The Importance of Testing for Nitrogen in Plants

Plant Growth

• Nitrogen is important not just to plants, but to all organisms on this planet. It is essential to the building of proteins, nucleic acids and other enzymes and cellular components necessary to life. Without a healthy supply of nitrogen, plants cannot grow as they cannot create the basic proteins and cells that both encourage and literally are growth.

Nitrates

• Nitrogen takes on many forms in the soil and the air, however it is only in nitrate form that it can be taken up by plants. There are myriad ways that nitrates are introduced into the soil, from inorganic fertilizers that flood soil with pure nitrates to beneficial organisms and nitrogen-fixing plants that break down chemical structures containing nitrogen and release the nitrogen back into the soil in nitrate form.

Testing for Nitrogen

• Plants themselves cannot accurately be tested for nitrogen levels. For that matter, soil cannot be accurately tested either, but it can estimated fairly reasonably. Soils can be tested for nitrates by analyzing the elements in the soil that help to produce nitrates. These tests are available to gardeners via local extension services. Though not an essential part of the gardening process, it is important to be certain that your soil has enough nitrogen in its make-up to provide for healthy plant growth.

Over Fertilization

• Too much nitrogen in the soil may at first seem a boon to your plants, but in reality is bad news and equally important to test for as a lack of nitrogen. Nitrogen runoff from excess use has very serious environmental consequences including destruction of ecosystems and contamination of drinking water. Again, plants cannot be tested for nitrogen levels within them, but plants that are in soil with too much nitrogen are far more susceptible to attack by aphids and other pests.