FAS Abstracts 2004 Meeting Page

Agricultural Sciences (AGR): AGR-10

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Eutrophication: legacy of, or legitimacy for agricultural prosperity.  H.K. PANT (1), M.B. ADJEI (1), and J.E. RECHCIGL (2). (1) Univ. of Florida, Range Cattle Research and Education Center, Ona, FL 33865,  (2) Univ. of Florida, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton, FL 34203.  Apart from seed quality, sufficient nutrient supply is critical for increased agricultural productivity. Repeated cultivation on arable land requires replenishment of removed/lost nutrients, which is achieved by the application of fertilizers either in organic or inorganic forms. Soil fertility of the world’s limited arable land is constantly decreasing, even as pristine water bodies are becoming increasingly eutrophic and degraded. For example, Lake Okeechobee (area 1730 km²; an average depth 2.7 m) received excessive external phosphorus (P) load in the past mainly from the surrounding agricultural parcels. The excessive P has ultimately accumulated in mud sediments (in the center of the lake), and can now act as a net source for P depending on its concentration in the water column; nullifying efforts to reduce external P inputs.  Although nutrient enrichment in lakes and rivers are sometimes considered as the legacy of economic development together with agricultural prosperity, perhaps, there may be some truth to that. However, seeking legitimacy for irresponsible activities toward degradation of one of the world’s rare resources, freshwater, would not do any good to anyone, at least in the long-term parity. Does this mean we need to overhaul our agricultural practices to protect freshwater??