Andrew Sharpley

Andrew Sharpley joined the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 2006. He is Chair of the Division of Agriculture's Environmental Task Force and Associate Director of the Watershed Sustainability and Research Center. He received degrees from the University of North Wales, United Kingdom in 1973 and Massey University, New Zealand in 1977, and spent 25 years with the USDA-ARS in Oklahoma and then Pennsylvania. His research investigates the cycling of phosphorus in soil-plant-water systems in relation to soil productivity and water quality and includes the management of animal manures, fertilizers, and crop residues. He also evaluates the role of stream and river sediments in modifying the amounts and forms of phosphorus transported to lakes and reservoirs in Arkansas. He has developed decision making tools for agricultural field staff to identify sensitive areas of the landscape and to target management alternatives and remedial measures that have reduced the risk of nutrient loss from farms. These tools are now widely accepted by US EPA, NRCS, and the Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning Strategy. He is Chair of the SERA-17 group advising NRCS on the scientific basis of revising the 590 Nutrient Management Standard, He recently served on the EPA's Scientific Advisory Boards "Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico" and "Review of Empirical Approaches for Nutrient Criteria Derivation."