Is Phosphorus the Rodney Dangerfield of Sustainability Issues? - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Is Phosphorus the Rodney Dangerfield of Sustainability Issues? - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Nov 06, 2023 31 likes •376 views

Is Phosphorus the Rodney Dangerfield of Sustainability Issues? University of Florida Water Institute Annual Symposium Daniel L. Childers Professor, School of Sustainability Co-Lead, Sustainable Phosphorus Initiative Director, CAP LTER Program

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Is Phosphorus the Rodney Dangerfield

  • f Sustainability Issues?

University of Florida Water Institute Annual Symposium Daniel L. Childers

Professor, School of Sustainability Co-Lead, Sustainable Phosphorus Initiative Director, CAP LTER Program Co-Director, Urban Sustainability RCN

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Who is Rodney Dangerfield, anyway?

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Outline and Overview

  • 1. Primer on P as an essential element, the human

P cycle, and associated sustainability challenges.

  • 2. Two case studies of urban P cycling, storage,

and fluxes from the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

  • 3. Addressing P sustainability challenges as a

“wicked”, complex, and interconnected resource bailiwick.

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  • 1. Phosphorus is essential to all life

Phosphorus comprises ~9%

  • f the mass of

nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA. Phosphorus is the biochemical and energetic center of ATP, ADP, etc.

Figure from Sterner, R.W. and J.J. Elser 2002.

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  • 1. Phosphorus is essential to all life

An average adult body contains roughly 1 kg of P, mainly in bones & teeth. Net input of P is only needed when an organism is growing (i.e. with no weight gain, organismal P flux is in steady state). The average adult consumes and excretes 1.2 g P every day.

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  • 1. Paradox: Phosphorus is both

limiting and in over-abundance

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  • 1. P, Food, & the Human Population
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  • 1. P, Food, & the Human Population
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  • 1. The Human P “Cycle”

Figure from Cordell et al. 2009.

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  • 1. The Human P “Cycle”

Figure from Childers et al. 2011.

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Outline and Overview

  • 1. Primer on P as an essential element, the human

P cycle, and associated sustainability challenges.

  • 2. Two case studies of urban P cycling, storage,

and fluxes from the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

  • 3. Addressing P sustainability challenges as a

“wicked”, complex, and interconnected resource bailiwick.

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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems:

The Phoenix P budget

Figure from Metson et al. 2012. Ecol. Applications Photo: View from South Mountain by J.Corman

Central Arizona Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Program (CAP LTER)

(http://caplter.asu.edu/)

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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems:

The Phoenix P budget

Figure from Metson et al. 2012. Ecol. Applications

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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems:

The Phoenix P budget

Figure based on Metson et al. 2012. Ecol. Applications

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gg of P/ year inputs accumulation in landfills

  • utput
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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems:

The Phoenix P budget

Figure from Metson et al. 2012. Ecol. Applications Circle size = subsystem throughput (inputs + outputs)

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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems:

The Phoenix P budget

Figure from Metson et al. 2012. Ecol. Applications

P Stocks: total accumulation in 2005 = 60.2 Gg P (=9.2 kg P ha-1)

Dairy Agriculture Urban Core

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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems: Ag-

urban interface dynamics (1978-2008)

Figures from Metson et al. in review. J. Industrial Ecol.

Cotton Alfalfa Dairy

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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems: Ag-

urban interface dynamics (1978-2008)

Figure from Metson et al. in review. J. Industrial Ecol.

Cotton Alfalfa Soils

Runoff

Chemical Fertilizer Manure Feed Seed Crop residues Cows Milk

Biosolids Irrigation

Land

Uptake Harvest

Water Milk

Urban Population

Maricopa County

Waste

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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems: Ag-

urban interface dynamics (1978-2008)

Figures from Metson et al. in review. J. Industrial Ecol.

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 P (Gg) Year cotton alfalfa total

Harvested P

100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 acres year total harvested P fertilizer applied

Agricultural Land

5 10 15 20 kg of P year

P applied per acre

100 200 300 400 500 Price Index Value year

Price of fertilizer (US)

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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems: Ag-

urban interface dynamics (1978-2008)

Figures based on Metson et al. in review. J. Industrial Ecol.

Imports Land Maricopa County 1978 Exports recycling Imports Land Maricopa County 2008 Exports recycling

Serendipitous efficiencies achieved through: 1) close coupling of dairy

and alfalfa production; 2) recycling of dairy manure back to alfalfa fields; 3) use

  • f reclaimed water to irrigate alfalfa fields; 4) local consumption of local diary

and associated meat; 5) lucky market pressures on cotton vs. alfalfa, and; 6) no surface water runoff means no aquatic P export.

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  • 2. Phosphorus in Urban Systems: Ag-

urban interface dynamics (1978-2008)

Figure based on Metson et al. in review. J. Industrial Ecol. Changes in Acreage Changes in P dynamics Changes in P management Changes in Crops

+ +

Price of land Water availability Urbanization Commodity prices Subsidies Demand Price of fertilizers Environmental regulations Lending Capacity Drivers Mediating factors Outcome

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Outline and Overview

  • 1. Primer on P as an essential element, the human

P cycle, and associated sustainability challenges.

  • 2. Two case studies of urban P cycling, storage,

and fluxes from the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

  • 3. Addressing P sustainability challenges as a

“wicked”, complex, and interconnected resource bailiwick.

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: The “wicked” problem

P is a non-renewable resource on which we are completely dependent

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: Uneven P distribution

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: Price vulnerability is highly inequitable on a global basis

Remember the spike in food prices and related riots in 2008?

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: The “wicked” complexities

Phosphorus Food Sustainability

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: The “wicked” complexities

Phosphorus Food Sustainability Water

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: The “wicked” complexities

Phosphorus Food Sustainability Water Energy

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: The “wicked” complexities

Phosphorus Food Sustainability Water Energy Supporting Ecosystems

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: The “wicked” complexities

Phosphorus Food Sustainability Water Energy Supporting Ecosystems Market Prices

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: The “wicked” complexities

Phosphorus Food Sustainability Water Energy Supporting Ecosystems Market Prices Regional & Global Inequity, instability, national security issues, war

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: The “wicked” complexities

Phosphorus Food Sustainability Water Energy Supporting Ecosystems Market Prices Regional & Global Inequity, instability, national security issues, war

Human Population Change

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  • 3. Phosphorus Sustainability

Challenges: The “wicked” complexities

Phosphorus Food Sustainability Water Energy Supporting Ecosystems Market Prices Regional & Global Inequity, instability, national security issues, war

Human Population Change + Climate Change

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Ways to Learn More & Get Involved

http://sustaina blep. asu.edu http:// Globalp Network. net