Long-term strategies for supplying nitrogen to crops

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Abstract
Raising food for present population requires nitrogenous fertilizers in addition to indirect management of the biosphere's nitrogen cycle. The Haber process for making the ammonia base of fertilizers is increasingly pressed by shortages of energy, while only minor improvements are still possible. I discuss the Haber process and 15 alternatives for increasing the nitrogen available to crops using less fossil energy. These alternatives span technology of fertilizer synthesis, farm management and technology, crop genetics, and market management. They were selected by criteria of energy-efficiency and of meeting the numerous biological/physical constraints posed by soils and plants. The alternatives vary in scope and efficacy due to scientific, economic, and political constraints which need to be appreciated by policy-makers and researchers alike. I conclude that the Haber process will be the mainstay for nitrogen-nutrition of crops for 50 years, and a few alternative strategies will slowly achieve a partial replacement of the Haber process. Full replacement in the longer run requires commitment within a few decades to developing the strongest alternatives.

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