[USCC] P accumulation in manured fields

[Greg Evanylo]

You can learn more about the Southern Extension-Research Activity 
(SERA) group on minimizing P losses from agriculture (SERA-17) at:
http://www.sera17.ext.vt.edu/

Greg

At 04:56 PM 9/6/2006, you wrote:
>U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW
>Wyndham Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007
>The National forum for those involved in the development and 
>expansion of the composting and organics recycling industry
>CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION FORMS, WORKSHOP AGENDAS,
>EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT 
>THE USCC WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE USCC AT 631-737-4931
>
>
>Frank:
>
>Let me say again, the need is for an extraction that has results 
>highly correlated with potential runoff or leaching of P (R2, not 
>slope). The calibration will be first established with rainfall 
>simulator testing. So far the data support the 1:100 extraction 
>ratio. I can't explain the rest because I don't know all the 
>bureaucracy of Phosphate runoff scientists, but they are working 
>toward an expert agreed method for this extraction that will be 
>relevant to soil, manure, composts, and biosolids. Because each 
>sample can have a different ratio of inorganic phosphate to 
>phosphate adsorption capacity, the ability of each source to supply 
>P will be called the "Source Factor". That will be combined with all 
>the other factors which affect actual runoff or leaching (slope, 
>cover, barriers before stream, etc.) to set whether more P 
>application will be allowed under Nutrient Management Planning. Of 
>course, politics can enter the process and set limits without 
>technical basis as one stat
>  e did for fertilizers applied in cities to make up for the 
> difficulty caused to farmers by the rules being imposed.
>
>The group doing this Regional research is the SARA-17 group. 
>Excellent phosphate and environmental scientists who are trying to 
>develop simple and inexpensive methods to achieve the needed 
>protection of surface water. You may contact them directly and argue 
>for a method you think would do the job.
>
>Regards,
>
>Rufus
>
> >>> frank <frank at compostlab.com> 09/06/06 01:17PM >>>
>U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW
>Wyndham Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007
>The National forum for those involved in the development and 
>expansion of the composting and organics recycling industry
>CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION FORMS, WORKSHOP AGENDAS,
>EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT 
>THE USCC WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE USCC AT 631-737-4931
>
>
>Rufus, David, Larry and others;
>
>I suggest a procedure something like this:
>Using an Imhoff cone like the settling solids procedure in Standard
>Methods (2540F settleable solids) where you add a 50 gram sample dry
>wt(?)/ fill to liter mark with water/ stir well/ let settle for 45 min /
>"gently agitate sample near the sides of the cone with a rod or by
>spinning" / wait 15 min. Then pour off the top 100 mls of liquid
>(include floatables) and digest in strong acid to get total P using ICP.
>
>This will get something like what will be in the run-off including
>floatables and suspended sediment and will be the "total run-off P" -
>the total P that is, or will be, available.  This will include: (1)
>total dissolved P (2) total reactive P (3) suspended acid hydrolyzable P
>and (4) suspended organic P.
>
>It will be a reproducible test method using standard equipment.
>
>Frank
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>David Schellinger wrote:
>
> >U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW
> >Wyndham Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007
> >The National forum for those involved in the development and 
> expansion of the composting and organics recycling industry
> >CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION FORMS, WORKSHOP AGENDAS,
> >EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE 
> AT THE USCC WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE USCC AT 
> 631-737-4931
> >
> >
> >Rufus and Frank,
> >I have wonder if the water extraction used on soils, even though it is
> >adequate for testing plant available soil P concentrations, will be adequate
> >for testing compost plant available P.  Water tends to take on the pH of the
> >materials to which it is added, so water an acid soil would be at the
> >approximate pH of the soil, which is adequate for determining solubility of
> >P under the existing soil conditions.  But compost is a soil amendment.
> >
> >If I extracted a high pH compost or manure with water but the compost was
> >used to amend an acid soil, wouldn't the potential availability of P from
> >the material be influence by the change in conditions; would the soluble
> >fraction of P be increased do to changes in the pH in the surrounding soil?
> >Therefore, would the extraction of P from compost or manure using water
> >underestimate the available P under such circumstances?  So, is water
> >extraction the best method for estimating available P or would dilute acid
> >extraction be more adequate to determine the "potential" available fraction
> >of P in a compost?
> >
> >Dave Schellinger
> >W. A. Callegari Environmental Center
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: compost-bounces at composter.com [mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com]
> >On Behalf Of Rufus Chaney
> >Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 12:25 PM
> >To: compost at composter.com
> >Subject: Re: [USCC] P accumulation in manured fields
> >
> >U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW
> >Wyndham Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007
> >The National forum for those involved in the development and expansion of
> >the composting and organics recycling industry
> >CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION FORMS, WORKSHOP AGENDAS,
> >EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE
> >USCC WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE USCC AT 631-737-4931
> >
> >
> >Dear Frank and USCC Folks:
> >
> >You raise an important issue, and I have to report that the needed method
> >has not been adopted at this date.
> >
> >1. It has been found in numerous studies by now that soil test P (Mehlich,
> >Bray, Olsen, etc.) does not correlate very well with runoff or leaching of
> >P. These extractants have chemicals which are supposed to dissolve P that
> >the roots can dissolve and absorb, and that pool of P is different from the
> >P which enters runoff or leaches.
> >
> >2. We published several examples of the disagreement between soil-test-P
> >(STP) and water soluble P (WSP) and the ability of added Water Treatment
> >Residue to lower the WSP vs. STP in our paper in the last Composting
> >Conference Proceedings, and the Bio-Based Plant Nutrient Product
> >proceedings.
> >
> >3. According to the leaders in this field of research and extension, an
> >extraction of soil with pure water at 1 g dry soil per 100 mL, and measuring
> >the free inorganic "reactive" phosphate in the millipore filtered extract,
> >is the best correlated measure of P in field runoff tests. We have used this
> >ratio (Codling, Chaney et al.) and believe it is likely to be the ratio
> >adopted within a few years. Agreement that a STP should not be the
> >extraction used to predict risk of P in soil or manure is quite wide among
> >researchers. Papers about the water extraction will be appearing for several
> >years, and some official method may be selected soon.
> >
> >4. One example is reported in the paper: Kleinman, P.J.A., A.N. Sharpley,
> >A.M. Wolf, D.B. Beegle and P.A. Moore, Jr. 2002. Measuring water-extractable
> >phosphorus in manure as an indicator of phosphorus in runoff. Soil Sci. Soc.
> >Am. J. 66:2009-2015. This specific method is pretty much what is being
> >considered by experts on phosphate runoff.
> >
> >Regards,
> >
> >Rufus Chaney
> >Beltsville, MD
> >----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >---------
> >
> >
> >>>>frank at compostlab.com 08/29/06 12:50PM >>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >Rufus,
> >
> >First I wonder what type of P test should be done on compost to measure the
> >'problem' phosphorus?
> >
> >I suggest 'Dissolved acid-hydrolyzable phosphorus'. But first we should know
> >if when using this method adding Al to the compost will reduce the measured
> >P -as we need it to do if we use Al to solve the problem.
> >
> >SM 4500 Method: filter a water extract (suggest 1:5 w/w) thru 45um pore
> >membrane filter / add dilute acid and boil for 90 min.
> >
> >Frank
> >---------------------------
> >(snip)
> >
> >
> >
> >>High P accumulation in soil is already regulated in some states.
> >>
> >>
> >Imperfectly regulated. Composts are not yet strongly regulated in relation
> >to plant available or water soluble P in the amended soil, but regs are
> >moving toward limiting the Water Extractable Phosphate (WEP) of the soil
> >amendment or amended soil. Slopes and other factors which affect runoff and
> >erosion are increasing included in planned regulations for manure P
> >applications.
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >--------------------------
> >
> >
> >>(snip)
> >>
> >>Most evidence shows that the P is adsorbed on Fe and Al hydroxides,
> >>
> >>
> >although some is slowly converted to inorganic compounds of P in the soil or
> >diffuses inside the micropores in the oxides. Plants can utilize the
> >adsorbed and organic P, and even the P compounds, by the mechanisms they use
> >within the rhizosphere to dissolve and absorb soil P for normal soils. We
> >did one test of the P available to wheat from soils on my long term
> >biosolids plots at Beltsvsille and found that with no P fertilizer the wheat
> >obtained adequate P for full growth. So the P adsorbed on Fe and Al has
> >remained plant available. Other's research also supports this conclusion.
> >.....
> >
> >
> >>Regards,
> >>
> >>Rufus Chaney
> >>Beltsville, MD
> >>
> >>
> >>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>Jerry d'Aquin, Con-Sul, Inc.
> >>    One area which is of concern to me on a multi-decade time horizon is
> >>
> >>
> >the practice of applying alum to fields receiving high doses of poultry
> >litter. This approach has been promoted by the U of Arkansas as a means to
> >convert soluble P in litter to an insoluble form. This permits high-volume
> >litter applications while limiting P runoff and percolation into surface
> >and ground waters. In my mind, we are (at best) over-accumulating ground P
> >until the point when it again becomes an issue (if it ever ceased being so)
> >AND artificially injecting Al as aluminum phosphate into a long  term
> >equation -- rather than simply "biting the bullet" and  dispersing litter
> >over a larger area and at doses appropriate for requisite  nutrient uptake
> >of those crops. Am I wrong regarding the use of alum?
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >Ongoing Sponsors of the USCC Discussion list are:
> >
> >Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and 
> policy e-mail alert service for environmental, food and 
> agricultural industry professionals.
> >Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com
> >
> >Renewable Carbon Management, LLC with the containerized, in-vessel 
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> >
> >(c) Copyright 2006 United States  - All rights reserved
> >
> >Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses will 
> have their posting privelages suspended.  No exceptions!
> >
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> necessarily the opinion or policy of any organization.
> >
> >Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through our 
> website at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm     For 
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>
>--
>Frank Shields
>Soil Control Lab
>42 Hangar way
>Watsonville, CA  95076
>(831) 724-5422 tel
>(831) 724-3188 fax
>frank at compostlab.com
>www.compostlab.com
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
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>This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council.
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>
>Ongoing Sponsors of the USCC Discussion list are:
>
>Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and policy 
>e-mail alert service for environmental, food and agricultural 
>industry professionals.
>Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com
>
>Renewable Carbon Management, LLC with the containerized, in-vessel 
>NaturTech Composting System www.composter.com rcm at composter.com
>
>(c) Copyright 2006 United States  - All rights reserved
>
>Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses will have 
>their posting privelages suspended.  No exceptions!
>
>Opinions expressed represent only the poster and are not necessarily 
>the opinion or policy of any organization.
>
>Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through our 
>website at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm     For 
>discussion list policies and information regarding subscribing, 
>unsubscribing, digest or other options, go 
>to:http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
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>_______________________________________________
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>
>This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council.
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>
>Ongoing Sponsors of the USCC Discussion list are:
>
>Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and policy 
>e-mail alert service for environmental, food and agricultural 
>industry professionals.
>Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com
>
>Renewable Carbon Management, LLC with the containerized, in-vessel 
>NaturTech Composting System www.composter.com rcm at composter.com
>
>(c) Copyright 2006 United States  - All rights reserved
>
>Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses will have 
>their posting privelages suspended.  No exceptions!
>
>Opinions expressed represent only the poster and are not necessarily 
>the opinion or policy of any organization.
>
>Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through our 
>website at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm     For 
>discussion list policies and information regarding subscribing, 
>unsubscribing, digest or other options, go 
>to:http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
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>For additional help in unsubscribing or to report bugs and problems, 
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>compost-owner at composter.com

Gregory K. Evanylo
Professor and Extension Specialist
Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences (0403)
426 Smyth Hall, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Ph: 540/231-9739;  Fax: 540/231-3075
gevanylo at vt.edu