Most plants are only about 0.2% P by weight, but that small amount is critically important. Phosphorus is an essential component of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is involved in most biochemical processes in plants and enables them to extract nutrients from the soil. Phosphorus also plays a critical role in cell development and DNA formation. Insufficient soil P can result in delayed crop maturity, reduced flower development, low seed quality, and decreased crop yield. Too
much P, on the other hand, can be harmful in some situations; when P levels increase in fresh water streams and lakes, algae blooms can occur. When algae die, their decomposition results in oxygen depletion which can lead to the death of aquatic plants and animals. This process is called “eutrophication”