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Nitrogen is used by plants in order to synthesize protein peptide bonds and for cell growth. Not

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Nitrogen is used by plants in order to synthesize protein peptide bonds and for cell growth. Not only is this nutrient required in the largest quantity by plants, but it is also the most frequently limiting factor when it comes to productivity in crops. Plants cannot use nitrogen in the air and in the soil system it is lost easily. Because of this plants are forced to obtain nitrogen in the form of nitrate and ammonium from the soil. Too much nitrate can cause a negative effect on the plant including nitrate toxicity. High levels of nitrate are not only bad for plants but can also be dangerous to animals or humans in their presence. Here I discuss the scientific evidence of the effects of nitrate accumulation on plants and the …show more content…

If the rate at which the nitrate is reduced is lower then uptake, then accumulation of large amounts of nitrate can occur. No accumulation occurs when the rate of uptake equals the rate of reduction. Accumulation of nitrate usually results from plant stress, such as drought, and is made more prominent by excessive soil nitrogen. Other forms of plant stress that cause accumulation of nitrate involve the restriction of plant growth while the absorption of nitrate from soil still continues. Some of these forms include certain herbicides, frost, acid soils, deficiencies of essential nutrients, low growing temperatures, and finally reduced sunlight. Due to the fact that nitrate accumulation builds up the most in plant stems instead of leaves. (3) Nitrate content in vegetables is influenced primarily by light intensity and nitrogen fertilization. Diurnal changes in light intensity lead to a diurnal pattern, a pattern that recurs every 24 hours as a result of one full rotation of the Earth, in nitrate accumulation in plants. (4) When plants receive too much nitrogen in the form of nitrate through its soil, it can have several detrimental effects on it. Too much nitrogen in plants can deplete the plant's carbohydrate reserves more rapidly, stimulate rapid shoot growth while slowing down root growth, and result in thinner more succulent leaf tissue, which increases moisture loss. Other effects include predisposing the plant to greater insect

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