What is one consequence of excessive nitrogen application?

Excessive nitrogen application can lead to nutrient leaching, which occurs when excess nitrogen is lost from the soil through water movement, typically during rainfall or irrigation. When too much nitrogen is applied, plants cannot absorb it all, and the surplus nitrogen can be washed away into nearby water bodies, contaminating groundwater and leading to issues like algal blooms. Algal blooms can cause a range of problems, including reduced oxygen levels in the water, harming aquatic life, and degrading water quality.

While increased crop yield might be observed in some situations with optimal nitrogen levels, excessive nitrogen can actually lead to diminished yields over time due to nutrient imbalances and pollution. Nutrient leaching is a critical environmental concern that results directly from applying more nitrogen than the soil and plants can use. Improved water retention and soil erosion are generally unrelated outcomes of nitrogen over-application, with water retention typically resulting from other soil management practices.