Inorganic monophosphate determination in overland flow from irrigated grazing systems

This paper presents a novel technique for measuring soluble inorganic monophosphate in water based on high performance liquid chromatography and flow injection detection (IC-FI). The IC-FI technology was applied to irrigation water from the Macalister Research Farm in South Eastern Australia. Overland flow was measured exiting two irrigation bays. Inorganic monophosphate constituted over 97% of the DRP component and between 86-93% of the total phosphorus. Similar results were obtained from a channel that drained the excess irrigation water from the farm. This work supports the findings of others that show DRP contributes a large portion of the P in runoff from grazing systems. Additionally, it confirms this fraction is dominated by immediately bioavailable inorganic monophosphate, something that previously could only be inferred due to the limitations of the chemistry applied.