Last
updated (d-m-y): 12-09-2007. For comments please contact: wim.chardon@wur.nl
The accelerated nutrient enrichment or eutrophication of surface waters has become a significant environmental problem in many developed countries. The extent of eutrophication in freshwaters is most commonly related to the concentration of phosphorus and agriculture has been identified as a significant phosphorus source. Identification of mitigation options to reduce phosphorus inputs to water, in line with EU initiatives (PARCOM), requires a sound knowledge base of the significance of agriculture as an eutrophication source.
In July 1997 an EU COST (Co-operation in Science and Technology) Action was started to:
(I) develop a common technical understanding of the processes, forms and pathways of P loss in land run-off, and
(ii) develop a methodological framework for identifying the relative contribution of different diffuse P sources at the farm and catchment level.
These aims will be achieved through definition of conceptual models of P cycling in EU agricultural systems, P transfer in surface and sub-surface run-off at a range of scales and impacts of diffuse P on surface water quality.
In March 1998, 16 countries had joined the Action, which finished in July 2003. Working groups developed four major themes:
Theme |
Coordinator |
Phosphorus cycling in agriculture |
Dr. J. Destain, Belgium |
Phosphorus losses at the field scale |
Dr. O. Schoumans, Netherlands |
Phosphorus losses at the catchment scale |
Dr. B. Kronvang, Denmark |
Impacts of diffuse phosphorus on water quality |
Dr. S. Orfanidis, Greece |
Key subject areas included terminology, sampling and analytical procedures, principles of fertilizer and feed recommendations, soil inorganic and organic P release, erosion, leaching, incidental loss, P loss risk assessment, hydrological pathways, scaling issues, approaches to modelling P loss and future research needs.
For further information please contact either Mr Paul Withers (President) or Dr Wim Chardon (Vice-President). Scientific Secretary of COST Action 832 was Ir. Bouktje Stol.
An overview of the most recent updates (d-m-y):
12-09-07: List added of publications from final meeting in Cambridge (2003)
12-09-07: List added of publications from WG1 + WG2 meeting in Zurich (2002)
12-09-07: Pdf added of abstracts of final meeting in Cambridge (2003)
28-05-06: Pdf added of papers from COST 832 meetings in Cordoba (1999) and Irdning (2000), see "publications"
10-12-02: New name of Scientific Secretary (Ir. B.E.M. Stol) in Brussels added
24-09-01: web-address of COST Brussels renewed
23-08-00: address of dr. Bollmann added
29-03-00: New name of Scientific Secretary (Dr. J. Bollmann) in Brussels added
29-03-00: Book announcement: Proceedings Confer. 'Regulation of animal production in Europe', see publications
29-03-00: New web-adres for COST homepage Brussels, see link on main menu in this file
22-02-00: List of 21 papers presented in Antrim, published in J. Environ. Qual. 29 (1), see publications
21-02-00: Book announcement: Agriculture and P management: The Chesapeake Bay, see publications
25-01-00: Several announcements of meetings added, see future related meetings
25-01-00: Minutes of WG1 Technical Committee Meeting in Zurich added, see past Cost meetings
25-01-00: New version of Minutes of the 2nd WG1 Meeting in Cordoba added, see past Cost meetings
18-01-00: Draft program of the 2000 WG4 meeting in Helsinki added, see future COST meetings
12-01-00: Names of files were changed, since problems occurred with the Netscape browser
11-01-00: Draft program of the 2000 WG2 meeting in Austria added, see future COST meetings
11-01-00: Report technical meeting WG2, November 1999, added, see past Cost meetings
24-11-99: Minutes of the 2nd WG1 Meeting in Cordoba were added, see past Cost meetings
21-05-99: Draft minutes of the 3rd Management Committee Meeting were added, see past Cost meetings
05-05-99: Abstracts added of posters for Cordoba, see future Cost meetings
15-02-99: Announcement of meetings MC and WG1 and WG2, May 1999, see future Cost meetings
18-01-99: Minutes 2nd Management Committee Meeting were added, see past Cost meetings
08-01-99: Report technical meeting WG1, October 1998, see past Cost meetings
15-12-98: A discussion document was added to the report of the small WG2-meeting (see 1-12-98)
01-12-98: Report small organizing meeting WG2, see past Cost meetings
10-11-98: Announcement symposium on tillage and soil erosion, see Future related meetings
05-11-98: Web site on agricultural run-off/leaching matters, see Publications
30-10-98: Information on a conference on P recycling, see Past related meetings
26-10-98: Information on Symposium Nordic Countries, see Past related meetings