Increasing population sizes leaves to increasing demand for food, farmers use synthetic fertilizers to add necessary nutrients to the soil so crops can grow. What is the alternate consequence of this fertilizer use is it death of aquatic organisms or aloe blooms grow rapidly or fertilizer, runs off with rainwater or de oxygenated water bodies.
The alternate consequence of fertilizer use is the run-off of fertilizers with rainwater, which ultimately leads to the death of aquatic organisms or the growth of algae blooms. The excess nutrients from the fertilizers can enter nearby water bodies, causing an overgrowth of algae. This excessive growth of algae, known as an algae bloom, blocks sunlight from reaching other aquatic plants, depletes oxygen levels, and can lead to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms. Additionally, as the algae die and decompose, it further contributes to the deoxygenation of the water bodies, creating hypoxic or deoxygenated conditions that are harmful to aquatic life.
The alternate consequence of fertilizer use is the runoff of these fertilizers with rainwater. When synthetic fertilizers are applied to crops, they provide the necessary nutrients for plant growth. However, excess fertilizers that are not taken up by the crops can be washed away by rainwater and enter nearby water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. This runoff leads to a process called eutrophication.
Eutrophication occurs when excessive nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, enter water bodies. These nutrients result in an overgrowth of algae and other aquatic plants, causing a phenomenon known as algal blooms. These algal blooms can grow rapidly, covering the water surface and blocking sunlight from reaching the deeper layers of the water.
When the algae eventually die and decompose, bacteria consume oxygen while breaking down the dead organic matter. This leads to the depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water, a process called deoxygenation. As a result, oxygen levels in the water decrease, negatively impacting aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and other aquatic life forms. In severe cases, the lack of oxygen can lead to the death of these organisms, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.
To prevent or minimize these negative effects, sustainable agricultural practices can be implemented. These practices include using organic or natural fertilizers, properly timing fertilizer applications to match crop needs, employing precision farming techniques to reduce fertilizer waste, and implementing buffer strips or constructed wetlands to capture and filter nutrient runoff from fields.