Research & Information Needs from the May 6th, 2003 Roundtable
- The need exists to bring more of the scientific knowledge base into
agricultural and environmental protection decisions.
- Develop a runoff map/graph within PALMS.
- Add sediment and phosphorus chemistry equations for dissolved-P and
particulate-P predictions.
o Will be done by fall '03.
- Investigate and model phosphorus transport to groundwater.
o Data shows that manure-P percolates deeper than fertilizer-P.
- More detailed soils data is needed for models of increasing complexity.
Research & Information Needs from the March 5th, 2003 Roundtable
- The need exists to explore alternatives to traditional cost-share
incentives and regulations as tools for promoting the adoption of nutrient
management practices.
o Pollutant trading, etc.
- Define and explore the TMDL process and corrective measures for meeting
TMDL objectives.
- See previous P Research Roundtable research and information needs
and apply here as well.
Research & Information Needs from the January 8th, 2003 Roundtable
- Promotion of the concept that all manure-P is not organic-P.
- Development of species-specific manure-P management guidelines.
- Refinement of some P Index factors
o P extraction efficiencies with manure applications.
- Development of a broad "systems-oriented" approach for overall
manure management recommendations. Including . . .
o Cost - benefit analysis
o Decision tree
o Environmental parameters
- Development of new technology/engineering for the effective incorporation
of manure with minimal nutrient loss and loss of soil surface cover.
- Consider manure application history (in addition to soil test P values)
as a risk indicator for P loss.
- Explore further (i.e. replicate research) the influence of consecutive
years of manure applications on P losses.
o Research presented today found a greater loss of P from soils with
only one-or-two years of manure applications versus soils with 6+ years
of consecutive applications.
- Investigate the relationships of the information presented today to
soil fertility and crop production.
- Examine the effluent from manure digesters for P availability and
solubility compared to other manures.
- Explore relationships between soil test P, soil type, and extractable
P.
- Assess differences in P solubilities among dairy manures based on
storage (liquid vs. daily haul) and how these differences affect potential
runoff P losses.
- Assess effects of cumulative manure amendments on water soluble P
in a range of Wisconsin soils.
Research & Information Needs from the October 30th, 2002 Roundtable
- Examine the change in buffer effectiveness over time.
- Identification of areas where buffers are not effective.
- Explore the impact of climate (particularly northern climate) on buffer
effectiveness and durability.
- Snowmelt release of P
- Vegetation release of P
- Define the maintenance requirements for buffers
- These will vary seasonally
- Identify upland management practices that will allow for maximum buffer
effectiveness.
- Examine the economic impact of buffers.
- Explore positives and negatives.
- Are there vegetative species that can be used in buffers that
will have an agricultural benefit?
- Identify landowner constraints to the installation of buffers.
- Investigate and define site-specific influences on buffer design characteristics.
- Slope, soil type, cropland practices, etc.
- Determine the appropriate vegetation species for maximum buffer effectiveness.
- Balance with agricultural benefit.
- Explore alternative buffer designs.
- Vertical characteristics rather than horizontal characteristics
- Grass height and "dimples", berms within buffers, etc.
- Develop methods for controlling or managing the impact of large episodic
events (storms) on buffer "failure".
- Evaluate the effectiveness of a single, contiguous buffer verses a
series of buffers.
- Determine the secondary benefits of buffers.
- Wildlife, fish, aesthetics
- Impact of these other benefits on buffer design
- Develop methods for determining buffer effectiveness (or ineffectiveness).
- Develop a ranking tool for buffer position on the landscape.
- Maximize effectiveness, minimize cost
- Conduct in-field studies utilizing natural rainfall in addition to
simulated rainfall studies.
- Evaluate natural buffers (grass, trees, brush) versus grass buffers.
Research & Information Needs from the September 10th, 2002 Roundtable
- Promotion of the merits of zero phosphate fertilizers
- If soil test allows for them
- Follow-up monitoring of P loadings to water bodies after regulations
(such as zero-P fertilizer use) are passed (i.e. determine if the regulation
is working).
- Need to investigate and characterize water bodies to determine sources
and loadings of P prior to the passing of regulations/restrictions (i.e.
will the proposed reduction in P loading of the regulation be enough
to have any affect on improving water quality?)
- Education of lakeshore residents on the amount of time required for
water quality improvements to become evident after the installation
of best management practices.
- Education of lawn and garden center staff on "proper" turf
fertilization.
- Determine P losses from shrub areas and flower beds.
- Explore suitable ground covers for areas where turf will not thrive
(such as areas of less than 70% sunlight).
- Investigate the effect of various mulching materials on P loadings.
- Promote proper grass clipping discharge practices.
- Keep out of curb, roadways, driveways, etc.
Research & Information Needs from the July 17, 2002 Roundtable
- Additional field calibration of the P.I.
- Data for revision and update of the P.I.
- Further investigation of the sediment and P trapping abilities of
buffers.
- Study of the physical characteristics of effective buffers.
- Buffer discussion at future Roundtable meeting
- Investigate the impact of fall manure applications on P losses and
P.I. calibration.
- Explore the possibility of a multi-state P.I.
- Collaborations with Iowa State University and University of Minnesota.
- Apply the P.I. on various larger scales (watersheds, etc.).
- Collect data on the P content of sand, silt, and clay particles as
a function of soil series.
- Develop soil test P (Bray 1) and soluble P relationships (calibrations)
for additional Wisconsin soils.
- Conduct simulated runoff experiments on other rotational crops grown
in Wisconsin.
- Investigate the seasonal losses of SP from vegetation (esp. freeze-thaw
losses).
Research & Information Needs from the May 8, 2002 Roundtable
- Techniques for reducing the phosphorus content in biosolids.
- Resulting in an increase of effluent phosphorus content.
- Techniques for increasing the phosphorus content in biosolids.
- Resulting in a decrease of effluent phosphorus content.
- Assessment of the effectiveness of current biosolid regulations regarding
phosphorus.
- Improvement of biosolids application equipment.
- Specifically, improve ability to vary rates.
- Investigate the mobility of biosolid-phosphorus versus other sources
of phosphorus.
- Investigate the economics and sustainability of treating biosolids
with alum to tie-up phosphorus.
- Explore the real or perceived health effects associated with the applications
of biosolids to cropland.
- Concerns over biologically active compounds.
- Determine if the phosphorus index will be an appropriate risk management
tool for biosolids.
- Methods for reducing phosphorus in municipal effluent without chemical
treatment.
- With the intent of keeping the phosphorus available for future
agricultural use.
Research & Information Needs from the March 6, 2002 Roundtable
- Methods for identification of farms on the tail end of the behavior/adoption
distribution curve.
- Methods for reaching these farms and encouraging management changes.
- Increased promotion of the physical benefits of manure additions to
cropland.
- Alternative uses of manure (energy, etc.).
- Analysis of the risks and benefits to individual agricultural operations
of improved manure management practices.
- Environment, economic, etc.
- Chemical treatments of manure and the potential benefits to manure
management.
- Documentation of the water quality impact of farms on the "tail
end of the curve."
- Cost-effective manure application technology.
- Models on the impact of management practices on P delivery.
- Labor requirements to improved manure management.
Research & Information Needs from the January 9, 2002 Roundtable
- Dispel the dietary-P / dairy cow reproduction myth with education
programs.
-Target new audiences - veterinarians, feed consultants.
-Target traditional audiences - farmers, agency personnel.
- Update the "book value" averages published for nutrient
composition of animal feed.
- Expose the hidden cost associated with cheap protein feed supplements.
-N:P ratios, etc.
- Explore and develop new manure incorporation techniques that will
minimize soil erosion while allowing for the advantages manure incorporation
provides relative to reductions in odor and nitrogen loss (less volatilization).
-Allow for field- and farm-specific solutions.
- Research on management practices for reducing or immobilizing the
excess P fed to dairy cattle.
-Dietary calcium additions to tie-up P excreted by dairy cattle.
-Digestive system effects on soluble P and ammonia availability.
- Confirm the Ebeling/Bundy/Powell dietary-P and soluble P loss relationship
with additional research.
- Explore P feeding patterns as a function of herd size, herd housing,
and presence of manure storage.
- Identify and publicize Wisconsin dairy herds that have reduced dietary-P
intake without sacrificing milk production.
-Promote the economic and environmental incentives.
- Investigate further the ability of dietary calcium additions to reduce
the soluble P content of manure.
Research & Information Needs from the November 1, 2001 Roundtable
- Runoff studies evaluating various forms and types of manure for their
environmental impact.
- Evaluation of the environmental impact of various forms of P (SP,
PP, etc.) in runoff from winter-spread manure.
- Evaluation of receiving water characteristics in the determination
of P management practices.
- Development of models for predicting winter losses of P and runoff
as a function of soils, type of frost, thaw characteristics, rainfall,
snowfall, etc.
- Start with a review of existing data (could be substantial).
- Investigation of the effect of manure on groundwater recharge.
- Study and attempt to quantify runoff characteristics as a function
of seasonal rainfall timing.
- Investigation of the effect of harvest management strategies on P
runoff from winter-spread manure.
- Exploration of the seasonal variation in the emission of greenhouse
and other gases from manure.
- Education Needs:
- Include in nutrient management planning activities the identification
of high, medium, and low manure application risks.
- Promote the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
Research & Information Needs from the September 5, 2001 Roundtable
- Reliable, practical, and functional techniques for measuring bio-available
P (BAP).
- Seasonal and long-term BAP parameters and measurements
- BAP as a function of landscape position
- BAP relationship to total P (TP)
- Linking the impact of management practices to seasonal P loading (i.e.
critical events).
- The fate of P in streams and rivers.
- Delivery ratios
- Forms of P
- Identify the significance of late winter/early spring P contributions
to Lake Mendota's TP load and seasonal algal blooms.
- Quantify the impact of P management practices on P loading reductions
- both TP and BAP
- Develop and/or improve methods for accurately monitoring sediment
movement on landscapes.
- Promote practices for increased water infiltration.
- Explore and educate on the consequences of improved P management.
- Economic implications
- Movement of nitrogen and pesticides with increased water infiltration
Research & Information Needs from the July 11, 2001 Roundtable
- Glossary of P terminology
(In development as component of the "P Primer" publication
being developed by the NPM Program and the Dept. of Soil Science.)
- Develop rationale and methods for colloidal-P focus.
- Further refinement of manure analysis techniques that determine nutrient
availability.
- Investigate the validity of the assumption: (RUSLE results) X (%
clay) = Colloid Loss
- Investigate colloidal-P concentration as an environmental parameter.
- Further investigate chemical treatments of manure to reduce P availability
- Investigate the relationship of total P in clay to soil and eroded
sediment.
Research/Information Needs from the May 2, 2001 Roundtable
- Publications:
-General glossary of P terminology
(In development as component of the "P Primer" publication
being developed by the NPM Program and the Dept. of Soil Science.)
-Document on buffers that discusses P-water quality implications and
beyond
-Report on the status of manure incorporation technologies in other
states and countries
-Listing of various manure application strategies
- Sources of P in winter/spring runoff
-For example, contributions from alfalfa fields, forests, etc.
-Identify contributors to SP:TP ratio shifts (see Lathrop comment in
notes)
- Measure the impact of various tillage systems on soil properties and
runoff
- Define best management practices (BMPs) for the control of soluble
P
- Investigate the effect of BMPs on infiltration
- Measure the impact of manure & P application rates on erosion
and runoff
- Measure biological-available P (BAP) losses from agricultural from
ag systems
- Investigate methods to control "incident-related" P losses
from agricultural landscapes with unincorporated manure.
- Study the effects of manure injection (i.e. liquid manure) on soluble
and total P losses in runoff.
- Investigate methods to control soluble P losses where manure is surface-applied
- Collect Wisconsin data on the effects of riparian buffers
- Continue research on the effects of dietary P manipulation on P contributions
and losses from agricultural landscapes.
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