Human impact on nitrogen cycle , Biology

Assignment Help:

Human Impact on Nitrogen Cycle

Human activities are profoundly affecting the cycling of nitrogen in nature. Over 30 x 106 metric tons/yr. of N2 is fixed in the commercial production of fertilisers, an amount almost equal to that fixed biologically. The use of N2 fertilisers affect the distribution of N2 on earth. Much of the nitrogen in the harvested crops becomes animal and human waste in sewage waters and eventually enters the aquatic ecosystem through runoff and leaching. Nitrogenous compounds leached into the groundwater may be abundant in irrigation and drinking water where they can cause serious health hazards. Nitrogenous compounds entering the lakes have fertilising effect resulting in algal blooms and promote cultural eutrophication.

Excessive growth of phytoplankton in eutrophic lakes produces huge quantities of biomass and finally collapse due to nutrient exhaustion. The dead organisms are consumed by detrivores which use up the oxygen supply. This problem of cultural eutrophication is, however, more severe in the case of phosphorus additions rather than nitrogen. When fossil fuels are burned we add nitrogenous compounds to the air. Large quantities of nitrogen oxide (NO) are released from vehicles and most of the NU is converted to NO2 by combining with ozone (O3) in the atmosphere. NO2 is a toxic gas for 6umans and a cause of smog. It combines with water to form nitric acid, HNO3, which forms 30% of the strong acids in the acid rain.


Related Discussions:- Human impact on nitrogen cycle

Give the introduction to congenital heart disease, Give the introduction to...

Give the introduction to Congenital Heart Disease ? The past 3 or 4 decades have witnessed a revolution in pediatric cardiac sciences. A number of conditions previously conside

Define classification of lipids, Define Classification of Lipids? Chemi...

Define Classification of Lipids? Chemically, lipids are the organic molecules poor in oxygen content, soluble in organic solvents but insoluble in water. They are classified as

Enumerate about the diseases insomnia, Enumerate about the diseases Insomni...

Enumerate about the diseases Insomnia The results from studies of people, who claim that they do not sleep, or wake up frequently from sleep show that their insomnia can have m

Cleft grafting, Cleft grafting  The stem of the stock is cut across....

Cleft grafting  The stem of the stock is cut across. A 'V' shaped insertion is made at the end of the stock. The scion is cut in shape. The scion is inserted into the 'V'

What is the purpose to use hydrocolloids, Hydrocolloids are extremely versa...

Hydrocolloids are extremely versatile and are used for many other purposes including: (a) Production of pseudoplasticity  (i.e. fluidity under shear) at high temperatures to ea

Mutualist exploration of cellulose digestion, Q. What is meant by "mutualis...

Q. What is meant by "mutualist exploration of cellulose digestion", a phenomenon that occurs in some mammals and insects? Herbivorous animals eat great amounts of cellulose a s

Cellular strategies to improve bone formation at implants, Molecular and ce...

Molecular and cellular strategies to improve bone formation at implants The healing response of biological tissues to the oxide surface is sensitive to the way in which the sur

Apomixis, Apomixis The formation of sporophyte from the gametophyte w...

Apomixis The formation of sporophyte from the gametophyte without sexual process signifies apomixis. It relates to the replacement of alternation of a reduced gametophyte and

What do you mean by cytotaxonomu and biosustematics, Q. What do you mean by...

Q. What do you mean by Cytotaxonomu and biosustematics? Towards the end of the 19 th century and in the early years of the 20th century, botanists were faced with a problem of

List various criteria for optimum health, List various criteria for optimum...

List various criteria for optimum health and satisfactory health according to implant quality scale The criteria for Optimum health according to Implant quality scale are: -

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd