A: List the major ideas, concepts or key points- point by poin
Phosphorus is an element / chemical is needed for plants and humans. at the end of the century, the world supply of phosphorus is predicted to run out. By the time phosphorus runs out, our population may reach a peak that is beyond what the planet can sustainably feed. Modern agricultural practices have tripled the natural rate of phosphorus depletion from the land. Disruption of the cycle also contributes to the depletion of phosphorus. Agriculture accelerates land erosion, so more phosphorus drains away with runoff. Flood control contributes to disrupting natural phosphorus cycle. As population increases and as developing countries demand a high standard of living, there is more of a demand for phosphorus.
C: Write a reaction paragraph to the article stating your own thoughts on the topic, using specific citations from the article to support your views
After i read the article i believe that we should find new ways to use phosphorus. i Believe that us humans are taking to much advantage of the things on our planet. All the things are running out and we need to increase our efficiency in using our natural resources.
- Phosphorus flows add up to an estimated 37 million metric tons per year. 22 million come from phosphate mining.
- 163,000 million metric tons of phosphate rock worldwide, corresponding to more than 13,000 million metric tons of phosphorus.
- Estimates include types of rocks, such as high-carbonate minerals that are impractical as sources because no economial technology exists to extract the phosphorus.
- Estimates that are economically recoverable are 15,000 million metric tons.
- Consumption is likely to grow as population increases and as people in developing countries demand a higher standard of living.
- U.S produces 30 million metric tons of phosphate rock a year.
- U.S mines no longer supply enough phosphorus to satisfy the production of fertilizer.
- U.S now imports phosphate rocks
- The U.S and much of the globe may come to depend on a single country for a critical resource
- Geologists are skeptical about a phosphorus crisis.
- Most of phosphorus discovery has occurred in Morocco and North Carolina.
- Standard approaches to conservation apply to phosphorus as well:reduce, reuse, recycle
- We can reduce fertilizer usage through more efficient agricultural practices such as terracing and no-till farming to diminish erosion
- We will have to treat our wastewater to recover phosphorus from solid waste
- Task is difficult because residual biosolids are contaminated with many pollutants.
- Making agriculture sustainable over the long term begins with renewing efforts to phase out toxic metals from plumbing.
- Half the phosphorus we excrete is in our urine, which is easy to recover
- New discoveries are likely just to forestall the depletion of reserves, not to prevent it
- For truly sustainable agriculture, the delay would have to be indefinite
- Such an achievement would be possible with a world population small enough to be fed using natural and mostly untreated minerals.
- We are running out of phosphorus deposits that are relatively easily and cheaply exploitable.
- It is possible that the optimists are correct about relative ease of obtaining new sources and that shortages can be averted.
- Given the stakes, we should not leave our future to chance.
Phosphorus is an element / chemical is needed for plants and humans. at the end of the century, the world supply of phosphorus is predicted to run out. By the time phosphorus runs out, our population may reach a peak that is beyond what the planet can sustainably feed. Modern agricultural practices have tripled the natural rate of phosphorus depletion from the land. Disruption of the cycle also contributes to the depletion of phosphorus. Agriculture accelerates land erosion, so more phosphorus drains away with runoff. Flood control contributes to disrupting natural phosphorus cycle. As population increases and as developing countries demand a high standard of living, there is more of a demand for phosphorus.
C: Write a reaction paragraph to the article stating your own thoughts on the topic, using specific citations from the article to support your views
After i read the article i believe that we should find new ways to use phosphorus. i Believe that us humans are taking to much advantage of the things on our planet. All the things are running out and we need to increase our efficiency in using our natural resources.