Plants that grow in Nitrogen Deficient soils

We all know that plants require a certain amount of nutrients for efficient growth and reproduction, but in many places the soil is deficient in nutrients. But there are many plants that grow in nitrogen Deficient soils with good economical yield

Among these nutrients the nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients needed by the plants.

Plants need Nitrogen in the largest quality. Hence soils that are rich in nitrogen are very useful for luxurious plant growth.

But there are many plants that grow in nitrogen Deficient soils with good economical yield

Here we will discuss some of the plants.

What is Nitrogen and Why Do Plants Need It?

 Nitrogen is among the nutrients that plants require in the largest quantity. Without which plants cannot grow properly and the economic yield is adversely reduced.

Nitrogen is needed by plants for many vital processes like photosynthesis as it is the part of chlorophyll molecule. Nitrogen is present in a plant's protoplasm. It helps in building cells of the plants.

Nitrogen is the part the DNA is the building base of any organism. It is also present in RNA that helps in the synthesis of protein. Thus the overall growth and reproduction of the plants depends on the nitrogen.

It helps in proper fruit set, which is the very economic product of plants. 

Nitrogen is essential for the various metabolic processes that help in building food products of the plants.

Nitrogen boosts leafy growth, aids in the creation of healthy flower buds, and helps fruit set. It also functions as a catalyst for other minerals.

What is the function  of nitrogen?

Nitrogen (N) is among the vital elements needed for the survival of living things.Nitrogen is chemically reacted with other compounds such as ammonia, nitric acid, organic nitrates and cyanides to form unique compounds with totally different chemical and physical properties.It being an abundant common element on earth, it forms approximately 78% in the earth's atmosphere. Since plants cannot use or take nitrogen directly from the atmosphere, uptake is through nitrogen forms that include ammonium and nitrate.

Importance of Nitrogen to Plants

It is the element that is needed by plants in many core processes like metabolism and photosynthesis, thus the importance of nitrogen cannot be neglected. 

Many of the intermediate products formed by the plants are the nitrogen products such as in the form of nitrates. 

Plants too, like animals, need some important macro and micro nutrient elements including nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and carbon to keep them healthy. 

The wellness of plant parts depends on the availability of essential nutrients like nitrogen to enhance the plant's biological processes including growth, absorption, transportation, and excretion. 

Since nitrogen is present in different fertilizers, the plants through the roots can enhance uptake.

Some points to detect nitrogen Deficiency

• First, the older leaves turn yellow-green. This colouring will spread from the inside of the leaves to the outside.

• Next, the yellowing will spread to the base of the leaf and the veins.
• The growth of the plants get stunted and great reduction in the yield.
• The stem colour of the plants turn purple which is one of the symptoms of nitrogen deficiency.

Plant to grow in nitrogen Deficiency places

Generally the plants that can grow in nitrogen deficiency soil are the legumes and many other crops that can survive and tolerate nitrogen deficiency. These are the plants that can survive in nitrogen deficient soils because these plants form association with the nitrogen fixing bacterias.

They are the nitrogen fixers in the soil. They make the soil rich in nutrients and thereby increase the quality and fertility of the soil.

You can grow many plants in nitrogen deficiency places but the point is that you have to apply the enough quantity of nitrogen externally.

This is a very important point to be considered while growing plants in Nitrogen deficiency places.

As nitrogen is an easily leachable nutrient, hence it cannot stand in the soil for a long time. Periodic application of the nitrogen increases the cost of the growers. Hence nitrogen deficiency tolerant crops are the best alternative if the climate is favourable.

• Alfalfa (lucerne, family:- fabaceae)

• Asparagus pea(Tetragonolobus purpureus )
• Foxtail millet( Setaria italica)

• Bean, (Vicia faba)
• Clover
• Lespedeza, Annual

• Lespedeza, Serciea (perennial)
• Medics
• Pea, Field
• Pea, Winter
• Peanut, Perennial (perennial)
• Soybeans
• Sun Hemp
• Velvet Bean
• Vetch, Bigflower
• Vetch, Chickling
• Vetch, Common
• Vetch, Hairy

Some more plants to grow in Nitrogen Deficient Soils

• Ahipa
• Beans, Bush
• Beans, Garbanzo
• Beans, All Others (black, anasazi, lima, kidney, etc.)
• Pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan)

            

• Beans, Snap
• Beans, String
• Breadroot (Prairie Turnip)
• Chickpea

• Phaseolus mungo

• Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana)

• Jicama
• Lentils
• Peanut (Groundnut)

• Peas, Green
• Peas, Snap
• Peas, Snow
• Peas, Sweet
• Barnyard Millet ( Echinochloa frumentacea)

• Arachis hypogaea

Flowers that can grow in Nitrogen deficient places

• Bladder Senna
• Californian lilac
• Chinese wisteria
• Dyer's greenweed
• Earthnut pea
• Glandular senna
• Indigo (all Indigofera genus)
• Lupins
• Purple Coral Pea Shrub
• Spring pea
• Tree lupin
• Wisteria, American
• Wisteria, Japanese
• Wisteria, Kentucky

The major advantages of growing these Nitrogen fixing plants is that they make nitrogen available to next growing crops. Hence they turn the infertile soil into soil that is rich in nitrogen.

Growing these kinds of plants can add green manure to the soil. Thus you will need less quantity of nitrogen in the next growing season.

Conclusion:- 

So above is the list of some plants that can grow in nitrogen deficient soil. These plants can fix nitrogen in the soil. And can thrive in soil containing less nitrogen.

Planting such crops has several advantages.

This can make a sustainable growth in agriculture.

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