The objective of this study was to assess the impact of animal density on the P status of A, B, and C horizons of soils, on the Beaurivage River watershed located in Quebec, Canada. The results of this study show that forest clearing, subsequent cultivation, and long-term fertilization with manure or inorganic fertilizers have led to accumulation and increase in P availability of the soils of this watershed. This is a positive effect for the goals of crop production. However, the plow layer of dairy and on-farm manure N (SN) is largely in excess of the optimum level for crop needs. Observed increases in water soluble, labile, and residual-inorganic P fractions in the A horizon of agricultural soils may partially explain the high level of particulate and dissolved P noted in the tributaries and in the Beaurivage River waters. The observed large P loads in surface horizons and water soluble increases in the subsoil of the agricultural soils probably contributes to the contamination of surface waters in this watershed.
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