Excessive use of which of the following fertilizers may be responsible for the presence of a toxic substance in groundwater?
Nitrogen
Phosphate only
Potassium only
Phosphate and potassium
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2016
Nitrates are highly soluble and negatively charged, making them mobile in soil water and susceptible to leaching, especially in well-drained soils and areas with high rainfall or irrigation. Elevated levels of nitrates in drinking water are a human health concern, particularly for infants, as nitrates can be converted to nitrites in the digestive system, interfering with the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity (causing methemoglobinemia). Phosphates are generally less mobile in soil due to adsorption to soil particles. Potassium is also relatively mobile but does not pose the same level of direct toxicity risk in drinking water as nitrates at common concentrations.