Explain the nitrogen cycle with the help of a diagram.
Explain the nitrogen cycle with the help of a diagram.
The nitrogen cycle explains how nitrogen flows between animals, bacteria, plants, the atmosphere, and the soil on earth. The uniqueness of the nitrogen cycle is that nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the earth’s atmosphere, about 78% of all air, but it can’t be directly utilized by animals and plants unless it is converted into usable compounds.
Its importance is because of its key role in the formation of nucleic and amino acids. It is also an essential part of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the chief energy molecule for living things. For nitrogen to be used by plants and animals, it has to change into various states through the nitrogen cycle.
Nitrogen-cycle
The sequence in which nitrogen in the atmosphere is passed into the soil and life forms, and then released back into the atmosphere, is called the nitrogen cycle.
a) Nitrogen is introduced to the soil by fertilizers or animal and plant residues. Bacteria in the soil convert the nitrogen to ammonium and nitrate, which is taken up by the plants by a process of nitrogen fixation.
b) Ammonification: The process of the production of ammonia from organic compounds is called ammonification. Ammonification is the process — carried out by a variety of microorganisms — that breaks down proteins, amino acids, and other nitrogen-containing compounds in dead and waste organic matter to form ammonia.
c) Nitrification: It is the process by which ammonia is converted to nitrites (NO2-) and then to nitrates (NO3-). This process naturally occurs in the environment, where it is carried out by specialized bacteria.
d) Denitrification: It is the biological conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas, nitric oxide, or nitrous oxide. These compounds are gaseous and are not readily available for microbial growth; therefore they are typically released into the atmosphere. Nitrogen gas makes up over 78% of atmospheric gases, thus the release of N2 into the atmosphere is benign.
Figure: Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle explains how nitrogen flows between animals, bacteria, plants, the atmosphere, and the soil on earth. The uniqueness of the nitrogen cycle is that nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the earth’s atmosphere, about 78% of all air, but it can’t be directly utilized by animals and plants unless it is converted into usable compounds.
Its importance is because of its key role in the formation of nucleic and amino acids. It is also an essential part of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the chief energy molecule for living things. For nitrogen to be used by plants and animals, it has to change into various states through the nitrogen cycle.
Nitrogen-cycle
The sequence in which nitrogen in the atmosphere is passed into the soil and life forms, and then released back into the atmosphere, is called the nitrogen cycle.
a) Nitrogen is introduced to the soil by fertilizers or animal and plant residues. Bacteria in the soil convert the nitrogen to ammonium and nitrate, which is taken up by the plants by a process of nitrogen fixation.
b) Ammonification: The process of the production of ammonia from organic compounds is called ammonification. Ammonification is the process — carried out by a variety of microorganisms — that breaks down proteins, amino acids, and other nitrogen-containing compounds in dead and waste organic matter to form ammonia.
c) Nitrification: It is the process by which ammonia is converted to nitrites (NO2-) and then to nitrates (NO3-). This process naturally occurs in the environment, where it is carried out by specialized bacteria.
d) Denitrification: It is the biological conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas, nitric oxide, or nitrous oxide. These compounds are gaseous and are not readily available for microbial growth; therefore they are typically released into the atmosphere. Nitrogen gas makes up over 78% of atmospheric gases, thus the release of N2 into the atmosphere is benign.
Figure: Nitrogen Cycle
