Increasing population sizes lead to increasing demand for food. Farmers use synthetic fertilizers to add necessary nutrients to the soil so crops can grow. What is the ultimate consequence of this fertilizer use?(1 point)
Responses
algal blooms grow rapidly
algal blooms grow rapidly
death of aquatic organisms
death of aquatic organisms
deoxygenated water bodies
deoxygenated water bodies
fertilizer runs off with rainwater
fertilizer runs off with rainwater
The ultimate consequence of fertilizer use is the runoff of fertilizers with rainwater.
The ultimate consequence of fertilizer use is that it can lead to all of the mentioned responses: algal blooms, death of aquatic organisms, deoxygenated water bodies, and fertilizer runoff with rainwater.
To understand why this happens, we need to look at how synthetic fertilizers work. Synthetic fertilizers contain high concentrations of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that plants need to grow. When these fertilizers are applied to the soil, the nutrients dissolve in water and are taken up by the plants' roots.
However, excess nutrients from fertilizers can also wash off the fields with rainwater or irrigation runoff. This runoff carries the nutrients into nearby water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, or oceans.
Once in the water, the excess nutrients act as a fertilizer for aquatic plants, such as algae. This leads to the rapid growth of algal blooms. While algae are normal and necessary components of aquatic ecosystems, excessive growth can lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs).
When HABs occur, they can block sunlight from reaching other underwater plants, depleting oxygen levels in the water. As a result, aquatic organisms that rely on oxygen, such as fish and other marine life, may suffocate and die. This decrease in oxygen levels in the water is known as deoxygenation.
Additionally, as the excess nutrients enter the water bodies, they can stimulate the growth of bacteria that decompose the dead algae. This decomposition process consumes even more oxygen, exacerbating the problem of deoxygenation.
Furthermore, when excess nutrients from fertilizers runoff with rainwater, it can contaminate drinking water sources and cause nutrient pollution in natural ecosystems. This can have negative effects on water quality and the overall health of aquatic ecosystems.
So, the ultimate consequence of fertilizer use is that it can lead to algal blooms, death of aquatic organisms, deoxygenated water bodies, and fertilizer runoff with rainwater. It is important to manage fertilizer use and application wisely to minimize these negative impacts on the environment.