HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (49) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Maguire, R. O. Articles by Sims, J. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Maguire, R. O. Articles by Sims, J. T. GeoRef GeoRef Citation Agricola Articles by Maguire, R. O. Articles by Sims, J. T. Related Collections Watershed and Landscape Processes Phosphorus Ecological Risk Assessment Other Environmental Contamination Water Pollution

TECHNICAL REPORTS
Landscape and Watershed Processes

Soil Testing to Predict Phosphorus Leaching

Department of Plant and Soil Sci., Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE 19717-1303

* Corresponding author (rmaguire{at}udel.edu)

Received for publication October 3, 2001. Subsurface pathways can play an important role in agricultural phosphorus (P) losses that can decrease surface water quality. This study evaluated agronomic and environmental soil tests for predicting P losses in water leaching from undisturbed soils. Intact soil columns were collected for five soil types that had a wide range in soil test P. The columns were leached with deionized water, the leachate analyzed for dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), and the soils analyzed for water-soluble phosphorus (WSP), 0.01 M CaCl₂ P (CaCl₂–P), iron-strip phosphorus (FeO-P), and Mehlich-1 and Mehlich-3 extractable P, Al, and Fe. The Mehlich-3 P saturation ratio (M3-PSR) was calculated as the molar ratio of Mehlich-3 extractable P/[Al + Fe]. Leachate DRP was frequently above concentrations associated with eutrophication. For the relationship between DRP in leachate and all of the soil tests used, a change point was determined, below which leachate DRP increased slowly per unit increase in soil test P, and above which leachate DRP increased rapidly. Environmental soil tests (WSP, CaCl₂–P, and FeO-P) were slightly better at predicting leachate DRP than agronomic soil tests (Mehlich-1 P, Mehlich-3 P, and the M3-PSR), although the M3-PSR was as good as the environmental soil tests if two outliers were omitted. Our results support the development of Mehlich-3 P and M3-PSR categories for profitable agriculture and environmental protection; however, to most accurately characterize the risk of P loss from soil to water by leaching, soil P testing must be fully integrated with other site properties and P management practices.

Abbreviations: CaCl₂–P, phosphorus extractable with 0.01 M CaCl₂ • DPS, degree of phosphorus saturation, calculated from a single extraction with acid ammonium oxalate as the molar ratio P/(0.5[Al + Fe]) x 100 • DRP, dissolved reactive phosphorus, measured with the molybdate blue method following 0.45-µm filtration • FeO-P, phosphorus extractable with an iron-oxide-impregnated strip • M3-PSR, Mehlich-3 phosphorus saturation ratio calculated as the molar ratio of Mehlich-3 P/[Al + Fe] • OM, organic matter • WSP, water-soluble phosphorus

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Siemens, K. Ilg, H. Pagel, and M. Kaupenjohann Is Colloid-Facilitated Phosphorus Leaching Triggered by Phosphorus Accumulation in Sandy Soils? J. Environ. Qual., October 23, 2008; 37(6): 2100 - 2107. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. M. Easton, M. T. Walter, and T. S. Steenhuis Combined Monitoring and Modeling Indicate the Most Effective Agricultural Best Management Practices J. Environ. Qual., August 8, 2008; 37(5): 1798 - 1809. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. O. Maguire, G. L. Mullins, and M. Brosius Evaluating Long-Term Nitrogen- versus Phosphorus-Based Nutrient Management of Poultry Litter J. Environ. Qual., August 8, 2008; 37(5): 1810 - 1816. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. O. Young and R. D. Briggs Phosphorus Concentrations in Soil and Subsurface Water: A Field Study among Cropland and Riparian Buffers J. Environ. Qual., January 4, 2008; 37(1): 69 - 78. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Casson, D. R. Bennett, S. C. Nolan, B. M. Olson, and G. R. Ontkean Degree of Phosphorus Saturation Thresholds in Manure-Amended Soils of Alberta J. Environ. Qual., October 27, 2006; 35(6): 2212 - 2221. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. R. Bond, R. O. Maguire, and J. L. Havlin Change in Soluble Phosphorus in Soils following Fertilization is Dependent on Initial Mehlich-3 Phosphorus J. Environ. Qual., August 9, 2006; 35(5): 1818 - 1824. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Wortmann and D. T. Walters Phosphorus Runoff during Four Years following Composted Manure Application. J. Environ. Qual., March 1, 2006; 35(2): 651 - 657. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Allen and A. P. Mallarino Relationships between Extractable Soil Phosphorus and Phosphorus Saturation after Long-Term Fertilizer or Manure Application Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., February 2, 2006; 70(2): 454 - 463. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Kronvang, M. Bechmann, H. Lundekvam, H. Behrendt, G. H. Rubaek, O. F. Schoumans, N. Syversen, H. E. Andersen, and C. C. Hoffmann Phosphorus Losses from Agricultural Areas in River Basins: Effects and Uncertainties of Targeted Mitigation Measures J. Environ. Qual., November 7, 2005; 34(6): 2129 - 2144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. McGrath, J. T. Sims, R. O. Maguire, W. W. Saylor, C. R. Angel, and B. L. Turner Broiler Diet Modification and Litter Storage: Impacts on Phosphorus in Litters, Soils, and Runoff J. Environ. Qual., September 8, 2005; 34(5): 1896 - 1909. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. F. Koopmans, W. J. Chardon, and C. van der Salm Disturbance of Water-Extractable Phosphorus Determination by Colloidal Particles in a Heavy Clay Soil from the Netherlands J. Environ. Qual., July 5, 2005; 34(4): 1446 - 1450. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. O. Maguire, J. T. Sims, W. W. Saylor, B. L. Turner, R. Angel, and T. J. Applegate Influence of Phytase Addition to Poultry Diets on Phosphorus Forms and Solubility in Litters and Amended Soils J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2004; 33(6): 2306 - 2316. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Jiao, W. H. Hendershot, and J. K. Whalen Agricultural Practices Influence Dissolved Nutrients Leaching through Intact Soil Cores Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 2004; 68(6): 2058 - 2068. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. E. Staats, Y. Arai, and D. L. Sparks Alum Amendment Effects on Phosphorus Release and Distribution in Poultry Litter-Amended Sandy Soils J. Environ. Qual., September 1, 2004; 33(5): 1904 - 1911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. D. Nair, K. M. Portier, D. A. Graetz, and M. L. Walker An Environmental Threshold for Degree of Phosphorus Saturation in Sandy Soils J. Environ. Qual., January 1, 2004; 33(1): 107 - 113. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Shober and J. T. Sims Phosphorus Restrictions for Land Application of Biosolids: Current Status and Future Trends J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2003; 32(6): 1955 - 1964. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. T. Sims, R. O. Maguire, A. B. Leytem, K. L. Gartley, and M. C. Pautler Evaluation of Mehlich 3 as an Agri-Environmental Soil Phosphorus Test for the Mid-Atlantic United States of America Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 2002; 66(6): 2016 - 2032. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. O. Maguire and J. T. Sims Measuring Agronomic and Environmental Soil Phosphorus Saturation and Predicting Phosphorus Leaching with Mehlich 3 Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 2002; 66(6): 2033 - 2039. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]