NONPOINT POLLUTION OF SURFACE WATERS WITH PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN

作者：Stephen R. Carpenter, N. F. Caraco, David L. Correll, Robert W. Howarth, Andrew N. Sharpley, V. H. Smith · 发表于：Ecological Applications · 年份：1998 · DOI：10.1890/1051-0761(1998)008[0559:nposww]2.0.co;2 · 被引用次数：5867 · 研究领域：Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics、Marine and coastal ecosystems、Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics

Agriculture and urban activities are major sources of phosphorus and nitrogen to aquatic ecosystems. Atmospheric deposition further contributes as a source of N. These nonpoint inputs of nutrients are difficult to measure and regulate because they derive from activities dispersed over wide areas of land and are variable in time due to effects of weather. In aquatic ecosystems, these nutrients cause diverse problems such as toxic algal blooms, loss of oxygen, fish kills, loss of biodiversity (including species important for commerce and recreation), loss of aquatic plant beds and coral reefs, and other problems. Nutrient enrichment seriously degrades aquatic ecosystems and impairs the use of water for drinking, industry, agriculture, recreation, and other purposes. Based on our review of the scientific literature, we are certain that (1) eutrophication is a widespread problem in rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal oceans, caused by overenrichment with P and N; (2) nonpoint pollution, a major source of P and N to surface waters of the United States, results primarily from agriculture and urban activity, including industry; (3) inputs of P and N to agriculture in the form of fertilizers exceed outputs in produce in the United States and many other nations; (4) nutrient flows to aquatic ecosystems are directly related to animal stocking densities, and under high livestock densities, manure production exceeds the needs of crops to which the manure is applied; (5) excess fertiliz...