Nutrient content (water) in the context of environmental and water science topics refers to the concentration and speciation of dissolved and particulate nutrients—primarily nitrogen (e.g., nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, dissolved organic nitrogen) and phosphorus (e.g., orthophosphate, dissolved and particulate organic phosphorus), as well as ancillary elements such as silica—within freshwater, marine, or wastewater systems. It is quantitatively assessed using chemical and sometimes bioassay methods to characterize trophic status, evaluate eutrophication risk, model biogeochemical cycles, and inform regulatory standards for water quality, ecological health, and resource management.
Cover crops improve soil health and water quality, prevent nutrient loss, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they're only grown on about 5% of U.S. agricultural lands. That's despite billions in annual federal investments, ...
Agriculture
Dec 4, 2025
0
12
Aging lead-pipe drinking water systems, along with the public health measures implemented to reduce their risks, are reshaping the chemistry and health of nearby urban streams. New research from University of Pittsburgh biogeochemists, ...
Environment
Nov 13, 2025
1
41
Beneath the surface of lakes and coastal waters lies a hidden world of sediment that plays a crucial role in the health of aquatic ecosystems. "Benthic fluxes" of nitrogen and phosphorus, such as releases of these dissolved ...
Earth Sciences
Nov 5, 2025
0
13
Wetlands are an important part of the ecological system, providing a myriad of benefits for people, wildlife, and the environment. They also serve as "nature's kidneys," filtering out pollutants from surface water. A new ...
Environment
Oct 28, 2025
0
50
A new study conducted in collaboration with the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) shows when farmers combine alfalfa with ribwort plantain, the forage yield can be doubled compared to conventional ...
Ecology
Oct 21, 2025
1
19
New research investigating whether nitrogen fertilizer run-off affects marine sponges suggests these animals have a high tolerance to nitrogen, but some species may be better able to cope than others.
Plants & Animals
Oct 13, 2025
0
17
As the climate warms and nutrient inputs shift, algal communities in cool, clear mountain lakes like Lake Tahoe will likely experience seasonal changes, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, published ...
Ecology
Oct 6, 2025
0
14
The algal blooms increasingly seen in Canadian lakes have been linked to both nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff and climate change. However, a new Concordia-led study using DNA sequencing of lakebed microbes reveals ...
Environment
Sep 30, 2025
1
22
While publicly registered drinking water must meet government standards and regulations, people accessing private groundwater bores and springs supplying 25 or fewer people have no requirements to test their drinking water. ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 30, 2025
0
25
A new study has revealed how tiny microbes in rivers and wetlands across China help clean up excess nitrogen pollution, offering fresh insights into the health of freshwater ecosystems and the global nitrogen cycle.
Ecology
Sep 25, 2025
0
22
