Plants need 16 essential nutrients for growth. Three of these, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are supplied by air and water. The next three nutrients needed in fairly large quantities nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. We will cover phosphorus and potassium in future articles. Nitrogen - the growth element .
Plants use nitrogen in large quantities.
Nitrogen is responsible for the lush green color we like to see in our plants. It is vital to plant growth, necessary for the production of amino acids and proteins, metabolic enzymes and photosynthesis. There is usually not enough nitrogen in our soils to satisfy plant needs and nitrogen is very mobile in soils leaching easily so we need to supplement with nitrogen fertilizer. You have a choice between organic vs. inorganic sources of nitrogen. Plants cannot tell the difference between nitrogen from either source so the decision is your personal preference.