What does Nitrogen (N) do?

Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for plant function and is a key component of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Proteins perform many essential functions in all living organisms, notably the class of proteins called enzymes that facilitate a vast array of biochemical reactions. Nitrogen is also a major component of DNA. In plants, nitrogen is also a component of the chlorophyll molecule, which enables the plant to capture sunlight energy by photosynthesis, driving plant growth and grain yield. 

Nitrogen plays a critical role within the plant to ensure energy is available when and where the plant needs it to optimize yield. In plant roots, different proteins and enzymes help regulate water and nutrient uptake. 

Even thought nitrogen is so critical for plant health, did you know it's usually not included in soil nutrient testing? Click here to learn why. Simply put, soil testing actually isn't a reliable way to figure out how much nitrogen fertilizer your plants could use. Click here to learn how SoilKit's nitrogen recommendations are calculated.