Barrons AP Environmental Science

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

  1. (D) Animal manure and guano are rich in phosphate. In the tropics, most of
    the nutrients are contained within the vegetation. Little is being retained in
    the soil since much of it leaches due to high rainfall. Phosphorus would
    therefore be released back into the environment by cutting down vegetation
    and then burning it—thereby releasing it and being subjected to runoff.
    Mining phosphates for fertilizer and industrial products takes phosphorus
    out of sinks and puts it into the environment. Burning coal and petroleum
    does not add appreciable amounts of phosphorus to the environment.

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