Author
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Dao, Thanh |
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Submitted to: International Innovation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 6/24/2015 Publication Date: 6/29/2015 Publication URL: http://www.internationalinnovation.com/the-phosphorus-problem/ Citation: Dao, T.H. 2015. The phosphorus problem. International Innovation. 182:44-45. Interpretive Summary: In agriculture, it is normal practice to increase the availability of nutrients in soils by recycling organic sources of crop nutrients, thus maximizing crop yield while conserving non-renewable resources. Unfortunately, this process is often less than optimal and excess nutrients invariably reach and degrade the balance of natural aquatic ecosystems. On-going research is focused on on-the-spot tools under development, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, coupled with enzymatic assays, which represent a promising option for precision management of agricultural phosphorus. These approaches have clear economic and environmental benefits that highlight the advantage of getting right the needed amount every crop season versus managing the consequences of a nutrient oversupply. Technical Abstract: Knowing your nutrients is the key to sustainable farming. Organic sources of crop nutrients or biofertilizers are essential for farming but excess nutrients are damaging for many natural ecosystems and, as such, knowledge and strategies to ensure their judicious use are crucial. Current analytical methods to measure phosphorus in plant, soil, or environmental samples are time-consuming and labor intensive. These methods make real-time assessments of phosphorus requirements of a crop impractical. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center are currently evaluating new instantaneous tools for on-the-spot analysis of key macronutrient profiles in crops and soils. One such tool that they are evaluating, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, coupled with enzymatic assays represents a promising option for precision management efforts. These tools and methodologies will enable farmers to accurately and quickly measure the amount of nutrients that their land and crops require. There are clear economic and environmental arguments that highlight the benefit of getting the needed amount every crop season versus managing the consequences of a nutrient oversupply, arguments that underpin the importance of the research work in the coming years. Armed with this important knowledge, farmers will be better equipped to use biofertilizers in a manner that will reduce the amount of nutrients that escape into natural and vulnerable ecosystems. |
