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1. Excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, usually caused by runoff of nutrients (animal waste, fertilizers, sewage) from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life; the decomposition of the plants depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life
   "he argued that the controlling factor in eutrophication is not nitrate but phosphate"

Derived forms: eutrophications

See also: eutrophic

Type of: biological process, organic process

Encyclopedia: Eutrophication