Impact of Fertilizers to Fresh water bodies
Abstract
Most agriculturalist apply nutrients to plants inform of chemical fertilizers. The fertilizers contain nitrogen and phosphorous which boosts the growth of plants. Moreover, in cases where farmers apply organic fertilizers excessively it damages the marine life. The paper aims at establishing the impacts of fertilizers to fresh water bodies in the United States. Furthermore, proper details on the aquatic variances feature in the research paper. Moreover, the essay discusses how a water pollutant that emerges from the chemical fertilizers causes a reaction to water bodies. Besides, the oxygen supply in the submarine regions resulting to death of fish and other sea organisms is well elaborated in the paper. Tentatively, most creatures found in the sea are a source of food to the people of the United States. Also, the damage implicated in the aquatic life affects the people in the surrounding areas with odor and unpleasant smell. Finally, the research paper provides solutions to the prevailing effects of fertilizers to fresh water bodies. Therefore, a detailed emphasis of the remedies features in the paper.
Keywords: Fertilizers, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Aquatic, Marine, Pollutants
Impact of Fertilizers to Fresh water bodies
Eutrophication preferably refers to the enrichment of water bodies with the nutrients from the plants. It is an effect that occurs naturally and normally associated with anthropogenic sources of nutrients. For instance, in the United States the occurrence of aquatic damages prevails from the impact on the agricultural products on the surface water. In addition, various scientific studies emerged to identify the major problems in the marine life. However, the findings of the research venture by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 1970s were the sequential tropic states (xxxxx). Although over application of nitrogen and phosphorous compounds causes an increase in nitrification in agricultural produce, its effect is rampant and affects the fresh water bodies negatively. Therefore, solutions strategized offers significant remedies towards eradication of the marine bodies.
Firstly, oxygen defiance results to production of highly toxic hydrosol in the shallow water bodies. For instance, in situations where manure mixes with fertilizer enter the surface water it results to oxygen depletion. Besides, it results to reduced reproduction rates of the microorganisms. Furthermore, the oxygen content in the body dissolves. Similarly, the impact leverages to suffocation of aquatic animals like the fish and other sea creatures. Moreover, the effect has highly featured in the United State degrading the quality water with unpleasant odors. Therefore, inadequate supply of oxygen in the submarine is a major impact of fertilizers to fresh water bodies.
Secondly, the findings of the research was that eutrophication results to weed growth and algae blooms in the water bodies. For instance, the sufficient number of plants and algae increased immensely in the water bodies. Remarkably, the increase is slightly higher whenever the application of nitrogenous and phosphoric fertilizers is highly quantified supplements. Correspondingly, as much as high growth rates occurs in plants during fertilizer component appliances in the same way the occurrence configures to the algae in the submarine. Nevertheless, increased number of aquatic plants suffocates the marine animals resulting to death. Therefore, due to the dissolved oxygen in water body over application of nitrogenous fertilizer results to death of aquatic animals.
Thirdly, the oceans are prone to receiving substances from the rivers resulting to ammonia toxicity. For instance, the seas in the United State are contaminated with the ammonia emerging from fresh manure that is toxic to aquatic life. Notably, at high levels ammonia kills fish instantly and other sea creatures. Furthermore, most of the people allocated in the American nation’s value sea creature as it serve as their main edible food. Evidently, the low concentration of an estimate of 0.02 parts per million (ppm) may be poisonous (xxxxx). Also, the surface water with an application of ammonia experiences species change diversity because of high toxicity rates rendered. Therefore, over application of fertilizers to plants has contributed negatively to the aquatic organisms.
Furthermore, fresh manure from decomposed warm-blooded organisms harbors countless microorganisms. Notably, some of the organisms are pathogenic and causes disease not only to the submarine creature but also to human beings. Similarly, many states use the fecal coliform bacteria during tests to pollutants. However, the tests ventured are normally simple and expensive in comparison to testing of other pathogenic mortals. Besides, these coliforms may be found naturally on the water surfaces. Moreover, if the manure from the decomposed warm-blooded creatures is handled carelessly, the action increases the risk of bacterial contamination of the ground water. Therefore, inconsiderate application of the fertilizer results to negative impact to water bodies damaging aquatic life.
On the contrary, while the problems of fertilizer application were attributed to mineral fertilizers and its impact to fresh water bodies, in other parts of the United States the risk emerges from intensive and extensive application of organic fertilizer. Despite the difficulty leveraged in the control of surface and ground water contamination, the use of environmental isotopes warrants pollutant runways. Furthermore, 60% of European agriculture rages from riverine use of nitrogen to the North Sea while 25% emerges from phosphorous loading (xxxxx). Similar observations are made from the Norwegian and Finland nations that surface contamination emerges from excessive application of the fertilizer. Therefore, due to the danger impacted to the marine life considerable mitigation programs should be embraced.
Precisely, application of inorganic manure to plants resolves the problems ventured by organic manures. For example, use of animal waste during agricultural practices enhances growth of the plants and has little contribution to marine damages. Furthermore, the statistics indicate that livestock waste accounts for an estimate of 30% of phosphorous in Europe appliances to inland water (xxxxx). Moreover, a smaller percentage of nitrogen is contained in the animal products posing less danger to the leakages in the marine areas. Therefore, the small scale farmers should make use of the inorganic fertilizer to safeguard the situation of the aquatic life.
Moreover, massive adoption of nutrient management technique tentatively solves the risks posed by over application of nitrogenous fertilizers. For example, farmers in the United States can focus on improving the nutrient management practices. Besides, the right amount of fertilizers should be issued as required by the reports rendered in agriculture. Furthermore, excessive application is wasted resources since the plants only absorb the required amount of nutrients. Therefore, adherence to proper application quantities done at the right time of the year offers significant solution to the problems of overuse especially to aquatic creatures.
In addition, engagement of collaboration programs to construct watersheds is vital to reduce nutrients pollution. For instance, farmers can play an exclusive role to provide remedy of the problems triggered by agricultural appliances. Through collaborative engagements with the government of the United States the watersheds will prevent water pollutions. In return aquatic animals receive the required amount of oxygen hence survives. Furthermore, emergence of water conservation organization together with educational institutions creates awareness of importance of marine bodies. Therefore, collective emphasis reinforces resolutions towards the water pollutants.
Furthermore, managing the access of livestock to the streams prevents further contamination of the water bodies. For instance, farmers can install fences along the streams to prevent animals from accessing the areas. Besides, the action will tentatively bur and prevent the excessive nutrients from reaching the water surfaces. Moreover, a proper solution to water pollution is achieved in the process saving the marine bodies life. Therefore, creating fences along the streams, rivers and lakes reduces pollution of the fresh water bodies.
Ultimately, agricultural produces is rated as the major cause of pollution to fresh water bodies in the United States. Excessive application of nitrogenous fertilizers to plants with high nitrogen and phosphorous content damages the aquatic bodies. Furthermore, the impacts of the water pollutants results to death of fish and other sea creatures due to suffocation. Therefore, the solutions addressed offer a long term remedy to the conservation of fresh water bodies.