La réponse de M. Philip John Wilson résume bien les mécanismes physiologiques liés à l’azote. En culture maraichère, un excès d’azote par rapport aux autres nutriments essentiels, entre-autre le phosphore, produit des plants vigoureux mais qui produisent moins de fruit.

Dear Rugare Rugare,

As we know that nitrogen (N) is one of the essential elements for plant growth and development. In plants, nitrogen is a component of proteins and nucleic acids, as well as many coenzymes, cofactors, chlorophyll molecules, plant hormones, vitamins, etc. Nitrogen is also an essential element for plants to scavenge harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide radicals, hydroxyl radicals, alkoxy radicals, and singlet oxygen free radicals which eventually may lead to multiple-stress amelioration and provide tolerance/resistance.