HomeEnvironmentReducing air pollution can increase crop yields by 28 percent

Reducing air pollution can increase crop yields by 28 percent

Reducing nitrogen dioxide emissions to 5 percent of current levels could increase crop yields in China by 28 percent. Reducing this type of air pollution can also improve yields in some regions of the world.”China continues to see high levels of nitrogen oxide in seasons and growing areas,” said David Lobell of Stanford University in California.

There are two main ways nitrogen oxides affect crop yields, he says. “Nitrogen oxide is a phytotoxin, which means that it directly damages plant cells. But it is also a major factor in the formation of other pollutants such as ozone, which in turn are harmful to plants. ”

To measure the effects of this harmful greenhouse gases on plants, Lobell and colleagues analyzed satellite imagery of plants in the US, China, India, Western Europe and South America between 2018 and 2020.They estimated how green the images were, as previous studies found that satellite-based vegetation was highly correlated with crop growth and yield. They then compared this measure with the nitrogen dioxide levels in each region, taken from satellite data that could track a unique gas spectral signature. Lobell claims that nitrogen dioxide is a good measure of nitrogen oxides, a group of highly efficient gases.

Using this data, the team showed what would happen to crop yields in each region if nitrogen dioxide pollution was reduced to 5 percent of the current emissions. The team estimates that in China, such a reduction will result in a 28 percent increase in winter and a 17 percent increase in summer. in both winter and summer crops are productive. Meanwhile, India can expect a 6 percent increase in winter and an 8 percent increase in summer crops.

North and South America had little contact between nitrogen oxide levels and crop yields, the team found. “One reason is that while urban areas in the United States can see very high levels of pollution, cities tend to be more displaced from agriculture,” Lobell said.A key way to reduce nitrogen oxide pollution at background levels is to change the earth’s energy and travel systems, Lobell said. He says: “We have seen historical events of a rapid decline, such as Los Angeles in the late 20th century and China. “Progress is possible.”

“This study offers another argument for action … in regulating sustainable nitrogen,” said Mark Sutton at the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology.The study also highlighted the importance of the European Space Agency’s proposed project to introduce Nitrosat, a satellite that can combine concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and ammonia at higher concentrations, he says. “This can give us more power to better understand and measure the results of this study,” he said.

READ ALSO : The ancient city of the Bronze Age reappeared in the Iraq river after a severe drought

[responsivevoice_button buttontext="Listen This Post" voice="Hindi Female"]

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

RELATED ARTICLES

Trending News

Global Warming Slowing Earth’s Rotation: Clocks May Need Adjustment

A recent study published in Nature suggests that global warming-induced polar ice melt is causing the Earth to spin...

US Military Downs Four Iranian-backed Houthi Drones Threatening Warship in Red Sea

In a recent development, the United States military announced on Wednesday that it successfully intercepted and destroyed four drones...

Danish Researchers Develop Artificial intelligence Algorithm to Predict Life Events, Including Death

Danish researchers, with the aid of artificial intelligence and data from millions of individuals, have crafted an algorithm capable...

Design Flaw in Francis Scott Key Bridge Led to Collapse, Highlighting Larger Safety Concerns for US Bridges

Engineers have identified a significant design flaw in the structure of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which led to...