[13.5] environmental issues of fertilisers Flashcards
environmental issues concerning use of nitrogen-containing fertilisers
what are 3 environmental issues concerning use of nitrogen-containing fertilisers?
- reduced species diversity
- leaching
- eutrophication
how do nitrogen-containing fertilisers lead to reduced species diversity?
- nitrogen-rich soils favour the growth of rapidly growing species (eg. grasses, nettles)
- they out-compete many species, which die as a result
- some communities only survive when soil nitrogen concs are low enough to allow other species to compete with the grasses
what is leaching?
the process by which nutrients are removed from the soil
why is leaching an issue?
- rainwater will dissolve soluble nutrients eg. NO₃⁻ and carry them deep into the soil, eventually beyond the reach of plant roots
- leached NO₃⁻ will find their way into watercourses eg. streams and rivers, that may drain into freshwater lakes
- harmful effect on humans if river or lake is a source of drinking water
- leached NO₃⁻ are also harmful to the environment as they can cause eutrophication
what is the effect of very high nitrate ion concentrations in drinking water for people?
- prevents efficient oxygen transport in babies
- link to stomach cancer in humans has been suggested
what is eutrophication?
process by which nutrient concentrations increase in bodies of water
what is eutrophication caused by?
- mainly leaching of artificial fertilisers into watercourses
- organic manures, animal slurry, human sewage, ploughing old grassland can also contribute
- natural process that occurs mostly in freshwater lakes and lower reaches of rivers
describe the process of eutrophication
LF = limiting factor, P&A = plants and algae, ARO = aerobic organism, ANO = anaerobic organism, saprobiontic bacteria = SB, decaying organisms = DO
- most watercourses have ⭣ [NO₃⁻], LF for P&A growth
- [NO₃)]⁻ ⭡ due to leaching, now ✗ LF for P&A growth. P&A pops ⭡
- algae mostly grow at surface, ⭡ layers = densely populated with A (algal bloom, AB)
- AB absorbs light. prevents it penetrating to ⭣ depths
- light = LF 4 P&A at ⭣ depths. they die
- lack of dead P&A no longer LF for growth of SB. SB pops ⭡; dead O = food
- SB need O₂ for resp, ⭡ demand
- [O₂] in water ⭣, NO₃⁻ released from DO
- O₂ = LF for ARO eg. fish. die when all O₂ used up
- no ARO so ⭣ comp for ANO. ANO pops ⭡
- ANO further decompose dead material, releasing ⭡ NO₃⁻. water = putrid