So, I recently watched a video regarding the first synthesized fertilizer, and I thought it was pretty interesting that farmland was basically screwed if they didn’t figure out how to get more nitrogen into dirt.
But then I thought about it, I was taught that plants make the bulk of themselves out of carbon, which they absorb from the air in carbon dioxide. Why is the same not true with nitrogen? Our atmosphere is a little more than 2/3rds nitrogen after all.
I tried looking it up, but the result was basically “Because nitrogen in the atmosphere is in a gaseous form” but that wasn’t really helpful.
In: 91
I’m sure someone gave you the answer so I want to offer an additional piece of information. Many Nitrogen fixing plants like legumes can get Nitrogen from the air. They have a relationship with bacteria that help fix the nitrogen for them so they can use it. I use them for cover crops and them being able to fix nitrogen is the reason they make such a great cover crop.
Latest Answers