The use of chemical fertilizers in the name of modern farming is threatening our food production to the climate. Auburn University's latest research in Nature magazine revealed this on Thursday. Accordingly, nitrogen fertilizers are becoming a major threat to the climate. If we continue to use nitrogen in agriculture on such a large scale, then it will not be possible to meet the target set for climate under the Paris Agreement.
The research is part of a study led by Andrew Carnegie Fellow at Auburn University's School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and Professor Haquin Tiyan, director of the International Center for Climate and Global Change Research. This research has been carried out by Professor Teyana in association with experts from 48 research institutes from 14 countries under the International Union of Global Carbon Project and International Nitrogen Initiative. This research makes the most detailed and abstract assessment of the effective greenhouse gas nitrous oxide yet.
This study found that nitrous oxide is rapidly affecting climate change. Its use in agriculture has increased by 20 percent over industrial levels. Apart from this, emissions due to human activities have also increased rapidly in recent decades.
Professor Haquin Teyana said that along with farming food for animals will also increase the emission of nitrous oxide in the world. The study found that East Asia, South Asia, Africa, and South America account for the largest contribution to global nitrous oxide emissions. Apart from this, the use of synthetic fertilizers in China, India, and the US also has the highest emissions, while livestock manure contributes the most to Africa and South America. The highest growth rates of emissions were found in emerging economies, particularly Brazil, China, and India, where crop production and livestock numbers are increasing.