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The New York Phosphorus Runoff Index
Natural Resources Conservation Service Practice Standard Code 590
mandates that field-specific assessment of the potential for P transport
must be completed prior to the actual manure and fertilizer application.
Code 590 states that "when manure or other organic by-products are
used, the planned rates of P application shall be consistent with
any one of the following options: 1) phosphorus index (P Index) rating;
2) soil phosphorus threshold values; 3) soil tests". The use of a
P Index is environmentally and economically the most sensible option
as it will eventually allow soils with low P runoff risk to act as
P sinks while soils that contribute to P release to the surface and
ground waters are gradually brought to levels just below P breakthrough.
Several states are presently developing a P Index. In New York State,
Cornell University faculty and staff, Cornell Cooperative Extension
field staff, agencies including NRCS and Soil & Water Conservation
Districts, private sector crop consultants and producers have developed
the current New York P Index. The New York P Index includes transport
(soil drainage class, flooding frequency, distance to the stream and
stream type, concentrated flows) and source factors (soil test P,
fertilizer and manure P application rate, timing and method).
The current New York P Index Work Group consists of Shawn Bossard
(CCE), Dale Dewing (CCE), Greg Albrecht (CSS), Tibor Horvath and Bill
Elder (NRCS), Tammo Steenhuis and Larry Geohring (BEE), Jeff Ten Eyck
(DAM), Karl Czymmek (ProDairy) and Quirine Ketterings (CSS). The P
Index is incorporated into Cornell Cropware, Cornell University's
nutrient management software program. Training
sessions on the use of the P Index and Cropware are currently
being conducted. For further information contact Karl
Czymmek. See the links below for more tools and information about
the New York Phosphorus Index.
P Index Files (PDF files --- Acrobat Reader required)
Determine the P Index for your Fields
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Photo by L.D. Geohring, 2002
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