Plant Nutrition

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NITROGEN SOURCE:

1.     INTRODUCTION
2.     EM TECHONOLOGY
3.     UREA
4.     RECOMMENDATIONS
5.     CONCLUSION

1 INTRODUCTION:
Nitrogen is the most abundant element in Nature, it is an essential element in all living things, being present in proteins and nucleic acids. Nitrogen constitutes 78 % by volume of dry air. There are three types of Nitrogen that are applied to crops.

    a. Ammonium (NH4+).
    b. Nitrate (NO3).
    c. Urea (NH2 - CO - NH2)
It has been confirmed that excessive Nitrate levels in the soil leach down into ground water and cause brain cell damage in children. In advanced countries there are severe restrictions placed upon the uncontrolled use of Nitrate Nitrogen. Volatilization of Urea converts it into the Nitrate form in the presence of soil and water. Free living bacteria in the soil effectively convert most forms of Nitrogen into Nitrate form. Thus we find that both excessive Bacteria as well as Unstabalized Urea release Nitrates. In the plant Nitrate Nitrogen causes excessive vegetative growth; decreases disease resistance; decreases Drought tolerance and becomes toxic. In the soil Nitrate being negatively charged is subject to movement with soil water (Leaching).

2. EM TECHONOLOGY:
The product Bio-Aab has been used and found to excellent for the production of quick compost. The bacteria use Nitrogen as a source of food and convert most forms to Nitrates. This is not harmful in so far as compost fertilizer is concerned. The bacteria effectively decompose the organic elements. Thus a process that would have taken upto a year is shortened to 15 to 30 days. However it is not recommended that the material be used on the plants or for the soil. Excessive Nitrate will cause all the problems mentioned earlier.

3. UREA:
Contrary to widespread belief Urea is an Organic Compound manufactured from inorganic material. Urea when used correctly is a very useful compound. However being subject to Hydrolysis and Volatilization it will convert to Nitrate. The requirement is that Urea be stabilized to retain the Ammonium form (NH4+). This element being positively charged is not subject to leaching. Urea can be stabilized with Calcium Chloride (By product of Marble Industry) or with Sulfur. Both Calcium and Sulfur are required as Secondary Nutrients by the plant. Barani and Hilly areas are notoriously lacking in Sulfur. Calcium is used by the plant for disease resistance. Secondly Calcium being double positive charged it repels the single positive charged Sodium and allows uptake of nutrients which were previously being blocked by the sodium. The argument that stabilized urea will be costly is readily met with the answer that only 15 Kg of stabilized Urea is as good as 50 to 100 Kg of Unstabalized Urea. Thus even if it is more expensive Stabilized Urea is certainly more cost effective. Secondly what can be better that the health of our future generations.

4. RECOMMENDATIONS:
a. Urea:
    i. Immediate steps be taken to produce Stabilized Urea.
    ii. Split applications of stabilized urea be advocated.
    iii. Foliar application and banding of Urea be practiced.

The above measures will ensure a safe and steady supply of Ammonium Nitrogen as well as be cost effective due to decreased requirements resulting from efficiency.

b. EM Technology:
    i. EM Technology be adopted for use in composting.

c. Secondary & Trace Elements:
These are essential for optimum production of crops. If a soil is deficient in any of the trace elements it will effectively reduce crop productivity. "Crop production is restricted by the Nutrient is shortest supply". This means that if there is enough available Nitrogen to produce say 100 maunds of wheat per acre but if Zinc available is only sufficient for production of 20 maunds than that is the yield that we will get. It is a mistake to believe that Bacteria will make trace elements available in the soil. If there is an absence of a trace material it will not appear due to the action of Bacteria or any other element. It needs to be inculcated. This too is much more efficient if Chelated MicroNutrients are used. This is a special process wherein the positively charged pure divalent metals are covered by inert organic matter to promote bonding to the plant and restrict leaching.
d. Natural Hormones:
Natural rooting and fruiting hormones serve effectively to increase yields. Being natural (Extract from seaweed) they are not harmful to the environment.

5. CONCLUSION:
It must be understood that we have personally tried all of the above in various locations from North Sindh right upto Mansherra. It is only after careful consideration and observation that we endorse and hold the above views. Secondly let us compare Yield results of the various technologies and not argue theoretically. The views expressed are those of a Natural Environmentalist with some small qualification in the field as well as much practical exposure.