What are Nitrates?

Nitrates (NO3) are formed from the two most common elements on earth, Nitrogen and Oxygen.

Nitrates (NO3) are formed from the two most common elements on earth, Nitrogen and Oxygen. Their presence in soils comes from nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, decay of organic matter, industrial effluents, human sewage and livestock manure. Nitrates are a serious problem since they do not evaporate, and hence remain dissolved and accumulate in the groundwater.

Read MANTECH's nitrate method abstract here.