| With the method of substance flow analysis(SFA), the study provided an analytical framework for phosphorus cycle on civil food production and consumption system that was demonstrated by four life stages-food production, food processing, consumption and waste handling. Furthermore, a case study was carried out in Hefei City, for the year 2008. The SFA results show that the total demand of phosphorus reaches 5475.86 t in the food production and consumption of Hefei City in 2008; approximately 242.57 t P leaves the system, and around 1710.84 t P is emitted via waste discharge to the surface water, the rest is transformed as the stocks in the system. The effluent of excessive fertilizer in agriculture plays an important role for the huge phosphorus load, as well as the civil sewage. In the end, the study provided some suggestions on improving the use efficiency of phosphorus and reducing phosphorus discharge into surface water. |
