A Global Perspective on Phosphorus Management Decision Support in Agriculture: Lessons Learned and Future Directions

The evolution of phosphorus (P) management decision support tools and systems has been most strongly affected in developed regions by national strategies (i) to optimize levels of plant available P in agricultural soils, and (ii) to mitigate P runoff to water bodies. Recent developments focused on integrated digital mapping of hydrologically sensitive areas and critical source areas have rapidly advanced runoff modeling and education. Advances in technology will facilitate the development of decision support systems that predict heterogeneity over wider geographical areas. However, significant challenges remain in incorporating’big data’ in an acceptable format that accounts for catchment variability, farming systems, and farmer behavior. Future efforts will undoubtedly focus on improving efficiency and conserving phosphate rock reserves in the face of future scarcity or prohibitive cost. The principles reviewed here are critical for sustainable agriculture.