Sustainable Phosphorus Management with Enhanced Soil Health
Perpetuation of culturally ingrained phosphorus (P) management paradigms, such as the build and maintain P management approach, causes inefficient production systems with unnecessarily high P inputs that can mask and even negate the benefits of soil health on P cycling. We hypothesize that benefits of enhanced soil health on P cycling can only be realized when P is managed on the margins through a sufficiency management approach. Our proposed project will fill research gaps related to how soil health promoting practices interact with P management strategies to influence the soil physical, biological, and chemical processes relevant to P availability, P use efficiency, and P cycling. We will identify the mechanisms by which soil health systems influence the bioavailability of inorganic and organic soil P. The results from our research will adapt the existing technologies of cover crops and sufficiency P management through “re-imagined innovation” and create a new synergistic best management practice system to enhance soil health, decrease P inputs, reduce environmental impacts, and improve the economic competitiveness of crop production. We will blend applied and basic research to promote immediate adoption of the soil health and P management systems and facilitate future innovation in the soil health arena.
Project timeline
July 2020 to June 2025
Funding
Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (award announcement)
