Eutrophication: Enrichment of a water body with nutrients, resulting in excessive growth of phytoplankton, seaweeds, or vascular plants, and often depletion of oxygen.

 

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Eutrophication: Runaway growth of aquatic plants that occurs when agricultural fertilizers containing phosphorus and nitrogen run off into lakes and ponds; also ultimately increases the plant death rate wit . . . View Full Definition

Phosphorus: An essential nutrient for plants and animals that is commonly applied to crops as a phosphate fertilizer. Phosphorus can contribute to the eutrophication of lakes and other water bodies. Sou . . . View Full Definition

Nitrogen: Element number 7, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that makes up about 80% of the earth's atmosphere.

Nutrient Pollution: Contamination by excessive inputs of nutrient: a primary cause of eutrophication of surface waters, in which excess nutrients, usually nitrogen or phosphorus, stimulate algal growth. Sources . . . View Full Definition