The contribution of Inorganic Feed Phosphates to the European P-soil status.

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Phosphorus is essential to all living organisms and, together with nitrogen, it is one of the main
nutrients for animals and plants. However, an oversupply of nitrogen and phosphorus can modify
the natural environmental balance of ecosystems. This is often the result of increased livestock
production and increasing animal density. In case of phosphorus, the contribution made by
inorganic feed phosphates are quite often being identified as the main cause of phosphorus inputs
exceeding take-up and thus causing eutrophication of natural water sources and other problems
like excessive algal blooms.
The aim of this document is to put the contribution that inorganic feed phosphates (IFP) make to
the phosphorus (P) content in livestock manure and ultimately the environment, into the right
perspective. Attention will be given to the use of P in agriculture both via the use of manure and
mineral fertilizers in relation with P-uptake by crops. Firstly, the use of feed materials will,
therefore, be discussed being the origin of P in manure. Also individual countries in the EU will
be discussed in view to phosphorus excretion, as calculated by different animal types. Because
there are significant differences between the different types of feed phosphates in respect of
environmental load these differences and possible solutions will also be discussed.
This document has been commissioned by the Inorganic Feed Phosphate sector group of CEFIC
and has been compiled by Erlanda Upton, Yara, Wouter Bleukx and Sjo Zwart, Tessenderlo
Group

IFP sector group
May 2009