Prediction of the P-leaching potential of arable soils in areas with high livestock densities.
Due to long-term positive P-balances many surface soils in areas with high livestock density in Germany are oversupplied with available P, creating a potential for vertical P losses by leaching. In extensive studies to characterize the endangering of ground water to P pollution by chemical soil parameters it is shown that the available P content and the P concentration of the soil solution in the deeper soil layers, as indicators of the P-leaching potential, cannot be satisfactorily predicted from the available P content of the topsoils. The P equilibrium concentration in the soil solution directly above ground water table or the pipe drainage system highly depends on the relative saturation of the P-sorption capacity in this layer. A saturation index of <20% normally corresponds with P equilibrium concentrations of <0.2 mg P/L. Phytoremediation may reduce the P leaching potential of P-enriched soils only over a very long period.
Werner
Wilfried
W
Institute for Plant Nutrition, University of Bonn, D-531159 Bonn, Germany. w.werner@uni-bonn.de
Trimborn
Manfred
M
Pihl
Uwe
U
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000378:metabolism*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005858:Germany; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000379:methods*
D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus