Trends in New York State Soil Phosphorus Fertility.
(NE_03-kahabka987228-poster)
Authors:
J.E. Kahabka* - Cornell University Q.M. Ketterings - Cornell University S.W. Reid - Cornell University
Abstract:
New York State contains nearly 4.86 million acres of cropland and is the third largest milk producer in the nation. Phosphorus loss from cropland has become a concern and given the importance of agriculture to New York’s economy it is critical to balance both economic and environmental goals of farms, rural
communities and public water resources. It is important to monitor soil test levels as a means of evaluating the impact of manure and fertilizer management practices. A data set containing 119,338 soil test records was obtained from the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory for the years 1995 to 2001. These data were analyzed to assess P fertility status at state, regional and county levels and compared with historical data from 1957/58, 1977/78, 1981, and 1982. Mean statewide P levels were similar in 1957/58 and 1977/78, but began a steady increase in soil test P levels from
1977/78 when 26 percent of the samples tested high or very high to 47 percent in 1995/2001. Increases occurred across all regions in the state although the current status of individual counties varied from 9 to 87 percent of the soil testing high or very high in P. As these soils reach progressively higher P levels they may require more attentive management to ensure that environmental thresholds are not
exceeded.
Speaker Information: Jason Kahabka, Cornell University, 813 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14850; Phone: 607-255-1723; E-mail: [email protected]