Piling up reactive nitrogen and declining nitrogen use efficiency in Pakistan: A challenge not challenged (1961-2013)

Sajjad Raza, Jianbin Zhou, Tariq Aziz, Muhammad Rahil Afzal, Muneer Ahmed, Shahbaz Javaid, Zhujun Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Excessive nitrogen (N) application and reduced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) are the key reasons behind N notoriety worldwide, including in Pakistan. We estimated the changes in NUE of Pakistan by calculating the N budget of Pakistan's agriculture during the last 53 years (1961-2013). A more than ten-fold increase in N input (including N fertilizer, biological N fixation, manure, and atmospheric deposition) from 408 GgNyr-1 (1961-1965) to 4636 GgNyr-1 (2009-2013) highlights the fact that Pakistan is experiencing a massive expansion of N consumption. Significantly declining NUE (from 58% to 23%) and sharply increasing surplus N (171 GgNyr-1 to 3581 GgNyr-1) may cause N-related environment problems in the future if not handled immediately. Escalating gaseous N emissions of NH3, N2O, and NO (70, 10, and 1 GgNyr-1 to 1023, 155, and 46 GgNyr-1, respectively) is already posing a serious threat in terms of impaired air quality. There is a dire need to devise/adapt strategies and consistent policies for improving NUE, using proper management approaches at the grass root level and applying appropriate legislative measures for judicious N use as per crops requirements. Moreover, promotion of a balanced use of fertilizers would help in improving NUE in agriculture.

Original languageEnglish
Article number034012
Number of pages12
JournalEnvironmental Research Letters
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2018

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