Publications by authors named "Josh M McGrath"
Article Synopsis
- Agricultural nutrient management faces challenges from phosphorus (P) loss, particularly in areas with high soil P due to excessive past applications.
- A study using the Annual P Loss Estimator (APLE) model in Maryland found that soil P drawdown can effectively reduce P loss to the Chesapeake Bay, with potential reductions of 40% over decades.
- Combining soil P reduction with conservation practices to curb erosion could lead to a possible maximum reduction of 62% in state-level P loss while still supporting modern agricultural practices.
Leaching of phosphorus (P) mobilizes edaphic and applied sources of P and is a primary pathway of concern in agricultural soils of the Delmarva Peninsula, which defines the eastern boundary of the eutrophic Chesapeake Bay. We evaluated P leaching before and after poultry litter application from intact soil columns (30 cm diameter × 50 cm depth) obtained from low- and high-P members of four dominant Delmarva Peninsula soils. Surface soil textures ranged from fine sand to silt loam, and Mehlich-3 soil P ranged from 64 to 628 mg kg.
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- Managing manure in reduced tillage and forage systems presents challenges due to the incompatibility of tillage incorporation, leading to nutrient inefficiencies, ammonia emissions, and nuisance odors.
- Various newer technologies, like shallow disk and chisel injection, are designed to incorporate liquid manures with minimal soil disturbance, which can effectively reduce ammonia emissions compared to traditional surface broadcasting.
- Continued research is essential to refine these technologies and understand their effectiveness fully, focusing on environmental impacts, agronomic benefits, and economic viability.