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. For example, in plant roots, enzymes help regulate water and nutrient uptake. Nitrogen is also a major component of DNA, which is the cell's blueprint for building proteins. 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. Chlorophyll gives plant leaves their characteristic green color, which is why nitrogen-deficient plants tend to look yellow and sickly.

Even thought nitrogen is so critical for plant health, did you know it's usually not included in soil nutrient testing? 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 where SoilKit's nitrogen recommendations come from.