Transformation of the Nitrogen Cycle: Recent Trends, Questions, and Potential Solutions
Open accessAbstract
Humans continue to transform the global nitrogen cycle at a record pace, reflecting an increased combustion of fossil fuels, growing demand for nitrogen in agriculture and industry, and pervasive inefficiencies in its use. Much anthropogenic nitrogen is lost to air, water, and land to cause a cascade of environmental and human health problems. Simultaneously, food production in some parts of the world is nitrogen-deficient, highlighting inequities in the distribution of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Optimizing the need for a key human resource while minimizing its negative consequences requires an integrated interdisciplinary approach and the development of strategies to decrease nitrogen-containing waste.
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The anthropogenically induced global N cascade is resulting in enhanced fluxes of N2O, NH3, and NO3- leaching as a consequence of increasing intensification of agricultural systems.
“The anthropogenically induced global N cascade is resulting in enhanced fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2 O), ammonia (NH3), and nitrate (NO 3 -) leaching as a consequence of the increasing intensification of agricultural systems [6,7].”
From A Review of Biochar and Soil Nitrogen Dynamics (2013) · cites this paper as [6]
The introduction (page unavailable) links agricultural intensification to environmental damage from anthropogenic nitrogen losses. “Nr Distribution Patterns Are Changing” (page unavailable) describes increased ammonia emissions associated with intensified fertilizer use, and “Vexing Questions” reports N₂O emissions from anthropogenic reactive nitrogen. The copy does not establish increased nitrate leaching specifically, or attribute increased global fluxes of all three substances to agricultural intensification. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe use of the Haber-Bosch process from 1913 onwards has increased the amount of reactive nitrogen in the Earth system by 120% compared to the Holocene baseline, accompanied by an increased flux of nitrogen oxides from fossil fuel combustion.
“Notably, the use of the Haber-Bosch process from 1913 C.E. onwards has increased the amount of reactive N in the Earth system by 120% compared to the Holocene baseline ( 50 ), accompanied by an increased flux of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) from the combustion of fossil fuels ( 51 ; Fig. 3).”
From The Anthropocene is functionally and stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene (2016) · cites this paper as [50]
Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cause for the pattern in NOX concentration is anthropogenic and related to oil sands mining activities.
“We conclude that the cause for this attern in NO𝑋 concentration is anthropogenic and related to oil sands ining activities.”
From Decoding methane concentration in Alberta oil sands: A machine learning exploration (2025) · cites this paper as Galloway et al., 2008
The paper’s “Nr Distribution Patterns Are Changing” section identifies fossil-fuel combustion as a source of NOx emissions, supporting the general possibility of an anthropogenic source. It does not discuss oil sands mining or the particular NOx concentration pattern, so it does not support that specific causal conclusion. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMany ecosystems have already experienced chronic nutrient enrichment for decades.
“Many ecosystems have already experienced chronic nutrient enrichment for decades (2, 35)”
From Nutrient enrichment, biodiversity loss, and consequent declines in ecosystem productivity (2013) · cites this paper as [2]
Anthropogenic N deposition and atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased globally in recent decades and will likely further increase in the coming decades.
“Anthropogenic N deposition and atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased globally in recent decades and will likely further increase in the coming decades (1, 2, 35).”
From Nutrient enrichment, biodiversity loss, and consequent declines in ecosystem productivity (2013) · cites this paper as [2]
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- Authors
- Galloway, J. N., Townsend, A. R., Erisman, J. W., Bekunda, M., Cai, Z., Freney, J. R., Martinelli, L. A., Seitzinger, S. P., & Sutton, M. A.
- Affiliations
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (US)
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Galloway, James N.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2008-05-16
- Volume
- 320
- Issue
- 5878
- Pages
- 889-892
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2146323422
- Cited by
- 6,995
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 447 · 2025: 483 · 2024: 518 · 2023: 520 · 2022: 600 · 2021: 614 · 2020: 548 · 2019: 474 · 2018: 425 · 2017: 346 · 2016: 358 · 2015: 310 · 2014: 284 · 2013: 293 · 2012: 235
- FWCI
- 14.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- resolver.tno.nl
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- TNO Repository (submittedVersion)
- Repository hosted by TU Delft Library (TU Delft) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Natural Environment Research Council (CEH010023)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Keywords
- nitrogen cycling, anthropogenic nitrogen, nitrogen fertilization, nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen pollution, fossil fuel combustion, food security, environmental impacts of nitrogen, human health
- MeSH terms
- Agriculture, Animals, Atmosphere, Climate, Commerce, Environment, Fossil Fuels, Humans, Human Activities, Industry, Nitrogen, Nitrogen Fixation, Tropical Climate, Ecosystem, Reactive Nitrogen Species, Interdisciplinary Communication
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
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