Skip to main content
UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences logo
Give      University of Florida
Resources
    Quick Links
    • Faculty Directory
    • Online M.S. (Env. Sci. Track)
    • Online Graduate Certificates
    • Graduate Programs of Study
    • Undergraduate Programs of Study
    • Courses
    Toggle Search Form
    GIVE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
    • HOME
    • About
          • Welcome Message
          • Location
          • Contacts
          • News
          • HR
          • Publications
          • Alumni
          • Giving
          • Jobs and Assistantships
          • Mission
          • History
          • Seminars
          • SWES Intranet
    • People
          • Faculty
          • Staff
          • PostDoctoral Associates
          • Graduate Students
          • Affiliate/Courtesy Faculty
          • Visiting Professors, Scholars, Scientists
          • Emeritus Faculty
    • Academics
          • On-Campus Undergraduate Courses
          • On-Campus Graduate Courses
          • Combined BS/MS Degree
          • Graduate Studies
          • Undergraduate Studies
          • Graduate Certificates
          • Funding Opportunities
          • Academic Forms
          • Student Resources
          • Seminars
          • Research Forum
          • Experiental Learning Laboratory
    • Research

        Program Areas
        Laboratory Services
        Research and Education Centers
        Research Forum
        Research Publications
        Seminars

    • Extension

        Extension Faculty
        Extension Soil Testing Lab
        Florida Wetlands
        Land Judging
        Nutrient Management
        Water Quality and Agriculture
        Extension Publications and Events
        Short Courses and Trainings
        Videos
        Online Courses and Modules
        Soil and Water Resources

    • SWES Online
          • Courses Offered
          • Undergraduate
          • Graduate
          • Certificates
          • Non-Credit
          • Resources
    • Connect With Us

        X
        Facebook Page
        Facebook Group
        YouTube
        Flickr
        LinkedIn
        Alumni and Friends
        Giving
        Jobs and Assistantships
        Email List Signup
        Blog

    Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

    Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

    PHOSPHORUS IN FLORIDA WATERSHEDS: SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS

     

    Course Overview

    The objective of this course is to provide specialized training to professionals on conventional and recently developed techniques to evaluate soil phosphorus dynamics in Florida watersheds. The course includes topics such as determination of various forms of phosphorus in soils and how Florida soils interact with phosphorus. The application of conventional and recently developed techniques for understanding phosphorus retention and loss from soils that would impact the quality of water leaving a farm or a watershed will be discussed. Examples of using the newer techniques for understanding and solving real-world problems will be provided.

    Course Format

    The course will consist of six modules covering different aspects of soil phosphorus assessment and dynamics. Each module will include five approximately 15-minute lectures that focus on a particular topic. At the end of each lecture, references will be provided (when applicable) to enable participants to enhance their understanding of the topic. Each of the lectures can be accessed individually.

    Who Could Benefit?

    Participants interested in or actively involved in phosphorus management and water quality issues in Florida watersheds. Anyone seeking rigorous training in management of phosphorus-amended soils would likely benefit by completing these course materials, but particularly those employed in the following occupations:

    • Academics and Educators
    • Agricultural and Environmental Engineers
    • Soil Surveyors
    • Ecologists, Foresters, Soil Scientists, Water Scientists, Environmental Scientists
    • Environmental Consultants
    • Environmental Regulators
    • Land Use Planners and Developers
    • City and County Government Officials and Decision Makers

    Course Instructors

    Vimala Nair is a Research Professor at the Soil and Water Sciences Department of the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). She is an environmental soil chemist with over 25 years of experience working on phosphorus issues in Florida. Her research has concentrated on soil-P interactions as they relate to fate and transport of phosphorus from agricultural lands, and water quality implications of excess phosphorus applications.

    Willie Harris is a Professor at the Soil and Water Sciences Department of the University of Florida with more than 30 years of experience on research related to mineral stability and transformations in soils and sediments. His more recent research addresses soil components, amendments and processes affecting phosphorus transport.

     

    Course Outline and Links to Lectures

    Course Introduction

    Module 1: Welcome, Course Overview, and Conventional Techniques for Evaluating Phosphorus (P) Release from Soils

    Lecture 1: Welcome and course overview
    Lecture 2: Sampling soils for P risk assessment
    Lecture 3: Conventional techniques for evaluating phosphorus release from soils - water soluble P and soil test P
    Lecture 4: Oxalate-extractable P, iron-oxide strip P, and total P
    Lecture 5: Soil phosphorus fractionation procedures

    Module 2: How Florida Soils Interact with Phosphorus

    Lecture 1: Overview of Florida soils and their distribution
    Lecture 2: P dynamics as related to soil morphology and composition I
    Lecture 3: P dynamics as related to soil morphology and composition II
    Lecture 4: Soil & hydrologic factors affecting P transport
    Lecture 5: Risk-assessment implications of manure-amended, fertilizer-amended, and naturally-phosphatic soils

    Module 3: Use of Conventional Techniques for Evaluating Phosphorus in Soils

    Lecture 1: Isotherm determination
    Lecture 2: Applications of fractionation and isotherm parameters
    Lecture 3: P retention and release from biochar
    Lecture 4: The Phosporus-Index (P-Index)
    Lecture 5: The Quick P Field Test

    Module 4: Recent Developments in Techniques for Evaluating Phosphorus Release from Soils

    Lecture 1: Degree of P saturation & the P saturation ratio: Theory and calculations
    Lecture 2: Degree of P saturation & the P saturation ratio: Examples from literature
    Lecture 3: The P saturation ratio (PSR) and isotherm parameters
    Lecture 4: Soil phosphorus storage capacity (SPSC)
    Lecture 5: Relating recently developed techniques (PSR & SPSC) to existing data

    Module 5: Phosphorus Storage and Release from P-impacted Soils

    Lecture 1: Long-term contribution of phosphorus from agricultural lands: “legacy” P
    Lecture 2: Inorganic vs organic sources of P
    Lecture 3: Reduction of P loss from a soil through amendment additions
    Lecture 4: Natural and anthropogenic sources of P
    Lecture 5: Risk assessment of wetland soils

    Module 6: Other Applications of the PSR and SPSC Concepts

    Lecture 1: Environmental and agronomic applications
    Lecture 2: Site-specific prediction of P loss risk
    Lecture 3: Phosphorus storage and release in tree-less and tree-based agricultural systems
    Lecture 4: Relationship of PSR and SPSC to edge-of-field and groundwater quality
    Lecture 5: Overview of the PSR & SPSC concepts

    Start: Course Introduction

    University of Florida Logo
    Contact

    Feedback
    Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences
    2181 McCarty Hall A, PO Box 110290, Gainesville, FL 32611-0290
    (352) 294-3151

    Land Grant Mission
    • Teaching
    • Research
    • Extension
    Information
    • Ask IFAS (EDIS)
    • UF/IFAS Experts
    • UF/IFAS Blogs
    • UF/IFAS Bookstore
    Policy
    • Accessible UF
    • EEO Statement
    • IFAS Web Policy
    • SSN & UF Privacy
    • Analytics (Google Privacy)

    © 2025 University of Florida, IFAS Last Modified:Wed, 30 Jan 2019 12:07:27 EST