Chinese researchers say overuse of nitrogen fertiliser is poisoning the country's air, soil and water, and that farmers could reduce its use without compromising crop yields, Nature reports.

据《自然》杂志报援引中国研究者报道，过度使用氮肥会致使中国的空气，土壤及河流受到污染，而农民减少使用化肥并不会影响到粮食产量。

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But primarily, because nitrogen is a fertiliser, it favours wild plants that can maximise the use of nitrogen to help them grow.

但首先因为氮是一种肥料，它有利于那些能最大化利用氮素进行生长的野生植物。

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This is largely because of reductions in fertiliser use and the amount of nitrogen leaching from manure.

这是相当大的一部分，因为可以减少施肥和从动物粪便中滤出的氮。

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The energy inputs required to produce the crops included nitrogen fertiliser, herbicides, diesel and seed production.

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Haber nitrogen was not used as fertiliser in large quantities until the middle of the 20th century, and for a good reason.

ECONOMIST: The story of man's staple food

Imagine if GM could be used to create crops that produced higher yields, or were resistant to drought or could even fix their own nitrogen and produce their own fertiliser.

BBC: Can GM save the world?