Importance of Nitrogen in Crops: Boosting Soil Health Naturally with Dicot and Monocot Intercropping

By Rubick Marketing · Nov 06, 2025 · 5 Minutes

The Power of Nitrogen in Agriculture

Nitrogen is often called the “life element” for plants - a vital nutrient that drives growth, leaf formation, and productivity.
Yet, while nitrogen makes up 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, crops cannot directly absorb it from the air.

The video “Importance of Nitrogen for Crops” by Organic Mandya beautifully explains how natural farming techniques, such as intercropping dicot and monocot plants, help farmers utilize atmospheric nitrogen without chemical fertilizers.

“When you understand nature’s chemistry, you realize - the best fertilizer is already in the air.”

1. Why Nitrogen is Crucial for Crop Growth

Nitrogen plays a major role in plant metabolism. It’s a key building block of chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis, and amino acids, the foundation of plant proteins.

Functions of Nitrogen in Plants:

Enhances leaf and stem growth
Boosts chlorophyll production for better photosynthesis
Increases crop yield and size
Promotes soil microbial activity
Improves fruit and seed formation

Without adequate nitrogen, plants appear pale, stunted, and weak - symptoms often mistaken for drought stress or poor soil.

“A nitrogen-deficient plant is like a worker without food - it simply can’t perform.”

2. The Hidden Problem: Why Plants Can’t Absorb Atmospheric Nitrogen

Even though the air is full of nitrogen (N₂), it exists in a chemically stable form that plants can’t directly use.
For absorption, nitrogen must be “fixed” into compounds like ammonia (NH₃) or nitrate (NO₃⁻) through biological or chemical processes.

In conventional farming, this is achieved using synthetic fertilizers such as urea and ammonium sulfate.
However, overuse of these chemicals leads to soil degradation, water pollution, and reduced microbial life - making farming unsustainable in the long run.

The Natural Alternative:

Organic Mandya promotes biological nitrogen fixation, a natural process that uses plants and soil microbes to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms - without harming the environment.

3. Natural Nitrogen Fixation: How Dicot Plants Help

Dicot plants, especially leguminous species like drumstick (moringa), beans, and subab grass, form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (like Rhizobium).
These bacteria live in nodules on their roots and convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, enriching the soil naturally.

When these plants are intercropped with monocot crops such as banana, maize, or sugarcane, the nitrogen fixed by the dicots becomes available to their neighboring plants.

Example from the Video:

Banana plants grown alone appeared stunted and yellow.
But bananas intercropped with drumstick plants grew taller, greener, and healthier - proving the importance of natural nitrogen sharing.

“When drumstick and banana grow together, the soil becomes alive again.”

4. The Science of Intercropping: Nature’s Nitrogen Network

Intercropping - growing two or more crops together - is a traditional Indian practice that builds biodiversity and soil balance.

In this system, dicots fix nitrogen, while monocots absorb it, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem.

Benefits of Dicot–Monocot Intercropping:

Benefit	Impact
Natural Nitrogen Supply	Reduces dependency on chemical fertilizers
Higher Yields	Improves growth and fruiting in main crops
Soil Health Restoration	Encourages microbial activity and organic matter
Pest Resistance	Mixed crops reduce pest and disease spread
Water Retention	Enhanced soil structure prevents erosion

Ideal Crop Combinations:

Banana + Drumstick
Maize + Cowpea
Turmeric + Beans
Sugarcane + Subab Grass

These combinations ensure constant nitrogen availability throughout the growing season.

5. Subab Grass – The Unsung Hero of Nitrogen Enrichment

The video highlights Subab Grass, a naturally growing plant that doubles as fodder for cows and a nitrogen booster for soil.

When used as mulch, Subab grass decomposes and releases nitrogen slowly into the soil, maintaining fertility without synthetic inputs.

Benefits of Subab Grass:

Rich in nitrogen and organic carbon
Improves soil aeration and microbial growth
Excellent as livestock feed
Promotes sustainable agriculture through recycling

“A handful of Subab grass can feed both your soil and your cow.”

6. The Role of Organic Mandya in Promoting Nitrogen Balance

At Organic Mandya, the mission is to revive natural farming wisdom that prioritizes soil health and ecological balance.

Through farmer workshops, demonstration farms, and educational content, they teach:

How to use natural nitrogen-fixing crops effectively
Methods of intercropping and crop rotation
Preparation of organic fertilizers like Jeevamrutha for nitrogen enrichment
Importance of cow-based farming systems in nitrogen recycling

This integrated approach eliminates chemical dependency and restores self-sustaining soil fertility.

7. Key Takeaways for Farmers

Practice	Benefit
Grow dicots with monocots	Natural nitrogen sharing
Use Subab grass mulch	Boosts soil nitrogen and moisture
Avoid synthetic urea	Prevents soil acidification
Promote microbial life	Enhances organic matter and nutrient cycling
Adopt mixed cropping systems	Long-term sustainability

By following these natural principles, farmers can increase yields, reduce costs, and protect the environment - ensuring prosperity for both the soil and the farmer.

Conclusion: Nitrogen - Nature’s Invisible Ally

Nitrogen may be invisible, but its role in agriculture is undeniable.
By understanding and utilizing natural nitrogen cycles, farmers can replace chemical fertilizers with ecological intelligence.

Intercropping, mulching, and using nitrogen-fixing plants like drumstick and subab grass not only improve yields but also rebuild the health of our farmlands.

At Organic Mandya, nitrogen isn’t just a nutrient - it’s a symbol of harmony between crops, soil, and the farmer’s wisdom.