Phosphorus within planetary boundaries

ABSTRACT

In this paper the screening calculations of the removal time of phosphorus from water bodies of federal districts of Russia are presented. Calculations are made using the matrix algebra based approach and are applied as a tool for the estimation of the fate of phosphates in different environmental media (water, air, soil, biota, etc.). The results show that the use of phosphate fertilizers is sometimes quite high in the most vulnerable federal districts. It means that the application of fertilizers in order to increase the yield of agriproducts should be accompanied by detailed assessment of the risks of eutrophication. Calculations have shown high vulnerability in the district of the Lake Baika.