Nitrogen nutrition in cotton and control strategies for greenhouse gas emissions: a review

Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium hirustum L.) is grown globally as a major source of natural fiber. Nitrogen (N) management is cumbersome in cotton production systems; it has more impacts on yield, maturity, and lint quality of a cotton crop than other primary plant nutrient. Application and production of N fertilizers consume large amounts of energy, and excess application can cause environmental concerns, i.e., nitrate in ground water, and the production of nitrous oxide a highly potent greenhouse gas (GHG) to the atmosphere, which is a global concern. Therefore, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of cotton plant is critical in this context. Slow-release fertilizers (e.g., polymer-coated urea) have the potential to increase cotton yield and reduce environmental pollution due to more efficient use of nutrients. Limited literature is available on the mitigation of GHG emissions for cotton production. Therefore, this review focuses on the role of N fertilization, in cotton growth and GHG emission management strategies, and will assess, justify, and organize the researchable priorities. Nitrate and ammonium nitrogen are essential nutrients for successful crop production. Ammonia (NH) is a central intermediate in plant N metabolism. NH is assimilated in cotton by the mediation of glutamine synthetase, glutamine (z-) oxoglutarate amino-transferase enzyme systems in two steps: the first step requires adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to add NH to glutamate to form glutamine (Gln), and the second step transfers the NH from glutamine (Gln) to α-ketoglutarate to form two glutamates. Once NH has been incorporated into glutamate, it can be transferred to other carbon skeletons by various transaminases to form additional amino acids. The glutamate and glutamine formed can rapidly be used for the synthesis of low-molecular-weight organic N compounds (LMWONCs) such as amides, amino acids, ureides, amines, and peptides that are further synthesized into high-molecular-weight organic N compounds (HMWONCs) such as proteins and nucleic acids.

Mammalian cell cultivation using nutrients extracted from microalgae

“…This indicates that the fertilizer industry is a significant energy‐consuming industry in addition to being a large contributor to GHG emissions . Notably, excess ammonia gets converted to nitrous oxide, a GHG that is 300 times more harmful than carbon dioxide . Furthermore, the use of agrochemicals has led to their bioaccumulation and environmental contamination.…”

“…These nutrients are generally derived from grains or heterotrophic microorganisms, which also require various nutrients derived from grains. Grain culture requires many chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals, the production of which, in turn, requires a huge amount of energy; such chemicals also cause GHG emission and environmental contamination . Moreover, grain production is greatly influenced by environmental changes such as global warming and environmental contamination …”

“…Grain culture requires many chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals, the production of which, in turn, requires a huge amount of energy; such chemicals also cause GHG emission and environmental contamination. [11][12][13] Moreover, grain production is greatly influenced by environmental changes such as global warming and environmental contamination. 14 At present, more than 150,000 algal species are registered in AlgaeBase (http://www.algaebase.org/), and this number is updated daily.…”

Reducing the carbon footprint per unit of economic benefit is a new method to accomplish low‐carbon agriculture. A case study: adjustment of the planting structure in Zhangbei County, China

“…Consequently, most researchers believe that the main strategies and measures of reducing agricultural GHG emissions and developing low‐carbon agriculture are reducing agricultural inputs and adopting a non‐intensive mode of agricultural development . Examples of such practices include the use of no‐till cropping systems, less fertilizer, appropriate irrigation input and diversified cropping systems .…”

“…[10][11][12][13] Consequently, most researchers believe that the main strategies and measures of reducing agricultural GHG emissions and developing low-carbon agriculture are reducing agricultural inputs and adopting a non-intensive mode of agricultural development. 7,14,15 Examples of such practices include the use of no-till cropping systems, less fertilizer, appropriate irrigation input and diversified cropping systems. 11,16,17 An estimated logarithmic increase in crop productivity occurred with an increase in carbon intensity in China from 1993 to 2007, and the reduction in nitrogen use was the prioritized option for decreasing the GHG emissions from agriculture in China.…”