Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Process and the Effect on Environment and Health

To meet the global demand for food, several factors have been deployed by agriculturists to supply plants with nitrogen. These factors have been observed to influence the soil nitrification process. Understanding the aftermath effect on the environment and health would provoke efficient management....

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Main Authors: Oluwatobi Esther Ayiti, Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.821994/full
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author Oluwatobi Esther Ayiti
Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
author_facet Oluwatobi Esther Ayiti
Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
author_sort Oluwatobi Esther Ayiti
collection DOAJ
description To meet the global demand for food, several factors have been deployed by agriculturists to supply plants with nitrogen. These factors have been observed to influence the soil nitrification process. Understanding the aftermath effect on the environment and health would provoke efficient management. We review literature on these factors, their aftermath effect on the environment and suggest strategies for better management. Synthetic fertilizers and chemical nitrification inhibitors are the most emphasized factors that influence the nitrification process. The process ceases when pH is <5.0. The range of temperature suitable for the proliferation of ammonia oxidizing archaea is within 30 to 37oC while that of ammonia oxidizing bacteria is within 16 to 23oC. Some of the influencing factors excessively speed up the rate of the nitrification process. This leads to excess production of nitrate, accumulation of nitrite as a result of decoupling between nitritation process and nitratation process. The inhibition mechanism of chemical nitrification inhibitors either causes a reduction in the nitrifying micro-organisms or impedes the amoA gene's function. The effects on the environment are soil acidification, global warming, and eutrophication. Some of the health effects attributed to the influence are methemoglobinemia, neurotoxicity, phytotoxicity and cancer. Biomagnification of the chemicals along the food chain is also a major concern. The use of well-researched and scientifically formulated organic fertilizers consisting of microbial inoculum, well-treated organic manure and good soil conditioner are eco-friendly. They are encouraged to be used to efficiently manage the process. Urban agriculture could promote food production, but environmental sustainability should be ensured.
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spelling doaj.art-eed3781003264bfb8c100172f674bfec2022-12-22T03:14:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2022-03-01610.3389/fsufs.2022.821994821994Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Process and the Effect on Environment and HealthOluwatobi Esther AyitiOlubukola Oluranti BabalolaTo meet the global demand for food, several factors have been deployed by agriculturists to supply plants with nitrogen. These factors have been observed to influence the soil nitrification process. Understanding the aftermath effect on the environment and health would provoke efficient management. We review literature on these factors, their aftermath effect on the environment and suggest strategies for better management. Synthetic fertilizers and chemical nitrification inhibitors are the most emphasized factors that influence the nitrification process. The process ceases when pH is <5.0. The range of temperature suitable for the proliferation of ammonia oxidizing archaea is within 30 to 37oC while that of ammonia oxidizing bacteria is within 16 to 23oC. Some of the influencing factors excessively speed up the rate of the nitrification process. This leads to excess production of nitrate, accumulation of nitrite as a result of decoupling between nitritation process and nitratation process. The inhibition mechanism of chemical nitrification inhibitors either causes a reduction in the nitrifying micro-organisms or impedes the amoA gene's function. The effects on the environment are soil acidification, global warming, and eutrophication. Some of the health effects attributed to the influence are methemoglobinemia, neurotoxicity, phytotoxicity and cancer. Biomagnification of the chemicals along the food chain is also a major concern. The use of well-researched and scientifically formulated organic fertilizers consisting of microbial inoculum, well-treated organic manure and good soil conditioner are eco-friendly. They are encouraged to be used to efficiently manage the process. Urban agriculture could promote food production, but environmental sustainability should be ensured.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.821994/fullagricultural intensificationagroecosystemsenvironmental challengenitrification inhibitornitrifying microorganismsynthetic fertilizer
spellingShingle Oluwatobi Esther Ayiti
Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Process and the Effect on Environment and Health
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
agricultural intensification
agroecosystems
environmental challenge
nitrification inhibitor
nitrifying microorganism
synthetic fertilizer
title Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Process and the Effect on Environment and Health
title_full Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Process and the Effect on Environment and Health
title_fullStr Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Process and the Effect on Environment and Health
title_full_unstemmed Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Process and the Effect on Environment and Health
title_short Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Process and the Effect on Environment and Health
title_sort factors influencing soil nitrification process and the effect on environment and health
topic agricultural intensification
agroecosystems
environmental challenge
nitrification inhibitor
nitrifying microorganism
synthetic fertilizer
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.821994/full
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