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Nitrogen makes up part of the chlorophyll in plants. Chlorophyll is the green part of leaves and stems. Light energy is taken by the chlorophyll and used to make sugars for the plant.
Nitrogen is an important part of the compounds that regulate plant growth and development. Nitrogen is also an important part of the plant structure.
Nitrogen is used to make protein by the plants. Protein is stored in the grain, fruit and seeds of plants.
In the roots, nitrogen is found in proteins and enzymes. They help the nutrients and water be taken up into the plant.
Why excess nitrogen in agriculture is a problemImpact of nitrogen deficiency:
Plants that are deficient in nitrogen have stunted growth, depending on the severity of the deficiency. Leaf growth is inhibited; younger leaves are inhibited in particular. Longitudinal shoot growth is inhibited, as is the increase in thickness. Deficient plants often become pale green to yellowish-green due to inhibited chloroplast and chlorophyll synthesis. Leaves start to wither and dry out, turning yellowish brown to brown.
Impact of excess nitrogen?
Excess nitrogen can’t be taken up by plants, thus the excess amount of nitrogen is wasted and farmer’s expenditure increases. Cutting down amount of nitrogen fertilizers can reduce farmer’s input cost, without affecting the yield, increase farmer’s profitability.
Some soil microorganismcan transform nitrogen provided in fertilizers into nitrogen containing gases. Excess amount of nitrogen (not absorbed by plant) available in the soil will transform into nitrogen containing gases, that get released into the atmosphere like the GHG.
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