Aims of the session:

Learn about fertilisers and their effects on the environment. Be able to answer exam questions on the effects. Learn about Pesticides and their effects Summarise the key points about pesticides

Fertilisers and Pesticides

Fertilisers

fertilisers

sewage (liquid domestic and industrial waste) minerals esp. phosphates organic material

The process of Eutrophication

minerals esp. nitrates

eutrophication

algal bloom competition for light consumers can't consume fast enough

dead plants

dead algae

detritus

competition for light

consumers can't consume fast enough

The process of Eutrophication cont.

dead plants dead algae detritus more decomposers use up oxygen by aerobic respiration (increased BOD)

aerobes die (invertebrates, fish, etc)

anaerobic bacteria thrive. Release NH4, CH4, H2S

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).

This measures the rate of oxygen consumption by a sample of water, and therefore gives a good indication of eutrophication. A high BOD means lots of organic material and aerobic microbes, i.e. eutrophication

The nitrate concentration falls during spring and summer and rises during autumn and winter

Less algal growth as autumn begins Possibly all plants have died

Pesticides

Pesticides
Include:
Herbicides Insecticides Fungicides Bactericides

Pesticides

Persistence = Bioacculmulation + Lipid solubility

Bioaccumulation
E.g DDT
water zooplankton 0.04 ppm small fish 0.5 ppm large fish 2 ppm birds 25 ppm