According to a recently published study, an imbalance in nitrogen availability has been reported across the globe, with some places having an excess and others a shortage of the element.
Impact: Low Nitrogen:Declining nitrogen availability has been hurting aquatic and terrestrial life that feed on it.
Without nitrogen, an essential nutrient, plants grow slowly and produce smaller flowers and fruits. Their leaves turn yellowish and are less nutritious to insects, birds and animals.
Declining nitrogen availability can be linked to insect apocalypse.
Low nitrogen levels can encourage swarming in some species of locusts.
Low nitrogen availability could limit plants’ ability to capture CO2 from the atmosphere.
Tropical and boreal forests may be particularly vulnerable.
High Nitrogen: When excessive nitrogen accumulates in the streams, inland lakes and coastal bodies of water, it could sometimes result in eutrophication, leading to harmful algal blooms, dead zones and fish kills.
In humans, high levels of nitrogen in the groundwater are linked to intestinal cancers and miscarriages and can be fatal for infants.
