Assessing the Efficacy of India’s 2024 Nitrogen Pollution Cap

A recent UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report highlighted that human-driven nitrogen pollution has surpassed safe boundaries, making it a key sustainability issue. As India ranks fourth globally regarding nitrogen surplus levels, assessing key repercussions can shape mitigation approaches.

Overview of Nitrogen Pollution

Sources

Agriculture

• Unbalanced fertilizer use and crop residue burning

Industries

• Emissions from fossil fuel combustion in transport, power, steel sectors

Households

• Runoffs from sewage, detergents etc into water bodies

Nitrogen Hotspots in India

Nitrogen Use Efficiency

The above data indicates India’s sub-optimal nitrogen use patterns across agriculture and livestock segments.

Highest Surplus States

Annual per hectare nitrogen surplus quantities highest in:

• Punjab: 249 kg
• Haryana: 240 kg
• Uttar Pradesh: 180 kg

Impacts Assessment

Water Quality Deterioration

Groundwater

• Nitrate pollution risk increased 4 folds over past 4 decades
• 38% wells unsafe now due to leaching from fertilizers

Rivers Water Bodies

• Presence of nitrogen compounds leads to eutrophication
• Over 75% of India’s rivers show excess nutrient loads

Air Pollution Trigger

Key Statistics

• Share of nitrogen oxides in PM2.5 increased from 6% to 16% since 1998
• 90% samples showed NO2 levels above national standard of 40 μg/m3

Health Effects

• Respiratory issues, lung functionality risks increase
• Role in cardiovascular, reproductive disorder risks

Soil Degradation

Extent

• ~60% soils deficient in nitrogen while ~10% rice ecologies show excess

Key Problems

• Imbalanced application impedes microbial activities disrupting soil health
• Increased greenhouse gas emissions deplete soil organic carbon stock

Loss of Biodiversity

Flora

• Nitrate presence inhibits seed germination, root development

Fauna

• Habitat quality deterioration affects species survival

Climate Change Contributor

Key Pathways

• Nitrous oxide (N2O) has ~298 times higher Global Warming Potential than carbon dioxide
• Reactive nitrogen reacts with atmospheric particles creating ozone impacting precipitation patterns

Emission Statistics

• India emits ~1.4 Tg N2O-N annually, dominated by croplands
• Agriculture alone contributes ~70% total anthropogenic N2O sources

Overview of Government Strategies

Regulatory Initiatives

Vehicle Emission Norms

• Bharat Stage (VI) standards reduced particulate matter, NOx significantly

Hazardous Waste Rules

• Restrict nitrate discharge from industries below 30 mg/litre groundwater

Fertilizer Control Mechanisms

Nutrient-Based Subsidies

• Capped overall allocation for nitrogen nutrient containing fertilizers
• Encourages balanced application minimizing surplus unused levels

Financial Incentives

• Direct Benefit Transfer for fertilizer subsidy to optimize usage
• Differential MSP, procurement for organic produce motivating ecological farms

Way Forward

Farmer Collectives

• Promote farmer producer organizations for knowledge exchange on precision techniques minimizing excessive fertilizer reliance

Site Specific Formulations

• Develop location based nitrogen use efficient offerings catering to regional crop needs for customized application

Climate Smart Agriculture

• Incentivize climate resilient ecological approaches like conservation farming, mixed cropping reducing environmental nitrogen load

Behaviour Change Engagements

• Launch public outreach programs on responsible purchase, usage for higher traction

Satellite Monitoring

• Leverage space tech monitoring of land use changes towards hotspot attention and tailored action

Nitrogen may have boosted food security but unbalanced levels now pose sustainability hazards from biodiversity losses to pollution triggers. Combating this requires updated regulations, incentive restructuring and community centric solutions improving awareness on dangers of excess nitrogen dispersed across ecosystems while boosting adoption of ecological alternatives.

• At least four fold increase seen over 4 decades in Indian groundwater wells found contaminated by nitrates and showing excess nitrogen due to fertilizer leaching
• 70% rise witnessed since 2000 in algal density across major Indian rivers indicating rising nutrient rich wastewater and agricultural runoff pollution
• Over 75% of country’s monitored rivers now register high biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels, poor water quality due to increased presence of nitrogenous matter triggering eutrophication
• 38% of India’s groundwater wells contain unsafe levels of nitrates associated with blue baby syndrome disease
• Agriculture contributes around 80% total nitrous oxide emissions in India; this is projected to increase another 36% by 2030 driven by high intensity farming
• Anaerobic conditions associated with flooded rice paddies, promotemethane formation from organic matter which rose two fold since 2000
• Over 84% districts showed higher particulate matter 2.5 levels than prescribed limit between 2019-21; key sources identified weretransport vehicles, industry emissions and construction dust
• Top five states with highest particulate pollution – Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana – face enhanced rates of associated lung disorders