Diverse Nitrogen Efficiency in Indian Rice Varieties

Nitrogen (N)

• About: Nitrogen, the predominant gas in Earth’s atmosphere, is crucial for life as it is found in soil, food, and our DNA.
  • Nitrogen (N) is considered as an essential Macronutrient. 
  • A macronutrient is one of the essential nutrients required by plants in relatively large quantities for their growth and development.
• Significance of Nitrogen:  It is essential for proteins, enzymes, chlorophyll, and DNA in plants, supports photosynthesis, amino acid production, and vital plant structures. 
  • Insufficient nitrogen leads to stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and reduced yields.
• Nitrogen fixation: Despite constituting 78% of the atmosphere, most organisms cannot directly utilise atmospheric nitrogen, necessitating conversion processes like nitrogen fixation.
  • Nitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen is taken from its molecular form (N2) in the atmosphere and converted into nitrogen compounds useful for other biochemical processes. 
  • Fixation can occur through atmospheric (lightning), industrial, or biological processes.
• Nitrogen Pollution: It refers to the excessive presence of nitrogen compounds in the environment, often resulting from human activities such as agriculture, industrial processes, and transportation. 
  • This surplus of nitrogen can lead to various environmental problems, including water contamination, air pollution, and disruption of ecosystems.
• Sources of Nitrogen Pollution
  • Agricultural Fertilisers: Overuse leads to nitrous oxide emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.
  • Sewage: Contributes to nitrogen pollution when not properly treated.
  • Food Waste: High in nitrogen, originating from both human and animal sources.
  • Wastewater Treatment: Facilities without nitrogen removal processes can elevate nitrogen levels in water.
  • Stormwater Runoff: Urban runoff carries nitrogen and phosphorus from roads and rooftops to water bodies.
  • Fossil Fuel Usage: Diesel vehicles, despite cleaner technologies, still contribute to nitrogen pollution.

Impact of Nitrogen Pollution

• Disruption of Ecosystems: Aquatic Ecosystems suffer from toxic algal blooms and coastal dead zones, which threaten global biodiversity.
  • Nitrogen pollution can cause Eutrophication. 
  • Eutrophication is a process in which a water body becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to plentiful growth of algae, plankton etc.
• Groundwater Pollution: Elevated nitrate levels contaminate drinking water sources.
• Soil Health Deterioration: Nitrogen pollution negatively affects soil quality and fertility.
• Contribution to Climate Change: Fertilisers and agricultural emissions release nitrous oxide and ammonia, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and fine particulate matter pollution.
• Health Risks: High nitrate levels in water increase risks of methemoglobinemia in infants and cancer in adults. 
  • Methemoglobin is a form of haemoglobin that cannot carry oxygen. In methemoglobinemia, tissues cannot get enough oxygen.
  • Ammonia emissions worsen air pollution, adversely affecting human health.

Steps Taken at the International level to Control Nitrogen Pollution:

• International Nitrogen Initiative: Platform for sustainable nitrogen management, founded in 2003. 
  • It was set up in 2003 under sponsorship of the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) and from the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP).
• Gothenburg Protocol (1999): Agreement to reduce emissions of key pollutants, including nitrogen oxides.
• South Asia Nitrogen Hub (SANH): Connects 32+ research organisations from across South Asia and the UK to tackle nitrogen issues.
• Colombo Declaration: Aims to halve nitrogen waste by 2030.

India’s Initiative:

• Neem-Coated Urea: Neem-Coated Urea is a fertiliser and an agriculture scheme supported by the Government of India to boost the growth of wheat and paddy, and curb the black market and hoarding of urea
  • Its use is made mandatory to improve nitrogen use efficiency by slowing nitrogen release for better plant absorption.
• Soil Health Card: A soil health card provides information on the nutrient status of soil, along with recommendations on the dosage of nutrients to be utilised for improving its fertility and health.
  • This card provides soil nutritional insights and nutrient application recommendations, reducing nitrogen consumption in agriculture.
• Bharat Stage Norms: The Bharat Stage (BS) are emission standards instituted by the Government of India to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles.
  • These norms regulate vehicular emissions of harmful gases, including sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).