Sustainable Soil Management
Glossary
N
NITRATE. An inorganic nitrogen form that is very soluble, easily leached from soils, and readily available to plants.
NITRIFICATION INHIBITOR. A chemical inhibitor that slows the conversion of ammonium to nitrate in the soil, reducing the risk of nitrogen loss from the field.
NITRIFICATION. The microbial process of converting ammonium to nitrite to nitrate.
NITRITE. A form of nitrogen that is the result of the first step in nitrification in soil as microbes convert ammonium to nitrate. It is subsequently oxidized to nitrate by microbes.
NITROGEN. An essential plant nutrient that is part of many compounds, including chlorophyll, enzymes, amino acids, and nucleic acids.
NITROGEN CYCLE. The sequence of chemical and biological changes undergone by nitrogen as it moves from the atmosphere into water, soil, and living organisms, and upon death of these organisms (plants and animals) is recycled through a part or all of the entire process.
NO-TILL/DIRECT SEEDING/ZERO-TILL. Method of growing crops that involves no seedbed preparation prior to planting.
NUTRIENT BUILDUP. An increase in soil analysis levels of a nutrient due to application of that nutrient at levels that exceed crop removal.
NUTRIENT DRAWDOWN. A decrease in soil analysis levels of a nutrient due to crop removal.
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN. A written plan that specifies the utilization of fertilizer, animal manures, and other biosolids.
