A news release (pdf) issued Oct. 17 highlights some current work being done by a variety of groups interested in agriculture and water quality including farmers, industry and agencies. The working group assembled by ODA, OEPA and ODNR is developing recommendations on immediate actions that can be taken by agriculture to reduce phosphorous (P) loading into Lake Erie. The full background on this effort can be found online.

Phosphorous is back as a water quality concern, but it is not the same problem that Ohio farmers played an important role during 1980s in reducing P loading with the adoption of conservation tillage. The issue today is more complicated and while absolute answers are not available, implementation of best management practices will help keep P on fields where we need it for crop production.

The issue of P in the 1960s and 1970s was related to the total P load going into lake systems across the state. While multiple sources of P were targeted, the majority of this loading from an agriculture standpoint was sediment bound P that eroded from fields via sheet and rill erosion. A shift to no-till and conservation tillage crop production methods left a protective residue cover over soil, reducing erosion while lowering P levels in water. Reducing other sources of P from sewage treatment, detergents and multiple other sources were focused on as well. The health of the lake improved.

Today's phosphorous problem leading to harmful algae blooms finds it roots an increased level of dissolved reactive phosphorous (DRP) in Ohio's waters that have been observed since the mid 1990's. The levels of DRP have increased in spite of observations of steady total P levels equal to that of the mid 1980s entering Lake Erie. To mitigate the role that agriculture plays in the overall P levels, we will need to rely on implementation of BMPs in fertilizer and manure application.

In this fall fertilization season some practices that are thought to help keep the P were we want it in the plant root zone are:

Soil testing.The key to an effective soil sampling program is being able to provide the laboratory a representative sample of the cropping area that a fertilizer recommendation is desired for. Characteristics of a representative sample are a single composite soil sample of 15 individual cores representing no more than 20 acres. The bulked sample should be thoroughly mixed with a subsample packaged and sent to the lab. Many laboratories participate in blind testing programs that test their procedures against known samples. When selecting a lab ask about results of these types of programs. Laboratories are very efficient and effective in processing soil samples sent to them for processing. More information on phosphorous soil testing can be found online.

Fertilizer recommendations.Phosphorous fertilizer recommendations from Ohio State University Extension follow a buildup/maintenance approach. The critical P soil test levels are 15 PPM (30 lbs./acre) for corn/soybeans and 25 PPM (50 lbs./acre) for wheat/alfalfa. The Tri State Fertilizer Recommendations publication can be found online.

To answer the question "What do you mean do not put any P on, won't my soil test drop?" The answer to this question is a two-part answer. First yes, soil test levels will drop, but if you are above the crop response range for the crop it really is not a problem crop production wise. If you are above 30 PPM there is no yield benefit and if you are way above this level there is an economic benefit to using this soil stored P. The second part of the answer is soil test do not drop 1 to 1 with crop removal. A 150-bu. corn crop removes the following: 150 bu. x 0.37 crop removal = 56 lbs. Phosphorous chemistry in the soil buffers the crop removal so that for each 15-20 lbs. of P2O5 removal, P levels in the soil are lowered 1 PPM. So our 150-bu. crop will lower the soil test at most 3 PPM.

Application placement and timing.These should be an important consideration in making nutrient applications. Keeping nutrients on the land preserves the nutrients for their intended purpose of providing for plant growth. Most of the nutrients being added to water courses in Ohio are coming from four to seven rainfall events during the year.

Additional discussion on BMP's for reducing Phosphorous Loss can be found online (pdf).

Other practices can be beneficial in reaching the goal of lowering nutrients in particular P in Ohio's watercourses. The industry has taken to discussing fertilizers application as the 4 Rs or Four Fertilizer "Rights". These four rights are not independent of each other but incorporated as a system where decisions in one area affect the rights in another area. Get more information on the fertilizer Rights online.