Question

Farmers add nitrogen to their soil, in the form of fertilizers, in order to increase crop production. Which step in the nitrogen cycle would farmers prefer to slow down, or stop? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Ans.

Nitrogen fertilizers are commonly used by farmers to increase crop production. Ammonium is the main component of nitrogen fertilizer, as it is easily assimilated by plants and provides nitrogen to them, while nitrate gets easily lost from the soil. During nitrogen cycle, ammonium is converted into nitrate by nitrification. So, nitrification inhibitors are used with to slow down the conversion of ammonium to nitrate to provide nitrogen for longer time.

Thus, 'to increase crop production, nitrification step of nitrogen cycle is preferred by farmers to block, or slow down.'