nitrous oxide and the blame game

nitrous oxide and the blame game

it was amusing to read that according to a research described in journal earth system science data that india has second largest contribution of nitrous oxide (11 %) to  atmosphere. only china is higher contributor which contributes 16 percent. the nitrous oxide comes from fertilizers. and recommendation is to reduce use of nitrogen containing fertilizers.

these are the two most populated countries in the world. what about the rest of the world? they contribute 74 percent. which fertilizer are they using? the study, obviously, does not bother about per capita emission of nitrous oxide. that would lower the status of india and china. that is not the intention. the blame must be apportioned to developing countries so that they reduce their production of foodgrains and buy them from other countries (who might be using nitrous oxide producing fertilizers).

keeping back real statistics is the game they play. the article says that emission of nitrous oxide has risen 25 % since the pre industrial age. but what is its contribution is not stated. carbon dioxide, much more dangerous chemical, has 417 parts per million in2022 but that of nitrous oxide is not mentioned.

where does the nitrous oxide come from? oxygen is in the air and so is nitrogen. and there is no fresh supply from outside the earth, as we know it. when there is lightening, it acts to produce nitrogen oxide which is essential for growing crops. how much is the addition to this process by use of nitrogenous fertilizers. it is hoped that the researchers will throw some light on it otherwise it is only blame game meant to discourage the most populated countries from being self-sufficient in foodgrains.