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Fertilizers play a vital role in agriculture.
Over the years, they have increased farm production dramatically. Commercial fertilizer is, however, a major source of nitrogen in several chemical forms, including nitrate. The other major components of commercial fertilizer, phosphorus and potassium, can be of contamination concern with surface water sources. Nitrate can also affect adults, but the evidence is much less certain. Young livestock are also susceptible to health problems from high nitrate-nitrogen levels.