How do humans affect the nitrogen cycle?

1 Answer
SCooke
Oct 27, 2017

Humans impact the nitrogen cycle primarily through fertilizer use.

Explanation:

The following graphic shows significant pathways and amounts of nitrogen movement through the cycle.
enter image source here
Some sources say that fossil fuel burning affects the cycle. While it may change some of the forms (to oxides) it is not really affecting the nitrogen balance, because all of the nitrogen passing through a burner was already in the atmosphere.

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