What environmental hazard is associated with nutrient loss from fields?

Nutrient contamination that threatens water quality is a significant environmental hazard associated with nutrient loss from fields. When excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are lost from agricultural systems through runoff, it can lead to pollution of nearby water bodies. This contamination can cause algal blooms, which deplete oxygen in the water, harming aquatic life and altering ecosystems. Furthermore, these nutrients can leach into drinking water supplies, posing risks to human health and requiring costly remediation efforts. This highlights the importance of managing nutrient applications to minimize their loss and protect water quality.

In contrast, while soil compaction, increased erosion, and pest resistance can also impact agricultural practices, they are not directly tied to nutrient loss in the same way that nutrient contamination impacts water quality. Soil compaction pertains more to physical alterations of the soil structure, and increased erosion relates to soil loss rather than nutrient leaching. Pest resistance deals with the effectiveness of agricultural chemicals rather than the environmental implications of nutrient management.