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So, you now see the link between lawn clippings and eutrophication. Eutrophication occurs when nutrient levels in the water become so large that prolific algal blooms occur these algal blooms consume most of the oxygen in the water and other desirable plant and animal life dies. And it is the nitrogen and phosphorus that are major concerns for water quality as they both can incite eutrophication of water sources. In general, your lawn clippings contain around 4% nitrogen, 0.5 to 1% phosphorus, and 1 to 2 % potassium by weight. The leaf blades and stems that are discharged by your mower are comprised of all the nutrients required for plant growth and development. What is the form of the nutrient? Well, it is not a standard chemical fertilizer, but for all intents and purposes it is ‘slow release fertilizer’: it’s your clippings. However, the improper handling of clippings is a very important way in which nutrients are inadvertently introduced into our water sources. Cutting turf and impacting water quality sound like completely unrelated topics.