Nitrogen Dilemma
Noteworthy
In last Monday's post, Roberto addressed some of the problems humans face after a century using massive amounts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. (If you missed it and have a few minutes, do read it.) He ended his essay suggesting we wean ourselves from the excessive use fertilizers produced via the Haber-Bosch process. He noted that he is not alone in this, pointing to a key article on the subject. We feel this subject is of critical importance and an area where microbiology has much to contribute. Thus, we write this Noteworthy specifically to draw our readers' attention to the article.
The concept of growing N‑fixing cyanobacteria to produce nitrogenase-based organic nitrogen. The scheme highlights how the reactive nitrogen produced by 1 ha of N‑fixing cyanobacteria cultivation could supply enough nitrogenase-based nitrogen to fertilize about 100 ha of agricultural land of high C/N crops. Source
This editorial appeared in Microbial Biotechnology in 2022; it is as timely today as when it first appeared. The authors present what they call the "Nitrogen Dilemma" (our extreme dependence on synthetic fertilizers coupled to the environmental threat their excessive use poses). Importantly, they outline several ways in which biotechnological applications of microbial activities – with a focus on nitrogenase – can help solve the problem. The paper contains a treasure trove of references on the subject and provides clear directions on how to implement possible solutions. Should any STC readers consider diving deep into this field, we strongly encourage you to contact the authors. Be part of the solution!
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