) and well-drained, dark-red loamy soils (Sombroek et al, 1982), characterized as mollic Andosols and humic Nitisols (ISRIC, 2004), with moderate (15 %-30 %) to high (> 30 %) amounts of organic matter (Dunne, 1979).…”

Predicting Nutrient Incontinence in the Anthropocene at Watershed Scales

“…First, it is difficult to quantify the overall residence time of nutrients in complex watersheds, which ranges from minutes to millennia as nutrients may be recycled or stored in plant biomass, soil, and groundwater (Jarvie et al, 2013;Sebilo et al, 2013;Marçais et al, 2018;Carey et al, 2019;Kolbe et al, 2019). Second, the capacity of ecosystems to remove or permanently retain nutrients via vertical processes such as denitrification or diagenesis is highly variable, and the socioecological drivers (e.g., watershed characteristics and agricultural practices) of nutrient removal are poorly understood (Pinay et al, 2015;Abbott et al, 2016;Dupas et al, 2018;Goyette et al, 2018;Jarvie et al, 2019).…”

Nutrient Removal Structures Using Locally-Sourced Iron and Aluminum By-Products Reduce Nutrient Runoff from Broiler Production Facilities

“…Accelerated cultural eutrophication continues to be a concern in the U.S. and globally [1], with agricultural production systems identified as a major contributor, for example in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed [2] [3], Mississippi River Basin [4], Florida's inland and coastal waters [5], Lake Erie Basin [6] [7] [8] and…”