Dietary strategies for reduced phosphorus excretion and improved water quality

J Environ Qual. 2005 Nov 7;34(6):2093-103. doi: 10.2134/jeq2004.0410. Print 2005 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Cost effective feeding strategies are essential to deal with P surpluses associated with intensive animal agriculture and the consequent impact on water quality. Reduction of P overfeeding, use of feed additives to enhance dietary P utilization, and development of high available phosphorus (HAP) grains have all been shown to decrease fecal P excretion without impairing animal performance. Much progress has been made, but more research will be needed to refine these strategies to maximize reductions in P excretion while maintaining animal performance. Recent research has focused on the impact of modifying dietary P on the forms of P excreted and the mobility of P in soils amended with these manures, with strong treatment trends becoming evident in the literature. In general, dietary strategies have been developed that can effectively reduce the total P concentration in manures produced, and combining strategies usually leads to greater reductions than individual practices. However, the impact of different approaches on the solubility of P in manures and amended soils has been more variable. Soluble P remains of particular concern due to links between solubility of P in manure and P losses from manure-amended soils. In this paper, we outline the major strategies for reducing dietary P in different species, review the literature on the impact of these approaches on P forms in manures and amended soils, and discuss the potential beneficial effects on animal agriculture and the environment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Animals
  • Dairying / methods
  • Diet
  • Fresh Water / chemistry*
  • Manure*
  • Phosphorus / metabolism*
  • Phosphorus / pharmacology*
  • Poultry
  • Soil
  • Solubility
  • Swine

Substances

  • Manure
  • Soil
  • Phosphorus