Managing nitrogen to restore water quality in China

Nature
ChaoQing YuJames Taylor

Abstract

The nitrogen cycle has been radically changed by human activities1. China consumes nearly one third of the world's nitrogen fertilizers. The excessive application of fertilizers2,3 and increased nitrogen discharge from livestock, domestic and industrial sources have resulted in pervasive water pollution. Quantifying a nitrogen 'boundary'4 in heterogeneous environments is important for the effective management of local water quality. Here we use a combination of water-quality observations and simulated nitrogen discharge from agricultural and other sources to estimate spatial patterns of nitrogen discharge into water bodies across China from 1955 to 2014. We find that the critical surface-water quality standard (1.0 milligrams of nitrogen per litre) was being exceeded in most provinces by the mid-1980s, and that current rates of anthropogenic nitrogen discharge (14.5 ± 3.1 megatonnes of nitrogen per year) to fresh water are about 2.7 times the estimated 'safe' nitrogen discharge threshold (5.2 ± 0.7 megatonnes of nitrogen per year). Current efforts to reduce pollution through wastewater treatment and by improving cropland nitrogen management can partially remedy this situation. Domestic wastewater treatment has helped to reduce ...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 2002·Environmental Science & Technology·Mark E BorsukKenneth H Reckhow
May 14, 2014·Nature Communications·Benjamin Leon BodirskyMiodrag Stevanovic
May 30, 2015·Journal of Environmental Quality·David R KanterDenise L Mauzerall
Nov 26, 2015·Nature·Xin ZhangYe Shen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 19, 2019·Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts·Jingshui HuangQi Zhou
May 10, 2020·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Yindong TongYan Lin
Oct 6, 2019·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Xinshan SongXin Cao
Sep 26, 2020·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Rongjia WangJianfeng Zhang
Nov 27, 2019·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Xiang LuoRong Wang
Jul 8, 2020·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Zhenyu ZhangJr-Chuan Huang
Sep 29, 2020·Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·X J LiuF S Zhang
May 15, 2020·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Sergio SammarchiQiang Yang
Feb 2, 2020·Nature Communications·Ting MaChenghu Zhou
Jul 14, 2020·Frontiers in Microbiology·Eric J RaesAndrew Bissett
Oct 18, 2020·Science Advances·Chenchao XuLei Cheng
Oct 30, 2020·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Zhi Li, Mingshan Zhu
Nov 21, 2020·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Dan Pan, Wenchao Fan
Jan 14, 2021·Scientific Reports·Jingbing ZhangShuai Liu
Feb 7, 2021·Environmental Research·Jingbing ZhangShuai Liu
Nov 13, 2020·Scientific Data·Sitong WangBaojing Gu
Mar 28, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Pouya KhaliliMonireh Faramarzi
Apr 23, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Wei WangXiukang Wang
May 3, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Haoyuan FengYue Che
May 10, 2021·Environmental Pollution·Xiuming ZhangDeli Chen
May 16, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Yanhua WangKaiqin Xu

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

INM

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.