Assessing the Long Term Impact of Phosphorus Fertilization on Phosphorus Loadings Using AnnAGNPS

Yongping Yuan, Ronald L. Bingner, Martin A. Locke, Jim Stafford and Fred D. Theurer
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Yongping Yuan: Environmental Sciences Division, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 944 E. Harmon Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA
Ronald L. Bingner: Water Quality & Ecology Research Unit, National Sedimentation Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS), 598 McElroy Dr., Oxford, MS 38655, USA
Martin A. Locke: Water Quality & Ecology Research Unit, National Sedimentation Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS), 598 McElroy Dr., Oxford, MS 38655, USA
Jim Stafford: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-NRCS), Columbus, OH 43215, USA
Fred D. Theurer: Water Quality & Quantity Team, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-NRCS), Beltsville, MD, USA

IJERPH, 2011, vol. 8, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: High phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural fields has been an environmental concern because of potential water quality problems in streams and lakes. To better understand the process of P loss and evaluate the effects of different phosphorus fertilization rates on phosphorus losses, the USDA Annualized AGricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) pollutant loading model was applied to the Ohio Upper Auglaize watershed, located in the southern portion of the Maumee River Basin. In this study, the AnnAGNPS model was calibrated using USGS monitored data; and then the effects of different phosphorus fertilization rates on phosphorus loadings were assessed. It was found that P loadings increase as fertilization rate increases, and long term higher P application would lead to much higher P loadings to the watershed outlet. The P loadings to the watershed outlet have a dramatic change after some time with higher P application rate. This dramatic change of P loading to the watershed outlet indicates that a “critical point” may exist in the soil at which soil P loss to water changes dramatically. Simulations with different initial soil P contents showed that the higher the initial soil P content is, the less time it takes to reach the “critical point” where P loadings to the watershed outlet increases dramatically. More research needs to be done to understand the processes involved in the transfer of P between the various stable, active and labile states in the soil to ensure that the model simulations are accurate. This finding may be useful in setting up future P application and management guidelines.

Keywords: AnnAGNPS watershed modeling; phosphorus fertilization rates; phosphorus loss (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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