Do plants appropriate the nitrogen of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen, the only remaining organic constituent of vegetable matter, is for many reasons worthy of close attention.
1. It is necessary to the growth and perfection of all cultivated plants.
2. It is necessary to the formation of animal muscle.
3. It is often deficient in the soil.
4. It is liable to be easily lost from manures.
Although about four fifths of atmospheric air are pure nitrogen, it is almost certain that plants get no nutriment at all from this source. It is all obtained from some of its compounds, chiefly from the one called ammonia. Nitric acid is also a source from which plants may obtain nitrogen, though to the farmer of less importance than ammonia.
AMMONIA.
What is the principal source from which they obtain nitrogen?
What is ammonia?