Nitrogen

Introduction

Leaching

Eutrophication

Introduction

As briefly touched on in “Energy and Food Production”, the nitrogen contained in fertilisers used to enhance plant growth can deviate from the expected cycle when fertilisers end up in the wrong location.

Leaching

This is how fertilisers can reach further areas than planned, by the action of rain and irrigation.

The fertiliser is therefore washed away, out of the control of the plant grower.

Eutrophication

Eutrophication is the process of artificial or natural chemicals reaching bodies of water and changing their ecosystem.

Fertilisers will cause the aquatic organism…