BRAINCAKELeaching
Leaching is the process by which nutrients are removed from the soil. Rainwater dissolves soluble compounds, such as nitrate ions, and carries them down through the soil, beyond the reach of plant roots and into streams, rivers, ponds and lakes.
Leaching is a natural process, but farming makes it much worse. It is most likely when:
• artificial fertilisers are used, because their ions are highly soluble;
• more fertiliser is applied than the crop can absorb;
• fertiliser is spread just before heavy rain, or when crops are not actively growing;
• the soil is sandy and drains quickly.
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Key terms in this lesson
- eutrophication
- The build-up of nutrients, such as nitrate, in a body of water, leading to excessive algal growth and, eventually, the death of aerobic organisms.
More in Nutrient Cycles
- Ammonification
- Nitrification
- Denitrification
- The Phosphorus Cycle
- Mycorrhizae
- Natural and Artificial Fertilisers
- Effects of Fertilisers on Productivity
- Eutrophication
All 13 lessons in Nutrient Cycles · All AQA A-level Biology topics