Question

Use of synthetic fertilizers often leads to the contamination of groundwater with nitrates. Nitrate pollution is also a suspected cause of anoxic "dead zones" in the ocean. Which of the following might help reduce nitrate pollution?a) growing improved crop plants that have nitrogen-fixing enzymes.
b) adding nitrifying bacteria to the soil.
c) adding denitrifying bacteria to the soil.
d) using ammonia instead of nitrate as a fertilizer.

Answer 1

Option a) is correct

Explanation:

Growing improved crop plants that have nitrogen fixing enzymes

• Nitrate pollution occurs because of the introduction of excessive amounts of nitrogen to ground water and surface water
• Use of synthetic fertilizers has resulted in high levels of pollution and eutrophication of lakes and rivers
• When nitrogen fertilizers are leached deep down into the soil they cause serious pollution problems
• Plants that can do nitrogen fixation include members of family Fabaceae
• The symbiotic association between legumes and Rhizobium is the most important nitrogen fixing association; rhizobia bacteria convert nitrogen gas to ammonia and this process is called nitrogen fixation