Enhancing Phosphorus Use Efficiency and Reducing Environmental Losses from Organic Waste-Derived Inputs in Agroecosystems

Phosphorus (P) is essential for crop production, but its inefficient use remains a major challenge for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. In agroecosystems, large amounts of phosphorus enter the system through mineral fertilizers as well as organic waste-derived inputs such as manure, compost, sewage sludge, digestate, and other recycled residuals. A substantial proportion of this phosphorus is not taken up by crops and may instead accumulate in soils or be lost through runoff, erosion, drainage, and leaching, contributing to eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and declining water quality. At the same time, phosphorus is a finite resource, making its recovery, reuse, and efficient management increasingly important for food system resilience. Organic waste recycling offers clear opportunities to improve circular nutrient management, but its outcomes depend strongly on soil properties, amendment type, application practice, irrigation conditions, and broader agroecosystem management.Despite increasing interest in nutrient circularity and waste valorization, a major gap remains in understanding how phosphorus use efficiency and phosphorus losses can be systematically improved in systems receiving organic waste-derived inputs. Existing research often addresses individual components of the problem, such as soil phosphorus availability, amendment characteristics, crop response, or water pollution, without sufficiently integrating them into a broader framework that connects waste management practices with agronomic performance and environmental outcomes. This Research Topic aims to address that gap by bringing together interdisciplinary studies on the determinants of phosphorus behavior in waste-amended agroecosystems and on practical strategies to reduce environmental losses while improving nutrient efficiency. Particular attention will be given to the sustainable use of organic wastes and by-products, their effects on soil and water systems, and their role in circular agriculture. Contributions exploring interactions among waste-derived amendments, soil conditions, crop uptake, irrigation practices, and off-site phosphorus transport are especially welcome, as are studies that consider co-effects on greenhouse gas emissions, soil quality, and long-term agroecosystem sustainability.This Research Topic welcomes submissions that examine phosphorus management through the lens of sustainable organic waste use in agriculture. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Phosphorus use efficiency and crop uptake in systems using manure, compost, biosolids, digestate, biochar, and other organic waste-derived inputs• Phosphorus behavior in soils — availability, fixation, mobility, and losses through runoff, erosion, drainage, or leaching• Environmental and water quality impacts of organic waste application and eutrophication risk• Strategies for phosphorus recovery, recycling, and valorization from agricultural and organic waste streams• Circular and integrated approaches to nutrient management linking soil health, crop productivity, and environmental protection• Trade-offs among phosphorus efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon dynamics• Field- to watershed-scale assessment, modelling, and decision-support tools for reducing phosphorus losses across different soils, climates, and farming systemsWe welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Methods, Perspective, and Policy and Practice Reviews that provide scientifically rigorous and practically relevant insights into phosphorus efficiency, organic waste management, and environmental protection in sustainable food systems. Topic editors: Caner Yerli, Matias B Vanotti, Eric Nartey Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80584/enhancing-phosphorus-use-efficiency-and-reducing-environmental-losses-from-organic-waste-derived-inputs-in-agroecosystems