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Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment
Published on: July 22, 2019
Tightening the Phosphorus Cycle through Phosphorus-Efficient Crop Genotypes
Wen-Feng Cong1, Lalith D B Suriyagoda2, Hans Lambers3
1College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, 100193 Beijing, China.
Abstract:
We are facing unprecedented phosphorus (P) challenges, namely P scarcity associated with increasing food demand, and an oversupply of P fertilisers, resulting in eutrophication. Although we need a multidisciplinary approach to systematically enhance P-use efficiency, monodisciplinary studies still prevail. Here, we propose to tighten the P cycle by identifying P-efficient crop genotypes, integrating four plant strategies: increasing P-acquisition efficiency, photosynthetic P-use efficiency and P-remobilisation efficiency, and decreasing seed phytate P concentrations. We recommend P-efficient genotypes together with diversified cropping systems involving complementary P-acquisition strategies as well as smart P-fertiliser management to enhance P-use efficiency in agriculture dependent on soil P status. These strategies will reduce P-fertiliser requirements and offsite environmental impacts, while enhancing seed quality for human and livestock nutrition.
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