Knowra Nutrient pollution Nutrient pollution Nutrient pollution is environmental harm caused by excess nitrogen or phosphorus entering air and water, often triggering algal growth, oxygen depletion, and ecosystem change.
Eutrophication : The enrichment of water with nutrients that increases biological production and can degrade ecosystem conditions. Nutrient inputs accelerate this process, often leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
Agricultural runoff : Water flowing from agricultural land that carries soil, fertilizers, manure, or other materials. It transports fertilizer and manure nutrients from fields into streams and lakes.
Wastewater treatment : Processes that remove contaminants from wastewater before it is discharged or reused. Advanced treatment can remove nitrogen and phosphorus before effluent reaches waterways.
Dead zone (ecology) : An aquatic area with oxygen levels too low to sustain most marine life. Nutrient-driven oxygen loss creates persistent dead zones in coastal waters.
Nonpoint source pollution : Pollution entering the environment from diffuse sources rather than a single identifiable discharge point. Diffuse nutrient runoff is difficult to measure, attribute, and regulate.
Harmful algal bloom : A rapid growth of algae or cyanobacteria that harms organisms, ecosystems, or human health. Some nutrient-driven blooms release toxins or cause other direct harms.
Fertilizer : A material added to soil or plants to supply nutrients that support growth. Excess application leaves nitrogen and phosphorus available for runoff or leaching.
Nutrient management : Planning the amount, timing, and placement of nutrients to meet crop needs while limiting losses. It reduces avoidable fertilizer and manure losses from farms.
Freshwater salinization : The increase of dissolved salts in freshwater, often caused by road salt, mining, or irrigation. It is a distinct water-quality stressor that can interact with nutrient pollution.
Legacy phosphorus : Phosphorus accumulated in soils and sediments from past inputs that can continue feeding waters. Stored phosphorus can delay water-quality recovery after current inputs decline.
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