Phosphorus removal and use in organic crop farming in the EU

Abstract To promote sustainable food production, the European Union (EU) aims for a 25% organic agriculture area and a reduction of agricultural nutrient pollution by 50% by 2030. Organic farming is designed to rely on nutrient circularity, it has limited phosphorus (P) sources permitted, influencing the spatial distribution for P demand. Using dataset form the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), this study quantifies and map the amount of P removed through crop harvesting in organic farming across the EU as a proxy for P required to maintain a balanced P budget. Crop harvesting is a major P output variable from agricultural soils and the positive correlation between soil P and P budget suggest that understanding the required amount to maintain a balanced P budget is therefore important for estimating fertiliser demands. On average, 5.6 kg P ha −1 is removed through crop harvesting per country in 26 countries, with fruits and vegetables contributing 36%, cereals 32%, fodder crops 20%, permanent crops 8% and oil crops 4% to the total. Although organic farming restricts off-farm nutrient inputs, on average, 2.1 kg P ha −1 of mineral fertiliser P is used in crop production in each NUTS2 region. Varying national regulations influence the total mineral fertiliser P used per country. Mineral fertiliser P use and P removed through crops provide a lower and upper boundary for P ferilisation in organic farming. Their spatial pattern suggest that increasing organic farming across the EU requires local-scale consideration of P sources, budgets, and spatial constraints to ensure a sustainable P supply.