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Abstract
The European Union Water Framework Directive requires governments to set water quality objectives based on good ecological status. This includes specific requirements to control diffuse pollution. Diffuse phosphorus (P) pollution plays a pivotal role in influencing water quality with losses of P associated with soil particles often linked to soil erosion. The Mitigation Options for Phosphorus and Sediment (MOPS) project in the UK is investigating the cost effectiveness of specific control measures in terms of mitigating sediment and P loss from combinable crops. The measures focus on different cultivation techniques, vegetative barriers, disruption of tramline management and crop residue management. Results from the first year of the project suggest that some mitigation options may not be cost effective in reducing diffuse pollution, however, that other options may be very cost effective.