How is nitrogen or nitrate removed in soil?

Nitrogen or nitrate is removed from the soil primarily through vegetation uptake. Plants absorb nitrates from the soil as a critical nutrient for their growth and development. This process not only helps in the assimilation of nitrogen but also reduces the concentration of nitrates in the soil, thereby preventing potential issues related to excess nitrogen, such as water contamination. Vegetation plays a key role in the nitrogen cycle, effectively sequestering nitrogen in plant biomass.

In contrast, while chemical decomposition and precipitation can play roles in the nitrogen cycle, they are not the primary processes for nitrogen removal. Chemical decomposition typically refers to the breakdown of organic matter rather than the direct removal of nitrogen. Evaporation pertains to the transformation of water from a liquid to a gaseous state and does not relate to nitrogen removal in soil. None of these processes contribute as directly to the reduction of nitrogen levels in the soil as vegetation uptake does.