Glossary

Nutrients

Nutrients nourish or provide food for plants and animals.

The major elements required for plant growth are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen is available in the form of nitrate ions, phosphorus is available in the form of phosphate ions and potassium as potassium ions.

The level of nitrates and phosphates is naturally low in Australian waterways, except where run off contains pollutants such as fertilisers and detergents. Increases in nutrients encourage plant growth and can become an environmental problem, e.g. algal blooms.