“Exploring the Dynamics of Nitrogen from Conventional Manures in the Soil Plant Atmosphere Continuum: A Comprehensive Review”

ABSTRACT

Nitrogen (N) stands as a paramount macro element, intricately weaving itself into the involved tapestry of agricultural enhancement. It assumes a pivotal role in bolstering agricultural production, serving as a foundational component within proteins. Furthermore, its existence greatly enhances the nutritional value of food products, providing a diverse contribution to the field of nutrition. Soil plant atmosphere continuum is the near-surface environment in which water, nutrients, and energy transfer occurs from soil through plants to the atmosphere. A bulk of total nitrogen is present in the organic form and only about two percent is present in the inorganic form. Nitrogen present in organic manures, green manures, crop residues, and organic wastes is mostly in the form of organic nitrogen. The organic nitrogen, particularly the hydrolyzable form, is slowly mineralized and is transformed to mineral nitrogen through aminization, ammonification, and nitrification processes and becomes available to crops, unless these organic forms of nitrogen are mineralized to inorganic forms plants cannot utilize nitrogen. Plants absorb nitrogen mostly as nitrate (NO₃⁻) and ammonical (NH₄⁺) forms and these are translocated to leaves by transpiration stream and get converted to glutamic acid. Animals and other living beings consume plants and release nitrogen back into the atmosphere in the form of dung or urine which is either utilized by plants or subjected to losses. This entire process continues as a cycle and plays a key role in maintaining nitrogen balance in the atmosphere.

KEYWORDS:

• Manure nitrogen dynamics
• manures
• nitrogen cycle
• soil plant atmosphere continuum

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).