Nutrient runoff solutions
(WorldNews Health)

Dealing with sediment and nutrient runoff issues is complicated. The 4R´s (Right Source, Rate, Place and Time) are 15-30% effective at keeping soluble nutrients out of surface water and fail to address how soil nutrients are stored. Our carbon (C), nitrogen(N), and phosphorus (P) cycles may be damaged, so water quality improvements may be difficult until these biological cycles are restored. Soil organic matter (SOM or carbon) is a warehouse for holding water and soluble nutrients and buffers soil pH. The cation exchange capacity (ability to hold soluble positive soil nutrients) is 9-10 times higher in SOM than in clay soil particles. As our soils lose their SOM (50-80% loss due to tillage),...