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  • Essay / Nitrogen as a fertilizer, nutrient or pollutant

    Nitrogen as a fertilizer, nutrient or pollutantNitrogen can always be a fertilizer, nutrient or pollutant depending on the circumstances and the environment in which it is found. As a fertilizer, nitrogen can be extremely useful in promoting the growth of many plants. As a nutrient, nitrogen is essential for the growth and survival of many plants. As a pollutant, nitrogen can not only affect the plant at one time, but also be very detrimental for many years. No matter where you go, nitrogen will always be a fertilizer, nutrient or pollutant. Nitrogen can be considered both a fertilizer and a nutrient under the right constraints. I will use citrus plants as an example. For citrus growers, applying nitrogen to plants is a common and necessary practice. “Spring is the best time to apply nitrogen to citrus trees. Research has shown that nitrogen demand in citrus is highest between flowering and June and most supplemental nitrogen fertilizers should be applied during this time. It is a major key to plant growth and development. Nitrogen is crucial for citrus plants for optimal growth and yield. Without nitrogen, you may see negative results for many years. Citrus fruits respond easily to nitrogen nutrition. Current and past research shows that if nitrogen is maintained in citrus leaves sampled in the fall between 2.4 and 2.6% dry weight for oranges and between 2.2 and 2.4% for lemons, a good balance is achieved between yield, size and fruit. quality. There is some evidence linking nitrogen to swelling, wrinkling, smaller fruit, and spots, but these negative effects are most significant at nitrogen levels above 2.6% nitrogen. Some growers have reduced their nitrogen applications...... middle of paper ......le, harming crops up to 8 years later. Nitrogen is an important element, whether present in water or in another form, but either way it can easily be a vicious pollutant. Which category do you think nitrogen should fall into: fertilizer, nutrient or pollutant? Should you consider how much nitrogen can help a plant in terms of fruit size or yield? Or should you weigh heavily on how much nitrogen can harm a plant and for such a long period of time? There are many ways to argue either of these choices, for or against, but none of them are a perfect fit. Works cited by Craig Kallsen. http://cekern.ucdavis.edu/Custom Program143/Citrus Nitrogen Fertilizer.htm.Power, Sally A.; Green, Emma R.; Barker, Chris G.; Bell, J. Nigel B.; Ashmore, Mike R. "Ecosystem recovery: heathland response to reduced nitrogen deposition." Biology of global change 12