Phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural land is second only to acid mine drainage as a cause of water quality impairment in Pennsylvania. The potential for using residual materials resulting from acid mine drainage (AMD) neutralization as soil amendments to reduce P loss in runoff from agricultural lands was assessed in comparison with other P-sorbing industrial by-products (gypsum, flyash, and water treatment residuals). Decreases in soil P were evaluated by amending three different soils at five different rates, incubating for three weeks, and extracting with Mehlich-3 and water. Runoff boxes containing Othello soil were amended at the rate of 20 g 100g-1 soil and subjected to simulated rainfall applied at the rate of 7.5 cm hr-1. Runoff was collected and analyzed for dissolved P, total P, and sediment concentrations. Results showed that calcium, iron and aluminum rich AMD residuals were at least equally effective in decreasing soil and runoff P concentrations compared to other industrial by-products. Sodium, iron and aluminum rich AMD residuals sorbed P in the incubated samples, but caused dispersion and led to increased P losses in runoff.
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