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?
algal blooms grow rapidly
fertilizer runs off with rainwater
death of aquatic organisms
deoxygenated water bodies
1 answer
The ultimate consequence of using synthetic fertilizers is that they can lead to algal blooms growing rapidly in bodies of water. This is due to the excess nutrients from the fertilizers running off into the water, causing an overgrowth of algae. As the algae die and decompose, they deplete oxygen levels in the water, leading to the death of aquatic organisms and creating deoxygenated water bodies.