Author(s): D. BHALLA AND S.S. MUKHOPADHYAY

Abstract: Eutrophication is a threat to quality of suiface and ground water bodies (SWB) and to bio-diversity of the aquatic ecosystem. Excess application of P is one of the causes of its accumulation in SWB. Phosphorus buffering also contributes to eutrophication and remains a major problem years after the release of P is brought under control. The addition of small amount of P or, nano-P can remove excess P from soils, provided the solution-P is maintained in such a manner that productivity is sustained. In such endeavours, P must be applied in amount exact to the crop requirement. Nano-P application can deal with twin contradictions - low solubility and excess application. Thereby it reduces P build ups in soils, reduce its load in SWB, and checks contamination in drinking water. However, ecological cautions of use of nano-P must not be ignored. Many P fertilizers contain heavy metals, which may be eliminated by nano-P application. To comprehend P dynamics, land and SWB system must be treated holistically, and sub-divided into components, each with realistic independent system-variables coupled with the processes. In nano-P ventures high resolution imaging not only provides evidence of the changes that occur in various phases, but is also an indispensable tool to understand how P dynamics operate.

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