Phosphorus leaching in manure-amended Atlantic Coastal Plain soils.
Targeting the sources of phosphorus (P) and transport pathways of drainage from agricultural land will assist in the reduction of P loading to surface waters. Our research investigated the vertical movement of P from dairy manure and broiler litter through four Atlantic Coastal Plain soils. A randomized split-plot design with two main-plot tillage treatments (no tillage [NT] and chisel tillage [CH]) and five manure P rate split-plot treatments was used at each location. The split-plot P rates were 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg P ha(-1) yr(-1). Four consecutive years of manure application began at all sites 5 yr before sampling. Soils were sampled to a depth of 150 cm from each split plot in seven depth increments and analyzed for soil test phosphorus (STP), water-extractable soil phosphorus (WSP), and degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS). The DPS of the 0- to 15-cm depths confirmed that at the 100 kg P ha(-1) yr(-1) application rate, all sites exceeded the threshold for P saturation (30%). At depths greater than 30 cm, DPS was typically below the 30% saturation threshold. The DPS change points ranged from 25 to 34% for the 0- to 90-cm depths. Our research concluded that the risk of P leaching through the matrix of the Atlantic Coastal Plain soils studied was not high; however, P leaching via macropore bypass may contribute to P loss from these soils.
Butler
Jennifer S
JS
Department of Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture, 0214 H.J. Patterson Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
Coale
Frank J
FJ
D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005068:Eutrophication; D008372:Manure; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D012995:Solubility; D014481:United States; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D008372:Manure; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants; D010758:Phosphorus