Phosphorus is an essential component of all plants and animals, and is a natural part of the rocks that comprise the earth's crust. While phosphorus is a natural and vital nutrient in our ecosystems, changes in landuse (e.g. intensive agricultural development) have radically altered the amounts of phosphorus being delivered to our waterways, particularly river courses, reservoirs and lakes. Excessive nutrient loads in these water bodies can cause eutrophication, a process leading to deteriorating water quality and the increased occurrence of toxic and unsightly algal blooms such as blue-green algae (cyanobacteria).
There is a close relationship between how land is managed and the impact phosphorus may have on in-stream health. In order to manage Australian waterways effectively, we need to determine the relative importance of the various sources of phosphorus, as well as understand the processes by which phosphorus is delivered into our rivers. Knowledge about how and why phosphorus gets into waterways can help land and water managers make better management decisions.
The full fact sheet is available in Adobe Acrobat format:
Fact Sheet 11 - Managing phosphorus in catchments (facts11.pdf, 480Kb)
Topics covered
- Sources of phosphorus in Australian catchments
- Phosphorus and the erosion process
- The role of phosphorus in algal blooms
- Beware of 're-cycling' phosphorus
- Management practices to control phosphorus transfer to streams
This Fact Sheet is the eleventh in a series dealing with the management of riparian land.
