Author
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Owens, Lloyd |
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Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 9/12/2001 Publication Date: 10/15/2003 Citation: Owens, L.B. 2003. Groundwater pollution by nitrogen fertilizers. In: Encyclopedia of Water Science. Marcel Dekker, Inc., NY. pp. 369-373. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: When nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in water become too high, they pose threats to human health and create detrimental environmental situations, e.g. excess algal growth and hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Over fertilization of row crops is a leading cause of nitrogen in groundwater from agricultural sources. Although fewer instances have been noted, high nitrate levels have been found under fertilized pastures and turf. Container horticultural crops occupy small acreage compared to most other crops, but nitrogen fertilization is quite intense and can create high nitrogen levels in soil. Some practices to help mitigate these problems include: use of winter cover crops to sequester nitrogen during the winter recharge period; use of pre-plant or pre-sidedress nitrogen tests so that nitrogen needs can be assessed and overfertilization avoided; apply nitrogen at less than the economic optimum nitrogen rate; reduce the amount tof nitrogen applied to turf, and omit the late summer application. |
