Chapter 31. W. Schuphan. 1972. Nitrate problems and nitrite hazards as influenced by ecological conditions and by fertilization of plants. Pages 577-590.

Keywords: increased use of fertilizers and pesticides has given rise to worldwide interest as well as harsh criticism, the application and effect of fertilizers and pesticides more or less depend upon the interacting influence of climate, soil, and soil management, intensification of cultivation will increase plant diseases and insect pests making necessary an increased usage of pesticides, increased pesticide usage often lead to environmental problems and pollution, pests increase in soils highly fertilized by nitrogen, in the absence of methods to improve soil organic matter, yields will be lower than expected, the current paper focuses on the problems that occur when excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer is used, this excess leads to alterations in the biological value of plant proteins, ore plant diseases may also occur by weakening the plant constitution and by reducing the firmness of cell walls and plant tissues, human infant health can be negatively affected by rising content of nitrate and nitrite in plants (methemoglobinemia), nitrite was more of a problem than nitrate