Garden with Insight v1.0 Help: Soil daily N group

N as nitrate by layer: Nitrogen as nitrate (NO3-) ions, which are readily available to plant roots. Increased by mineralization from fresh organic and active humus N and nitrification from ammonia; decreased by plant uptake, denitrification to ammonia, and loss in eroded soil.

N as ammonia by layer: Nitrogen as ammonium ions (NH4+). Increased by denitrification from nitrate; reduced by nitrification to nitrate, volatilization to the atmosphere, and loss in eroded soil. Simulated plants do not take up ammonia; most real plants do but prefer nitrates.

N as fresh organic in flat residue by layer: Nitrogen in flat residue (dead plant matter) and live microbial biomass in each soil layer -- 'fresh' meaning 'less decayed'. Increased by decay of standing dead residue and soil amendments; decreased by mineralization to nitrate and loss in eroded soil.

N as active organic in humus by layer: Nitrogen loosely bound in organic compounds in the humus of each soil layer. Increased by mineralization of fresh organic N; decreased by equilibrium flow to stable organic N, mineralization to nitrate and loss in erosion.

N as stable organic in humus by layer: Nitrogen tightly bound in organic compounds in the humus of each soil layer. Increased by addition of soil amendments and equilibrium flow from active organic N; decreased by loss in erosion.

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