what is the different steps for nitrogen cycle
Answers
Answer:
Nitrogen cycle consists of four main steps namely:
- Nitrogen Fixation
- Ammonification/ Decay
- Nitrification
- De-nitrification
Nitrogen Fixation
This is the first step of the nitrogen cycle. This step is characterized by the conversion of atmospheric N2 into ammonia (NH3). Bacteria like Azotobacter and Rhizobium have a major role in this process.
Ammonification
This is another process by which ammonia can be generated. Organic remains of plants and animals are broken down in the soil by some bacteria to release ammonia into the soil. These dead and waste matter is used by these microorganisms as food and they release ammonia into the soil.
Nitrification
This occurs in two-steps. The first step is in which NH3 is converted to NO3- (nitrates). The bacteria Nitrosomonas and Nitrococcus present in the soil convert NH3 to NO2-, and another bacterium, Nitrobacter converts NO2- to NO3-. These bacteria gain energy through these conversions.
Denitrification
Is the reverse of nitrification that occurs in the deep layers of soil where the bacteria convert NO3- is converted into N2 and other gaseous compounds like NO2. This occurs because in deep layers of soil, oxygen is not available and the soil bacteria use these nitrogen compounds instead of oxygen.
Explanation:
Nitrogen is essential to life because it is a key component of proteins and nucleic acids. Nitrogen occurs in many forms and is continuously cycled among these forms by a variety of bacteria. Although nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere as diatomic nitrogen gas (N2), it is extremely stable, and conversion to other forms requires a great deal of energy. Historically, the biologically available forms NO3- and NH3 have often been limited; however, current anthropogenic processes, such as fertilizer production, have greatly increased the availability of nitrogen to living organisms. The cycling of nitrogen among its many forms is a complex process that involves numerous types of bacteria and environmental conditions.
In general, the nitrogen cycle has five steps:
Nitrogen fixation (N2 to NH3/ NH4+ or NO3-)
Nitrification (NH3 to NO3-)
Assimilation (Incorporation of NH3 and NO3- into biological tissues)
Ammonification (organic nitrogen compounds to NH3)
Denitrification(NO3- to N2)
Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen fixation is the process by which gaseous nitrogen (N2) is converted to ammonia (NH3 or NH4+) via biological fixation or nitrate (NO3-) through high-energy physical processes. N2 is extremely stable and a great deal of energy is required to break the bonds that join the two N atoms. N2 can be converted directly into NO3- through processes that exert a tremendous amount of heat, pressure, and energy. Such processes include combustion, volcanic action, lightning discharges, and industrial means. However, a greater amount of biologically available nitrogen is naturally generated via the biological conversion of N2 to NH3/ NH4+. A small group of bacteria and cyanobacteria are capable using the enzyme nitrogenase to break the bonds among the molecular nitrogen and combine it with hydrogen.
Nitrogenase only functions in the absence of oxygen. The exclusion of oxygen is accomplished by many means. Some bacteria live beneath layers of oxygen-excluding slime on the roots of certain plants. The most important soil dwelling bacteria, Rhizobium, live in oxygen-free zones in nodules on the roots of legumes and some other woody plants. Aquatic filamentous cyanobacteria utilize oxygen-excluding cells called heterocysts.
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