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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Bowling Green, Kentucky » Food Animal Environmental Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341832

Research Project: Developing Safe, Efficient and Environmentally Sound Management Practices for the Use of Animal Manure

Location: Food Animal Environmental Systems Research

Title: Limitations in estimating phosphorus sorption capacity from soil properties

Author
item Bolster, Carl
item Vadas, Peter

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2017
Publication Date: 10/26/2017
Citation: Bolster, C.H., Vadas, P.A. 2017. Limitations in estimating phosphorus sorption capacity from soil properties. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Paper No. 216-4.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An important component of all P loss models is how P cycling in soils is described. The P cycling routines in most models are based on the routines developed for the EPIC model over 30 years ago. EPIC was developed so that it could be parameterized with easily obtainable soil data and thus, by necessity, oversimplifies the processes governing P transformation in soil. The EPIC model assumes three inorganic P pools: Active, Labile, and Stable. At equilibrium, EPIC partitions P among the 3 pools using a P sorption capacity parameter (PSP). In most cases this parameter is not directly measured but rather estimated from soil properties. In this study we re-evaluate existing regression equations relating PSP to soil texture properties and note limitations with use of regression equations to estimate PSP. We also demonstrate limitations with the underlying conceptual model of the P cycling routines. Finally, we propose modifications to the P cycling routines to improve the accuracy of this model for predicting P concentrations of the different inorganic P pools.