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Prepared at the request of the Agriculture and Environment Committee[1], and released November 2005 gives some values for deposition: Total atmospheric input at 0.22 kg P/ha made only a small contribution to the total input budget because of the small farm size. and . . . . and 93 kg from atmospheric deposition, the latter was larger than for the dairy farm because although the input was smaller, 0.11 kg P/ha, the farm size was greater.
2020 Published 9 September 2021 this HTML resource[2] give a value of 3000 tons of deposition annual in England. 3 Million kg divided over 18 million hectares gives a figure for atmospheric deposition at 0.16 kg P/ha.
This is an Accepted Manuscript[1], which has been through the Royal Society of Chemistry peer review process and has been accepted for publication. It contains many reference values in the form a literature review. Median of 20 published studies was 0.063 g / m2 or 0.630kg/ha.
In this study, the authors compiled 396 published observations of atmospheric P deposition from 1959 to 2020 on the global scale. This 2021 Paper[2] gives a value of 0.32 kg ha yr.
[1] https://pubs.rsc.org/ja-jp/content/getauthorversionpdf/C3EM00641G
[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674283421000234
[1] https://www.nutrientmanagement.org/phosphorus-in-agriculture-and-in-relation-to-water/
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-and-england-soil-nutrient-balances-2020/soil-nutrient-balances-england-2020-statistics-notice
The below section was written by a machine.
While most nutrient neutrality assessments focus heavily on wastewater and surface runoff, atmospheric phosphate deposition is a critical, yet often overlooked, component of a site's total nutrient budget. Atmospheric deposition refers to the process by which phosphate particles or aerosols are transported through the air and deposited onto land or water surfaces via rainfall (wet deposition) or settling (dry deposition). In catchments sensitive to phosphate loading, such as the Somerset Levels, understanding this input is essential for a scientifically robust assessment.
Unlike nitrogen, which is primarily a gaseous pollutant, phosphorus is typically associated with particulate matter. This means its atmospheric transport and deposition patterns are closely tied to local land use and industrial activity. Key factors influencing deposition rates include:
In a formal Nutrient Neutrality Assessment and Mitigation Strategy (NNAMS), atmospheric deposition is often factored into the "baseline" or "pre-development" land use calculations. By utilizing national datasets and site-specific observations, consultants can determine if the atmospheric contribution significantly alters the required mitigation options. For complex sites, this may even involve specialized atmospheric modelling to differentiate between background regional deposition and project-specific airborne emissions.
Understanding the intersection of air quality and water chemistry is a hallmark of the professional service provided by Southwest Environmental Limited. Our team combines over 15 years of industry experience with the technical authority (IES/IAQM) required to navigate these complex ecological linkages. Having delivered over 900 projects across the UK, we provide the evidence-based reporting necessary to satisfy Natural England and local planning authorities. Whether you are conducting a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) or a detailed nutrient budget, we ensure all pathways—including the atmosphere—are fully accounted for.