What would happen if too much nitrogen is released into the environment?

Answer 1

A significant portion of the unabsorbed nitrogen fertilizer volatizes in the form of N2O. In fact, agriculture is the second largest industrial contributor to global greenhouse gases (GHGs) -- ahead of the transportation sector and behind only electrical and heat generation. It is estimated that nitrogen fertilizer accounts for one-third of the GHGs produced by agriculture (Stern Review 2006).

While fertilizers are effective in driving crop yield improvements, they also frequently have a negative impact on the environment. Since most plants are able to utilize less than one-half of the nitrogen fertilizer applied by growers, much of the remaining nitrogen fertilizer leaches into the air, soil and water and pollutes lakes, rivers, aquifers and oceans.

One of the most visible examples of the harmful environmental effects of nitrogen fertilizers is the creation of "dead zones" in the world's oceans. Dead zones result from the death and decomposition of massive algae blooms that are fed by excessive nutrient runoff. When algae populations get too large, they die and their natural decomposition depletes the water of oxygen. This creates a condition called "hypoxia" and results in suffocation and death of fish species.

Answer 2

Nothing, Nitrogen is an important entity in the ecological lifecycle.

When a body decomposes, nitrogen is produced for example. The soils soak this up, plants also naturally absorb nitrogen both through their roots and leaves to produce Nitrates for nourishments.

If anything, the world would become a greener place. But personally, I'd recommend releasing more Ozone into the environment!

Answer 3

When we cause nitrogen overload in an ecosystem, there are many drastic effects. Burning fossil fuels and wood contributes to a large amount of nitric oxide in the atmosphere. Nitric oxide can combine with oxygen gas to for nitrogen dioxide, which reacts with water vapor to form a strong acid (nitric acid). This can precipitate out of the atmosphere in the form of the deadly acid rain. The acid can damage trees and kill fish.

Excessive Nitrogen is also dangerous in our aquatic environments. Dumping of raw sewage contains nitrogenous wastes, along with urban runoff. When large amounts of nitrogen collect in a water body, eutrophication can result. This is an accumulation of excess nutrients which causes an algae bloom. The algae rapidly deplete all of the oxygen in the water, making it inhospitable for fish and other aquatic organisms.

Eutrophication also brings about the deadly red tides. When plant communities are saturated with nitrogen, the soil can become acidified. This makes the soil inhospitable.

The use of inorganic fertilizers and depleting nitrogen resources by overharvesting legumes (which have nodules in their roots formed by a symbiotic bacteria that fix nitrogen) and overmining nitrogen also alter an ecosystem.

Answer 4

If nitrogen is too much in the processes of combustion and decomposition will be very slow.