1.Nitrogen Use Efficiency
Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) in crops refers to the ability of plants to takeup nitrogen from the soil and convert it into usable forms for growth and development, and ultimately into yield.
It is a critical aspect of sustainable agriculture, as nitrogen is one of the essential nutrients for plant growth, and its efficient use can lead to higher crop productivity while minimizing environmental impacts and reducing costs for farmers.
Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency:
Genetic Factors: Different crop varieties have varying abilities to take upand utilize nitrogen. Plant breeding programs focus on developing
varieties with higher NUE
Soil Conditions: Soil type, pH, organic matter content, and the presence of other nutrients can affect how efficiently plants can take up nitrogen
● Nitrogen Availability: The form and timing of nitrogen application, as well as the total amount, influence NUE. Excessive nitrogen application can lead to leaching, runoff, and environmental pollution.
● Crop Management Practices: Techniques such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and integrated nutrient management can improve NUE by enhancing soil health and reducing nitrogen losses.
● Climatic Conditions: Temperature, precipitation, and humidity affect
nitrogen cycling in the soil and can impact the efficiency with which crops use nitrogen.
Measuring Nitrogen Use Efficiency:
NUE is often expressed as the ratio of crop yield to the amount of nitrogenapplied or taken up by the plant. It can be measured in several ways,including:
Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency (ANUE): The increase in yield per unit of nitrogen applied.
Physiological Nitrogen Use Efficiency (PNUE): The increase in yield per unit of nitrogen taken up by the plant.
Internal Nitrogen Use Efficiency (INUE): The efficiency with which plants convert absorbed nitrogen into biomass or yield.
PRELIMS FACTS
● “Cereals consume two thirds of all urea in India, led by rice. Poor nitrogen use
efficiency (NUE) wastes N (nitrogen)-fertilizers worth ₹1 trillion a year in India
and over $170 billion per year globally.
● N-fertilizers are the main source of nitrous oxide and ammonia pollution of air
and nitrate/ammonium pollution of water, affecting our health, biodiversity, and climate change.
2.Radiocarbon
Radiocarbon released into the atmosphere from nuclear tests bonds with oxygen to form CO2.
● Plants absorb this CO2 during photosynthesis to produce food and, ultimately, energy Models show carbon stored in vegetation ranges from 43–76 billion to
80 billion tonnes per year.
● If the higher value is accurate, plants must be shedding carbon sooner.
● ʻThe whole system is cycling faster than we thought beforeʼ Scientists agree
that radiocarbon needs to be better represented in climate predictions.
● So far it has been plagued by ʻlimited resources available for model
development and observational researchʼ
● Radiocarbon, also known as carbon-14 (14C), is a radioactive isotope ofcarbon. It is naturally present in trace amounts in the Earth’s atmosphere and is constantly being produced in the upper atmosphere by the interaction of
cosmic rays with nitrogen-14 (14N) atoms.
● Radiocarbon is important in the field of archaeology and geology for its use in
radiocarbon dating, a method used to determine the age of organic materials
Radiocarbon Dating:
Radiocarbon dating is based on the fact that ^14C decays over time with a half-life of about 5,730 years. This decay occurs through beta decay, where the ^14C atom emits an
electron and an antineutrino, transforming into a nitrogen-14 (^14N) atom:
By measuring the amount of ^14C remaining in a sample and comparing it to the amount expected in a living organism, scientists can estimate the age of the sample.
This technique is particularly useful for dating organic materials like wood, charcoal, bone, and plant remains that are up to about 50,000 years old.
3.Gaganyaan
On February 27, Mr. Modi announced the names of the four astronaut candidates
for the Gaganyaan mission. The other two, apart from Mr. Shukla and Mr. Nair, were
Group Captains Ajit Krishnan and Angad Pratap.
What are mission parameters?
According to ISROʼs statement, its Human Spaceight Centre has signed an agreement with Axiom Space, Inc. “for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS”. The mission, colloquially called Ax-4, is the fourth crewed mission to the ISS organised by Axiom Space, a private company based in Houston.
Axiom plans to operate the worldʼs first commercial space station and currently offers human spaceflight services.
Gaganyaan: India’s first crewed space mission aiming for human spaceflight.
Objective: Demonstrate India’s capabilities in human space exploration.
Launch Timeline:
Uncrewed test flight in July 2024
Crewed flight anticipated in 2025
Crew: Four astronauts selected for the mission
Significance: Strengthening international collaborations and enhancing technological
capabilities
Key Components
Mission Phases
Preparation- Astronaut Training
Vehicle Design
Launch-
Launch Vehicle: GSLV Mk III
Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Orbit
Duration: 5-7 days in low Earth orbit
Experiments: Scientific and technological experiments
Return- Safe re-entry and landing protocols
4. Clean plant program
NEWS
The Union Cabinet has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), aimed at revolutionizing India’s horticulture sector.
- The CPP, part of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, will enhance the quality and productivity of fruit crops by providing virus-free, high-quality planting material.
- The program includes the establishment of nine state-of-the-art Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) across India, which will produce and maintain clean planting materials.
- It also introduces a robust certification and legal framework to ensure accountability and traceability in planting material production.
- The CPP aims to boost farmers’ incomes, improve consumer produce, increase India’s fruit exports, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
The program will engage women farmers and address diverse agro-climatic conditions, with implementation overseen by the National Horticulture Board and ICAR. program.
5.Polar Coupled Analysis and Prediction for Services
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has launched a new project, “Polar Coupled Analysis and Prediction for Services” (PCAPS), aimed at enhancing weather, water, ice, and climate forecasting in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
- The project seeks to improve security and safety for those living or travelling in polar areas by developing better observation systems and Earth system models.
- PCAPS builds on previous initiatives like the Polar Prediction Project (PPP) and is part of the broader World Weather Research Programme (WWRP).
- The project addresses the rapid climate change in polar regions, which significantly impacts Indigenous communities and local populations.
- It aims to bridge scientific research with societal needs, improving decision-making and risk assessment related to extreme weather events.
PCAPS will also contribute to the upcoming fifth International Polar Year (IPY) in 2032-2033 and promote collaboration among researchers, service providers, and user groups to develop user-informed, research-driven services.