How To Tell If Your Plant Needs Nitrogen

[@nessx007]

Beautiful footage in this!

[@densetserralta5333]

Thanks for covering this subject. Your comment that both nitrogen deficiency and overwatering cause leaf yellowing alerted me to the fact that I may be overwatering. Do you have a way to distinguish which of the two causes it could be?

[@Grow_Everything]

One of the main things to pay attention to initially is the surface of your soil. The principle I go by is to allow the first 1-2 inches of surface soil to become dry in appearance before you decide to water your plant again. When those first 2 inches are dry, the soil below is likely just on the edge of needing water. Next time you return to your plant to give it water, first dig down 4-5 inchs and grab a large handful of soil. Squeeze the soil tightly between your palms. If when you squeeze, water pours out of your hands. It is still too wet and needs more time to dry before the next watering. If you squeeze, and get some light dripping. The moisture level is right around perfect. Soil that is constantly wet, typically will inhibit nutrient uptake, which is why the symptoms of N deficiency and overwatering are so similar. When your soil is at the ideal moisture level. Give it the squeeze test again. If It clumps together when you squeeze it, and has more of a mud like texture. It likely has a higher level of nitrogen. But if you squeeze the soil and it crumbles easily and appears to have lots of twigs, peat, and wood materials, you likely have higher carbon. I mention this because with higher nitrogen levels, the soil becomes more fine, containing less air gaps that cause evaporation. This means the soil with higher Nitrogen levels typically need to be watered less often. Really hope this helps! Have a great day!

[@ecofriend93]

This is very helpful! Thank you,

[@Grow_Everything]

Thanks so much! Really glad you found the information helpful!

[@hermanhale9258]

I never had so many yellow plants as this year.

[@andrewhanson5942]

It was always my impression that composted horse manure is an abundant source of nitrogen. Is that correct?

[@Grow_Everything]

Yes! A great source for sure. In fact it's even more nitrogen rich than cow manure. For this reason, you can use it more sparingly. If you plan to use it specifically for vegetable gardening. It's important to apply, and water it in at least a few weeks before planting. Horse manure is considered a "Hot" or "Raw" nitrogen source. It is rich enough that it can burn young plants, and contains a high level of Ammonia which won't be usable by the plants until microbes and carbons in the soil process it. Hope you find this info helpful! Have a great day!

[@andrewhanson5942]

@@Grow_Everything Great, thanks! Yes we let it age for several months and then work it into the ground in the fall. Seems to work pretty well. I told my wife I didn't need any more of it but she bought another horse last week anyway.

[@dandana4647]

when this happens to my plants i use urine at a % of 10% in water …..you must use freshly emitted urine because it is rich in nitrogène ..I did this last week when some leaves started to get yellow and my plant has 100% of its leaves green today . when doing the watering make sure to empty the excès of water that is under the plant because with the air the nitrogen of the urine turns to ammonia with bad smelling….

[@liebekatz1]

​@@Grow_Everything If I use any cow manure, I get it from my uncles barn where it's been sitting for a while. Plus he doesn't spray his fields where his cattle grazes.