Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural and Environmental Science in India

Andrea Móring; Sunila Hooda; Nandula Raghuram; Tapan Kumar Adhya; Altaf Ahmad; Sanjoy K. Bandyopadhyay; Tina Barsby; Gufran Beig; Alison R. Bentley; Arti Bhatia; Ulrike Dragosits; Julia Drewer; John Foulkes; Sachin D. Ghude; Rajeev Gupta; Niveta Jain; Dinesh Kumar; R. Mahender Kumar; Jagdish K. Ladha; Pranab Kumar Mandal; C. N. Neeraja; Renu Pandey; Himanshu Pathak; Pooja Pawar; Till K. Pellny; Philip Poole; Adam Price; D. L. N. Rao; David S. Reay; N. K. Singh; Subodh Kumar Sinha; Rakesh K. Srivastava; Peter Shewry; Jo Smith; Claudia E. Steadman; Desiraju Subrahmanyam; Kuchi Surekha; Karnam Venkatesh; Varinderpal-Singh; Aimable Uwizeye; Massimo Vieno; Mark A. Sutton

doi:10.3389/fsufs.2021.505347

Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural and Environmental Science in India

Andrea Móring^* (Corresponding Author)
, Sunila Hooda
, Nandula Raghuram
, Tapan Kumar Adhya
, Altaf Ahmad
, Sanjoy K. Bandyopadhyay
, Tina Barsby
, Gufran Beig
, Alison R. Bentley
, Arti Bhatia
, Ulrike Dragosits
, Julia Drewer
, John Foulkes
, Sachin D. Ghude
, Rajeev Gupta
, Niveta Jain
, Dinesh Kumar
, R. Mahender Kumar
, Jagdish K. Ladha
, Pranab Kumar Mandal

C. N. Neeraja, Renu Pandey, Himanshu Pathak, Pooja Pawar, Till K. Pellny, Philip Poole, Adam Price, D. L. N. Rao, David S. Reay, N. K. Singh, Subodh Kumar Sinha, Rakesh K. Srivastava, Peter Shewry, Jo Smith, Claudia E. Steadman^* (Corresponding Author), Desiraju Subrahmanyam, Kuchi Surekha, Karnam Venkatesh, Varinderpal-Singh, Aimable Uwizeye, Massimo Vieno, Mark A. Sutton

^*Corresponding author for this work

Aberdeen Centre For Environmental Sustainability

ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute
University of Edinburgh

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

66 Citations (Scopus)

19 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In the last six decades, the consumption of reactive nitrogen (N_r) in the form of fertilizer in India has been growing rapidly, whilst the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of cropping systems has been decreasing. These trends have led to increasing environmental losses of N_r, threatening the quality of air, soils, and fresh waters, and thereby endangering climate-stability, ecosystems, and human-health. Since it has been suggested that the fertilizer consumption of India may double by 2050, there is an urgent need for scientific research to support better nitrogen management in Indian agriculture. In order to share knowledge and to develop a joint vision, experts from the UK and India came together for a conference and workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Nitrogen Science in India.” The meeting concluded with three core messages: (1) Soil stewardship is essential and legumes need to be planted in rotation with cereals to increase nitrogen fixation in areas of limited N_r availability. Synthetic symbioses and plastidic nitrogen fixation are possibly disruptive technologies, but their potential and implications must be considered. (2) Genetic diversity of crops and new technologies need to be shared and exploited to reduce N losses and support productive, sustainable agriculture livelihoods. (3) The use of leaf color sensing shows great potential to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use (by 10–15%). This, together with the usage of urease inhibitors in neem-coated urea, and better management of manure, urine, and crop residues, could result in a 20–25% improvement in NUE of India by 2030.

Original language	English
Article number	505347
Number of pages	16
Journal	Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Volume	5
Early online date	18 Feb 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.505347
Publication status	Published - 18 Feb 2021

Bibliographical note

FUNDING
Funding was provided by NEWS India-UK (BB/N013492/1), with contributions from CINTRIN (BB/N013441/1), INEW (BB/N013360/1) and IUNFC (BB/N013387/1) – all supported through the Newton-Bhabha Fund, by the UKRI and the Indian Department of Biotechnology –, as well as UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of SANH (NE/S009019/1, supported through UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund), and SUNRISE (NE/R000131/1). The conference was supported by INMS (‘‘Targeted research for improving understanding of the global nitrogen cycle towards the establishment of an International Nitrogen Management System (INMS)’’, 5400, supported by the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Environment Programme).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This paper is an outcome of the joint conference and workshop, Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Nitrogen Science in India supported by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Indian Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and INMS (Toward the Establishment of an International Nitrogen Management System). The authors are grateful for all the support they received for this overview paper from the four VJCs, under the lead of NEWS India-UK (BBSRC BB/N013492/1), with contributions from CINTRIN, INEW, and IUNFC, as well as the UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub, RySS and SUNRISE (Sustainable Use of Natural Resources to Improve Human Health and Support Economic Development). The paper is a contribution to the work of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI). The development of the village Bassian as a role model village for adoption of PAU-LCC was voluntarily supported by the Atam Pargas Social Welfare Council.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

nitrogen
nitrogen use efficiency
Indian agricultural
nitrogen management
fertilizer

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Copyright © 2021 Móring, Hooda, Raghuram, Adhya, Ahmad, Bandyopadhyay, Barsby, Beig, Bentley, Bhatia, Dragosits, Drewer, Foulkes, Ghude, Gupta, Jain, Kumar, Kumar, Ladha, Mandal, Neeraja, Pandey, Pathak, Pawar, Pellny, Poole, Price, Rao, Reay, Singh, Sinha, Srivastava, Shewry, Smith, Steadman, Subrahmanyam, Surekha, Venkatesh, Varinderpal-Singh, Uwizeye, Vieno and Sutton. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Cite this

Móring, A., Hooda, S., Raghuram, N., Adhya, T. K., Ahmad, A., Bandyopadhyay, S. K., Barsby, T., Beig, G., Bentley, A. R., Bhatia, A., Dragosits, U., Drewer, J., Foulkes, J., Ghude, S. D., Gupta, R., Jain, N., Kumar, D., Kumar, R. M., Ladha, J. K., ... Sutton, M. A. (2021). Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural and Environmental Science in India. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, Article 505347. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.505347

Móring, A, Hooda, S, Raghuram, N, Adhya, TK, Ahmad, A, Bandyopadhyay, SK, Barsby, T, Beig, G, Bentley, AR, Bhatia, A, Dragosits, U, Drewer, J, Foulkes, J, Ghude, SD, Gupta, R, Jain, N, Kumar, D, Kumar, RM, Ladha, JK, Mandal, PK, Neeraja, CN, Pandey, R, Pathak, H, Pawar, P, Pellny, TK, Poole, P, Price, A, Rao, DLN, Reay, DS, Singh, NK, Sinha, SK, Srivastava, RK, Shewry, P, Smith, J, Steadman, CE, Subrahmanyam, D, Surekha, K, Venkatesh, K, Varinderpal-Singh, Uwizeye, A, Vieno, M & Sutton, MA 2021, 'Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural and Environmental Science in India', Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, vol. 5, 505347. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.505347

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abstract = "In the last six decades, the consumption of reactive nitrogen (Nr) in the form of fertilizer in India has been growing rapidly, whilst the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of cropping systems has been decreasing. These trends have led to increasing environmental losses of Nr, threatening the quality of air, soils, and fresh waters, and thereby endangering climate-stability, ecosystems, and human-health. Since it has been suggested that the fertilizer consumption of India may double by 2050, there is an urgent need for scientific research to support better nitrogen management in Indian agriculture. In order to share knowledge and to develop a joint vision, experts from the UK and India came together for a conference and workshop on {\textquotedblleft}Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Nitrogen Science in India.{\textquotedblright} The meeting concluded with three core messages: (1) Soil stewardship is essential and legumes need to be planted in rotation with cereals to increase nitrogen fixation in areas of limited Nr availability. Synthetic symbioses and plastidic nitrogen fixation are possibly disruptive technologies, but their potential and implications must be considered. (2) Genetic diversity of crops and new technologies need to be shared and exploited to reduce N losses and support productive, sustainable agriculture livelihoods. (3) The use of leaf color sensing shows great potential to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use (by 10{\textendash}15\%). This, together with the usage of urease inhibitors in neem-coated urea, and better management of manure, urine, and crop residues, could result in a 20{\textendash}25\% improvement in NUE of India by 2030.",

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note = "FUNDING Funding was provided by NEWS India-UK (BB/N013492/1), with contributions from CINTRIN (BB/N013441/1), INEW (BB/N013360/1) and IUNFC (BB/N013387/1) {\textendash} all supported through the Newton-Bhabha Fund, by the UKRI and the Indian Department of Biotechnology {\textendash}, as well as UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of SANH (NE/S009019/1, supported through UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund), and SUNRISE (NE/R000131/1). The conference was supported by INMS ({\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}Targeted research for improving understanding of the global nitrogen cycle towards the establishment of an International Nitrogen Management System (INMS){\textquoteright}{\textquoteright}, 5400, supported by the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Environment Programme). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This paper is an outcome of the joint conference and workshop, Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Nitrogen Science in India supported by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Indian Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and INMS (Toward the Establishment of an International Nitrogen Management System). The authors are grateful for all the support they received for this overview paper from the four VJCs, under the lead of NEWS India-UK (BBSRC BB/N013492/1), with contributions from CINTRIN, INEW, and IUNFC, as well as the UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub, RySS and SUNRISE (Sustainable Use of Natural Resources to Improve Human Health and Support Economic Development). The paper is a contribution to the work of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI). The development of the village Bassian as a role model village for adoption of PAU-LCC was voluntarily supported by the Atam Pargas Social Welfare Council. ",

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doi = "10.3389/fsufs.2021.505347",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

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T1 - Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural and Environmental Science in India

AU - Móring, Andrea

AU - Hooda, Sunila

AU - Raghuram, Nandula

AU - Adhya, Tapan Kumar

AU - Ahmad, Altaf

AU - Bandyopadhyay, Sanjoy K.

AU - Barsby, Tina

AU - Beig, Gufran

AU - Bentley, Alison R.

AU - Bhatia, Arti

AU - Dragosits, Ulrike

AU - Drewer, Julia

AU - Foulkes, John

AU - Ghude, Sachin D.

AU - Gupta, Rajeev

AU - Jain, Niveta

AU - Kumar, Dinesh

AU - Kumar, R. Mahender

AU - Ladha, Jagdish K.

AU - Mandal, Pranab Kumar

AU - Neeraja, C. N.

AU - Pandey, Renu

AU - Pathak, Himanshu

AU - Pawar, Pooja

AU - Pellny, Till K.

AU - Poole, Philip

AU - Price, Adam

AU - Rao, D. L. N.

AU - Reay, David S.

AU - Singh, N. K.

AU - Sinha, Subodh Kumar

AU - Srivastava, Rakesh K.

AU - Shewry, Peter

AU - Smith, Jo

AU - Steadman, Claudia E.

AU - Subrahmanyam, Desiraju

AU - Surekha, Kuchi

AU - Venkatesh, Karnam

AU - Varinderpal-Singh, null

AU - Uwizeye, Aimable

AU - Vieno, Massimo

AU - Sutton, Mark A.

N1 - FUNDING Funding was provided by NEWS India-UK (BB/N013492/1), with contributions from CINTRIN (BB/N013441/1), INEW (BB/N013360/1) and IUNFC (BB/N013387/1) – all supported through the Newton-Bhabha Fund, by the UKRI and the Indian Department of Biotechnology –, as well as UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of SANH (NE/S009019/1, supported through UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund), and SUNRISE (NE/R000131/1). The conference was supported by INMS (‘‘Targeted research for improving understanding of the global nitrogen cycle towards the establishment of an International Nitrogen Management System (INMS)’’, 5400, supported by the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Environment Programme). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This paper is an outcome of the joint conference and workshop, Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Nitrogen Science in India supported by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Indian Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and INMS (Toward the Establishment of an International Nitrogen Management System). The authors are grateful for all the support they received for this overview paper from the four VJCs, under the lead of NEWS India-UK (BBSRC BB/N013492/1), with contributions from CINTRIN, INEW, and IUNFC, as well as the UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub, RySS and SUNRISE (Sustainable Use of Natural Resources to Improve Human Health and Support Economic Development). The paper is a contribution to the work of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI). The development of the village Bassian as a role model village for adoption of PAU-LCC was voluntarily supported by the Atam Pargas Social Welfare Council.

PY - 2021/2/18

Y1 - 2021/2/18

N2 - In the last six decades, the consumption of reactive nitrogen (Nr) in the form of fertilizer in India has been growing rapidly, whilst the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of cropping systems has been decreasing. These trends have led to increasing environmental losses of Nr, threatening the quality of air, soils, and fresh waters, and thereby endangering climate-stability, ecosystems, and human-health. Since it has been suggested that the fertilizer consumption of India may double by 2050, there is an urgent need for scientific research to support better nitrogen management in Indian agriculture. In order to share knowledge and to develop a joint vision, experts from the UK and India came together for a conference and workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Nitrogen Science in India.” The meeting concluded with three core messages: (1) Soil stewardship is essential and legumes need to be planted in rotation with cereals to increase nitrogen fixation in areas of limited Nr availability. Synthetic symbioses and plastidic nitrogen fixation are possibly disruptive technologies, but their potential and implications must be considered. (2) Genetic diversity of crops and new technologies need to be shared and exploited to reduce N losses and support productive, sustainable agriculture livelihoods. (3) The use of leaf color sensing shows great potential to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use (by 10–15%). This, together with the usage of urease inhibitors in neem-coated urea, and better management of manure, urine, and crop residues, could result in a 20–25% improvement in NUE of India by 2030.

AB - In the last six decades, the consumption of reactive nitrogen (Nr) in the form of fertilizer in India has been growing rapidly, whilst the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of cropping systems has been decreasing. These trends have led to increasing environmental losses of Nr, threatening the quality of air, soils, and fresh waters, and thereby endangering climate-stability, ecosystems, and human-health. Since it has been suggested that the fertilizer consumption of India may double by 2050, there is an urgent need for scientific research to support better nitrogen management in Indian agriculture. In order to share knowledge and to develop a joint vision, experts from the UK and India came together for a conference and workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Nitrogen Science in India.” The meeting concluded with three core messages: (1) Soil stewardship is essential and legumes need to be planted in rotation with cereals to increase nitrogen fixation in areas of limited Nr availability. Synthetic symbioses and plastidic nitrogen fixation are possibly disruptive technologies, but their potential and implications must be considered. (2) Genetic diversity of crops and new technologies need to be shared and exploited to reduce N losses and support productive, sustainable agriculture livelihoods. (3) The use of leaf color sensing shows great potential to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use (by 10–15%). This, together with the usage of urease inhibitors in neem-coated urea, and better management of manure, urine, and crop residues, could result in a 20–25% improvement in NUE of India by 2030.

KW - nitrogen

KW - nitrogen use efficiency

KW - Indian agricultural

KW - nitrogen management

KW - fertilizer

U2 - 10.3389/fsufs.2021.505347

DO - 10.3389/fsufs.2021.505347

M3 - Article

SN - 2571-581X

VL - 5

JO - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

JF - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

M1 - 505347

ER -

Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural and Environmental Science in India

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

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