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Quantifying Cradle-to-Farm Gate Life Cycle Impacts Associated with Fertilizer Used for Corn, Soybean, and Stover Production

Fertilizers used to increase the yield of crops used for food or bio-based products can migrate through the environment and potentially cause adverse environmental impacts. Nitrogen fertilizers have a complex biogeochemical cycle. Through their transformations and partitioning among environmental compartments, they can contribute to eutrophication of surface waters at local and regional scales, groundwater degradation, acid rain, and climate change. Phosphate fertilizers have a simpler fate in the environment, although leaching of soluble and bound phosphorus is an important contributor to eutrophication.

Author(s)
Powers, Susan E.
Contact Person
Susan E. Powers
Contact Organization
Potsdam University
Bioenergy Category
Publication Date
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