Excess Nitrogen in the Environment

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Excess Nitrogen in the Environment
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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

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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.
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EFFECTS OF EXCESS NITROGEN
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SOIL

• SOIL becomes more acidic so trees dont grow as
  well.
• Also, the nitric acid causes other toxic elements
  to dissolve into the soil.

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WATER

• WATER ends up with less oxygen so organisms die.

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Freshwater

• The surface plants grow so much that they block
  the sun from the bottom plants. Without sun,
  they cant perform photosynthesis. Therefore
  they cant produce oxygen and food for the
  ecosystem.
• It can also get into our drinking water and cause
  health problems like anemia.

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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.

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

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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.