To:
Dean R.
Kirby Barrick,
kbarrick@no.address
From: Ronald E. Ney, Jr.,
PhD
Subject: P and N
Hello Dean Barrick,
I am having trouble with scientific terms or maybe non-scientific terms that
appear to be totally incorrect and was hoping you could give me some answers. I
saw the terms used in a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) draft. I will present
what I deem as incorrect science and my questions will follow. I sent similar
comments to the TMDL group and to others and they would not respond.
I have a problem
with �Orange County Parks Phosphorus (Measured as
Phosphate)�.
1. How can
phosphorus be measure as a phosphate?
2. To
measure the element phosphorus, as a phosphate, wouldn�t you being synthesizing
a new chemical compound in order to measure it?
3. If it
were possible to measure phosphorus, as a phosphate, wouldn�t you be measuring
all phosphate compounds including phosphate pesticides, phosphate fertilizer,
etc.?
I also have a
problem with the term �(measured as water soluble organic nitrogen)�. I
was under the scientific impression that organic chemicals contained carbon. I
do not think fertilizers contain organic nitrogen compounds but inorganic
compounds. This is another reason why that I don�t like the terms water-soluble
organic nitrogen or water insoluble organic nitrogen.
Do you think they
really mean an organic compound containing the carbon atom or inorganic
compounds which contain no carbon atoms?
�Orange County
Parks, including Trimble, Roosevelt, Nichols, Magnolia Park, Chapin Station,
Winter Garden Station, and County Line Station. OCEPD and Parks Department
agreed to reduce use of phosphorus fertilizers for each new lawn care and
maintenance contract issued on all park facilities. Agreement includes use of
reduced phosphorus (measured as phosphate) between 0 - 5 % on turf areas
(athletic fields, reacreational and waterfront park). Higher percentages of
phosphorus are allowable in localized areas (i.e. flower beds, trees and
shrubs) needing greater amounts on an as needed basis.�
1.How does one
reduce elemental P when it is not in fertilizers?
2. Isn�t it true
that there is a phosphorus compound present in fertilizers and not elemental
P?
How is it possible
to reduced phosphorus (measured as phosphate) when it is chemically
impossible?
Isn�t it true that
one can measure total phosphorus (TP) from a phosphate but not the way it is
expressed in 3 above?
How can one reduce
the percentages of phosphorus when a phosphate is present in
fertilizer?
Do you think they
mean 0 to 0.5% instead of 0 to 5%?
Regards,
Dr. Ron Ney