Tag Archives: nitrogen

Nitrogen fertilisation by invasive species damages nutrient-poor ecosystems

Nitrogen fertilisation invasive species ecosystems

Nitrogen fertilisation invasive species damages nutrient-poor ecosystems. Picture shows the proliferating Australian Sydney golden wattle. Credit: Bielefeld University

Biologists at Bielefeld University have developed a new method for quantifying the effect of non-native species on ecosystem functioning.

They can now estimate whether native plants in the neighbourhood of invasive species incorporate the nitrogen fixed by the latter.

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World food demand could double by 2050 – if so agricultural intensification could save 2 billion tonnes of CO2 per year

A new projection by the University of Minnesota and the University of California Santa Barbara shows global food demand could rise by 100-110 percent between 2005 and 2050, which would pose a grave threat to remaining tropical rainforests and would … Continue reading →

Natural nitrogen production: 1.5 per cent less global energy consumption

The introduction of nitrogen containing fertiliser in the 1860s has drastically improved crop yields. This not only increased the quantity of food that can be produced, but carbon uptake as well. But due to the high pressure and temperature requirements, … Continue reading →

Climatic CO2 benefits of fertiliser offset by increased N2O emissions

Since the 1860’s nitrogen additions to the terrestrial biosphere have more than doubled, due to human activities. Since nitrogen is a key nutrient needed for plant growth and therefore used as a fertiliser, the additions have made a drastic increase … Continue reading →