Microorganismal Nitrogen Fertilizing

When protozoa ingest bacteria they only need a small amount of the nitrogen contained. The protozoa needs 5 to 10 times less nitrogen than that contained in the bacteria.

Nematodes need even less nitrogen than protozoa. Nematodes eat both bacteria and fungal hyphae. Bacteria contain 10 to 100 times more nitrogen than a nematode needs and hyphae have 5 to 50 times more. When either are eaten by nematodes all manner of free available nitrogen is released in forms readily available for plant uptake.

If soils have a healthy component of bacteria, protozoa, and nematodes then free, available nitrogen is constantly available to crops and trees.