Excess Nitrogen in the Environment

Human Activities that change the balance of Nitrogen in the environment  Using Artificial Fertilizers for agriculture adds nitrogen to the soil  Burning fossil fuels for industries adds nitrogen to the atmosphere  Burning fossil fuels for individual use (cars, home heating) adds nitrogen to the atmosphere  Dumping sewage into the environment adds nitrogen to the soil and water

Excess Nitrogen in the environment upsets the balance of the nitrogen cycle. It has negative effects on the soil, atmosphere, freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, as well as biodiversity.

EFFECTS OF EXCESS NITROGEN

SOIL  SOIL becomes more acidic so trees don’t grow as well.  Also, the nitric acid causes other toxic elements to dissolve into the soil.

WATER  WATER ends up with less oxygen so organisms die.

Freshwater  The surface plants grow so much that they block the sun from the bottom plants. Without sun, they can’t perform photosynthesis. Therefore they can’t produce oxygen and food for the ecosystem.  It can also get into our drinking water and cause health problems like anemia.

Marine Ecosystems  In SEAWATER, the algae grow into a huge population. When they die, they sink lower. The process of decomposition of the dead algae uses up the oxygen in the lower water.

Because it is a Nitrogen Cycle, if it goes into one part of the environment, it gets into all parts (soil, water, atmosphere)

ACID PRECIPITATION  Acid rain (snow, etc.) results from excess nitrogen in the atmosphere. It fills lakes with nitric acid which kills fish, birds, and amphibians.  It also lands on tree leaves and destroys their protective waxy coating.

BIODIVERSITY decreases  Biodiversity means the variety of different organisms.  Only some organisms benefit from extra nitrogen. They overpower other species and cause them to die off.  A reduction in plant diversity leads to a reduction in diversity further up the food chain.