Mining phosphorus for fertilizer is consuming the mineral faster than geologic cycles can replenish it.

The U.S may run out of its accessible domestic sources in a few decades, and few other countries have substantial reserves, which could also be depleted in about a century. Excess phosphorus in water ways helps to feed algal blooms, which starve fish of oxygen, creating dead zones Phosphorous supplies may run out by the end of the century Reducing soil erosion and recycling phosphorus from farm and human waste could help make food production sustainable and prevent algal blooms. Integrate farming is animal waste and inedible parts of plants could be recycled and become again the main sources of fertilizers. In the natural cycle, weathering releases phosphorus from rocks into soil. Land ecosystems use and reuse phosphorus in local cycles an average of 46 times. Harvesting breaks up the cycle because it removes phosphorus from the land

 We can reduce fertilizer usage through more efficient agricultural practices such as terracing. Making agriculture sustainable over the long term begins with renewing efforts

B: Summarize the AUTHORs main point or idea- at LEAST 1-2 paragraphs The article talks about the element phosphorus and how its vital for life. Both animals and plants need it to live but it is decreasing in a rate so fast that it can disappear in few more years. And if we continue to use it like were doing now by the end of the century well have no more of it to use which will lead to decrease of amount and quality of crops. Agriculture plays a big role in the usage of phosphorous. Phosphorus will drain away with runoffs and gets into water bodies which then harm aquatic animals by increasing algal blooms and decreasing oxygen which over all creates a dead zone in the water.

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

With our current way of using phosphors, we are likely to run out of the element by the end of the century. Given that the element is vital for life we should conserve it and use it accordingly because not only we will run out of it and lose the benefits we get from it, it will also cause damage such as eutrophication in water bodies and harm aquatic animals

So what? By the rate were using phosphorus we are likely to run out of it in a few centuries.

Says who?

David A. Vaccari

What if...?

Phosphorus was renewable?

What does this remind me of?

Every non- renewable natural resource