Phosphorus in runoff from agricultural land is an important component
of nonpoint-source pollution and can accelerate eutrophication of lake
s and streams, Long-term land application of P as fertilizer and anima
l wastes has resulted in elevated levels of soil P in many locations i
n the USA, Problems with soils high in P are often aggravated by the p
roximity of many of these areas to P-sensitive water bodies, such as t
he Great Lakes, Chesapeake and Delaware Bags, Lake Okeechobee, and the
Everglades, This paper provides a brief overview of the issues and op
tions related to management of agricultural P that were discussed at a
special symposium titled, ''Agricultural Phosphorus and Eutrophicatio
n,'' held at the November 1996 American Society of Agronomy annual mee
tings, Topics discussed at the symposium and reviewed here included th
e role off in eutrophication; identification of P-sensitive water bodi
es; P transport mechanisms, chemical forms and fate of P; identificati
on of P source areas; modeling of P transport; water quality criteria;
and management of soil and manure P, off-farm P inputs, and P transpo
rt processes.