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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #132228
Title: ASSESSING PHOSPHORUS ISSUES IN RESPONSE TO MARYLAND'S WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998

Author
item Sharpley, Andrew
item Kleinman, Peter

Submitted to: University of Maryland Experiment Station Report
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2002
Publication Date: 2/20/2002
Citation: Sharpley, A.N., Kleinman, P.J. 2002. Assessing phosphorus issues in response to Maryland's Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998. University of Maryland Experiment Station Report. p. 1-12.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We have put together the following information, which we believe is relevant to the ongoing discussions related to the identification and remediation of phosphorus related water quality issues, currently facing the U.S. in general and Northeast in particular. It is hoped that this will provide some basis to move forward toward a general consensus as to our present understanding and future needs. At the December 10, 2001 "scientific summit," at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD, the following questions were posed: 1. Can we identify major areas that contribute to phosphorus export from a watershed as part of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning (CNMP) strategy? 2. Have Best Management Practices (BMPs) been effective at reducing phosphorus loss over the last 5 years? 3. What future research directions are needed to address unanswered questions? This paper answers these by drawing on the large amount of information that has already been published. Although this is not a comprehensive treatise, we believe it covers the general scientific consensus on issues related to managing agricultural phosphorus and adoption of Best Management Practices as related to water quality.