Fact Sheets & Studies
Reactive nitrogen and human-induced changes to the global nitrogen cycle, plus farm-based solutions to nitrogen pollution.
Fact Sheets
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide (N20) is an atmospheric gas commonly known as laughing gas. Though less abundant than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it is 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in trapping heat. And, it lingers in the atmosphere longer than CO2. In addition to its heat-trapping properties, Scientists recently declared N20 the world’s greatest source of atmospheric ozone. [more . . . ]
Reactive Nitrogen
Nitrogen is literally all around us, including nearly 80 percent of each breath we take. Though it is the most plentiful element in the earth’s atmosphere, it’s unusable in its inert state and must be transformed into reactive nitrogen before plants and animals can use it to make protein, DNA, and other compounds essential for life. Yet changes to the nitrogen cycle, like the more well-known changes to the carbon cycle, are creating environmental havoc. [more . . . ]
Farm-Level Solutions
Farmers across the country are employing cutting edge technology to reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing crop yields. [more . . . ]
Studies
Biofuels
Beneficial Biofuels—The Food, Energy, and Environment Trilemma
Science, David Tilman, 7.17.09
A look at the pros and cons of biofuels development. There is much to be gained from biofuels done right, and much to lose from them done wrong.
Scope biofuels impact on the environment report
UNESCO-SCOPE, Robert Howarth, 2009
How biofuels development affects the environment. While many countries and companies are motivated to invest in biofuels because of their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus far the data suggests that first generation biofuels like ethanol have failed to live up to that promise.
Use of U.S. Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases Through Emissions from Land Use Change
Science Express, Tim Searchinger, 02.08
The increase in U.S. corn and soybean production for biofuels is causing a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions, when you factor in indirect land use change.
Nitrogen Imbalance and Agriculture
Nutrient Imbalances in agricultural Development
Science, Peter Vitousek, 6.19.09
A comparison examination of fertilizer use and effects in different global regions, with cost-benefit assessment: in high chemical fertilizer input agricultural regions, high yields come at the cost of air and water pollution.
UNEP Report: Reactive Nitrogen in the Environment UNEP
Woods Hole Research Center, Elizabeth Braun, 2007
A UN Environment Programme (UNEP) study on the nitrogen divide: Nitrogen is a valuable resource that allows us to feed the world, but it needs to be managed better. Some places don’t have enough and face famine. Some places overuse nitrogen fertilizer, resulting in environmental and health problems.
Human alteration of the nitrogen cycle: Threats, benefits and opportunities
UNESCO-SCOPE, James N. Galloway, 04.07
A useful, visual summary of human activities that have altered the world’s nitrogen supply.
Transformation of the Nitrogen Cycle: Recent Trends, Questions, and Potential Solutions
Science, James N. Galloway, 2008
Descrition of the human influence on the global nitrogen cycle, including an examination of the nitrogen divide: excessive nitrogen use and pollution in some regions, and nitrogen deficiencies–which cause food shortages– in others.
Nitrogen study fertilizes fears of pollution
Nature, Jim Giles, 2.01.05
A lengthy study on the ecological consequences of nitrogen pollution
Public Health Impacts of Nitrogen Pollution
Human health effects of a changing global nitrogen cycle
Frontiers in Ecology & Environment, Alan Townsend, 2003
Examples of how increasing production and use of fixed nitrogen poses a public health risk.
Nutrient Management
Island Press, Robert Howarth, Kilaparti Ramakrishna, 2005
An examination of the health and environmental consequences of nitrogen fertilizer pollution. This is a chapter from a larger publication on Human health and the environment.
Coastal “Dead Zones”
Coastal nitrogen pollution: A review of sources and trends globally and regionally
Elsevier, Robert Howarth, 2008
A study on coastal Dead Zones and their causes.
Eutrophication and Hypoxia in Coastal Areas: A Global Assessment of the State of Knowledge
World Resources Institute, Mindy Selman, 3.01.08
A broad, global summary of eutrophication and hypoxia (Dead Zones) in coastal waters, and the long-term implications of continued ocean contamination from farm fertilizer runoff.