Sanchez-Dudik, Mya

"Too Much of a Good Thing"

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Major: Environmental Science

Freshman, College of Science and Health

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Abstract

Fertilizer, used globally to increase crop growth and yields, can be detrimental to the environment when used incorrectly or in excess. At the present, there are no federal regulations on fertilizer application, leading too nitrogen build-up and runoff, damaging not only the atmosphere, but our waterways too. Humans and animals alike suffer from nitrogen leaching; it can contaminate rural clean water supplies or create “dead zones” in the ocean. There are, however, many ways to avoid these devastating environmental consequences, such as applying after rainfall or planting additional nitrogen-stabilizing plants. Until there are federal laws, though, there may be no stopping nitrogen pollution by fertilizers.

Course: Honors 100

Rhetoric and Critical Inquiry

Professor: Janet Hickey

Department of English