What environmental issue is associated with excessive phosphorus application?

Excessive phosphorus application is primarily associated with the eutrophication of water bodies. When phosphorus levels in soil and runoff exceed the natural threshold, they can lead to nutrient over-enrichment in lakes, rivers, and other water bodies. This creates conditions that promote excessive growth of algae, known as algal blooms. These blooms can deplete oxygen in the water and disrupt aquatic ecosystems, leading to harmful effects such as fish kills and reduced biodiversity. This process illustrates the critical linkage between phosphorus management in agriculture and water quality, where appropriate nutrient application is crucial to prevent environmental degradation. Understanding this relationship is essential for effective nutrient management practices.

The other options, while they pertain to environmental issues, do not directly relate to the effects of phosphorus application in the same way. Soil acidification typically results from other factors such as acid rain or certain fertilizers, desertification involves long-term land degradation often due to climate change or mismanagement, and soil compaction is usually a result of heavy machinery or livestock pressure rather than nutrient application itself.