Nitrogen is one of the 3 most utilized plant nutrients. It plays a heavy role in foliage production, enzyme and protein creation, and is one of the most used ingredients in chlorophyll, which is what plants use to convert sunlight to energy.
Some folks may think "Well, Nitrogen comprises of nearly 78% of the air we breathe, so can't plants just get that from the air?" And while this is a fair assumption, the simple answer is that's plants are not capable of absorbing Nitrogen from the air; they must uptake Nitrogen compounds through the soil or foliarly in order to effectively grow and thrive.
Nitrogen deficiency occurs when there is too little available Nitrogen in the soil or growing medium such as LECA (A soilless medium made of expanded clay which is great at aeration and water transport, but lacka in any nutritional value.)
In the garden, healthy soil relies on beneficial and some not-so-beneficial fungi and organisms to break down carbon based compounds. During the process, Nitrogen is typically consumed by these organisms, which can lead to a deficiency of Nitrogen in the soil. This is why it's important to not use things such as leaves and food scraps in your soil. Characterized by yellowing foliage between the vascular regions of the leaves and eventually the tips and entire leaf as chlorophyll production decreases. Not all yellowing means nutrient deficiency.
Have you ever over-watered your plant and it's leaves turned yellow? We all have, and it's okay. Roots require oxygenation, and non-aquatic plants aren't able to breathe properly in waterlogged soil. As the roots begin to essentially suffocate, they lose their ability to transport nutrients which leads to an array of issues that commonly mimic nutrient deficiency. Always check your soil conditions and roots prior to attempting to correct any nutrient deficiency. You may simply need to let it dry out a bit, or perhaps it's too dry and needs water. (Code: "NITRO" For a Free Ounce of Blood Meal with any purchase! ) The last thing you want to do is take a stressed plant and overload it with unnecessary Fertilizers.
"But Steve... Why is it okay for roots to be submerged in hydroponics?" Well that's different. Hydroponics, especially deep water culture rely heavily on properly oxygenated water in order to keep roots absorbing nutrients. Some hydroponics systems repeatedly cycle through flooding roots and draining, while some are continuously submerged.
What to Expect After Resolving an Issue?
Firstly, expect affected foliage to most likely die off. Plants are masters of energy and nutrient conservation. Once a deficiency presents and yellowing leaves occur, the yellowing will likely not reverse. The plant knows this leaf is damaged and will take steps to shunt and remove nutrients and energy stored in these affected leaves and return it to the plant to create new healthy foliage.
You'll notice the effects of Nitrogen as soon as the next leaf presents itself. A return to lush green foliage, better growth, and a healthier plant can be expected. For crops, you'll see that production rise! Healthier plants means better DNA synthesis which means healthier and more viable, stable seeds in the long run.
Common Sources of Nitrogen:
Nitrogen is available in many forms which I offer most of here.
Organic Options: Blood Meal, Bat Guano, Crab Shell Meal, Cottonseed Meal, Feather Meal, Fish Emulsions (Including freshwater aquarium water), Chicken Manure, Soybean Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Many More!
Other Forms: Ammonia, Urea, Ammonium Sulfate, Ammonium Nitrate
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I use my own urine as fertilizer.
A: Yes. To some extent. This works best when diluted and when used outdoors on non root crops where the edible part comes in contact with your fertilizer choice. Carrots, Beets, Potatoes, etc, should avoid non-composted manures and urine. Too much urine will kill off plants and grass so use sparingly.
Q: Which Fertilizers pack the best punch?
A: Simply put, Blood Meal is the best natural nitrogen source, racking up to 13-0-0 for your NPK. Whereas for chemical Fertilizers, Urea is the strongest at 46-0-0.
A Look at Next Week's Blog:
Sulfur and it's Role in Nitrogen Uptake and Use as a Fungicide
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