** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PHOSPHORUS IS AN ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT FOR CROP GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, BUT IN EXCESS MAY EXACERBATE INSECT PEST PRESSURE IN AGROECOSYSTEMS. WHILE HIGH LEVELS OF PHOSPHORUS IS A SOIL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF CROPPING SYSTEMS, REMARKABLY LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT HOW SURPLUS PHOSPHORUS ALTERS AGROECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES VIA BOTH BOTTOM-UP FORCES, SUCH AS PLANT DEFENSES, AND TOP-DOWN FORCES, SUCH AS PREDATION OF INSECT HERBIVORES. FILLING THIS KNOWLEDGE GAP IS CRITICAL FOR FARMERS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE FERTILITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES WHILE MITIGATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS OF PHOSPHORUS RUNOFF INTO WATER BODIES. THIS PREDOCTORAL INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECT INCLUDES TWO OBJECTIVES TO ADDRESS AGROECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF SURPLUS PHOSPHORUS: 1A) CONDUCT A MANIPULATIVE PAIRED COMPARISON OF HIGH AND LOW PHOSPHORUS ON FOUR COLLABORATING FARMS, MEASURING EFFECTS OF PHOSPHORUS ON TOP-DOWN PREDATION OF HERBIVORES, 1B) CHARACTERIZE HOW CHANGES IN SOIL QUALITY AND MICROBIAL DIVERSITY DUE TO EXCESS PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION IMPACT THE BOTTOM-UP SUPPRESSION OF HERBIVORES, AND 2) ENGAGE AND EDUCATE REGIONAL FARMERS ABOUT FERTILITY AND PEST MANAGEMENT WITH AN ON-FARM FIELD DAY AND BY DEVELOPING A GUIDEBOOK TO COMMON AGRICULTURAL ARTHROPODS IN THE SOUTHEAST. UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF PHOSPHORUS IN MICROBE-PLANT-INSECT INTERACTIONS IS CRUCIAL TO BOTH CROP PRODUCTION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS. THE OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT WILL HELP US IDENTIFY PRATICAL, ORGANIC FERTILITY-MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT REDUCE PHOSPHORUS APPLICATIONS AND ENHANCE INSECT PEST MANAGEMENT WHILE PROVIDING A HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR FARMERS.