Phosphorus (P) is a required nutrient for living things. While P is a component of various organic molecules, phosphorus found in cells is usually bound to four oxygen atoms in the form of a phosphate. Organisms receive phosphate through the uptake of compounds found in soil or dissolved in water.
Phosphorus is an environmental concern. Excess P often promotes weed and algae growth in fresh water bodies, reducing water clarity and blocking the sunlight other plants need for growth. As the weed and algae material decomposes, the dissolved oxygen levels are reduced, leading to odors, fish kills, and a general degradation of the aesthetic and recreational value of the of the water body.
Often, agricultural fertilizers contain phosphate since it is vital to the structural integrity of crops. Soil test P (STP) is used to determine the amount of P needed for crop production, as well as the environmental risks associated with elevated P levels in soil. The research this group performs is on methods of detecting P in soil and water.
| Pewaukee Lake Study | Phosphorus determination and further analysis of Pewaukee Lake in Pewaukee, WI |
| Vessel Comparison Study | Effects of several experimental factors in soil phosphorus tests |
| Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic Analysis | Analysis for Al and Fe in soil extracts using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy |
| Mass Spectrometric Analysis | Analysis for Phosphorus in soil extracts using Mass Spectrometry |
| Biosensor Project | Creation of a biological sensor for the detection of phosphorus |
Ebeling, D.D.and Davis, J.G. “Experimental Factors that Impact Results of Water Extractable Phosphorus in Soils.”
Accepted September 2007 by Comm. In Soil Sci. and Plant Analysis, in press.
Ebeling, A.M., Bundy, L.G., Kittell, A.W., Ebeling, D.D., “Evaluating the Bray P1 Test on High pH, Calcareous
Soils.” Soil Sci. Soc. of Am. J. (In Review)
Sobeck, S.A. and Ebeling, D.D. “Mass Spectrometric Analysis for Phosphate in Soil Extracts; Comparison of Mass
Spectrometry, Colorimetry, and Inductively Coupled Plasma.” Analytical Sciences Digital Library E-UGR. Accepted
April 4, 2007. http://www.asdlib.org/articles.php?type=eUGH.
D. Ebeling, M. Poston, A. Wiik, A. Kittell, and J. Potratz. "Pewaukee
Lake Phosphorus Monitoring 2003-2004”
Wisconsin Lutheran College, Chemistry Dept. Technical Bulletin 001, March 2005.
“Construction and Characterization of a Phosphate Biosensor.” A. Kroken, J. Erbe, and D. Ebeling. Poster
Presentation. American Society of Microbiology, Toronto, Canada. May 2007. A. Kroken presenting Author.
"Construction and Characterization of a Phosphate Biosensor." A. Kroken, J. Erbe, and D. Ebeling.
Oral Presentation. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. April 28, 2007. A. Kroken presenting Author.
"Mass Spectrometric Analysis for Phosphate in Soil Extracts." S. A. Sobeck and D. Ebeling.
Oral Presentation. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. April 28, 2007. S. A. Sobeck presenting Author.
“Experimental Factors that Impact Results of Water Extractable Phosphorus in Soils.” D. Ebeling and J. G.
Davis, Oral Presentation. American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of
America (ASA-CSSA-SSSA) International Meeting, Indianapolis, IN; November 2006.
“Phosphorus Buffering Capacity, Water Extractable P, and Total P in Biosolids Treated Soils.” A. Ebeling, L.
Bundy, D. Ebeling, and Faith Blum. (ASA-CSSA-SSSA) International Meeting, Indianapolis, IN; November 2006. A.
Ebeling presenting Author.
“Phosphate Biosensor” Jarrod Erbe and Daniel Ebeling. Oral Presentation. Lutheran College Conference, New Ulm,
MN; August 2006.
"The Effect of Vessel Type in Mehlich III, Deionized Water, Bray, and Olsen Phosphorus Soil Analysis." J. G. Davis and D. Ebeling.
Oral Presenation. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. April 29, 2006. J. G. Davis presenting Author.
“Development and Characterization of a Biosensor for the Measurement of Bioavailable Heavy Metals" Daniel
Ebeling and Jarrod Erbe WLC Brown Bag Seminar. February 17, 2005.
“The Effect of Extraction Vessel Type in Mehlich III, DI, Bray, and Olsen Phosphorus Soil Analysis.” Poster
Presentation. D. D. Ebeling, J. G. Davis, and A. M. Ebeling ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meeting, Salt Lake City,
UT; November 2005.
“Evaluating Bray P1 on High pH, Calcareous Soils.” A. Ebeling, A. Kittell, D. Ebeling, and L. Bundy. ASA-CSSA-SSSA
International Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT; November 2005. A. Ebeling presenting.
“Total Phosphorus in Water and Soil by Persulfate Digestion and Malachite Green.” Poster Presentation. D. D.
Ebeling, A. V. Wiik, and M. J. Poston. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meeting, Seattle, WA; November 2004.