Phosphorus is one of the most biologically important elements for life on Earth and is thus ubiquitous in many crop fertilizers. Following heavy rain, particulate phosphorus often runs off field crops into nearby bodies of water, where it can dramatically alter the health of aquatic ecosystems over time. Environmental regulations have reduced phosphorus discharges to some aquatic ecosystems to improve water quality, but despite the reductions, many systems have not experienced water quality improvement.
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