N is for Plant Health
In a new e-Gro Alert, Rosa E. Raudales and Juan C. Cabrera discuss the chemical properties of N and how we can use it to manage medium - pH and prevent root diseases.
Plants take up nitrogen at a larger quantity than any other mineral element. For this reason, nitrogen has a large effect on plant quality and medium-pH.
Nitrogen forms in fertilizers
Nitrogen in fertilizers can come in the form of ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), urea (CH4N2O) or other organic sources. Fertilizers typically have more than one source.
Nitrate and ammonium are stabilized in fertilizer salts by combining them with an element of the opposite charge.
Nitrate has a negative charge and is bound to elements with positive charges such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Ammonium has a positive charge and is combined with molecules with negative charges such as phosphates, sulfates, and nitrates.
Urea is an organic molecule. Most organic-N sources come in the form of organic matter (e.g. fish emulsion, manure, etc).
Read the full e-Gro Alert here.