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Nitrogen
is an integral component of all amino acids, which are
the building blocks of all proteins, including the
enzymes. Nitrogen is also a component of nucleic acids
(the seat of genetic inheritance), and chlorophyll.
Nitrogen is essential for carbohydrate use within
plants. A good supply of nitrogen stimulates root growth
and development, and uptake of other nutrients.
The
most important source of nitrogen is the atmosphere
which
contains 78% of nitrogen as an inert gas (N2).
In the inert phase, nitrogen cannot be used by plants
and it has to be converted to forms usable by plants
through mineralization. Nitrogen is absorbed by plants
in mineral (inorganic) forms, i.e., as nitrate and
ammonium ions.
Click
on the items in the cycle diagram to obtain more information.
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