The Life of Soil, Nitrogen and Fertilisers 

Without nitrogen, plants would simply not grow. This gift given by nature truly is most understood and misused. Nitrogen (N2) helps plants grow abundantly and lush because it helps to generate the cells required for growth. This mineral is both in the air and the soil. The key is in transforming it into a form that plants will accept.  

Nitrate is the easiest form for the plants to consume via both root systems and mycorrhizal fungi. The fungi exchange the nitrogen for excess carbohydrates from the plants by creating a living transportation system to carry the loose soil nitrogen to the plant roots. N2 also generates the plant DNA, amino acids, cells etc. 

Plants that store and then release N2 are known as N2 fixers. They are predominantly in the legumes family which consists in over 18000 varieties of peas and beans. Such plants produce a habitat  for bacteria to produce nitrogen and keep the soil healthy for all plants to flourish. Nitrogen fixing plants have nodules in the roots that house vast amounts of bacteria that can transform nitrite into nitrate. When the plants die, nitrite is released for bacteria to transform  it.  

There are 3 main ways in which the soil looses its wealth and health of nitrogen : 

1. Harvesting

2. Volatilisation ( transforming into gas released into the atmosphere) 

3. Washed away (leeching) 

Leeching takes place via synthetic fertilisers that run loose via water streaming into local rivers and damaging the local environment. Vaporising creates the potent green house gas Nitrous oxide which usually occurs with the soil being disturbed via tilling.  

Synthetic fertilisers come from an era of horticultural ignorance of not understanding the soil and the desire for bypassing nature for quick huge harvests.

Why settle for small and nutritious when large will satisfy the masses, albeit until chemicals compound health issues later in life. Another negative impact of fertilisers is the dependence on pesticides due to the plants natural defence mechanisms being compromised due to a disruption in the natural methods.  

Fertilisers irritate the worms and bacteria in the soil resulting in diminished quantities. It also disrupts and kills fungi whilst altering the PH of the soil making it inhospitable for bacteria…the very bacteria that convert n2 into nitrate. The natural nitrogen cycle is broken and both plants and the soil suffer and die. As the fungus dies, the natural minerals also needed for the growth of plants are no longer utilised i.e. copper, phosphorous, iron, zinc etc. soil quality is diminished by a lack of minerals and bacteria resulting in weaker if any  produce.

The self sustaining web for plant growth is killed and further various chemicals are needed to try to replace what now lacks in the system and the downward spiral is created of death. Consequently the overall harvest nutritional value is diminished beyond recognition.  

All is not lost as nature has a way of bouncing back providing the chemical usage is stopped.  

Meeta