Question
Synthetic Fertilizers
Connie learns that fertilizer is a natural or synthetic substance added to soil to help plants grow. Fertilizers help the plants grow by increasing the nutrient levels in soil. For most of human history, people have used natural fertilizers, such as manure (animal waste) and compost (food scraps). However, in the late 1800s, people began to make and use synthetic fertilizers. Synthetic fertilizers are made by combining natural substances together. Often, the raw materials used to make fertilizer are made using chemical reactions. The manufacture of one type of synthetic fertilizer is described below.
Synthetic Fertilizer Manufacture
Step 1: Grind (granulate) the raw materials into small pieces.
Step 2: Mix the granulated raw materials together to make the fertilizer product (see below).
The image shows potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate, triple super phosphates, and ammonium phosphates being granulated and mixed together according to the manufacturer's recipe to produce a composite fertilizer. This finished fertilizer is loaded into a hopper, which releases a designated amount into large bags. The bags are sealed close and shipped to distributors.
Connie finds information on the Internet about synthetic fertilizer. She summarizes the information from two sources as shown below.
Source 1: Regional San Francisco News Website
Title of article: The Effects of Synthetic Fertilizers
Purpose of article: To provide news
Summary About Synthetic Fertilizer
- Adds nutrients to soil immediately (does not need to be broken down by soil first, like manure, for example) therefore helps unhealthy plants more quickly than natural fertilizers
- Runoff from farm fields causes water pollution and is toxic to fish and other stream organisms
- Kills beneficial microorganisms in the soil that are an important part of nutrient cycling
- Results in vegetable plants that are lacking iron, protein, vitamin C, and other important nutrients
- Easy to use and available to buy in many stores
Source 2: Organic Composting Company Website
Title of article: 5 Things Manufacturers of Synthetic Fertilizers Do Not Want You to Know
Purpose of article: To sell organic compost as lawn fertilizer to homeowners
Summary About Synthetic Fertilizer
- Causes health issues for children and pets
- Provides grass with a quick shot of nutrients, but harms the grass in the long term
- 99% of people use more fertilizer than they need and the rest runs off into the water supply
- Helps grass look green and healthy quickly
Multiple Choice Question
Which evidence would BEST support the claim that using synthetic fertilizer can be harmful to the environment?
A.
an increase in the number and kinds of microorganisms found in a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil
B.
an increase in certain nutrients and algae growth in a lake near a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil
C.
an increase in the number and size of vegetables produced in a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil
D.
an increase in the number of weeds and a decrease in the number of pest insects in a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil
Connie learns that fertilizer is a natural or synthetic substance added to soil to help plants grow. Fertilizers help the plants grow by increasing the nutrient levels in soil. For most of human history, people have used natural fertilizers, such as manure (animal waste) and compost (food scraps). However, in the late 1800s, people began to make and use synthetic fertilizers. Synthetic fertilizers are made by combining natural substances together. Often, the raw materials used to make fertilizer are made using chemical reactions. The manufacture of one type of synthetic fertilizer is described below.
Synthetic Fertilizer Manufacture
Step 1: Grind (granulate) the raw materials into small pieces.
Step 2: Mix the granulated raw materials together to make the fertilizer product (see below).
The image shows potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate, triple super phosphates, and ammonium phosphates being granulated and mixed together according to the manufacturer's recipe to produce a composite fertilizer. This finished fertilizer is loaded into a hopper, which releases a designated amount into large bags. The bags are sealed close and shipped to distributors.
Connie finds information on the Internet about synthetic fertilizer. She summarizes the information from two sources as shown below.
Source 1: Regional San Francisco News Website
Title of article: The Effects of Synthetic Fertilizers
Purpose of article: To provide news
Summary About Synthetic Fertilizer
- Adds nutrients to soil immediately (does not need to be broken down by soil first, like manure, for example) therefore helps unhealthy plants more quickly than natural fertilizers
- Runoff from farm fields causes water pollution and is toxic to fish and other stream organisms
- Kills beneficial microorganisms in the soil that are an important part of nutrient cycling
- Results in vegetable plants that are lacking iron, protein, vitamin C, and other important nutrients
- Easy to use and available to buy in many stores
Source 2: Organic Composting Company Website
Title of article: 5 Things Manufacturers of Synthetic Fertilizers Do Not Want You to Know
Purpose of article: To sell organic compost as lawn fertilizer to homeowners
Summary About Synthetic Fertilizer
- Causes health issues for children and pets
- Provides grass with a quick shot of nutrients, but harms the grass in the long term
- 99% of people use more fertilizer than they need and the rest runs off into the water supply
- Helps grass look green and healthy quickly
Multiple Choice Question
Which evidence would BEST support the claim that using synthetic fertilizer can be harmful to the environment?
A.
an increase in the number and kinds of microorganisms found in a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil
B.
an increase in certain nutrients and algae growth in a lake near a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil
C.
an increase in the number and size of vegetables produced in a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil
D.
an increase in the number of weeds and a decrease in the number of pest insects in a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The evidence that would BEST support the claim that using synthetic fertilizer can be harmful to the environment is:
**B. an increase in certain nutrients and algae growth in a lake near a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil.**
This option indicates the occurrence of nutrient runoff from the farm fields into the lake, which can lead to algal blooms, a well-known environmental issue that can harm aquatic ecosystems and fish populations. This aligns with the concerns raised in the summaries about water pollution and its effects on aquatic life.
**B. an increase in certain nutrients and algae growth in a lake near a farm field after the application of synthetic fertilizer to the soil.**
This option indicates the occurrence of nutrient runoff from the farm fields into the lake, which can lead to algal blooms, a well-known environmental issue that can harm aquatic ecosystems and fish populations. This aligns with the concerns raised in the summaries about water pollution and its effects on aquatic life.