When you purchase lawn fertilizer, it is usually labelled with three numbers. For instance 10-10-10 means that there is 10% nitrogen, 10% phosphorous, 10% potassium. The first number always refers to the nitrogen content in the fertilizer, which is responsible for promoting leafy growth.
Nitrogen is the 7th element in the periodic chart of elements. There is more nitrogen in our atmosphere than any other element, and it is necessary for all living things. For plants, nitrogen is needed to aid chlorophyll during photosynthesis to feed the plant.
In its gaseous form, nitrogen is useless to plants. It must be made into a compound that can enter the Earth in order for it to benefit plants. This process is called nitrogen fixation. In the fertilizer industry, nitrogen gas is combined with hydrogen to make ammonia (NH3). Add some nitric acid to the mix, and you end up with ammonium nitrate, which is dry, granular nitrogen suitable for application to soil.
You may be asking yourself, if plants can’t get nitrogen from the air, but they require nitrogen to live, how do they get it naturally? The answer is that nitrogen fixation does occur naturally. Some plants contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and lightning can convert nitrogen in the air to ammonia and nitrate. More importantly, the decomposition of plants, animals, and excrement also reintroduces nitrogen into the Earth. This is why compost can provide such rich growing material for plants.
If plants don’t get enough nitrogen, they will get yellow and they may suffer reduced growth. However, if they get too much nitrogen, the plant will grow beautifully but at the expense of its roots and flowers. This stresses the plant and makes it more susceptible to damage. A lawn that gets too much nitrogen may get “nitrogen burn” and die. This is typically caused by overuse of liquid nitrogen fertilizers and may be fixed by continued watering if it is not severe.
One way to tell exactly how much nitrogen you should apply to your yard is by getting a soil test. Other ways to reduce the risk of too much nitrogen are to use controlled-release fertilizers. Organic fertilizers will also reduce the chance of burning your lawn.
When you see perfectly manicured, green, luscious landscapes, there’s a good chance that there’s nitrogen involved. Phosphorous and potassium also play a large role in fertilizer as macro-nutrients. Knowing about these three elements can aid in your understanding of fertilizer and help you to make the best decisions about your lawn care.
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