as amino acids, the key building blocks of proteins. It is also found in other important
biomolecules, such as ATP and nucleic acids. Even though it is one of the most abundant
elements (predominantly in the form of nitrogen gas (N2) in the Earth’s atmosphere),
plants can only utilize reduced forms of this element” (Wagner). Without fixed nitrogen, many plants would be unable to function properly and die.
Although it is super important for us to use the fertilizers,It is extremely vital to human beings that nitrogen fertilizer is used in order to produce enough crops to feed a population as large as ours, along with many other animals.
The Problem with using Nitrogen Fertilizers
Although it is super important for us to use the fertilizers, it is also damaging to the environment, particularly to the chesapeake bay. The increase of nitrogen fertilizers in the Chesapeake Bay causes algae blooms, which are “... a rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system” (sciencedaily.com). Algae blooms cause danger to aquatic ecosystems because they will block sunlight from reaching underwater plants. Without sunlight, the plants are unable to create food and die. This causes a snowball effect, because certain fish will die, and there will be less food for other animals eat, which will destroy the ecosystem (chesapeakebay.net).
How the problem can be fixed
Despite the harm of abusing nitrogen fertilizers, there are ways to make the fertilizers still effective without polluting the bay. By “implementing nutrient management and conservation plans; planting cover crops; fencing animals out of streams; and installing and maintaining grassed or forested buffer strips along farm fields” (cbf.org), we can better insure that the nitrogen is being absorbed by the plants, since only about 10% is currently used by the plants. Another way to help the bay is to grow locally, and try to prevent the runoff that carries the nitrogen with it.
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