An agronomic test to manage phosphorus environmental risk from pastures with good grazing management
M. R. Hart A B C and P. S. Cornish A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury Campus, Locked Bag 1797 Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia.
B Current address: Defra, Area 1B, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, UK.
C Corresponding author. Email: murray.hart@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Soil Research 52(3) 293-298 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR13262
Submitted: 12 September 2013 Accepted: 19 November 2013 Published: 31 March 2014
Abstract
Management of phosphorus (P) environmental risk has been hampered by the lack of widely applicable threshold values for the soil properties that determine concentrations of P in runoff. This paper simplified the task of developing threshold values by restricting land-use to pastures and by using a single methodology based on simulated rainfall across 38 field sites (76 plots) that included a range of land-use intensities, and soils that varied widely in lithology and soil properties. An ‘adjusted’ soil-test P was determined from the measured Colwell-P minus the threshold P for agronomic response, which was estimated from P-buffering index (PBI). Concentrations of total P (TP) in runoff rose exponentially with rising ‘adjusted’ soil-test P, although only with pastures with high groundcover (r2 = 0.87), or if plots were protected from erosion with a cover of shade-cloth (r2 = 0.70). Concentrations of TP in runoff were low (<0.5 mg L–1) where adjusted Colwell-P was less than zero, which on this scale is the threshold for agronomic response. Similar results were found for dissolved reactive P (DRP) in runoff, although for plots with soil P below the agronomic threshold, the concentrations of DRP were lower than for TP. We conclude that Colwell-P and soil PBI together provide a widely applicable test for environmental P risk from pastures with good ground cover. The same threshold values may be used for both agronomic and environmental purposes.
Additional keywords: Colwell-P, PBI, P buffering index.
References
Bronstert A, Bardossy A (2003) Uncertainty of runoff modelling at the hillslope scale due to temporal variations of rainfall intensity. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 28, 283–288.| Uncertainty of runoff modelling at the hillslope scale due to temporal variations of rainfall intensity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burkitt LL, Moody PW, Gourley CJP, Hannah MC (2002) A simple phosphorus buffering index for Australian soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40, 497–513.
| A simple phosphorus buffering index for Australian soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bush BJ, Austin NR (2001) Timing of phosphorus fertilizer application within an irrigation cycle for perennial pasture. Journal of Environmental Quality 30, 939–946.
| Timing of phosphorus fertilizer application within an irrigation cycle for perennial pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11401284PubMed |
Colwell JD (1963) The estimation of the phosphorus fertilizer requirements of wheat in southern New South Wales by soil analysis. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 3, 190–197.
| The estimation of the phosphorus fertilizer requirements of wheat in southern New South Wales by soil analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cornish PS, Hallissey R, Hollinger E (2002) Is a rainfall simulator useful for estimating phosphorus runoff from pastures—a question of scale dependency? Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 42, 953–959.
| Is a rainfall simulator useful for estimating phosphorus runoff from pastures—a question of scale dependency?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cullen P (1991) Regional catchment management and receiving water quality. The Monkey Creek Project. Final Report. Water Resources Centre, University of Canberra, ACT.
Dougherty WJ, Nash DM, Cox JW, Chittleborough DJ, Fleming NK (2008) Small-scale, high-intensity rainfall simulation under-estimates natural runoff P concentrations from pastures on hill-slopes. Australian Journal of Soil Research 46, 694–702.
| Small-scale, high-intensity rainfall simulation under-estimates natural runoff P concentrations from pastures on hill-slopes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dougherty WJ, Burkitt LL, Corkrey R, Harvey DM (2011) The effect of soil P sorption properties and phosphorus fertiliser application strategy on ‘incidental’ phosphorus fertiliser characteristics: a laboratory study. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 89, 189–197.
| The effect of soil P sorption properties and phosphorus fertiliser application strategy on ‘incidental’ phosphorus fertiliser characteristics: a laboratory study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fortune S, Lu J, Addiscott TM, Brookes PC (2005) Assessment of phosphorus leaching losses from arable land. Plant and Soil 269, 99–108.
| Assessment of phosphorus leaching losses from arable land.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gourley CJP, Melland AR, Waller RA, Awty IM, Smith AP, Peverill KI, Hannah MC (2007) Making better fertiliser decisions for grazed pastures in Australia. Victorian Government, Department of Primary Industries, Melbourne.
Harmel RD, Haney RL, Smith DR (2011) Effects of annual turkey litter application on surface soil quality of a Texas blackland vertisol. Soil Science 176, 227–236.
Hart MR, Cornish PS (2012) Available soil phosphorus, phosphorus buffering and soil cover determine most variation in phosphorus concentration in runoff from pastoral sites. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 93, 227–244.
| Available soil phosphorus, phosphorus buffering and soil cover determine most variation in phosphorus concentration in runoff from pastoral sites.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hart MR, Quin BF, Nguyen ML (2004) Phosphorus runoff from agricultural land and direct fertilizer effects: A review. Journal of Environmental Quality 33, 1954–1972.
| Phosphorus runoff from agricultural land and direct fertilizer effects: A review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15537918PubMed |
Hartz TK, Johnstone PR (2006) Relationship between soil phosphorus availability and phosphorus loss potential in runoff and drainage. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 37, 1525–1536.
| Relationship between soil phosphorus availability and phosphorus loss potential in runoff and drainage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haygarth PM, Hepworth L, Jarvis SC (1998) Forms of phosphorus transfer in hydrological pathways from soil under grazed grassland. European Journal of Soil Science 49, 65–72.
| Forms of phosphorus transfer in hydrological pathways from soil under grazed grassland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heckrath G, Brookes PC, Poulton PR, Goulding KWT (1995) Phosphorus leaching from soils containing different P concentrations in the Broadbalk Experiment. Journal of Environmental Quality 24, 904–910.
| Phosphorus leaching from soils containing different P concentrations in the Broadbalk Experiment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hesketh N, Brookes PC (2000) Development of an indicator for risk of phosphorus leaching. Journal of Environmental Quality 29, 105–110.
| Development of an indicator for risk of phosphorus leaching.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Loch RJ, Foley JL (1994) Measurement of aggregate breakdown under rain: Comparison with tests of water stability and relationships with field measurements of infiltration. Australian Journal of Soil Research 32, 701–720.
| Measurement of aggregate breakdown under rain: Comparison with tests of water stability and relationships with field measurements of infiltration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Loch RJ, Robotham BG, Zeller L, Masterman N, Orange DN, Bridge BJ, Sheridan G, Bourke JJ (2001) A multi-purpose rainfall simulator for field infiltration and erosion studies. Australian Journal of Soil Research 39, 599–610.
| A multi-purpose rainfall simulator for field infiltration and erosion studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McCaskill MR, Ridley AM, Okom A, White RE, Andrew MH, Michalk DL, Melland A, Johnston WH, Murphy SR (2003) SGS Nutrient Theme: environmental assessment of nutrient application to extensive pastures in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 927–944.
| SGS Nutrient Theme: environmental assessment of nutrient application to extensive pastures in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McDowell RW, Sharpley AN (2001) Approximating phosphorus release from soils to surface runoff and subsurface drainage. Journal of Environmental Quality 30, 508–520.
| Approximating phosphorus release from soils to surface runoff and subsurface drainage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11285912PubMed |
McDowell RW, Monaghan RM, Morton J (2003) Soil phosphorus concentrations to minimise potential P loss to surface waters in Southland. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 46, 239–253.
| Soil phosphorus concentrations to minimise potential P loss to surface waters in Southland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nash D, Hannah M, Barlow K, Robertson F, Mathers N, Butler C, Horton J (2007) A comparison of some surface soil phosphorus tests that could be used to assess P export potential. Australian Journal of Soil Research 45, 397–400.
| A comparison of some surface soil phosphorus tests that could be used to assess P export potential.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schärer M, Vollmer T, Frossard E, Stamm C, Flühler H, Sinaj S (2006) Effect of water composition on phosphorus concentration in runoff and water-soluble phosphate in two grassland soils. European Journal of Soil Science 57, 228–234.
| Effect of water composition on phosphorus concentration in runoff and water-soluble phosphate in two grassland soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sharpley AN, McDowell RW, Kleinman PJA (2004) Amounts, forms, and solubility of phosphorus in soils receiving manure. Soil Science Society of America Journal 68, 2048–2057.
| Amounts, forms, and solubility of phosphorus in soils receiving manure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stanton FW (1960) Ocular point frame. Journal of Range Management 13, 153–157.
| Ocular point frame.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tunney H, Kiely G, Morgan G, Moles R, Byrne P, Jordan P, Daly K, Doody D, Kurz I, Bourke D, O’Reilly C, Ryan D, Holden N, Jennings E, Irvine K, Carton O (2007) Pathways for nutrient loss to water with emphasis on phosphorus. End of Project Report RMIS 5021. Johnstown Castle Research Centre, Wexford, Ireland.
Wendt RC, Corey RB (1980) Phosphorus variations in surface runoff from agricultural lands as a function of land use. Journal of Environmental Quality 9, 130–136.
| Phosphorus variations in surface runoff from agricultural lands as a function of land use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Westra S, Sharma A (2010) Australian Rainfall and Runoff Revision Project 4: Continuous Rainfall Sequences at a Point. P4/S1/002. Engineers Australia, Water Engineering, The University of New South Wales Water Research Centre, Sydney.
Young WJ, Rustomji AO, Hughes D, Wilkins D (2001) Regionalisation of flow variables used in modelling riverine material transport in the National Land and Water Resources Audit. Technical Report 36/01. CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, ACT.
