Like all other living things, plants require certain nutrients in order to thrive. Whether plants are growing in the wild or are being commercially produced for a consumer market, they must have enough potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, oxygen, and carbon. Although all of these nutrients are present in natural soils, it's sometimes necessary to add organic nitrogen fertilizer to promote healthy growth because of nitrogen loss caused by runoff, erosion, and crop removal. Because other nutrients aren't so easily depleted, farmers, greenhouse growers, and home gardeners often have to add nitrogen to their soils. The following are just three of the many benefits of adding nitrogen to the soil.
Nitrogen Promotes Growth
Nitrogen is necessary for all parts of the growth cycle of plants, but it plays a particularly important role during germination and growth spurts when new leaves are developing. This is one reason why a lot of homeowners apply nitrogen fertilizer in the spring before their deciduous trees and herbaceous perennials begin to leaf out. However, it's very important that plants don't get too much nitrogen at once because this can cause them to grow so rapidly that their root systems can't keep up. Always be sure to follow the instructions precisely when adding any type of fertilizer.
Nitrogen Promotes the Development of Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a vital component in plants and is formed through a process known as photosynthesis, and this process doesn't happen without the presence of nitrogen. You can tell if a plant isn't getting enough nitrogen if the veins in the leaves begin to turn yellow — chlorophyll is carried to plant tissues via its vascular tissues in the same manner that veins in humans and other mammals do to nourish the body at the cellular level. Nitrogen is especially important in leafy green vegetables and ornamental houseplants that are grown primarily for their foliage display.
Nitrogen Promotes Bigger Fruit and Vegetables
Another benefit of nitrogen is that it causes fruits and vegetables to grow larger. However, it's important to manage fertilizer schedules in a way that prevents the plants from getting too much nitrogen just prior to the flowering process because plants divert nitrogen to leaf production, which means that flowering can be sparse — and fewer flowers mean smaller numbers of fruits and vegetables. Nitrogen fertilizer should be reapplied after the flowers have set into the fruits and vegetables that they'll become in order to ensure optimal strength and health.
To learn more about organic nitrogen fertilizer, reach out to a supplier in your area.
Share10 March 2020
If there is one thing that is for certain, it's that we all need food to survive. Some of us might have yards large enough to produce some of our food, but we're so used to just going to the grocery store or market to satisfy our food needs. We depend on those in the agriculture industry to keep the shelves stocked, so we can fill our fridges. The more you know about the agricultural industry, the more you'll come to see its importance. From farming techniques to the crops best-suited to various climates, we dive right into agriculture on this website. Enjoy!
