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Phosphorus indices as risk‐assessment tools in the U.S.A. and Europe—a review
Author(s) -
Buczko Uwe,
Kuchenbuch Rolf O.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.200725134
Subject(s) - surface runoff , multiplicative function , watershed , phosphorus , manure , soil loss , mathematics , environmental science , realization (probability) , hydrology (agriculture) , statistics , computer science , chemistry , agronomy , engineering , ecology , mathematical analysis , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , machine learning , biology
Abstract The “phosphorus index” (PI) is a semiquantitative tool to assess the risk of P loss from fields to surface waters, which is based on simple arithmetic computations of source (soil test phosphorus (STP), P applications as manure and fertilizer, plant residues) and transport factors (erosion, surface runoff, subsurface drainage, connectivity). Work done since the 1990s in the U.S.A. and several European countries has shown that this approach is capable of delineating critical source areas for P export within a watershed. It is intended to adopt such a PI tool in Germany as well. However, there is no “standard” PI, and the variety of P indices is confusing, since each state and country has developed its own version to account for special regional conditions which are important for P loss. This paper reviews the factors of P loss which are taken into account in P indices and different modifications of P indices according to their components and structural approach. The literature concerning single source and transport factors of P loss is overwhelming, and a structured selection is given in this review. Most P indices can be classed into one of three groups: 1. additive approach, 2. multiplicative approach, and 3. multiplicative‐additive approach. For Germany, it is suggested that specific factors of P loss are incorporated into the basic backbone of a Pennsylvania‐style PI. Realization of the factors could be adopted from existing Scandinavian P indices or from other research results.