Urea runoff fuels eutrophication of shallow surface waters in agricultural regions
Daniel J. Conley
Nature Water, Published online: 06 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s44221-026-00641-w Urea is the world’s most widely used nitrogen fertilizer. Elevated urea use can induce detrimental eutrophication of shallow surface waters in agricultural regions, accelerating water quality deterioration globally in these regions.