Metabolism of Nitrogen

Why Nitrogen Matters So Much

After carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, nitrogen is the most abundant element found in living organisms. It is a fundamental building block of amino acids (and so of proteins), of nucleic acids, of hormones, of chlorophylls, and of many vitamins — in other words, nitrogen is woven into nearly every major class of biomolecule a plant needs.

A Nutrient in Short Supply …