Optimizing Phosphorus 4R Nutrient Stewardship for water quality protection in Canadian Cropping Systems

地表水富营养化是造成水质损害的全球性原因，而过量的磷(P)已被确定为淡水系统中藻类水华的驱动因素。在不同地区，测试保护措施减少支流和湖泊中磷损失的有效性的案例研究得出了截然不同的结论，导致土地所有者和决策者感到困惑和沮丧。加拿大化肥公司在制定4R养分管理战略方面发挥了带头作用，在该战略中，养分以或以正确的比例、正确的地点、正确的时间和正确的形式/类型进行应用。这一伙伴关系(研究人员、行业农业专家)的目标是确定基于区域的农业解决方案，这些解决方案将提高养分和水的利用效率，以确保加拿大主要农业区的作物生产和水质的弹性。通过这一合作伙伴关系，我们将研究4R营养管理战略对加拿大两个关键但不同的农业区--北部大平原(NGP)或加拿大草原和更温和的五大湖区(GLR)--综合农业生产力和水质的影响。利用一系列田间和实验室实验，并结合多年的田间监测，该项目将独一无二地同时探索4R养分管理对田间水质和作物生产力以及田间边缘以外水质的影响。我们将通过白皮书、媒体、农民会议和农业专家高级培训模块来交流科学成果。该项目的联合调查员和合作伙伴包括这一主题方面的许多顶尖加拿大专家，他们经验丰富，可以在现有工作的基础上再接再厉，为这里提出的工作增加价值。通过这项工作，我们将大大提高我们对不同4R做法的适用性的理解，并确保我们在正确的地方使用正确的做法来优化加拿大的农业。

The eutrophication of surface waters is a global cause of water-quality impairment, and excess phosphorus (P) has been identified as the driver of algal blooms in freshwater systems. Case studies testing the efficacy of conservation practices to reduce losses of P to tributaries and lakes have produced contrasting conclusions in different regions, leading to confusion and frustration among landowners and decision-makers. Fertilizer Canada has taken a leadership role in developing the 4Rs nutrient stewardship strategy, in which nutrients are applied at or in the Right Rate, Right Place, Right Time and Right Form/Type. The goal of this partnership (researchers + industry + agricultural specialists) is to identify region-based agricultural solutions that will improve nutrient and water use efficiency to ensure the resilience of crop production and water quality in key Canadian agricultural regions. Through this partnership, we will examine the effects of 4Rs nutrient stewardship strategies on combined agronomic productivity and water quality in two key, but contrasting, agricultural regions of Canada: The Northern Great Plains (NGP) or Canadian Prairies, and the more temperate Great Lakes Region (GLR). Using a series of field and lab-based experiments in conjunction with field-based monitoring over multiple years, this project will uniquely, simultaneously explore the impacts of 4R nutrient stewardship on both water quality and crop productivity within fields, but also water quality beyond the edge of field. We will communicate scientific outcomes through white papers, media, farmer meetings and advanced training modules for agricultural specialists. The co-investigators and partners in this project include many of the leading Canadian experts on this subject matter who are highly experienced and can build on their existing work, adding value to the work proposed here. Through this work, we will significantly advance our understanding of the suitability of different 4Rs practices and ensure that we are using the right practices in the right places to optimize agriculture in Canada.