Project ID: 2002DE4B

Title: Graduate Fellowship in Water Quality: Mechanisms of Phosphorus Stabilization in the Soil Environment: A Molecular Scale Evaluation

Project Type: Research

Focus Categories: Geochemical Processes, Non Point Pollution, Nutrients

Keywords: phosphorus, soil chemistry, eutrophication

Start Date: 03/01/2001

End Date: 02/28/2003

Federal Funds: $16,000

Non-Federal Matching Funds: $32,000

Congressional District: At-large

Principal Investigators:
Donald L. Sparks
University of Delaware

J. Thomas Sims
University of Delaware

Abstract

Delaware's ground and surface waters have been negatively impacted by nutrients originating from a variety of land uses. In response to growing public concerns about the effects of nutrients on water quality, in 1999 the Delaware General Assembly established by legislative action a Delaware Nutrient Management Commission to develop and implement a State Nutrient Management Program. The Delaware Water Resources Center has established three graduate Ph.D. fellowships to provide research support for the activities of this commission in their efforts to improve water quality in Delaware. These fellowships provide a unique opportunity for graduate students and faculty to become directly involved in multi-disciplinary research that will contribute to the scientific basis for state policy decisions on nutrient management. Fellowships are provided up to a maximum of three years provided satisfactory progress toward project objectives is maintained. Graduate Fellows are required to (i) make a presentation each year describing their progress at a meeting that will be organized by the Delaware Water Resources Center; (ii) prepare an annual report that summarizes their accomplishments and submit it to the Delaware Water Resources Center.

A Graduate Fellowship addressing Mechanisms of Phosphorus Stabilization in the Soil Environment: A Molecular Scale Evaluation has been awarded to Stefan Hunger, a Ph.D. student in the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for 2001-2002, based on a review of proposals submitted by potential graduate fellows and their advisors to the DWRC Advisory Panel. Note that this is the final year of this 3-year graduate fellowship

Progress/Completion Report PDF