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Nitrogen budget of Indian agriculture: trends, determinants and challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Praveen Koovalamkadu Velayudhan

    (ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute)

  • Niranjan Sivalingam

    (ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute)

  • Girish Kumar Jha

    (ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute)

  • Alka Singh

    (ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute)

  • Himanshu Pathak

    (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)

Abstract

The discord between the nitrogen (N) fertilizer use and the actual N requirement in Indian agriculture is of enormous concern. When N is overused, it emerges as a threat to the environment, and crop yields are affected when it is underused. Nutrient budgeting is a useful tool in assessing the inflows and outflows of nutrients to the agricultural system and formulating future strategies. We constructed a nitrogen budget for Indian agriculture for 1961–2017. The N input to Indian croplands increased from 4.87 million tons (Mt) to 24.08 Mt during this period. Among the different components of N use in 2017, the contribution of fertilizer is the highest (70%), followed by biological N fixation (16%), manure (9%), and atmospheric deposition (4%). The analysis portrayed Indian agriculture’s transformation from the N deficit value of − 0.61 Mt in 1961 to a surplus-value of 1.21 Mt as of 2017. The crop N use efficiency during the period decreased from 72 to 55%. Since the policies and socio-economic factors are the commonly studied drivers of N fertilizer use, crop production factors have not received due attention. We dissect the contribution of these factors to N fertilizer use. The fertilizer application rate (FAR) is the most important among the major crop production factors that drive N fertilizer use. Our findings propose that the surplus N in Indian agriculture, hastened by higher FAR, may pose serious sustainability issues if not addressed.

Suggested Citation

  • Praveen Koovalamkadu Velayudhan & Niranjan Sivalingam & Girish Kumar Jha & Alka Singh & Himanshu Pathak, 2024. "Nitrogen budget of Indian agriculture: trends, determinants and challenges," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 10225-10242, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:26:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03142-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03142-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David R. Kanter & Olivia Chodos & Olivia Nordland & Mallory Rutigliano & Wilfried Winiwarter, 2020. "Gaps and opportunities in nitrogen pollution policies around the world," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(11), pages 956-963, November.
    2. David Tilman & Kenneth G. Cassman & Pamela A. Matson & Rosamond Naylor & Stephen Polasky, 2002. "Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices," Nature, Nature, vol. 418(6898), pages 671-677, August.
    3. Anthony Young, 1999. "Is there Really Spare Land? A Critique of Estimates of Available Cultivable Land in Developing Countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 3-18, March.
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