Nutrient impact experiment
In this activity, plastic bottles are used to simulate the link between land and sea. Students investigate some of the potential impacts increased nutrient use on land can have on the marine environment.
By the end of this activity, students should:
understand some of the possible impacts on the marine ecosystem of agricultural nutrient run-off and leaching
discuss human impacts on life in the sea and understand that land and coastal ecosystems are not discrete
understand what is meant by the term ‘fair testing’.

Nutrient impact experiment
Photos showing how to run the nutrient impact experiment.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
extension ideas
discussion questions
experiment photos.
Activity ideas
Use the nutrient experiment to simulate the link between land and sea and discover more about the potential impacts of increased nuturient use on land.
The activity Water run-off models how rain can affect soil erosion and ground stability.