Development of PLEAD: A Database Containing Event‐based Runoff Phosphorus Loadings from Agricultural Fields

Abstract

Computer models are commonly used for predicting risks of runoff P loss from agricultural fields by enabling simulation of various management practices and climatic scenarios. For P loss models to be useful tools, however, they must accurately predict P loss for a wide range of climatic, physiographic, and land management conditions. A complicating factor in developing and evaluating P loss models is the relative scarcity of available measured field data that adequately capture P losses before and after implementing management practices in a variety of physiographic settings. Here, we describe the development of the P Loss in runoff Events from Agricultural fields Database (PLEAD)-a compilation of event-based, field-scale dissolved and/or total P loss runoff loadings from agricultural fields collected at various research sites located in the US Heartland and southern United States. The database also includes runoff and erosion rates; soil-test P; tillage practices; planting and harvesting rates and practices; fertilizer application rate, method, and timing; manure application rate, method, and timing; and livestock grazing density and timing. In total, >1800 individual runoff events-ranging in duration from 0.4 to 97 h-have been included in the database. Event runoff P losses ranged from <0.05 to 1.3 and 3.0 kg P ha −1 for dissolved and total P, respectively. DATASETS Core Ideas• Development of database containing P loss from agricultural fields is described.• We provide public access to P loss data for individual runoff events.• The data can be used to evaluate P loss models and P Indices.

Fate and transport of phosphorus‐containing land‐applied swine slurry in a karst watershed

“…Nutrient losses measured from the three fields were similar to P losses reported from other fields in the same region. For example, pastures in northwestern Arkansas, also in the karst region of the Boston Mountains/Ozark Highlands, receiving poultry litter (Bolster et al., 2019) had losses ranging from 1.05 to 1.62 kg P and 0.35 to 1.41 kg N ha −1 or 1.6 to 2.3% of applied P and 0.3 to 1.1% applied N (Table 7).…”

Updates to the Annual P Loss Estimator (APLE) model

“…In our first example, we compare predicted dissolved and total annual P loss in runoff from two subwatersheds located in Leflore County, Mississippi, with measured annual loads of P loss (Figure 2). Model input data and measured dissolved and total P loads were obtained from the P Loss in runoff Events from Agricultural fields Database (PLEAD; Bolster et al, 2019). Details of the field sites and experimental conditions are described in Bolster et al (2019) and Ramirez et al (2017).…”

“…Model input data and measured dissolved and total P loads were obtained from the P Loss in runoff Events from Agricultural fields Database (PLEAD; Bolster et al, 2019). Details of the field sites and experimental conditions are described in Bolster et al (2019) and Ramirez et al (2017). Briefly, two subwatersheds (11.2 and 13 ha in…”

“…In October 1998, both watersheds received inorganic P at a rate of 9.5 kg P ha −1 . We estimated runoff using the CN method and daily rainfall data collected by NOAA at the Greenwood Leflore airport (Bolster et al, 2019). We used erosion rates predicted with the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation for Small Watersheds by Ramirez et al (2017).…”

“…Details of the field sites and experimental conditions are described in Bolster et al. (2019) and Ramirez et al. (2017).…”