University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

November 22, 2006

Nebraska Phosphorus Index adds an erosion calculator

 Assessment of the potential for phosphorus runoff from agricultural land will be much easier with a new version of the Nebraska Phosphorus Index 2005 that is now available. Most information needed to assess a field with a phosphorus index is easily available to a producer. However, the estimate of sheet and rill erosion is the most important information and relatively difficult to determine. The Nebraska Phosphorus Index 2005 now has a built-in calculator for estimating sheet and rill erosion. The new P index is free and can be downloaded at the Web site cnmp.unl.edu; background information and instructions for its use are also available.

The erosion calculator was developed by nutrient management specialists of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in partnership with the NRCS. The calculator does not require any additional information than that needed for the previous version of the phosphorus index. When estimating erosion loss, it accounts for soil type, slope, rainfall, land use and crop rotation, tillage, crop yield and conservation practice. It is calibrated against the USDA-NRCS RUSLE2 erosion calculator.

All fields that are designated by a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) as available for manure application need to be assessed for the potential of phosphorus loss in runoff and erosion. This assessment needs to be made with a phosphorus index before any manure can be applied to the field after December 31, 2006.

Charlie Wortmann
Extension Nutrient Management Specialist

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