Phosphorus index method is an effective method to assess the risk of phosphorus loss,identify the critical source areas and reasonably control the agricultural non-point source pollution.The researches on phosphorus index assessment method have been started earlier in foreign countries.Currently,phosphorus index assessment method has been widely used in the United States and European countries through continuous development and improvement.However,the domestic research on non-point source phosphorus pollution assessment has just started,and the phosphorus index method that is suitable for the characteristics of agriculture in China has not yet been established.This paper summarizes and analyzes systematically the related research advances in phosphorus index method at home and abroad,and illustrates the issues presented in phosphorus index method.In addition,the researches on and application of phosphorus index method in China are discussed.
