COMPARING SYNTHETIC AND ORGANIC FERTILIZER EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY

Abstract

I examined whether applying organic or synthetic fertilizers to radish plants resulted in more nitrate, nitrite, phosphorus or ammonia runoff compared to a control. Given the widespread pollution from agricultural runoff, any negative impacts need to be documented and ultimately, mitigated. Using a grow lab and radish plants, organic and synthetic fertilizer was applied to determine any significant difference in the runoff amounts. GLM univariate ANOVAs were run for all of the treatments; the runoff concentrations of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia were found to be not significantly different for any of the treatments. Phosphorus runoff concentration for the synthetic fertilizer treatment was significantly higher than organic treatments. Nitrate and nitrite both had readings that were over the EPA maximum contaminant level for drinking water. There are no drinking water standards for phosphorus but 97% of the nutrient runoff readings were above what is needed to stimulate eutrophication.