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Influence of Land use on Phosphorus Concentrations in Southeastern US Piedmont Headwater
Citation:
Burke, R., M. McCranie, AND M. Stanley. Influence of Land use on Phosphorus Concentrations in Southeastern US Piedmont Headwater. Presented at 8th National Water Quality Monitoring Council, Portland, OR, April 30 - May 04, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
Poster for the National Water Quality Monitoring Council 8th National Monitoring Conference in Portland, OR from April 30 - May 4, 2012.
Description:
The South Fork Broad River (SFBR) watershed on the Georgia piedmont is impacted by extensive poultry and cattle production and rapid human population growth. Organic wastes produced by poultry and beef production are generally applied to pastures for disposal at a rate selected to meet plant N needs but in excess of plant P needs. We hypothesized that this practice causes elevated stream P concentrations, which in turn, may contribute to eutrophication of P-limited SFBR streams, ponds, and lakes. Enhanced loss of P to the stream network due to agricultural management activities is likely not sustainable, given the ever increasing demands for food production by the burgeoning human population, and the rapidly diminishing supply of easily mined phosphate minerals (e.g., Oelkers and Valsami-Jones, 2008).
