How do pesticides and fertilizers affect the environment?

How do pesticides and fertilizers affect the environment?

Fertilizers and pesticides use has led to the problem of air, water and soil pollution. The phenomenon of nutrient enrichment of aquatic bodies is known as eutrophication, which deteriorate the water quality leading to death of fishes. Moreover, the seepage of fertilizers and pesticides also pollutes the ground water.

How do fertilizers affect the ecosystem?

Fertilizers contain large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. When these chemicals runoff agricultural fields into waterways, they can lead to accelerated growth of aquatic plants. Nutrients from fertilizer runoff encourages the growth of nuisance algae through the process of eutrophication.

How does fertilization affect the biosphere?

Fertilizers provide crops with nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, which allow crops to grow bigger, faster, and to produce more food. However, applying excessive amounts of fertilizer leads to the release of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and the eutrophication of our waterways.

How do fertilizers affect aquatic organisms?

Fertilization is con- sidered as one of the main sources of pollution of water bodies caused by agriculture. Low oxygen concentration in deep water layers where fish spawn may prevent the development of eggs. Increased density of macro-algae in shallow waters of seas might affect the composition of species too.

What are the harmful effects of pesticides and fertilizers?

Pesticides have been reported to cause several adverse health effects which depend on the extent and duration of exposure. Health effects of pesticides range from mild allergies, rashes, breathing difficulties, neurotoxicity and reproductive abnormalities to deadly chronic diseases like cancer.

What are the positive and negative effects of pesticides?

By controlling insects and rodents, pesticides prevent the spread of disease and protect buildings from termite infestations. Pesticides also keep the price of clothing and food down by eliminating predators that would destroy crops, raising the cost of things like corn and cotton.

What are the negative effects of fertilizer?

Fertilizer Drawbacks Fertilizers can also contaminate water with an overabundance of phosphates and nitrates, making it unsafe for consumption. Oxidized nitrogen, a byproduct of synthetic fertilizers, also increases smog, which may be related to higher incidence of respiratory illness and asthma.

What are the harmful effect of fertilizers?

Though chemical fertilizers increase crop production; their overuse has hardened the soil, decreased fertility, strengthened pesticides, polluted air and water, and released greenhouse gases, thereby bringing hazards to human health and environment as well.

What are the positive effects of fertilizers?

By providing nutrients like nitrogen, fertilizers help plants thrive despite the threat of weeds and disease. Organic fertilizers, like manure, improve the fertility of soil by feeding microorganisms in the soil, reducing erosion and keeping soil well hydrated.

What problems can fertilizer and pesticides cause?

Environment. The chemicals and nutrients found in fertilizers, while beneficial for agricultural crops, can be lethal in high doses for fish, birds and other wildlife. Pesticides, designed to kill pests chemically, are also dangerous when leached into soil or groundwater supplies.

What are the impacts of overuse of inorganic fertilizers?

Inorganic fertilizers can be detrimental to the environment, when abused. Problems that can stem from overusing fertilizers include runoff and erosion, the contamination of water supplies, and disruptions to aquatic life. As a society, we need to be aware of the consequences of relying on these substances.

Why synthetic fertilizers are bad?

In short, synthetic fertilizers can harm the environment because their nitrogen and phosphorous levels are often higher. Instead, bacteria and microbes in the soil are stimulated by the chemicals in synthetic fertilizer, which leads them to consume more organic matter than plants can put back into the soil.

Why is it important to fertilize your lawn?

Fertilizing your lawn can help you get the lush, green grass you desire. To properly fertilize your lawn it’s important to prepare the ground, pick out the right fertilizer, and use a method that will give your lawn the best chance to grow in stronger and healthier.

How does fertilizer help plants grow and survive?

Fertilizer is not “food.” Plants produce their own food in the form of sugars through photosynthesis. The minerals or nutrients supplied by fertilizer provide the ingredients needed for photosynthesis and growth. When minerals are lacking or absent in the soil, fertilizer can be added to maintain an adequate supply.

What happens if you put too much fertilizer on a tree?

Avoid adding too much fertilizer which can harm the plant and the environment. Excessive fertilizer produces rank, weak growth that breaks easily and is susceptible to injury from cold, drought and pests. Also, fertilizer not absorbed by the plant roots may contaminate groundwater and surface water.

What to do when fertilizing over the top of plants?

When fertilizing over the top of shrubs and groundcovers, make certain the leaves are dry and use a leaf rake or broom to brush fertilizer off the leaves and onto the ground after application. Some plants, like liriope and azaleas, can collect fertilizer granules in the whorls of their leaves and injury may result.