Note: Front Cover -- The Indian Nitrogen Assessment -- Related titles -- The Indian Nitrogen Assessment: Sources of Reactive Nitrogen, Environmental and Climate Effects, Management Options, and Policies -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Preface -- Foreword -- 1 - Technical Summary -- References -- A - Nitrogen in India in a Global Perspective -- 2 - The Indian Nitrogen Challenge in a Global Perspective -- The Global Nitrogen Challenge -- Nitrogen in Relation to Other Nutrient Cycles -- Emerging Priorities for the Indian Nitrogen Challenge -- The Economic Case for Improving NUE -- Societal Challenge of a Rapidly Growing Economy -- Science and Technological Needs -- Conclusion: India as an Emerging "Nitrogen Champion" -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 3 - Concepts for Considerations in the Design of an Indian Integrated Nitrogen Assessment -- Introduction -- Overview of the Development of an Integrated Science Assessment -- Evaluation of Reactive Nitrogen Assessments in the USA and Europe -- Conclusion -- References -- 4 - Trends in Fertilizer Nitrogen Production and Consumption in India -- Introduction -- Fertilizer Nitrogen Production -- History and Growth of Nitrogenous Fertilizer Industry -- Nitrogen Production Trends -- Improvement in Fertilizer Production Efficiency -- Fertilizer Nitrogen Consumption -- Skewed Product Pattern -- Zone-Wise/State-Wise Fertilizer Nitrogen Use -- Nitrogen Use by Crops -- Farm Size-Wise Nitrogen Use -- Irrigation Availability -- Impact of Fertilizer Policies -- Demand Supply Projections of Fertilizer Nutrients by 2030-31 -- Demand for Fertilizer Nitrogen -- Supply of Fertilizer Nitrogen -- Conclusion -- References -- B - Nitrogen Processes in the Biosphere -- 5 - Nitrogen Processes in Agroecosystems of India -- Introduction -- Nitrogen Inputs -- Fertilizers -- Manures and Crop Residues. , Biological Nitrogen Fixation -- Other Sources of Nitrogen -- Nitrogen Cycling -- Ammonium Fixation -- Ammonia Volatilization -- Nitrification -- Immobilization-Mineralization -- Denitrification -- N Transformations Under Submerged Agroecosystem -- Leaching -- Plant N Uptake -- Nitrogen Outputs -- Conclusion -- Future Research Needs -- References -- 6 - Nitrogen Balances of Intensively Cultivated Rice-Wheat Cropping Systems in Original Green Revolution States of India -- Introduction -- Pre-green Revolution Scenario -- Green Revolution in India -- Growth of Production Factors in Original Green Revolution States -- Fluxes of Reactive Nitrogen -- Nitrogen Inputs in Original Green Revolution States -- Losses of Nitrogen -- Gaseous Losses of Nitrogen -- Nitrate Leaching -- GroundWater Pollution -- Nitrogen Balances -- Future Scenario -- References -- 7 - Efficient Nitrogen Management Under Predominant Cropping Systems of India -- Introduction -- Soil N: Transformation and Fertility Status -- Nitrogen Application and Its Removal Under Different Cropping Systems -- Nitrogen Use Efficiency Computations -- Management Practices-to Enhance NUE -- Balanced Fertilization -- Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply -- Bulky Organic Manures in IPNS -- Green Manures in IPNS -- Inclusion of Legumes -- Crop Residues in IPNS -- Biofertilizers in IPNS -- Precision N Management for Enhancing NUE -- Right Source -- Right Rate and Time -- Right Method -- Decision Support Tools for Enhancing NUE -- Efficient N Management Under Conservation Agriculture -- Other Important Agronomic Practices for Enhancing NUE -- Conclusion -- References -- 8 - Nitrogen Inputs From Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Indian Agriculture -- Introduction -- Global N and BNF-Historical Trends -- Agrosystem and Nr -- BNF-Nr -- World Agriculture and BNF-Nr -- Indian Agriculture and BNF-Nr -- Food Crops. , Sugarcane -- Fodder Crops -- Agroforestry -- Indian Scenario for Global BNF -- Conclusion and Way Forward -- References -- 9 - Nitrogen Management Paradigm in Horticulture Systems in India -- Introduction -- Biogeochemical Processes in Horti-Ecosystems -- Toward an Ecosystem-Based Approach to Improving N Use Efficiency -- Using Plant Diversity to Restore Ecosystem Functions -- Restoration of Ecosystem Function Through Plant-Microbial Interactions -- Microbially Mediated Processes -- Conclusion -- Future Projections -- References -- 10 - Management and Use Efficiency of Fertilizer Nitrogen in Production of Cereals in India-Issues and Strategies -- Introduction -- Time Trends in Input, Output, and Balance of Nitrogen in Cropping Systems and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in India -- Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Fertilizer Nitrogen Management in Cereals -- Blanket Fertilizer Nitrogen Management Recommendations -- Evolution in the Understanding of Researchers Regarding Better Management of Fertilizer Nitrogen in Cereals -- Site-Specific Fertilizer Nitrogen Management in Cereals -- Conclusion -- References -- 11 - Plant Nitrogen Use Efficiency -- Introduction -- Uptake and Assimilation of Nitrate -- Contribution of Different Plant Parts -- Contribution of Upper Three Leaf Blades -- Pattern of Nitrate Assimilation -- Potential Nitrate Reductase Activity -- Variation in Nitrate Reductase Activity Among Genotypes -- Biochemical Basis of Differential NR Activity in Cultivars -- Physiological Basis of Split Application/Slow-Release N Fertilizers -- Conclusion -- References -- 12 - Nitrogen Nutrition in Crops and Its Importance in Crop Quality -- Introduction -- Metabolic Aspects of N Uptake, Assimilation and Crop Quality -- Nitrogen and Crop Quality -- Cereals -- Oil Seeds -- Fodder Crops -- Horticultural Crops. , Strategies to Improve Crop Quality With Efficient Use of N -- Conclusion and Future Outlook -- References -- 13 - Nitrogen Dynamics in Grasslands -- Introduction -- Status of Indian Grasslands -- Grassland Nitrogen: Transformations of N -- Grassland Nitrogen: Uptake of N -- Grassland Nitrogen: Forage Composition, Yield and Quality -- Forage Composition -- Forage Yield and Quality -- Grassland Nitrogen: Consumption and Utilization in Ruminant Animals -- Grassland Nitrogen: Animal Health and Production -- Ammonia-Induced Bloat -- Nitrate Toxicity -- Poor Animal Performance -- Grassland Nitrogen: Balances of N in Tropical Grasslands -- Grassland Nitrogen: Environmental Impacts -- Grassland Nitrogen: Future Research -- References -- 14 - Reactive Nitrogen in Agroforestry Systems of India -- Agroforestry and Nitrogen Cycling -- Reactive Nitrogen Addition in Agroforestry System -- Through Trees -- Through Crops and Other External Inputs -- Prospects of Nitrogen Focused Research in Agroforestry -- References -- 15 - Nitrogen and Soil Quality -- Introduction -- Effects of N Use on Soil Quality -- Long-Term Effect of Balanced Fertilization and Integrated Nutrient Management on Soil Quality -- Long-Term Effect of Balanced Fertilization and Integrated Nutrient Management on Soil Quality and Crop Productivity -- How to Use N for Improving Soil Health -- Do We Overuse N? -- Conclusion -- References -- 16 - Reactive Nitrogen in Environment vis-à-vis Livestock Production System: Possible Remedies -- Introduction -- Nitrogen Cycle and Reactive Nitrogen -- Livestock Production Systems and Nitrogen Transactions -- N Emissions From Indian Livestock Sector -- Manure Management -- Implications of Other Nitrogenous Compounds -- Mitigation Options -- Productivity Enhancement -- Feed Related Interventions -- Other Interventions -- Conclusion -- References. , 17 - Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Poultry Husbandry-Indian Perspective -- Introduction -- Total Feed and Protein Requirements for Poultry -- Partitioning of Intake Protein into Meat, Eggs, Offal, and Excreta -- Dietary Sources of Proteins -- Improving Nitrogen Utilization in Poultry -- Crude-Protein Concept -- Ideal Amino Acid Concept -- Digestible Amino Acid Concept -- Use of Proteases in Diet -- Dietary Crude Protein Content and Nitrogen Excretion -- Phase Feeding and N Excretion -- Ammonia Emission in Poultry House -- Nitrogen Elimination and Pollution Problems -- Poultry Litter and Dropping as Fertilizer -- Recycling of Poultry Slaughter House Wastes -- References -- 18 - Assessment of Nitrogen in Freshwater Aquaculture in India -- Introduction -- Nitrogen in Pond Environment -- Sources of N -- Transformation of N in Freshwater Ponds -- Nitrogen Cycle -- Availability Under Different Culture Situations -- Critical Levels of N -- Addition of Nitrogen Through External Sources -- Magnitudes of Nitrogen Loss -- N Budget -- Options for Better Nitrogen Management in the Culture Systems -- Way Forward -- References -- 19 - Nitrogen Assessment and Management in Brackish-Water Aquaculture of India -- Introduction -- Brackish-Water Aquaculture and Culture Systems -- Source Waters (Creek/Sea Water) -- N Flows in Coastal Water Ecosystems -- N Flows in Brackish-Water Aquaculture Ponds -- Role of N in Brackish-Water Ecosystems -- Role as a Nutrient -- N as Nutrient Through Manures and Fertilizers -- N as Nutrient Through Feed -- N as Toxicant -- N Role in Eutrophication -- Nitrogen Transformation/Dynamics and Budgeting -- N Forms, Sources and Emissions in Brackish-Water Aquaculture Ponds -- Factors Affecting the Mineralization of Organic N in Brackish-Water Fish/Shrimp Pond Soils -- Role of Manuring, Fertilization, and Feeding on N Dynamics -- N Budgeting. , Nitrogen Management.