skeeter on soil nitrogen from lightning

[paul wheaton]

Hot off the press!

http://www.youtube.com/user/paulwheaton12#p/u/0/Ok1JyTPYWJ0

 

[dacjohns]

He is entertaining but he didn't quite get the science right.

 

[Beekissed]

Dial-up prisoner can't see this video.....tell us, Dac....tell us about this science? I read a sentence in my companion planting book about this...something about using metal stakes for tomatoes.

Since I plan to use my metal garden fence to trellis this year, I'm curious if this will be an added benefit to the plants?

 

[2dream]

 

[dacjohns]

He says that lightning crystalizes nitrogen to nitrates and things that are heavy that start falling towards the earth and the rain picks it up and the rain is full of nitrogen.

What happens is that "The enormous energy of lightning breaks nitrogen molecules and enables their atoms to combine with oxygen in the air forming nitrogen oxides. These dissolve in rain, forming nitrates, that are carried to the earth."

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/NitrogenCycle.html



A more detailed explantion:
"Another way in which molecular nitrogen is modified is via the discharge of lightning. The tremendous energy released by the electrical discharges in our atmosphere breaks the rather strong bonds between nitrogen atoms, causing them to react with oxygen. Note in this process, nitrogen is oxidized and oxygen is reduced.

lightning
N2 + O2 --------------> 2 NO (nitric oxide)
The nitrous oxide formed combines with oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide.

2 NO + O2 ---------------> 2NO2
Nitrogen dioxide readily dissolves in water to product nitric and nitrous acids;

2 NO2 + H2O -------> HNO3 + HNO2
These acids readily release the hydrogen forming nitrate and nitrite ions which can be readily utilized by plants and micro-organisms.

HNO3 --------> H+ + NO3- (nitrate ions)
HNO2 --------> H+ + NO2- (nitrite ions)"

http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/external/chemistry/everyday_nitrogen.html

 

[eggs4sale]

I was going to describe it EXACTLY this way! What a coincidence. But I was going to compress my explanation into "24 Blue!"

 

[Blackbird]

I was going to describe it EXACTLY this way! What a coincidence. But I was going to compress my explanation into "24 Blue!"

I thought you guys told me it was 42 blue?

 

[eggs4sale]

I was going to describe it EXACTLY this way! What a coincidence. But I was going to compress my explanation into "24 Blue!"

I thought you guys told me it was 42 blue?

Was it? That seems like an awfully high number. I don't even have enough toes and fingers and stuff for that.

 

[Beekissed]

I was going to describe it EXACTLY this way! What a coincidence. But I was going to compress my explanation into "24 Blue!"

Thanks, Dac! Sooooo......how does using a metal stake while staking maters figure into this, if at all?

 

[dacjohns]

Metal 'mater stakes. I don't know unless there is an iron deficiency in the soil and just by chance enough iron in the stake will react with soil components and transfer to the 'maters. Just a guess.

I don't think it will make a noticable difference though.

If by another odd chance the stake acts as a lightning rod I think your 'maters will get cooked.