Introduction of the sugarcane nitrogen and phosphorus budget

Regulation of nutrient use on farms is not exclusive to Australia. Eutrophication of surface waters due to diffuse nutrient run-off from agriculture is a widespread and longstanding problem (e.g. Perez 2015; Howard-Williams et al. 2010). Growing concern about water quality issues in the United States resulted in the introduction of nutrient-management plans in three states to help optimise yields and minimise environmental losses (Perez 2015). In New Zealand, diffuse nutrient run-off has been managed through regulations that set nutrient caps within catchments and identification of nutrient targets (Howard-Williams et al. 2010