College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
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Environmental Science and Technology College of Agriculture and Natural Resources |
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...Research...
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Research Project: Development of Nutrient Management Planning and Environmental Risk Assessment Software Research Faculty: Frank Coale, Robert Hill, Patricia Steinhilber.The Maryland Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998 initiated the most comprehensive nutrient management planning requirements in the United States. The law requires that mandatory nutrient management plans be filed and implemented within the state of Maryland. Crop fields with high soil test phosphorus levels must have plans that evaluate a field siteĀ’s potential for phosphorus loss through the use of a Phosphorus Site Index environmental risk assessment calibrated for Maryland conditions. Phosphorus risk assessment additionally requires an assessment of soil erosion since sediment-bound phosphorus may potentially be a significant phosphorus loss pathway. Designing plans for the implementation of these nutrient management and environmental risk assessment requirements can be a very complicated process. Microsoft Windows software tools were needed that would make it possible for nutrient management consultants and farmers to meet the requirements of the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998. Homepage: http://www.agnr.umd.edu/maes_exe/dividends/hill2.pdf
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