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A critical evaluation of the Kentucky phosphorus index
- Abstract::
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) is currently revising its 590 Nutrient Management Conservation Standard. As part of this revision, USDA-NRCS is considering requiring states to test the accuracy of their phosphorus (P) indices using either measured P loss data or simulated P loss data generated from process-based models. The objective of this study was to critically evaluate the KY P index by comparing index output with simulated P loss data obtained from a validated P loss model. Furthermore, the general formulation of the index was evaluated against current research on the processes controlling P transport in the environment. Results suggested that in some areas the index does a good job in assigning P loss risk; however, this analysis also showed some important deficiencies in the index, primarily the neglect of important factors known to affect P loss (e.g., soil erosion and P application rates) and how the different factors in the index are weighted. To reduce the amount of P that is exported from agricultural fields to waterways within Kentucky, resources should be devoted to revising the KY P index to address these limitations as well as developing long-term monitoring sites where the P index and more process-based models can be evaluated against measured P loss data.
- Author(s):
-
Bolster, Carl H.
- Subject(s):
-
Natural Resources Conservation Service , agricultural management models , agricultural soils , fertilizer rates , losses from soil , nonpoint source pollution , nutrient management , phosphorus , phosphorus fertilizers , risk , soil erosion , waterways , Kentucky
- Description:
- Includes references
- Source:
- Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science. 2011 Spring, v. 72, no. 1
- Language:
- English
- Year:
- 2011
- Collection:
-
Journal Articles, USDA Authors, Peer-Reviewed
- File:
-
Download [PDF]
- Rights:
- Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
