How Plants Grow Nitrogen

According to Neary (2006), nitrogen has traditionally been considered one of the most important elements in the soil for the plant nutrient. It is an essential component of the proteins that build cell material and plant tissue. Plants, especially crops need a lot of nitrogen because it is part of many important compounds, including protein and chlorophyll.

Nitrogen is changing its chemical form continually and moving from plants through animals, soils water and the atmosphere (Wiederholt and Johnson, 2005). Plants respond to nitrogen in soil in many ways. Generally, nitrogen speeds growth of plants by having vigorous growth, large leaves and long stem internodes. Plants also use water when they have ample nitrogen. Most microorganisms and plants obtain N from the surrounding soil and water. Soil with lacking N show the deficiency effect in plant growth rate and leaves colour. Plant growth and crop yield usually increase when N is added, despite the presence of N in soils.

Just as too little N can cause problems, too much N can also cause problems. These problems can extend to plants, humans, animals, and the environment. About 97% of soil nitrogen resides in organic matter, the soils storehouse of nitrogen. According to Neary (2006), organic matter and N losses from the surface

The first is the mineral potassium which comprises about 90 to 98% of a soils total K supply. These minerals are very resistant to weathering and release negligible K to crops. The second will be slowly available potassium and it comprises from 1 to 10% of the total soil K. It is held tightly between clay minerals and is released only slowly to plants. The third is the exchangeable potassium which comprises about 1% of the total K but it is available to plants. The final class is the solution potassium which is available to plants but also susceptible to losses from leaching and it represents about 0.5% of the total soil K (Kilmer,