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Nature 451, 293-296 (17 January 2008) | doi:10.1038/nature06592; Published online 16 January 2008

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An Earth-system perspective of the global nitrogen cycle

Nicolas Gruber1 & James N. Galloway2

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With humans having an increasing impact on the planet, the interactions between the nitrogen cycle, the carbon cycle and climate are expected to become an increasingly important determinant of the Earth system.

The massive acceleration of the nitrogen cycle as a result of the production and industrial use of artificial nitrogen fertilizers worldwide has enabled humankind to greatly increase food production, but it has also led to a host of environmental problems, ranging from eutrophication of terrestrial and aquatic systems to global acidification. The findings of many national and international research programmes investigating the manifold consequences of human alteration of the nitrogen cycle have led to a much improved understanding of the scope of the anthropogenic nitrogen problem and possible strategies for managing it.

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