Overuse of chemical fertilizers on farmland leads to soil degradation. When heavy rainfall occurs, what…

Overuse of chemical fertilizers on farmland leads to soil degradation. When heavy rainfall occurs, what major ecological issue does this cause in nearby streams?
  1. Excessive algae growth leading to depletion of dissolved oxygen.
  2. A sudden increase in salt content making river water non-potable like ocean water.
  3. Rapid freezing of river water due to chemical absorption.
  4. Formation of thick dust storms over the water surface.

Solution

Rain washes excess nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers into water bodies, causing rapid algal blooms (eutrophication) which deplete dissolved oxygen and kill aquatic organisms.

Asked in: Homi Bhabha Practice

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