Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant and animal growth. However, excessive concentrations of phosphorus in aquaculture systems can cause eutrophication. Phosphorus from uneaten feed and feces of culture animals can cause excessive phy-toplankton growth and associated degradation of water quality. Pond managers should avoid unnecessary inputs of phosphorus in fertilizers and feeds. Phosphorus is a key nutrient that regulates the growth of phytoplankton in aquaculture ponds. One reason is thatphosphorus is naturally in short supply relative to its requirement by phytoplankton. Freshwater phytoplankton usually must concentrate phosphorus more than any other essential nutrient, and marine phytoplankton normally concentrate only nitrogen more than phosphorus. In addition, when phosphorus is applied to ponds, it tends to precipitate directly from the water or be quickly adsorbed by bottom soil.
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