Skip to content
Help support CapRadio’s local public service mission 
and enrich the lives in your community.
Support local nonprofit public media.
Donate Now

View thank you gift options

CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Environment
  • State Government
  • Food and Sustainability
  •  

California Agriculture Is The Largest Source Of Nitrogen Pollution In The State

  •  Amy Quinton 
Tuesday, August 9, 2016 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio

Truck hauling cantaloupes picked near Los Banos, California.

Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio

Nitrogen is essential for growing crops and producing food, but too much of it pollutes the water and air. 

A new assessment looks at nitrogen’s impact in California and how it’s affecting human health and the environment.

The California Nitrogen Assessment Report shows that as the global demand for food has increased, so has the use of fertilizers- both organic and synthetic. But California crops use only a half to a third of all the synthetic nitrogen applied. Nearly 419,000 tons of nitrogen leach into groundwater every year.

“Managing nitrogen in the ag sector so that the nitrates going into groundwater start to net out zero or negative is a big challenge because we’re nowhere near being in balance,” says Tom Tomich, founding director of UC Davis’s Agriculture Sustainability Institute and the report's lead author.

He says options for managing all that nitrogen are limited.

“If they were available, cost-effective, and easy to use farmers would already be using them and in fact farmers are using a lot of them. But even if we used everything we’ve got, we’d still have two-thirds of the nitrate to groundwater problem.”

Tomich says it takes several years to centuries for nitrogen leached into the soil to enter the groundwater. He says contamination will continue to increase in the future. 

0809AQ_nitrop


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 agricultureUC Davissustainabilitygroundwateragriculture industrynitrogenwater quality

Amy Quinton

Former Environment Reporter

Amy came to Sacramento from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) where she was Environment Reporter. Amy has also reported for NPR member stations WFAE in Charlotte, WAMU in Washington D.C. and American Public Media's "Marketplace."  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Environment Stories

Robert F. Bukaty/AP

The Maine lobster industry sues California aquarium over a do-not-eat listing

March 18, 2023

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Rain, snow and wind are returning to Northern California. In Sacramento, impacts expected to be milder than recent storms

March 20, 2023

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Climate is changing too quickly for the Sierra Nevada's 'zombie forests'

March 18, 2023

Most Viewed

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

California coronavirus updates: Second round of Sacramento’s universal basic income program funded in part through COVID-19 relief budget

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

CalFresh emergency benefits end this month — here’s what to know

Proposed bill would overhaul referendum petition process in California

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

California coronavirus updates: Second round of Sacramento’s universal basic income program funded in part through COVID-19 relief budget

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

CalFresh emergency benefits end this month — here’s what to know

Proposed bill would overhaul referendum petition process in California

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.