Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere. It is useful for all living beings, and gets circulated from the atmosphere to the soil and back.
a. It is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere. Approximately 78% of the air is Nitrogen.
b. It is part of proteins and nucleic acids like RNA and DNA
c. Nitrogen is usually inert, it does not react with most chemicals
d. Plants and animals cannot process atmospheric nitrogen directly
Nitrogen Cycle
It is the continuous movement of Nitrogen in various forms from the atmosphere to the environment and back.
Ammonification: Converting decayed matter into ammonium (NH4)
Nitrification: Using nitrifying bacteria for –
a. Converting Ammonia (NH3) and Ammonium (NH4) into Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
b. Converting Nitrogen Dioxide into nitrates (NO3)
Types of Bacteria in Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen fixing bacteria: Convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates
Nitrifying bacteria: Convert ammonia and ammonium into nitrogen dioxide
Convert nitrogen dioxide into nitrates
Denitrifying bacteria: Convert nitrates into atmospheric nitrogen
Nitrogen Fixing
It is the conversion of nitrogen gas into compounds like nitrates, nitrites and ammonia, for easy absorbing into the body of a living being (plants and animals)
Nitrogen fixing is done by:
i. Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil
ii. Lightning
Too much Nitrogen is called Eutrophication. In water, it causes excessive growth of algae, choking water bodies, and reducing oxygen content in water.
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