Project Grant 20236702139750

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION RELIES ON THE USE OF PHOSPHATE FERTILIZERS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CROPS, MAKING PHOSPHORUS (P) ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE, NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE IN AGRICULTURE. ABOUT 80% OF MINED P ENDS UP IN FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDES, AND ANIMAL FEEDS, AND ALMOST HALF IS LOST THROUGH SOIL LEACHING AND EROSION, WHICH FURTHER LEADS TO EUTROPHICATION WITH SEVERE CONSEQUENCES ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH. THIS ACCUMULATION OF P IN WATER LEADS TO EXCESSIVE FORMATION OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS PRODUCING TOXINS, WHICH KILL FISH, POLLUTE DRINKING WATER, AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT TOURISM. MANY AGRICULTURAL FIELDS WITH POORLY DRAINED SOILS REMAIN SATURATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AND OFTEN EXPERIENCE SURFACE PONDING. TILE DRAINAGE (TD) ARE USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON THOSE FIELDS TO EXTEND GROWING SEASON AND INCREASE CROP YIELDS, WHERE EXCESS NUTRIENTS MAY ENTER RECEIVING WATER THROUGH TD DISCHARGE.USING STATE-OF-THE-ART INNOVATIONS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY, THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP NOVEL ADSORBENTS AND FILTRATION SYSTEMS TO MITIGATE THE TRANSPORT RISK OF P RELEASE FROM TILE DRAINAGE, WHILE RECOVERING THIS NONRENEWABLE RESOURCE FOR FURTHER USE AS A FERTILIZER. THE OUTCOME WILL BE A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN BE USED TO OPTIMIZE AND CONTROL THE UTILIZATION OF P, MITIGATE ITS HARMFUL EFFECTS, AND THUS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT. THIS PRACTICE WOULD ESSENTIALLY CLOSE THE LOOP AND HELP RESTORE OUR REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NUTRIENT BALANCES, CONTRIBUTING TO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURE IN HUMID REGIONS.THE PROJECT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES OF A1511 AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY: NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SYSTEMS PROGRAM.