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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421885
Research Project: Agricultural Management for Long-Term Sustainability and Soil Health

Location: Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research

Title: Through the lens of phosphorus: The legacy of Andrew Sharpley

Author
item Kleinman, Peter
item FLATEN, DON - University Of Manitoba
item OSMOND, DEANNA - North Carolina State University
item JARVIE, HELEN - University Of Waterloo
item MCDOWELL, RICHARD - Agresearch
item Simpson, Zachary
item Mott, Joshua

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2025
Publication Date: 5/21/2025
Citation: Kleinman, P.J., Flaten, D., Osmond, D., Jarvie, H., McDowell, R., Simpson, Z.P., Mott, J.D. 2025. Through the lens of phosphorus: The legacy of Andrew Sharpley. Journal of Environmental Quality. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.70032.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.70032

Interpretive Summary: Phosphorus is an essential fertilizer element that underpins agricultural production but also controls the water quality problem of eutrophication (the nutrient enrichment of water bodies). Few individuals have had as large of an impact on the science and management of phosphorus as Andrew Sharpley, whose career at USDA and University of Arkansas continues to guide research on agricultural phosphorus. This review of Sharpley's scholarship highlights his contributions to science and his approach to building scientific consensus around uncertain topics.

Technical Abstract: The pursuit of sustainable phosphorus (P) management represents a long-standing challenge in agricultural arenas, with far-reaching implications for the environment and societal development. Few scholars are as synonymous with P science as Andrew Sharpley. Renowned over his 44-yr professional career for providing foundational insights into the fate and management of agricultural P, Sharpley also became the central figure in organizing responses to concerns over the contribution of non-point source P pollution to eutrophication. As a global authority, Sharpley led teams that crafted scientific consensus for use by managers and policymakers in the face of complexity and uncertainty. His leadership offers lessons to those continuing in his footsteps and a model for all who desire to achieve scientific impact. This special collection of papers celebrates the perspectives, contributions and legacy of Andrew Sharpley.