Phosphorus plant removal

We estimate the Phosphorus (P) removal from agriculural lands of EU and UK (c.a 173 million ha). This takes into account the P removed by crop harvesting and the plant residues. For P removed by crop harvesting, we used 7 major categories of crops and 37 crops in more than 220 regions of European union and UK. This method is based on crop production rates (t ha-1 as fresh matter), Utilized agricultural area per crop (ha), humidity rates and phosphorus concentration in the plant tissue. For P removed by plant residues, we take into account the ratio of residue production, the crop production rates, ratio of residues removal from the field, P concentration of residues, the Utilized agricultural area per crop and the humidity rates.