Question

What are various steps involved in biological nitrogen fixation in plants?

Answer 1

The various steps involved in Nitrogen fixation are:

1. Nitrogen fixation : It is the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by the plants. Certain bacteria like cyanobacteria can perform this process by using nitrogenase enzyme. These convert nitrogen gas to ammonia.

2. Nitrification : It is the conversion of Ammonia to Nitrates. Nitrosomonas and Nitrococcus convert it into nitrites which are inturn converted to nitrates by Nitrobacter.

3. Assimilation : It is the incorporation of ammonia and nitrates formed by nitrogen fixation and nitrification into the plants. Their roots absorbs these and it gets assimilated into the plant body.

4. Ammonification : It is the conversion of organic nitrogen into ammonia. This ammonia is then released into the environment and reused.

5. Denitrification : It is the process of breaking down of nitrates back to nitrogen gas by the action of anaerobic bacteria.