Does anyone know of a plant that doesn't need much nitrogen?

Question

The soil I am working with doesn't have much nitrogen ( I've done the test and got a N0 = depleted). I don't want to add any nitrogen to it though, so I was wondering if any plant could grow and live like that. If there is a plant that could, please tell me! Thanks!!

Answer 1

Legumes fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. This is a large group of plants, including beans, peas, peanuts, ground covers, shrubs, and trees.  They are opportunistic plants, and will use applied nitrogen if it is available, but will survive without it.  If you are planting them in a somewhat "sterile" soil, you will need to inoculate the seeds with the appropriate bacterial inoculum.  The plants have a commensal relationship with soil bacteria that actually fix the nitrogen.  The plants provide nodules on their root systems to provide a home for the bacteria.  If you have native legumes growing in your area, legume seeds or plants will eventually self-inoculate with the appropriate bacteria.  

Growing a legume cover crop, then tilling the green plants into the soil, will provide organic matter and some nitrogen for other crops, after the legumes decompose in the soil.  

Good luck.