ABSTARCT

Plants need many essential nutrients for growth, development and survival. Those nutrients
required by plants in large quantities are called macronutrients. Nitrogen is one of the most
important macronutrients for plant. Nitrogen is so vital because it is a major component of
chlorophyll, the compound by which plants use sunlight energy to produce sugars from water and
carbon dioxide (i.e., photosynthesis). It is also a major component of amino acids, the building
blocks of proteins. Without proteins, plants wither and die. Some proteins act as structural units in
plant cells while others act as enzymes, making possible many of the biochemical reactions on
which life is based.

Nitrogen is a component of energy-transfer compounds, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

ATP allows cells to conserve and use the energy released in metabolism. Finally, nitrogen is a
significant component of nucleic acids such as DNA, the genetic material that allows cells (and
eventually whole plants) to grow and reproduce. Without nitrogen, there would be no life as we
know it.

Large amounts of N are needed by crops to produce maximum growth. Nitrogen is an essential
element for plant growth and development. It is a major component of chlorophyll in plant leaves.
Its part of every protein in the plant, so it's required for virtually every process -- from growing
new leaves to defending against pests. Nitrogen is part of the chlorophyll molecule, which
gives plants their green color and is involved in creating food for the plant through photosynthesis
Chlorophyll levels affect leaf area, leaf weight, plant size, and transpiration rate. Too little nitrogen
can cause nitrogen deficiency symptoms affecting plant quality, productivity, and salability. Too
much nitrogen is not good either, as nitrogen toxicity can occur in over fertilized plants, leading
to stunted growth and a poor quality plant.

Over fertilizing can be a source of unnecessary extra costs as well as an environmental hazard in
the case of nutrient runoff. Growers must know the status of nitrogen in food crops for a successful
yield production.