Introduction The physicochemical properties of the atmosphere get affected by particulate matter by altering its composition and thus may alter ambient air quality, visibility, cloud formation, and consecutively energy entering, absorbed, reflected, and emitted by earth system1-3. Moreover, it can also affect human health adversely and may also alter the ecosystem4-6. Therefore, the chemical characterization of PM is necessary for the development of an air quality improvement programme to c...

Introduction Air pollution is perceived as a major issue due to increased urbanization and industrialization. Nitrogen is a major atmospheric constituent. It makes up around 78% by volume of the Earth’s atmosphere. The inert nitrogen is utilized by converting into different reactive compounds such as NH3, NO2, protein, urea etc. These nitrogen compounds are called reactive nitrogen species (Nr) which are chemically, biologically, photo chemically and radioactively active species1-...

Introduction The predominant cause of indoor air emissions globallyand in most developed countries is incomplete burning of biomass; it is burnt open and creates a lot of smoke1,2.The biomass smoke contains a wide range of high-risk pollutants, such as coarse, small, and ultrafine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and sulfur oxide, transitional metals, polycyclic, aromatic, and bio-aerosol compounds3. Recent studiesin rural home revealed that the main sources of indoor air pollu...

Introduction When the neo-Malthusians were busy in predicting the impending food crisis across the world due to burgeoning levels of population, little did they conceive of a situation where the food production would outstrip the rate of population growth. This has been made possible in large measure due to the increased production of the variegated nitrogenous inputs that have served to amplify the levels of food production1. A direct consequence of this has been the intensification in nit...

Introduction Food securityis one of the critical challenges we are facing today.1Nevertheless, agricultural lands have been overexploited for centuries; and itsfallouts are soil degradation, erosion, and increased greenhouse gas emissions, due to higher dependency on agronomic inputs.2Some of the proposed options for improving soil fertility include organic amendments, no-till farming, use of bio-fertilizers and integrated nutrient management system.3 World agricultural output has tremendou...

Introduction The biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen is of vital importance due to the role of nitrogen in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, global nitrogen cycle is being disturbed by the unchecked increase in food and energy production resulting in the accumulation of Reactive Nitrogen (Nr) in various environmental matrices. Generally, Nr refers to any formof nitrogen compound that is biologically active, photo chemically reactive and radioactively active in the biosphere a...