Department of Agriculture
Dataset Description
The P Loss in runoff Events from Agricultural fields Database (PLEAD) is a compilation of event-based, field-scale dissolved and/or total P loss runoff loadings from agricultural fields collected at various research sites located in the US Heartland and Southern US. The database also includes runoff and erosion rates; soil test P; tillage practices; planting and harvesting rates and practices; fertilizer application rate, method, and timing; manure application rate, method, and timing; and livestock grazing density and timing. In total, over 1800 individual runoff events – ranging in duration from 0.4 to 97 hr – have been included in the database. Event runoff P losses ranged from less than 0.05 to 1.3 and 3.0 kg P/ha for dissolved and total P, respectively. The data contained in this database have been used in multiple research studies to address important modeling questions relevant to P management planning. We provide these data to encourage additional studies by other researchers.
Resources in this dataset:
- Resource Title: PLEAD Database - Excel.
File Name: PLEAD_2018-11-16.xlsx
Resource Description: Includes data spreadsheets for: Land Use, Soil Data, Soil Chem Data, Inorganic P Application, Grazing Data, Organic P Application, Tillage, Irrigation, Planting, Harvesting, Runoff Data, Sampling Info, Runoff Collection Notes, Daily Weather Data, Weather Stations, Other Notes, Contact Info.
- Resource Title: PLEAD Database Data Dictionary.
File Name: PLEAD_data_dictionary.csv
Resource Description: Defines the column headers/variables, units, and data type represented in each spreadsheet.
Organization: Department of Agriculture
Organization URL: https://catalog.data.gov/organization/usda
Last updated: 2025-11-21
Tags: ARS, NP212, P Loss in runoff Events from Agricultural fields Database, PLEAD, Phosphorus loss, Phosphorus modeling, data.gov