Phosphorus forms and cycling in conservation cropping systems of the Canadian prairies

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Sustainability of agricultural production on the Canadian prairies requires that the nutrients that are applied to soils are effectively recycled rather than lost to the environment.  Fertilizers also represent a significant input cost to farmers and greater efficiency in their use contributes to better economic returns.Cropping systems on the prairies today are moving towards reduced or zero-tillage, more land is receiving application of animal manures, and land is being converted from production of annual crops into forages.  The forms and transformations of phosphorus in the new systems is not well documented.  Producers have reported less need for nitrogen fertilizer and some are now reporting less requirement for added phosphorus.  To make better fertilization and land use decisions it is necessary to understand the phosphorus cycle in these conservation - oriented cropping systems.The research will identify the important pools of soil phosphorus present and factors controlling their turnover and bioavailability in prairie landscapes.