USask – Understanding Phosphorus Biogeochemistry is Key to Sustainable Phosphorus Management in Saskatchewan Soils

Event Summary

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for all organisms. In agriculture, many crops require P fertilizers to optimize yields, but P loss from agricultural lands can cause water quality problems downstream. Maintaining soil P fertility while minimizing P loss requires knowledge of P biogeochemistry and the processes governing P cycling, which will vary with crops and management practice. This presentation will start with an overview of P compounds, the processes that govern the cycling of these P compounds, and the methods used to characterize P forms and pools. The second half of the talk will present results of Dr. Cade-Menun’s various projects studying P cycling in southern Saskatchewan, including studies of soil legacy P with long-term fertilization and fertilizer drawdown, changes in soil P forms from soil acidification and with different types of land use, and P forms and concentrations in snowmelt runoff.

Presenter

Dr. Barbara Cade-Menun is a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Swift Current, SK, and an adjunct professor in Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research focuses on phosphorus biogeochemistry, including the forms, transformations, and cycling of phosphorus in soils and the broader environment.