---
title: "Agricultural Runoff — AP Enviro Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "Agricultural runoff is fertilizer- and pesticide-laden water flowing from farms into waterways, the main driver of eutrophication and coastal dead zones on the AP Enviro exam."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-enviro/key-terms/agricultural-runoff"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Environmental Science"
---

# Agricultural Runoff — AP Enviro Definition & Exam Guide

## Definition

Agricultural runoff refers to the movement of water containing fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals from farmland into nearby bodies of water.

## Related Study Guides

- [8.5 Eutrophication](/ap-enviro/unit-8/eutrophication/study-guide/pht3gvVqyWzrKeAwXm4F)

## Review

### Related Terms

- [Non-point Source Pollution](/ap-enviro/key-terms/non-point-source-pollution): Agricultural runoff is a type of non-point source pollution because it comes from diffuse sources (farmlands) rather than one specific point.
- [Eutrophication](/ap-enviro/key-terms/eutrophication): Eutrophication is a process that occurs when excessive nutrients from sources like agricultural runoff enter bodies of water, leading to an overgrowth of algae and depletion of oxygen levels.
- Best Management Practices (BMPs): BMPs are strategies or techniques implemented by farmers to minimize agricultural runoff and reduce its impact on water quality.