Nutrient Management

Section 5.5 – Phosphorus, Potassium and

Heavy Metals
Adapted CNMP Core Curriculum

Presented by:

Roberto Maisonnave, Ag Engineer & M. Sc.

International Environmental Consultant
robermaison@hotmail.com
www.ambientagro.com
 Objectives
• Understand the P cycle
• Learn effects of P in the environment
• P management exercise
• Understand K+ cycle and management
• Review main Heavy Metals related
issues
 The Phosphorus Cycle
Crop
Crop
Harvest
Harvest
Fertilizer
Fertilizer P
P

Manure
Manure P
P Crop
Crop
Residue
Residue

Solution
Solution PP
Stable
Stable Labile
Labile Labile
Labile Stable
Stable

Organic P Inorganic P
Leaching
Leaching
From: Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship 34-3
 Soil Phosphorus
– Maintaining the
soil solution Critical Maintenance
concentration for Level Limit

Nutrient Rate
plant uptake is
Buildup Drawdown
important. Range
Maintenance
Range

Range

– Nutrient strategy Soil Test Level

 Soil Test Phosphorus
• Agronomic soil tests are used to
determine plant available P.

• The tests are a prediction of the

amount of desorbed labile (readily
available) P into soil solution from the
soil mineral surface, over the growing
season.
 Environmental Concerns
• Phosphorus is adsorbed to soil
particles and moves with soil

• Pathways that transport soil to surface

water are the primary pathways for P
movement to surface water
Pathways for P Loss from Soils
 Phosphorus in Water

• Often limiting nutrient in fresh water

systems
• Addition stimulates algal growth
• Too much P = less dissolved O2
• Excessive P = EUTROPHICATION
 Managing Agricultural P
• Minimize P sources
– Diet manipulation
– Manure technologies - No reduction in P, but
may increase options for hauling greater
distances or marketing
• Fertilizer Management
• Conservation Practices
• No direct application of P to water
Dietary Manipulation Manure Treatment

Less Available P in Manure

Agronomic Application Rates

Erosion Control

Buffer Strips

Improved Water Quality

 CNMP Development
• Create a Farm P Balance
– Current soil tests
– Current manure tests
• Determine crop P needs
• Use manure and wastewater volumes and
manure test to determine P2O5 to be applied
• Use risk assessment tools to determine the
lowest risk application areas
 P Based Application Rate
• Soil Test Phosphorus (STP)
– Application based upon soil test analysis,
and crop P needs, based on university
recommendations
– Fertility strategy
• Buildup low P soils
• Maintenance
• Drawdown
Kansas P Field Category &
Application Rates
 Kansas Manure Application Rates

Rating Soil Test P Index 0 – 8 % Slope

(kg/ha) Soil > 0.5 m deep
Low 0 – 72 Full Rate: 100% CNR, < 200 kg/ha P2O5
Moderate 72 – 280 Full Rate: 100% CNR, < 200 kg/ha P2O5
High 280 - 450 Half Rate: 100% CNR, <100 kg/ha P2O5
Very High > 450 Plant Removal
Severe No Application
Oklahoma Manure Application Rates
Phosphorus & Potassium
Crop Removal
 Phosphorus Removal
• Corn removes 9 kg P2O5 / ton grain
• 9 ton/ac Corn: 81 kg P2O5 / ha
• This corn crop would remove approximately
62 kg of P2O5 per hectare
Example NE 25
Example NE25
POTASSIUM
 Potassium
• Potassium Cycle
• Ruminant considerations
– Dairy herds, primarily lactating cows
• Potassium management
The Potassium Cycle
 Potassium characteristics
• Soils can have > 20.000 kg Total K+ / ha
• Almost all fixed in clay bridges and
unavailable for plant uptake
• Exchangeable K+ is bound to soil particle
surfaces, and is desorbed into soil solution
at 1-10 ppm
• Not easily leached in soils, but can be
leached
 Excess K+ Concerns
• Grass Tetany
– High levels of K+ and N in the plant can cause
reduced amounts of plant magnesium (Mg)
– This can cause a Mg deficiency in grazing animals,
and cause a condition called grass tetany or
hypocalcaemia
– Avoid over-application of K+ to pastures
• Environmental Concerns
– Generally, excess K+ in surface water has not been a
concern
• Agronomic considerations
– Soil Test
– Provide adequate K for crop production
 N-P-K Summary
• Understand the source and transport characteristics
of the landscape and the particular behavior of
elements

• Develop a crop budget using nutrient strategies and

risk assessment tools

• Evaluate performance using good records

• Check (often) laws, permit requirements, and

regulations governing nutrient management
HEAVY METALS
 Who are they?
Are they important?
• Ag +, As
• Cd 2+, Co2+, Cr, Cu2+
• Fe, Hg2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, V, Zn2+

• Some have no biological function

• Others are essential for life but toxic at
high concentration levels
 HEAVY METALS
CONCERNS
• Started on Bronze Age: melting of Cu & Sn
• Drinking water pollution
• Products for direct human consumption
– Vegetables & Fruits
– Grains
– Fish: Minamata Bay case, Hg bioaccumulation
• Hg water: 2 ppb, Hg fish: 20.000 ppb
• Respiratory disease
 Corn* Crop Removal
Grain Stover
Element
kg kg
Nitrogen 230 110
Phosphorus 132 32
Potassium 84 336
Iron 0.20 3.60
Copper 0.04 0.16
Zinc 0.34 0.34
Source: Kansas State University, Corn Production Handbook

* 10 ton / ha yield
 Swine Manure HM

Zn Fe Cu
Sample
Mg/L (wet basis)
Sow Farm 3.94 5.75 0.84
Nursery 0.15 0.80 0.02
Finisher 3.43 2.60 0.85

Source: AmbientAgro Swine Effluent Database

Anaerobic Lagoon Effluent
 Swine Manure HM
in Northeast China
Herd Cu Zn As Cr Cd
Size
Mg/kg (dry basis)
< 200 343 238 5.62 0.23 8.73
200-800 93 88 1.00 1.62 0.18
> 800 117 135 2.22 n.d. 3.70

Source: Zhang et. al; 2012.

Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
 Take home message
• Heavy metals are present at your farm

• Nutrition science must help reducing

concentrations in feed additives

• Be aware of their risk especially in relation to direct

human consumption crops

• Soil thresholds: may be wise to follow Bio solids

annual loading rates (EPA)