Phosphorus loss from soil increases with intense rainfall
A study led by Penn State University researchers highlights an alarming trend - essential phosphorus is being washed away from U.S. farmlands due to increasingly intense rainstorms.
Phosphorus, a key nutrient for crops, has been found to be depleting from soil and entering rivers, potentially threatening agricultural productivity and food prices.
The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal that phosphorus levels have dropped in farmland soils over the past 40 years despite efforts to manage nutrient loss.
Analyzing data from 430 rivers, Professor Li Li and her team discovered that while phosphorus levels in urban areas have decreased due to effective pollution control, levels have increased in rivers near agricultural zones.
This pattern is attributed to the increasing frequency and severity of rainstorms, which erode soil and transport phosphorus into water bodies.
"What we wanted to understand is what happens to the land when these storms pull the subsurface of the soil into rivers and streams. What we found is an alarming loss of this finite element that lets soil sustain life,” Li explained.
This phosphorus runoff not only reduces nutrient levels in farmland but also creates environmental problems in rivers.
Phosphorus in waterways leads to algal blooms that harm water quality, damage ecosystems, and raise water treatment costs. Unlike other soil nutrients, phosphorus does not readily return to soil, making its loss particularly concerning for long-term soil health.
The study calls for innovative solutions, such as improved farming techniques and technologies. For example, Phospholutions, a company founded by a Penn State graduate, is developing a fertilizer that minimizes phosphorus runoff, reducing environmental impacts.
This urgent push for agricultural innovation aims to address the effects of climate change on nutrient loss, ensuring sustainable farming practices that protect soil and crop production in the years ahead.