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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025


Success StoryPhosphorus across Kentucky



Phosphorus across Kentucky

Author: Brad Lee

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Over one-million soil test results collected over three decades from the Commonwealth revealed that phosphorus levels in lawns and gardens are exceedingly high and levels have been increasing at an alarming rate, while phosphorus levels from agricultural fields are considerably lower and have decreased over time.  This is of particular interest to the > 100 EPA regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) communities across the state which make up approximately half of Kentucky's population. The results of this soil test phosphorus data analysis has been used across the Commonwealth in presentations to over 1000 people including agricultural producers, homeowners, Master Gardener's, regulators and lawn and landscape care businesses. Utilizing the knowledge gained by participants, we anticipate a reduction in phosphorus fertilizer applications in the urban areas of the state.  In addition, we anticipate environmental advocate organizations utilizing these results to encourage Kentucky community leaders to remove phosphorus from the hands of irresponsible homeowners as has been done in 11 other states across the nation.






Stories by Brad Lee


Your yard and water quality: "Lawn and Gardening Our Way to Hell in a Vegetable Basket"

about 6 days ago by Brad Lee

Urban audiences often mistakenly believe that rural areas and agricultural production operations are... Read More


Blue Water Farms: Edge-of-field water quality monitoring in western Kentucky

about 7 days ago by Brad Lee

Twenty-nine edge-of-field water quality monitoring stations have been developed to measure continuou... Read More


Stories by Plant and Soil Sciences


University of Kentucky Partners with the Kentuckiana Golf Course Superintendents Association and Southeastern Turfgrass Research Center for Turfgrass Field Day

about 16 days ago by Kenneth Clayton

In early July, 60 participants from the turfgrass industry gathered for the first turfgrass field da... Read More


Grain Crop Pest Management Research has Value to Kentucky Farmers

about 22 days ago by Jason Travis

Over half a million acres impacting an estimated $7.1 million. Thats the results from a recent surve... Read More