how does cultural eutrophication occur

In a recent paper on eutrophication and climate change, a group of international experts (Moss et al., 2011) raised the following major points. [2] Phosphates and nitrates are the two main nutrients that cause cultural eutrophication as they enrich the water allowing for aquatic plants such as algae to grow rapidly. Cultural eutrophication occurs when nutrients, primarily phosphorus and nitrogen, enter lakes from runoff or streams draining cattle feedlots, fields fertilized with chemicals or manure, sewage outfalls, or urban areas, at rates that exceed the decomposition rate in the lake (Kalff, 2002). Cultural eutrophication causes excessive algal bloom in water bodies, with consequent algal overload. Cultural eutrophication can occur in fresh water and salt water bodies, usually shallow waters are the most susceptible. This process may result in oxygen depletion of the water body after the bacterial degradation of the algae. Cultural eutrophication is when a flux of excess nutrients from human activity are added into a local run-off which in turns speeds up the natural eutrophication. Usually this occurs as a result of the introduction of a range of nutrients through fertilizers, chemicals, or soaps and detergents [5]. Nutrient Management Techniques - Anyone using fertilizers should apply fertilizer in the correct amount, at the right time of year, with the right method and placement. Industrial agriculture, with its reliance on phosphate-rich fertilizers, is the primary source of excess phosphorus responsible for degrading lakes (Carpenter 2008). There are multiple different ways to fix cultural eutrophication with raw sewage being a point source of pollution. A negative effect prevails when lakes, rivers and other aquatic systems become eutrophic. Eutrophication is a condition where high nutrient concentration stimulates excess algae. That is why these areas are called dead zones. Cultural eutrophication occurs when nutrients, primarily phosphorus and nitrogen, enter lakes from runoff or streams draining cattle feedlots, fields fertilized with chemicals or manure, sewage outfalls, or urban areas, at rates that exceed the decomposition rate in the lake (Kalff, 2002). Much is yet to be unders … The human-made form of eutrophication occurs when food sources for plants and microorganisms find their way into the water. Releasing raw sewage into a large water body is referred to as sewage dumping, which is a large problem in today's society even in developed countries. Cultural eutrophication occurs when human water pollution speeds up the aging process by introducing sewage, detergents, fertilizers, and other nutrient sources into the ecosystem. Increased competition for the added nutrients can cause potential disruption to entire ecosystems and food webs, as well as a loss of habitat, and biodiversity of species. Eutrophication is a process of increasing the nutrient content of water which accelerates the growth of algae and higher plants. Phosphates and nitrates are the two main nutrients that cause cultural eutrophication as they enrich the water allowing for aquatic plants such as algae to grow rapidly. cultural eutrophication and extensive efforts to reduce nutrient inputs. Eutrophication restricts water use for fisheries, recreation, industry and drinking because of increased growth of undesirable algae and aquatic weeds and the oxygen shortages caused by their death and decomposition. In eutrophication Cultural eutrophication occurs when human water pollution speeds up the aging process by introducing sewage, detergents, fertilizers, and other nutrient sources into the ecosystem. Natural Eutrophication. Meaning of cultural eutrophication. Cultural eutrophication currently affects millions of lakes and waterways throughout the world [4]. "Phosphorus in the Environment: Natural Flows and Human Interferences", Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, "Eutrophication of lakes cannot be controlled by reducing nitrogen input: Results of a 37-year whole-ecosystem experiment", "A personal history of the Experimental Lakes Project", "Incinerating Sewage Sludge and producing reusable ash: Japanese Experience", "Fertilizer 101: The Big Three - Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cultural_eutrophication&oldid=995791678, Articles with dead external links from July 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. It is estimated that 50-70% of all nutrients reaching surface water (principally N and P) originate on agricultural land as fertilizers or animal waste. What does cultural eutrophication mean? Still, human activities have sped up the degree and rate of eutrophication through both point-source and non-point source discharges of the chemical nutrients (phosphates and nitrates) into aquatic systems. Year - Round Ground Cover - a cover crop will prevent periods of bare ground thus eliminating erosion and runoff of nutrients even after the growing season has occurred. …water pollution (a phenomenon called cultural eutrophication), it can lead to the premature aging and death of a body of water. How can eutrophication occur naturally? Eutrophication is characterized by the increase of plant or algae due to an escalation of one or more growth factors necessary for photosynthesis: sunlight, carbon dioxide, and/or nutrients. Then, excess nutrients run off from the field into the water. [11] Similarly, incinerating a ton of waste produces electric energy equivalent to 52.1 kWh/ton of combustible waste in the combines heat and power generation; this amount displaces electricity that would be provided by an electric utility power plant that uses fossil fuels in Korea.[9]. Definition of cultural eutrophication in the Definitions.net dictionary. There are several indicators available to assess the degree of eutrophication: Nutrients Human activities can greatly speed up this process by dramatically increasing … [9] A wastewater treatment plant is where the water will be filtered to regular water before discharging back into a large water body. Eutrophication (from Greek eutrophos, "well-nourished"), dystrophication or hypertrophication, is the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients which induce excessive growth of algae. Cultural eutrophication is essentially what everyone means these days when they talk about eutrophication. Safe farming practices is the number one way to fix the problem. Phosphorus is released from sediment in the form of particles. However, this is a rather slow process. This form of eutrophication has sometimes been called cultural eutrophication. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. This outcome is favored when nitrogen inputs are reduced and phosphorus inputs are increased. It is where eutrophication happens much faster because of human interference.. Human activities like farming and sewage disposal result in lots of extra phosphorus and nitrogen being flushed into streams and lakes, which eventually reach the ocean. Convectional sludge incineration systems mostly charge dewatered sludge directly into the incinerator. Similarly, problems also arise at the time of eutrophication which occurs when the aquatic system has an abundance of nutrients. [6] The answer is, EUTROPHICATION: a complex process which occurs both in fresh and marine waters, where excessive development of certain types of algae disturbs the aquatic ecosystems and becomes a threat for animal and human health. Since the agricultural boom in the 1910s and again in the 1940s to match the increase in food demand, agricultural production relies heavily on the use of fertilizers. Start studying APES Water Pollution/Cultural Eutrophication. Eutrophication is a big word that describes a big problem in the nation's estuaries. Nutrient pollution is a major cause of algal blooming, however, the excess nutrients also facilitate the growth of other aquatic plants. These fertilizers contain high amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen, which results in excess amounts of nutrients entering the soil. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. An anaerobic system can be used for pretreatment prior to discharging to a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Cultural eutrophication is when a flux of excess nutrients from human activity are added into a local run-off which in turns speeds up the natural eutrophication. Harmful algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills are the results of a process called eutrophication — which occurs when the environment becomes enriched with nutrients, increasing the amount of plant and algae growth to estuaries and coastal waters. Algaeis prone to blooming into large qua… [3], There are many ways in which nutrients are added through human activity, including but not limited to: waste treatment plants, golf courses, fertilizing lawns, burning of fossil fuels and agricultural practices. A reduction in water’s capacity to purify itself leads to a decrease in the quality of water, and a subsequent increase in the chances of eutrophication … In some areas incineration is used where the solid waste is exposed to high temperatures turning the waste into ash. However, human-caused, accelerated eutrophication (called "cultural eutrophication") occurs more rapidly, and causes problems in the affected water bodies, as described below. Eutrophication can occur naturally through processes such as sedimentation, which causes water to lose its natural ability to purify itself. Increased competition for the added nutrients can cause potential disruption to entire ecosystems and food webs, as well as a loss of habitat, and biodiversity of species. Eutrophication also occur natural over thousands of years as the lakes grow old and filled with sediments. [14] When farmers spread their fertilizer whether it is organic or synthetically made most of the fertilizer will turn into runoff that collects downstream generating cultural eutrophication. The cultural activities of man greatly accelerate the transport of phosphorus, nitrogen and other elements which may limit aquatic plant growth in natural waters. Eutrophication occurs naturally over centuries as lakes age and are filled in with sediments (Carpenter 1981). Information and translations of cultural eutrophication in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. [11] The incineration method and the anaerobic methods are the most environmentally friendly compared to others. This is caused by human activity, this problem became apparent once the green revolution and industrial revolution began in the last century. Planting Field Buffers - By planting trees, shrubs and grasses along the edges of fields to help catch the runoff and absorb some nutrients before the water makes it to a nearby water body. Cultural eutrophication has had dramatic consequences on freshwater resources, fisheries, and recreational bodies of water and is one of the leading…. Conversation Tillage - By reducing frequency and intensity of tilling the land will enhance the chance of nutrients absorbing into the ground. This begins to cause many problems for the nearby wildlife as well as recreational activities for humans. Waste collection, incineration, and waste treatment have become common practices in industrialized parts of the world. [9] Fertilizer is a natural or chemically modified substance that helps soil become more fertile. However, despite extensive research during the past four to five decades, many key questions in eutrophication science remain unanswered. The eutrophication-excessive fertilization of natural waters is becoming one of the most important causes of water quality deterioration. ALGAE BLOOM: Next, the fertilizer rich in nitrate and phosphate spark the overgrowth of algae in water bodies. Under certain conditions of darkness and warm temperatures these blooms may die, decompose and produce offensive sewage-like odor. Following this, overcrowding occurs and plants compete for sunlight, space, and oxygen. The cultural eutrophication process consists of a continuous increase in the contribution of nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus (organic load) until it exceeds the capacity of the water body (i.e. Lake eutrophication is a natural process resulting from the gradual accumulation of nutrients, increased productivity, and a slow filling in of the lake basin with accumulated sediments, silt, and muck. Eutrophication problems will worsen if climate change causes higher water temperatures in lakes and estuaries, as is predicted to occur in many areas of the world. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the "Big 3" primary nutrients in commercial fertilizers, each of these fundamental nutrients play a key role in plant nutrition. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. [13] These nutrients can eventually end up in aquatic ecosystems and are a contributor to increased eutrophication. The aquatic ecosystem is very complex by constant interactions between physical, chemical and biological components. Other sources that contribute to cultural eutrophication include the use of fertilizers, faulty septic systems, and erosion into the lake. Eutrophication is the process by which lakes acquire high concentrations of nutrients which promote excessive algae growth. The primary cause of eutrophication is an excessive concentration of plant nutrients This anoxic environment kills off any organisms in the water body and make it hard for terrestrial animals to gain access to the water for drinking. The measurement of eutrophication is not an easy task. In freshwater systems, the formation of floating algal blooms are commonly nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Beginning in the early 1970’s, point sources of phosphorus (P) in tributaries to Lake Erie dropped precipitously and there was a continuous improvement in water quality. A continuous increase in nutrient concentration in a lake decreases the ability of self-purification of the ecosystem and can even lead to the premature death of a body of water. [10] Generating an anaerobic environment is also another method where microorganisms degrade the waste without the use of oxygen. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/science/cultural-eutrophication. [12] When nitrogen and phosphorus are not fully utilized by the growing plants, they can be lost from the farm fields and negatively impact air and downstream water quality. Eutrophication occurs in 4 simple steps: EXCESS NUTRIENTS: First, farmers apply fertilizer to the soil. Cultural eutrophication is harmful, but it can be reversed if the nutrients come from easily identified point sources such as sewage treatment plants or septic systems. [7][8], Raw sewage is a large contributor to cultural eutrophication since sewage matter is very rich in nutrients. Schindler, David W., Vallentyne, John R. (2008). Many natural phenomena such as the flooding of lakes or rivers can wash away the nutrient-rich soil from the land surrounding the water bodies. There are many ways to help fix cultural eutrophication caused by agriculture. portance to the region and its proximity to the nation’s In 1987 a commitment was made to reduce controllable sources of capital have long commanded special attention. This page was last edited on 22 December 2020, at 22:29. At normal levels, these nutrients feed the growth of an organism called cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. Cultural (Human-caused) Eutrophication. ; OXYGEN DEPLETION: When algae forms, it blocks sunlight from entering water and uses up oxygen. [3], The Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) that spans from Michigan, USA to Ontario, Canada is a fully equipped, year-round, permanent field station that uses the whole ecosystem approach and long-term, whole-lake investigations of freshwater focusing on cultural eutrophication. This nutrient-rich soil can promote the growth of algae in the aqueous body. 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