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Farm-scale phosphorus budgets of beef cow-calf operations

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Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Beef cattle production in Florida consists of extensively managed cow-calf operations where animals are stocked on native and planted pastures with minimal P inputs. Despite the extensive literature documenting multiple benefits of cow-calf systems, concerns exist regarding their negative impacts on water quality, especially P in ecologically sensitive areas. This study evaluated farm-to-gate P balance for two cow-calf operations [a 3159-ha section of Archbold’s Buck Island Ranch (BIR) and the 1170 ha University of Florida Range Cattle Research and Education Center (RCREC)] both managed using typical regional practices. Mean annual P inputs were 2.4 and 2.1 kg P ha−1 yr−1 in BIR and RCREC, respectively, with animal feed being the single largest source of P imported (71% and 42% of total P inputs in BIR and RCREC, respectively). Total P outputs were similar for both operations (~ 1.9 kg P ha−1 yr−1) and was mostly (77%) from sold animals. Estimated P balance was nearly balanced for both RCREC and BIR (0.3 and 0.5 kg P ha−1 yr−1, respectively), largely as a result of significant reductions in fertilizer inputs from earlier years. The relatively high enterprise efficiency (proportion of P outputs in animal product relative to P inputs; 81 to 97%) suggested that typical cow-calf operations as those evaluated in this study represent an environmentally sustainable land management. Although improving nutrient efficiency is an important goal for sustainable agriculture, achieving neutral balance may be unrealistic in low-input systems that are largely affected by seasonal variations in weather and soil legacy P effects.

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Fig. 1

adapted from Sattari et al., 2016). Dashed arrows inside system boundaries indicate internal P cycling; continuous arrows to and from system indicate inputs and outputs, respectively; italic text indicates processes taking place in the system. Gray color in atmospheric deposition indicates non-controllable source of P to the system

Fig. 2

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Abbreviations

BIR:

Buck Island Ranch

DM:

Dry matter

LW:

Live weight

RCREC:

Range Cattle Research and Education Center

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Acknowledgements

This research was a contribution from the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network. LTAR is supported by the United States Department of Agriculture. Special thanks to Shefali Azad, Austin Bateman, Mary Margaret Hardee, Dennis Kalich, Gene Lollis, Laurent Lollis, Dr. Philipe Moriel, Dr. Brent Sellers, Hannah Van Zant, Dr. Joao M.B. Vendramini, and Bethany Wight for help with data compilation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, FL, 33865, USA

    Marta M. Kohmann & Maria L. Silveira

  2. Archbold Biological Station, Buck Island Ranch, 300 Buck Island Ranch Road, Lake Placid, Florida, 33852, USA

    Amartya Saha, Elizabeth H. Boughton & Hilary Swain

  3. Clayton Livestock Research Center, New Mexico State University, Clayton, NM, 88415, USA

    Carolina B. Brandani

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  1. Marta M. Kohmann
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  2. Amartya Saha
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  3. Maria L. Silveira
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  4. Elizabeth H. Boughton
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Correspondence to Maria L. Silveira.

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Kohmann, M.M., Saha, A., Silveira, M.L. et al. Farm-scale phosphorus budgets of beef cow-calf operations. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 119, 389–403 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-021-10130-z

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