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Environmental Issues.
Nitrogenous
fertilisers (fertilisers
containing nitrogen)
are applied in large quantities to
promote plant
growth.
The benefits are obvious,
with taller, healthier plants giving a higher yield from crops,
and therefore cheaper, more plentiful
food.
Disadvantages begin when heavy rainfall runs from the surface of the soil,
taking fertiliser into streams and rivers.
This happens most when
1) Rain occurs soon after the fertiliser is applied to the crop,
2) Too much fertiliser is added to the crop.
Fertiliser in the river promotes
plant growth just as it does on
land.
River plants and algae grow rapidly
(called eutrophication),
and eventually die in large numbers.
Bacteria feeding on the dead plant material use up the oxygen in the water.
Fish may then die through lack of
oxygen.
Also, too
high a level of nitrates in drinking water
is a health hazard, particularly
for infants.
Nitrates can interfere with oxygen
transport in the blood.
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