Options for closing the phosphorus cycle in agriculture : assessment of options for Northwest Europe and the Netherlands

This study assessed which options are available for closing the feed-manure phosphorus cycle in agriculture and their contribution to the reduction of the P surplus and P use efficiency. This was assessed at a national scale for the Netherlands as well as a regional scale for Northwest Europe. No export of animal products, with as a consequence the reduction in livestock numbers, is most effective in reducing external P inputs. An effective option that is easier to implement is the reduction in P excretion through changes in the feed intake. For Nortwest Europe the combination of all five options can lead to a reduction of external P inputs of about 50%. For the Netherlands the combination of the options result in a reduction in external P inputs of 35% and a reduction of the manure export of 26%. The effectiveness of large scale manure treatment in the Netherlands is limited