How do nutrients affect water quality?
Streams and lakes have many similarities to that cornfield. Plants and fish use nutrients from the water to fuel their growth. The amount of aquatic growth in many streams and lakes in Missouri is limited by the amount of nutrients in the water. For example, southwest Missouri is known for the clarity of its lakes and streams. Water clarity is due, in part, to a lack of plant and animal growth in pristine water resources in this part of the state. The waters in this part of the state naturally have very low levels of phosphorus, limiting plant and fish growth. The use of fertilizers and manures on agricultural land, golf courses and lawns increases the amount of nutrients reaching a stream. As more nutrients reach a stream or lake, they act like a fertilizer to increase plant growth. Users of the stream will notice the effect of more nutrients including a reduction in water clarity because of increased growth of plants and algae. Fertilizers increase the growth of plants in water just
