How Atmospheric Nitrogen Gets Into Life
Evidence suggests nitrogen fixation outperforms all
other fertilizing elements in accelerating forest growth,
underscoring the unmatched efficiency of natural systems
Nitrogen (Nature’s Fertilizer) Confirmed
as the Key to Forest Regeneration
by Dr. Sarah Buckland-Reynolds
Tropical forests are among the most vital ecosystems on Earth, acting as immense carbon sinks and stabilizers of the global climate. Due to the multiplicity of the roles played by tropical forests, accelerated deforestation has the potential to present cascading risks to numerous ecosystems. In tropical ecosystems that have already been disturbed, accelerating forest recovery time is crucial to minimize long-term impacts.
Tropical forest carbon sequestration accelerated by nitrogen (Tang et al., Nature Communications, 13 Jan 2026). In addressing the need for optimal forest recovery, this 2026 study published by Tang et al. made a breakthrough in identifying the most crucial elements impacting forest recovery rates. They found that nitrogen was the most influential fertilizing element, significantly accelerating forest recovery. The reported rates of recovery were astounding, with growth rates doubling compared with plants fertilized with phosphorus.
The study underscored the value of naturally occurring symbiotic relationships between various plant species that naturally perform nitrogen fixation.
Nitrogen is key to faster regrowth in deforested areas, say researchers (13 Jan 2026, University of Leeds). This accompanying press release from the University of Leeds where Wenguang Tang earned his PhD concluded that that smarter reforestation strategies should “work with nature rather than relying on fertilizers”.
Evidence suggesting the superiority of such natural solutions, and the value of tapping into existing ecological interconnections, raises important questions about why and how such incredible functionality could be inherent in ecosystems that are said to have evolved from random chance.
Nitrogen as Nurturer: Is earth’s most abundant element a coincidence?
Nitrogen makes up about 78% of Earth’s atmosphere, far more than oxygen (~21%) or carbon dioxide (~0.04%). In its diatomic form (N₂), nitrogen is chemically stable and unusable by most organisms. Yet through lightning, microbial fixation, and symbiotic relationships with plants, it is transformed into bioavailable forms (ammonium, nitrate) that sustain life. Nitrogen is a fundamental component of amino acids, proteins, DNA, and chlorophyll: the molecules that form the building blocks of life on Earth.
However, when comparing its abundance on other planets, very different proportions are observed. Venus and Mars, for example, though often described as “Earth-like,” have atmospheres dominated by carbon dioxide, with nitrogen present only as a minor component (4% and 1.6% respectively). This contrast highlights Earth’s unusual atmospheric balance, which includes not only abundant nitrogen but also oxygen present at just the right concentration (~21%) to sustain respiration without becoming dangerously reactive. Is it a coincidence that this life-sustaining element is so abundant on earth while scarce on other planets?
Evolution’s Story on Nitrogen vs. Lightning’s Symphony
A 2024 paper in National Science Review by Yuan Li, “The origin and evolution of Earth’s nitrogen,” posited that Earth’s nitrogen abundance was the result of gradual cycling and redistribution between the atmosphere, biosphere, and deep Earth over billions of years, shaped by geology, biology, and climate. Evolutionary geochemists take the position that nitrogen was delivered during Earth’s formation by primordial gases, meteorites, and comets and subsequently accumulated in the atmosphere as volcanic outgassing released N₂ from the mantle. Plate tectonic processes are then said to have recycled nitrogen through subduction, storing it in the mantle, and re-releasing it via volcanism. This “deep nitrogen cycle” is thought to have stabilized atmospheric nitrogen levels over geologic time.
Lightning storms from Earth orbit (NASA). Lightning makes atmospheric nitrogen available for plants.
When examining present-day observable processes, however, many aspects of fine tuning become apparent, even in the conversion of nitrogen from one form to another, raising questions about the sufficiency of purely evolutionary explanations. One of the most striking examples of such processes is the role of lightning in nitrogen fixation. Although atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) is abundant, it is chemically inert and inaccessible to most organisms. Lightning, which reaches temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun, breaks the strong triple bond of N₂, allowing nitrogen atoms to combine with oxygen to form nitric oxide (NO).
This compound is subsequently deposited on Earth through rainfall, enriching soils with bioavailable nitrogen. Tropical forests are particularly impacted by lightning, which strikes millions of times annually in equatorial regions. For example, documentation published by Gora et al. (2020) reported that: “Between 2013 and 2018, tropical terrestrial ecosystems received an average of 100.4 million lightning strikes per year.”
Each strike contributes to the nitrogen cycle, providing a natural source of bioavailable nitrogen precisely where rapid biomass growth occurs. Why would gradual processes produce such coordinated and interdependent mechanisms for producing life-sustaining nitrogen? Evolutionary gradualism struggles to account for this level of coordination, whereas intelligent design interprets it as evidence of purposeful balance.
Further Complexities: Nitrogen’s Dynamic Role Over Time
The Tang et al. study found that nitrogen plays a dynamic role in forest recovery, with its strongest influence in young forests and declining as ecological succession progresses. The authors note: “Nitrogen limitation in the control plots prevented the sequestration of ~4.1 tons CO₂ ha−1 year−1 over the first decade of tropical forest recovery.”
Notably, the authors also reported an unexpected result. Standard evolutionary ecology predicts that as tropical forests mature, nutrient limitations should shift from nitrogen to phosphorus. Contrary to prevailing evolutionary theories, though, no phosphorus limitation was found at any stage of forest recovery. In the words of the authors: “Our lack of support for the widely held hypothesis of phosphorus limitation… does not appear to be caused by exceptionally high levels of soil phosphorus across our forests.”
These observations highlight that evolutionary gradualism often assumes a simplistic system involved in vegetation growth and succession. Instead, reality appears far more complex, violating evolutionary predictions. From a design perspective, heterogeneity and complexity are not flaws. Different forests exhibit different limitations because they were designed to thrive under diverse conditions. The adaptability of nutrient cycles reflects intentional engineering, not random trial-and-error.
Intelligent Design and Ecosystem Harmony
Creation science emphasizes that ecosystems are not accidents but purposeful systems. The harmony between lightning, nitrogen fixation, forest succession, and carbon sequestration exemplifies this. Each component plays a role in sustaining life.
In the ScienceDaily commentary, the lead author, Wenguang Tang stated: “Our study is exciting because it suggests there are ways we can boost the capture and storage of greenhouse gases through reforestation by managing the nutrients available to trees.”
This resonates with the creation perspective: ecosystems were designed to recover, to provide natural climate solutions, and to sustain life. The earth was created with built-in systems designed for resilience.
Scriptural Reflection
The intricate balance of tropical forests and nitrogen cycles provides yet another glimpse of the incredible design existing in nature and its in-built systems for continuity. This reminds us of the words of the Psalmist: “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate – bringing forth food from the earth” (Psalm 104:14). The Creator not only designed ecosystems to function but also ensured their capacity to regenerate after disturbance, providing both beauty and utility.
Credit: Illustra Media, “In the Image of God”
How providential that nitrogen, the most abundant element in Earth’s atmosphere, plays such an important role in sustaining plant life, upon which animal and human life, climate regulation, and many other systems depend! Nitrogen fixation through processes such as lightning and plant symbiosis is not random; rather, it stands as a testimony to God’s wisdom in sustaining creation.
As Tang et al.’s publication demonstrates, the interconnectedness of tropical forests defies simplistic evolutionary explanations. Instead, it points to a Designer who orchestrated nutrient cycles, succession, and resilience with precision. In acknowledging this, we are called not only to scientific wonder but also to faithful stewardship of the forests entrusted to us.
Dr. Sarah Buckland-Reynolds is a Christian, Jamaican, Environmental Science researcher, and journal associate editor. She holds the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona with high commendation, and a postgraduate specialization in Geomatics at the Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. The quality of her research activity in Environmental Science has been recognized by various awards including the 2024 Editor’s Award from the American Meteorological Society for her reviewing service in the Weather, Climate and Society Journal, the 2023 L’Oreal/UNESCO Women in Science Caribbean Award, the 2023 ICETEX International Experts Exchange Award for study in Colombia. and with her PhD research in drought management also being shortlisted in the top 10 globally for the 2023 Allianz Climate Risk Award by Munich Re Insurance, Germany. Motivated by her faith in God and zeal to positively influence society, Dr. Buckland-Reynolds is also the founder and Principal Director of Chosen to G.L.O.W. Ministries, a Jamaican charitable organization which seeks to amplify the Christian voice in the public sphere and equip more youths to know how to defend their faith.