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doi:
- Emily W. Duncan *a,
- Kevin W. Kinga,
- Mark R. Williamsb,
- Greg LaBargec,
- Lindsay A. Peasea,
- Douglas R. Smithd and
- Norman R. Fauseya
- a USDA-ARS Soil Drainage Research Unit, 590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, OH 43210
b USDFA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Lab., 275 South Russell St., West Lafayette, IN 47907
c Ohio State Univ., 222 W. Center St., Marion, OH 43302
d USDA-ARS Grassland, Soil and Water Research Lab., 808 East Blackland Rd., Temple, TX 76502
- Soil test phosphorus remains an important factor in studying dissolved reactive P loss.
- Identifying higher risk fields with STP could inform future management practices to reduce DRP loss.
- STP was linearly related to DRP concentration loads in tile-drained fields.
- Monitoring STP in addition to implementing other BMPs should be considered to decrease DRP loss.
Abstract
Harmful and nuisance algal blooms resulting from excess phosphorus (P) have placed agriculture in the spotlight of the water quality debate. Sixty-eight site years of P loading data (combined surface runoff and tile flow) from 36 fields in Ohio were used to see if a soil test P (STP) concentration could be identified that allowed P application while still meeting recommended loss thresholds. Regression analysis revealed that P application to soils with STP concentration in the “critical level” range would result in P losses above the recommended Annex 4 thresholds. In addition, fertilizer application increased the risk of dissolved reactive P (DRP) loss as compared to years in which fertilizer was not applied. We determined that STP was a good screening method to identify fields that are at risk for greater P loss, but STP alone was not a good predictor of DRP loss, suggesting that a more holistic approach that includes upland management, edge-of-field practices, and in-stream approaches will be required to decrease DRP loading.
Please view the pdf by using the Full Text (PDF) link under 'View' to the left.Copyright © 2017. . Copyright © by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.
