Dinitrogen (N2) fixation is widely recognized as an important process in controlling ecosystem responses to global environmental change, both today and in the past; however, significant discrepancies exist between theory and observations of patterns of N2 fixation across major sectors of the land biosphere.

Dinitrogen (N2) fixation is widely recognized as an important

Given the intensity of agriculture and the position of environmental degradation in the country it is necessary to strike balance between fertilizer use and developmental goals for the achievement of economic and environment sustainability. The development could be possible only through judicious management of natural resources without losing much on the pace of the present development.

The International Maritime Organization recently revised the MARPOL Annex VI so regulations are clearer and nitrogen oxides emissions are further reduced.

Here the authors present results of the first multi-decadal experiment to examine the impacts of chronic, experimental nitrogen addition above ambient atmospheric nitrogen deposition. This total input rate is comparable to terrestrial nitrogen deposition in many industrialized nations. The researchers found that this chronic low-level nitrogen addition rate reduced plant species numbers by 17% relative to controls receiving ambient N deposition.

Nitrates enter human body through drinking water, food and air. Ingested nitrates converted to nitrite by microflora lead to methaemoglobinemia, increased free oxide radicals that predispose cells to irreversible damage and effects like cancer, increased infant mortality, abortions, birth defects, recurrent diarrhoea, recurrent stomatitis, histopathological changes in cardiac muscles, alveoli of lungs and adrenal glands, deterioration of immune system of the body.

During the past century through food and energy production, human activities have altered the world's nitrogen cycle by accelerating the rate of reactive nitrogen creation. India has made impressive strides in the agricultural front, in which N fertilizer plays a major role.

Cities in the developing countries have multiple modes of human and animal waste treatment and disposal that finally decide the overall impact on the urban ecosystem, and these have been studied for the city of Bangalore. Four modes are found, namely underground sewage systems, decentralized soak pits and septic tanks, open defecation and a miniscule effort at composting. The extent of N released per unit area is high, ranging between 0.44 and 1.4 t ha