The demand for increased crop production continues, placing stress on domestic consumption but also in feeding the world. That makes the search for domestic sources of phosphate as much about self-sufficiency as it is food security.
Tag Archives phosphorus
Making Canada self-sufficient in phosphorus
A proposed project near Hearst could ease this country’s reliance on imports of a diminishing commodity
Database tracks worldwide agricultural phosphorus use
Science Notes: Phosphorus scarcity is a concern for countries with limited reserves
Researchers from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science have released a first-of-its-kind study quantifying cropland phosphorus budgets around the world. It is expected to help identify regional nutrient management gaps in food production and consumption systems. The database is also expected to help countries and regions evaluate their performances in addressing phosphorus pollution and scarcity challenges, […] Read more
Critical to account for greater nutrient removal from crops
Adequate baseline P and K levels bring savings opportunities, little yield impact, when fertilizer is expensive
Want to save on potassium and phosphorus fertilizer this year? A joint Ontario agriculture department and University of Guelph analysis from 2015 highlights how growers who meet certain soil fertility thresholds can reduce expensive inputs without incurring notable reductions in yield. Why it matters: Lowering input costs by reducing fertilizer can be done without generating […] Read more
Nutrient strategies must reflect Erie watershed’s diversity
Local research and best management practices important to reducing phosphorus movement
When making decisions about best management practices (BMPs) to minimize phosphorus loss to Lake Erie, farmers should consider the variability of the region’s climate and topography as well as the drainage and land-use realities on their own farm. Why it matters: Nutrient overload can cause problems in nearby water bodies, affecting the environment and farmers’ […] Read more
Manitoba soil temperatures allow for spring fertilizer
Winter ban lifted, with cautions
Farmers across Manitoba are now cleared to apply spring fertilizers including livestock manure on their fields, thanks to sufficiently warm soil temperatures, the province said Tuesday. Though the winter nutrient ban has been lifted, the province cautioned producers to “assess current weather conditions and periodically check weather forecasts” if they’re applying anytime between now and […] Read more
More technology tested for phosphorus removal
The latest innovation will filter water at a pumping station, from tile and surface runoff
The Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative (PRC) is moving ahead with the testing of additional technologies that intercept and remove phosphorus from agricultural runoff. Phosphorus entering the system contributes to the growth of harmful algal blooms in the Thames River and Lake Erie. In one of the projects west of Chatham, a removal and recovery […] Read more
Extract phosphorus derived from dairy waste water
New technology recycles disappearing essential nutrient to ensure that it doesn’t end up where it isn’t needed
Glacier FarmMedia – Researchers in Israel have developed a way to create phosphorus fertilizer from dairy farm waste water. Why it matters: If implemented on a large scale, the process could help stretch Earth’s finite supply of phosphorus. Scientists have warned about a disastrous shortage of phosphorus in 100 to 250 years unless ways can […] Read more
Steel-making byproduct used as field tile filter
Conservation authority hopes to perfect farm-scale system for slag
At farms in South West Oxford and Lucan Biddulph, a byproduct of the steel-making process is being inserted into tile drainage systems, as part of a research project by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) aimed at removing phosphorus from field runoff. Members of the UTRCA board of directors saw one of the slag […] Read more
With phosphorus, less might be plenty
A long-term trial shows repeated phosphorus applications don't correlate with higher yield
You could be over-indulging your crops — and it might be costing you. New Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research indicates crops growing in soils consistently treated with applied phosphorus (P) take more than their necessary share. With a steady abundance of the nutrient, soil microbes that work to make P more available to the […] Read more
Projects identified to address Lake Erie algae
Funding awarded for testing phosphorus reduction technology
Five projects have been selected to develop and test technologies that remove phosphorus from agriculture runoff. Why it matters: Finding ways to reduce phosphorus runoff will benefit all waterway users and the environment. The Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative (PRC) was formed to find solutions to reduce harmful algal blooms in the Thames River and […] Read more
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