Using Nitrogen Smartly: Part 2

Using Nitrogen Smartly: Part 2

- Bill Kerr

The most common forms of nitrogen in agriculture are ammonia and nitrate, and it’s important to know how they work in the soil.

The main difference between the two is the electrical charge. Soil colloids are negatively charged and attract positively charged particles or cations.

Ammonia is positively charged, and will immediately be bound to the soil colloid. It won’t move from there unless replaced by another cation or converted to nitrate. It will also not leach.

Plants can take up nitrogen in ammonia form, but this could be problematic.

The challenge is that as the roots feed mainly on the soil solution, which is infused with nutrients, the ammonia is out of reach as it sticks to the soil colloids.

However, this does not apply to hydroponic systems.