Effect of nitrates and phosphates... (1 Viewer)

[mystify]

Hey evry1 i was just wanted to ask if phosphates and nitrates together are more effective in the growth of algal blooms (hence causing eutrophication) than phosphates alone. I thought that nitrates and phosphates together would result in more algae but a friend said that it isnt true bcoz apparently the nitrates react with the phosphates inhibiting the growth of algae....now im soooo confused and i need to know for a practical. Any help would be great...thx in advance

 

[Tommy_Lamp]

no, adding nitrates will not inhibit the growth

nitrates and phosphates are both needed to accelerate growth

 

[xiao1985]

in water way, usually phosphate is the limitin factor... the ratio of N in water way is usually very indicative of the possibilty of eutrophication, (along with other factors such as stillness of water, sunlight, temperature etc)... 1:20 (i think fresh water, havne't retrieved mynotes yet) little ->1:5 (storm run off (high possiblity)

and yes, both nitrate and phosphate are needed for eutrophication...

 

[Tommy_Lamp]

hey i was right for once, i guess studying is helping