Nitrogen and phosphorus imports to the Cape Fear and Neuse river basins tosupport intensive livestock production

Feeds imported to support rapidly expanding intensive livestock operations (ILOs) in North Carolina represent significant quantities and proportions o f "new" nutrients in local watersheds. The Cape Fear and Neuse River basins include large fractions of total state inventories of hogs, turkeys, chick ens, and cattle. Production of hogs, turkeys, and broiler chickens increase d substantially in North Carolina during 1985-1995. Due to growth in the de mand for feed and declines in teed crop production in North Carolina, ILOs must import large fractions of feed grains and soybeans they require from o ut of state. The corresponding quantities of new nitrogen and phosphorus, i ncluding inorganic phosphorus used as a diet supplement, imparted in animal feeds are more than an order of magnitude greater than current annual load s of these nutrients in each river. The eutrophication threat to these rive r basins and other areas with expanding animal populations from the potenti al large nutrient loadings, especially phosphorus, associated with ILOs is substantial.