Nitrates: a time bomb under our feet

    Nitrates. The use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture is increasing the quantities present in the soil. A new study by scientists from the British Geological Survey (BGS) and Lancaster University in the UK has warned that it is a time bomb that could have serious consequences for the planet.



    He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

    Nitrates. The use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture is increasing the quantities present in the soil. A new study by scientists from the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the University of Lancaster in the UK has warned that it is a time bomb that could have serious consequences for the planet.



    Scientists have estimated that up to 180 million tons of nitrate accumulate in rocks around the world. To better understand the extent of the problem, the BGS carried out the first global-scale quantification of nitrate between 1900 and 2000.

    The estimate was made using mathematical models combined with other data concerning the presence and depth of groundwater and the porosity of the unsaturated zone. The latter is also known as aerated or vadosa and is the portion of the land that lies between the ground level and the water table below. In this area, the pores between the soil granules are partly filled with water or liquid which slowly filters downwards by gravity while the remainder is occupied by air.

    Il model created by scientists has shown a substantial and continuous increase in nitrate stored in the unsaturated zone over the past century. The peak of nitrate storage in 2000 was estimated to be 1814 teragrams (Tg) of nitrogen (N).

    Nitrates: a time bomb under our feet

    Where nitrate accumulates

    Geographically, nitrate accumulation in unsaturated areas is greatest in North America, China and Central and Eastern Europe, where the water table depth is high and there is a long history of agricultural fertilizer use.

    Nitrates: a time bomb under our feet Nitrates: a time bomb under our feet

    “To better understand the trends in nitrate storage, we have grouped the responses to nitrate storage for river basins around the world. The groups show clear differences and trends, with a clear division between developed (USA, Europe) and developing (Africa, East Asia) countries. In the group of developed countries, the current leaching of nitrates in the unsaturated zone is decreasing as a result of improved agricultural regulation and practice. Conversely, in developing countries, nitrate leaching shows continuous increases associated with rapid early development and increased intensification of agriculture with fertilizers, ”the researchers explain.



    Nitrates: a time bomb under our feet

    The risks

    These amounts of nitrates could reach rivers and seas, increase the amount of algae by promoting eutrophication, cause fish mortality, contaminate drinking water supplies and give rise to other serious consequences for the planet and human health.


    The study can therefore be useful to understand the distribution of nitrate accumulation and provide policy makers with a first global indication of where these deposits are most significant to find solutions in a short time.


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    The study was published in Nature.

    Francesca Mancuso

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