Nitrous oxide emission in altered nitrogen cycle and implications for climate change

Babita Aryal; Roshni Gurung; Aline F Camargo; Gislaine Fongaro; Helen Treichel; Bandita Mainali; Michael J Angove; Huu Hao Ngo; Wenshan Guo; Shukra Raj Puadel

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120272

Nitrous oxide emission in altered nitrogen cycle and implications for climate change

Environ Pollut. 2022 Dec 1:314:120272. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120272. Epub 2022 Sep 24.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Naaya Aayam Multidisciplinary Institute, NAMI, University of Northampton, Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal.
² Federal University of Santa Catarina, Post-graduation Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Florianopólis, Brazil; Laboratory of Microbiology and Bioprocesses, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Erechim, Brazil.
³ Laboratory of Applied Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
⁴ Laboratory of Microbiology and Bioprocesses, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Erechim, Brazil.
⁵ School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, 3550, Australia; School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Department of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC-3550, Australia.
⁷ Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.
⁸ Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuwan University, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, 44700, Nepal; Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: srpaudel@ioe.edu.np.

PMID: 36167167
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120272

Abstract

Natural processes and human activities play a crucial role in changing the nitrogen cycle and increasing nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, which are accelerating at an unprecedented rate. N₂O has serious global warming potential (GWP), about 310 times higher than that of carbon dioxide. The food production, transportation, and energy required to sustain a world population of seven billion have required dramatic increases in the consumption of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers and fossil fuels, leading to increased N₂O in air and water. These changes have radically disturbed the nitrogen cycle and reactive nitrogen species, such as nitrous oxide (N₂O), and have impacted the climatic system. Yet, systematic and comprehensive studies on various underlying processes and parameters in the altered nitrogen cycle, and their implications for the climatic system are still lacking. This paper reviews how the nitrogen cycle has been disturbed and altered by anthropogenic activities, with a central focus on potential pathways of N₂O generation. The authors also estimate the N₂O-N emission mainly due to anthropogenic activities will be around 8.316 Tg N₂O-N yr^-1 in 2050. In order to minimize and tackle the N₂O emissions and its consequences on the global ecosystem and climate change, holistic mitigation strategies and diverse adaptations, policy reforms, and public awareness are suggested as vital considerations. This study concludes that rapidly increasing anthropogenic perturbations, the identification of new microbial communities, and their role in mediating biogeochemical processes now shape the modern nitrogen cycle.

Keywords: Altered nitrogen cycle; Climate change; Denitrification; Nitrification; Nitrous oxide; Reactive nitrogen species.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Carbon Dioxide
Climate Change
Ecosystem
Fertilizers*
Fossil Fuels
Humans
Nitrification
Nitrogen / analysis
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrous Oxide* / analysis
Reactive Nitrogen Species
Soil
Water

Substances

Nitrous Oxide
Fertilizers
Carbon Dioxide
Nitrogen
Reactive Nitrogen Species
Fossil Fuels
Water
Soil