How do fertilizers and pesticides affect wildlife and rivers?

Answer 1

The basic ingredients of fertilizer are N.P.K. Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium ( other minor nutrients are added depending on the blend). These chemicals can become toxic at high levels especially depending on the Nitrogen source ( Urea, Amonia, etc.), aquatic plants and algae thrive on nitrogen same as all other plants and will cause the algae bloom to be out of control like at most Golf courses. Oxygen levels and PH can be out of control and make the water unsuitable for animal survival. These things can make the use of other chemicals to counteract the effect necessary which are also toxic.

Answer 2

Flora and Fauna have evolved over time in a completely natural environment, where leaves are shed from trees and plants which over time decompose and turn into what is essentially compost feeding the soil that the flora and fauna grow in.

The compost while not high in nutrients compared to a bag of chemical fertiliser is balanced and keeps the soil healthy which in turn keeps the plants that grow in it healthy.

Go to any national park or native bush and observe how strong and healthy everything is without the intervention of humans and chemicals. There are no bugs to speak off, no nutritional imbalances that need correcting, everything is as it should be.

When we introduce chemical fertilisers we "force" the plant to grow faster than it naturally would which like a human on steroids may mean great performance but the plant can become weak and prone to pest or disease attack.

So we have to spray the plant with petroleum based chemical pesticides which in most cases are none selective and tend to kill all and any insects that are present. This includes beneficial insects which are predators of the pests that we do not want on our flora and fauna.

These chemicals are very harsh and do harm the soil microbial life slowing the decomposing process by destroying the natural soil fungi and bacteria that are responsible for recycling the leaf litter I spoke about earlier.

And so the vicious cycle begins, the long and short of it is treat our flora and fauna as nature intended, if we want to intervene then only use natural manures and compost to enhance the soil and let the soil do the rest.

Cheers,

Barry

Answer 3

It is all about "run off" which is when over use of fertilisers and pesticides are washed into streams and rivers. Pesticides can kill off fish and insect life. Fertiliser can produce over growing weeds that can smother river life.

Answer 4

its because the pesticides has many chemical and it can be harm to the wildlife and rivers...

Hope it can help you:)

Answer 5

how do feritlizers and pesticides affect wildlife and rivers?