The Importance of the Balance Between Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen

We all know about the importance of nitrogen for the health of our crops, but do we really understand what’s behind the words?

Nitrogen in the soil exists in two main forms: organic and inorganic, and the right balance between the two can make all the difference to your crops.

Inorganic N (ammonium nitrate, urea) delivers nutrients quickly, which is ideal during critical growth periods.

Farming systems that rely on nitrogen fertiliser will have an organic N to inorganic N ratio of less than 1. This means that fertiliser is suppressing soil health, making the soil more dependent on nitrogen fertiliser

Organic N (compost, manure) nourishes the soil gradually, supporting biodiversity, improving soil structure and is a long-term source of nitrogen.

According to the Haney test, water is the carrier of organic nitrogen that can be used by subsequent crops. It is important to note that using only inorganic nitrogen can destroy soil organic matter, and therefore the very basis for a sustainable crop on your field.

Healthy soil usually has a ratio of organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen of 2:1 or 3:1.

A variety of crop rotations and the introduction of green manure crops can help increase this ratio.

It is also worth remembering the fixation of organic nitrogen depending on the crop:

Soybeans

• Близько 50-200 кг N/га на рік, залежно від сорту та умов вирощування.

Peas

• 50-150 kg N/ha per year.

Beans

• Approximately 50-150 kg N/ha per year, depending on the variety and growing conditions.