Which of the following, if carefully monitored, could most reduce or prevent phytoplankton blooms in the Gulf of Mexico and formation of dead zone with low oxygen levels?
A) the amount of fertilizers applied to agricultural fields that the plants can absorb before nutrients start entering aquatic systems
B) the biomass of soybean plants that is gained via nitrogen fixation versus the amount gained due to fertilizer addition
C) the decomposition rate of soybean fields along major rivers, such as the Mississippi
D) the number of cattle grazing fields versus eating in feed lots at a ranch

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Monitoring and managing the amount of fertilizers applied to agricultural fields to ensure that plants can absorb the nutrients before they start entering aquatic systems can significantly reduce or prevent phytoplankton blooms. Excess nutrients from fertilizers can run off into water bodies, fueling phytoplankton growth, which can lead to oxygen depletion and the formation of dead zones.

Which of the Following, If Carefully Monitored, Could Most Reduce