Nutrient cycling in the Columbia River Basin eutrophication in part due to the use of the river and its tributaries to irrigate over seven million acres of farmland, an extraction that comprises an average of 93 percent of daily water use in the basin. Natural run-off caused by precipitation and snowpack melt across agricultural lands further transports more of these nutrients into the river. In the late 1990s, the nitrogen load in the Columbia river was over twice the concentration historically observed. Forests are important terrestrial sinks for nutrients due to the ability of vegetation to sequester excess nutrients into their biomass. Additionally, plant roots stabilize soils
Korean natural farming enhanced SI within 2 cropping cycles. KNF posits three primary stages of plant growth. Each stage requires a different balance of nutrients. In the growth phase, the plant extends its roots, branches and foliage. The key nutrient in this stage is nitrogen. KNF prefers the use of a preparation of fish amino acids for this phase. After the plant has reached sufficient size, the plant diverts its energy into making flowers to attract pollinators. The key nutrients in this stage are calcium and phosporous. KNF prefers the use of a preparation of fermented plant juice and other amendments for this