Phosphorus Characteristics in Soil

There is a small amount of phosphorus in the soil solution and, therefore available to a plant at any point in time. Low total amounts in the soil and low solubility mean that the plant can lack sufficient phosphorus for growth, particularly in cool and wet spring conditions when Iowa’s annual crops have a minimal root system exhibiting lots of branching.   Availability can be impacted by soil pH, at both low or high ranges, as phosphorus can form calcium phosphates or iron phosphates. Due to low plant availability, mycorrhizal associations can be significant contributors to plant uptake for phosphorus.

Phosphorus fertilizers include animal manures, DAP (Diammonium phosphate) or MAP (monoammonium phosphate) are made by combining ammonia and phosphoric acid. Alternatively, mined rock phosphate or other unique materials such as guano.

Role in Plant Growth

As a part of ATP, phosphorus is important for energy transfer within the plant. Therefore, stunted plants are expected, but purple coloring is also common.

Phosphorus Loss

Phosphorus loss from Iowa soils or to Iowa water bodies is generally attributed to erosion of the entire soil rather than via water. Therefore, strategies to decrease loss or improve water quality focus on decreasing erosion rather than biological mechanisms for nitrate loss. Decreasing erosion, through decreasing tillage, increasing cover, buffer strips, increasing perennial cover on the landscape, decrease phosphorus loss to water bodies.

Additionally, livestock manure can be detrimental to local water quality, resulting in decreased use and function as can be seen in the photo below. Stream exclusion fencing, keeping livestock from wallowing in the water and adding manure, can decrease the risk to water quality. Application of manure should be incorporated, not applied to frozen ground when it would be more likely to run off, and should be set back from the stream or water body.

Importance in Water Bodies

Significant water quality issues result from phosphorus enrichment, both at local and national scales. Nutrient contribution from the upper midwest contributes to the significant hypoxic or ‘dead zone’ in the US Gulf of Mexico. Eutrophication, or the nutrient enrichment of these water bodies causes excessive growth, and then excessive decomposition, which decreases oxygen in the water. Since organisms in the water need oxygen, this causes a collapse in the local ecosystem. Therefore, it is important to minimize loss from our soils and decrease impact on nearby water bodies.