Phosphorus (P) losses from agricultural land contribute significantly to surface water eutrophication. The implementation of appropriate agricultural practices offers substantial potential for mitigating this impact. Effective mitigation requires both source-based and transport-based strategies. The source-based measures aim to regulate P inputs through fertilizers and prevent excessive P accumulation in the soil or gradually reduce/deplete high soil test P (STP) levels. Current fertilization schemes, which are primarily based on production limits may not be sufficient in terms of water protection. Since STP level is not a reliable indicator of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) losses, the degree of soil P sorption saturation (DPS) is often proposed as an environmental indicator of soil P release into surface runoff or seepage water. Transport-based measures target the mitigation of particulate P (PP) and/or water-soluble P (WSP). While cover crops has been found to be a useful practice of mitigating both particulate and dissolved phosphorus losses, zero tillage has been demonstrated to be an effective method in reducing PP losses. Frequently recommended measures also include vegetated buffer strips at the edge/outside of the field and application of reactive media help mitigate losses of PP or WSP. From the perspective of increasing the environmental efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the measures taken, their allocation should focus on hot spots that consider source and transport factors. Understanding the distribution of P in loss pathways is essential for selecting effective measures in terms of response time and reduction efficiency.