Phosphorus and the Beauty of Biology

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Nina Prater, Guy Ames, and Lee Rinehart explore the balancing act of managing phosphorus – a macro-nutrient essential for life.  

Getting just the right amount of phosphorus without over-applying it is a tricky balance because of the unique way phosphorus interacts with the soil. Getting phosphorus fertilization right is also important for farm profitability since the price of phosphorus fertilizer has almost doubled in recent years. 

And phosphorus can have highly detrimental effects if it runs off fields into lakes and streams, making managing phosphorus a critical problem for producers to solve.  

Using nature as a model, farmers and ranchers can manage phosphorus on their farm to maintain productivity while reducing their reliance on inputs of synthetic forms of this expensive, non-renewable resource.  

ATTRA Resources: 

·         Toolkit: How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use 

·         Rising Fertilizer Costs: Look to History for Answers  

·         Nutrient Management Plan (590) for Organic Systems  

·         Nutrient Management in Organic Small Grains  

Other Resources: 

·         It All Turns on Affection  

·         The Nature and Properties of Soils 

·         Fertilizer Prices  

·         The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance  

·         Mycorrhizal Fungi Factsheet  

Contact Nina Prater, Guy Ames, and Lee Rinehart at [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]. 

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.