Regional Phosphorous Management

The phosphorus site index is a tool the USDA developed as a guide to estimate how much phosphorus a specific area could potentially leach into surface waters. Each state in the Mid-Atlantic has modified the original NRCS P-Index to reflect respective soil, topographic, environmental and management conditions. But developing more consistent PSIs in each state would allow more coordinated nutrient management, especially within watersheds shared between jurisdictions.

In 2005, phosphorus researchers from each of the five Mid-Atlantic states developed regionally consistent approaches for use of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and values for phosphorus source availability coefficients. The workgroup held several consensus meetings and invited other phosphorus experts to examine research and develop two white papers, which served as the basis for a Mid-Atlantic Phosphorus Forum in March 2005, which included representatives from state water quality and agricultural agencies, ARS, NRCS, EPA, agricultural consultants, environmental organizations and other stakeholder groups.

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