Explain why nitrate fertilizers may not be suitable for application in soils with low redox potential

Nitrate fertilizers may not be suitable for application in soils with low redox potential as there will be no required reduction takes place. Crops with excess nitrogen will affect the health of the consumer.

Explanation:

Redox potential (Reduction/Oxidation potential) is tendency of a chemical species to gain electrons from an electrode or loss electrons to electrode as a result of Oxidation or Reduction. Nitrogen is an important element for 'plant growth and development', but due to pollution, high nitrate concentration accumulate in the edible part of the food product and particularly when 'excess nitrogen fertilizer' has been applied. When the redox potential is very low then there is no any chance for nitrogen to get diluted which results in the excess of nitrogen content and so nitrate fertilizers may not be suitable for application in soil with low redox potential. Selection of nitratae fertilizer compatetive to the soil is very important.