Fertilizer run-off grows Gulf dead zone
Researchers say more intensive farming of more land in the Midwestern U.S.—in part a result of the push for more corn production for ethanol—could contribute to growth in the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.
The zone is created when fertilizer and other runoff find their way down the Mississippi River and into the gulf, encouraging algae to grow. The algae's decay process sucks up all the available oxygen, leaving little for other species such as fish. In 2006, the dead zone was 6,662 square miles.

Source: BBC, Gristmill.

Immediately related elementsHow this works
-
Anthropogenic Climate Change »Anthropogenic Climate Change
Responding to climate change? »Responding to climate change?
Immediate action required »Immediate action required
How to reduce the risks/impact of climate change? »How to reduce the risks/impact of climate change?
Radical restructuring of the energy sector »Radical restructuring of the energy sector
Generate energy from non-fossil fuel and renewable sources »Generate energy from non-fossil fuel and renewable sources
Bio-fuels »Bio-fuels
Bio-fuels from land crops »Bio-fuels from land crops
Ethanol »Ethanol
Corn-based ethanol »Corn-based ethanol
Fertilizer run-off grows Gulf dead zone
+Commentaires (0)
+Citations (0)
+About