Nitrogen is required for plant growth more than any other macro-nutrient. It is especially important during the vegetative growth stage. During the first half of the plant’s life, a plant takes up 80% of the nitrogen it needs for the entire life of the plant! Once taken up, nitrogen is quickly assimilated into amino acids and transported throughout the plant. The amino acids are then built into plant proteins, including the ever-important enzymes necessary for the chemistry of life. Some of the nitrogen is also incorporated into chlorophyll and DNA molecules, also necessary for plant life. Therefore, adequate nitrogen is essential to plant growth, and a nitrogen deficiency can severely limit yield.