N
itrogen is an essential plant nutrient, needed in all plant enzymes and proteins. It also forms part of chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for photosynthesis, allowing plants to absorb energy from light. At this time Nitrogen the Big N! of year when the N-fixing Rhizobia bacteria. weather warms up Add organic matter! When and plants start putting on soil warms up in spring, lots of growth, it is typical to microbes break down organic see nutrient deficiencies in matter releasing nitrogen your plants. The most likely nutrient to be deficient in your in plant-available forms ammonium and nitrate. plants is nitrogen, as plants require it in large amounts. Feeding your plants with a liquid nitrogen fertilizer is Nitrogen is most abundant important as natural sources in the air we breathe - in (organic matter, manure) fact our atmosphere is 78% often do not provide enough nitrogen gas! Many elements nitrogen for heavy feeding plants need are the so-called plants (e.g. tomatoes, squash) mineral elements found during the growing season. naturally occuring in soil To avoid wasting fertilizer, from the parent material, time your liquid applications that is, the rock the soil was to when the plants need it formed on. As nitrogen does the most, which is during the not naturally occur in the soil parent material, it can only be spring and summer when the plants are putting on the most supplied to soil by nitrogengrowth. fixing bacteria, atmospheric deposition in rainfall, or Nitrogen is highly mobile organic materials from in soil, meaning plants can living organisms that contain take advantage of it if it is nitrogen (plant material, there, but once it leaches manure). Nitrogen is also below the root zone it is supplied by fertilizers. no longer available to the plant. The best strategy for Nitrogen is a mobile nutrient applying fertilizer is to do within the plant. When small amounts frequently it is in short supply the rather than a large amount all plant will move nitrogen at once. from the old leaves to the new growth. Therefore, nitrogen deficiencies are first noticeable as a yellowing of the older plant leaves. How to add nitrogen to your soil? Rotate legume family crops through your garden to take advantage of their 58
Tamara Dinter, Dinter Nursery General Manager and Soil Enthusiast
