Human beings have altered the entire environment through the use of excessive nitrogen fertilizers to increase the yield of harvest. Most of the farmers in the entire world have opted to use the manufactured nitrogen manure rather than using organic manure. A large amount of nitrogen fertilizer that the farmers use in farms is not used up. Some usually evaporates into the air while the other sinks dip into the soil reaching the water table (Pollan 3). This is harmful as it causes acidic rainfall and contaminates of drinking water respectively ←THESE SENTENCES SUMMARIES THE CAUSES/ EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE USE OF SYNTHETIC NITROGEN FERTILIZERS. This has greatly increased the content of nitrogen content in the atmosphere hence contributing to global warming.
More than half the nitrogen supply that is usable in the current world is manmade. This is contrary to the ancient times when most of the nitrogen used was obtained naturally from the environment. Most of the farmers in the world today have money oriented minds as compared to the ancient farmers. ← THESE SENTENCES SUMMARIES TWO THINGS BEING COMPARED/CONTRASTED. This is for the reason that the current farmers mostly use the synthetic nitrogen to obtain more yields and purchase. Current statistics show that the human fraternities have perturbed the nitrogen cycle even more than the carbon cycle (Mosier, Syers and Freney109). Although the effects of nitrogen might be harder to predict as compared to global warming caused by carbon cycle, they are momentous and should be avoided. ← THESE SENTENCES SUMMARIES THE CAUSES/ EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE USE OF SYNTHETIC NITROGEN.
The excessive synthetic nitrogen used in farms also has does not only affect the soil but also has effect to both the oceans and the forests. In the water, excess nitrogen contributes to rapid growth of the algae that interferes with the life cycle of fish. This reduces the supply of fish which is food to the human beings. For instance in New Jersey, presence of extreme nitrates has caused a dead zone for the fish (Martinelli and Howarth 122). This has also caused imbalance of the biodiversity since most of the earth’s composition have been altered.
There are three main modes of development that the author has used to ensure that the essay is effective. The author has used description to identify to the reader how the environment is polluted with nitrogen. According to Pollan, “The ultimate fate of the nitrates spread in Iowa or Indiana is to flow down the Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico, where their deadly fertility poisons the marine ecosystem”. (Pollan 3) ← THIS SENTENCES SUMMARIES THE CAUSES OF EXCESSIVE USE OF SYNTHETIC NITROGEN. The author has also used comparison to identify the nature in which agriculture has changed. Argumentation has also been used in the essay as a mode of development.
In the essay, the author’s dictation has been used appropriately since the choices of words have matched with the topic of discussion. Since the topic of discussion was mainly on nitrogen and agriculture, the scientific terms have been correctly in-cooperated to ensure that the actual meaning is delivered to the reader. For instance, the use of the words, global warming and biodiversity has been used in the correct content to ensure that the intended meaning is brought out (Pollan 3).
I am a member of the author’s target audience since I have been impressed with the manner in which the information concerning nitrogen pollution has been discussed. The information delivered concerning nitrogen pollution has been well elaborated. This ensures that all the readers understand the essay with ease. My role within the author’s audience affects the essay in the manner that I will share it to classmates and friends hence reducing pollution of the environment with excessive nitrates.
Work cited
Pollan, Michael. What's Eating America? New York: Smithsonian magazine, July 2006.
Martinelli, L and Howarth, R. Nitrogen cycling in the Americas: natural and anthropogenic
influences and controls, California: Publisher Springer, 2006
Mosier, A., Syers, J., and Freney, J. Agriculture and the nitrogen cycle: assessing the impacts of
fertilizer use on food production and the environment, Volume 65 of Scope Series,
Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) Island Press, 2004
