Agricultural scenarios to reduce the national phosphorus surplus in the Netherlands

The national phosphorus balance can be made more sustainable by reducing the accumulation of phosphorus in agricultural soils and by increasing recycling from waste streams. This study investigated different scenarios for reduction of the national soil surplus on agricultural land. The focus was on scenarios that will not compel agriculture in the Netherlands to change radically e.g. reduction of phosphorus fertilisation levels and reducing animal phosphorus excretion by improving feeding efficiency while maintaining national milk and meat production levels.