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

The activated methyl cycle, S-Adenosyl   methionine   serve  as  a  donor  ...

S-Adenosyl   methionine   serve  as  a  donor  of  methyl  sets  in  numerous biological  reactions instance for in the formation  of creatine phosphate and in the synthesis of nuc

What are the main techniques of genetic engineering, At the present level o...

At the present level of the biotechnology what are the main techniques of genetic engineering? The main methods of genetic engineering today are: the recombinant DNA technology

What is the pleiotropy, What is the pleiotropy? The Pleiotropy (or plio...

What is the pleiotropy? The Pleiotropy (or pliotropy) is the phenomenon in which a single gene conditions several various phenotypical traits. Few phenotypical traits may be

Explain the postoperative nutritional care, Explain the Postoperative Nutri...

Explain the Postoperative Nutritional Care? The therapeutic goal for the post-operative patient is rapid recovery to normal function and well being, minimum complications and e

Are nematodes triploblastic or diploblastic animals, Q. Are nematodes tripl...

Q. Are nematodes triploblastic or diploblastic animals? Just like platyhelminthes, nematodes are triploblastics that is they present three germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm and m

Palliative and corrective procedures for cyanotic congenital, Palliative Pr...

Palliative Procedures   i)  This consists of enlarging the existing for a men ovale by putting a baloon through the defect (baloon septostomy) so that interatrial mixing of blo

What is scientific value in biodiversity, Q. What is scientific value in Bi...

Q. What is scientific value in Biodiversity? Nature is a major source of inspiration for scientific thought and the subject of many scientific studies. Biodiversity which const

Which part of heart serves as an effector, Which of the following serves as...

Which of the following serves as an effector, or as part of an effector, that functions in a negative feedback system? A. Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors (nAChR) in SA node c

Hemerythrins - respiratory pigments, Hemerythrins - Respiratory Pigments ...

Hemerythrins - Respiratory Pigments The Hemerythrins are rather rare. They take place in some animals belonging to the minor phyla like the sipunculid worms, some brachiopods,

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