NITROGEN CYCLE
Nitrogen is important to all living things, including us. It plays a key role
in plant growth. Nitrogen is an essential component of DNA, RNA and
proteins, the building blocks of life. All organisms require nitrogen to
live and grow.
The air we breathe contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and remaining
are other trace gases. Nitrogen gas exists in both organic and inorganic
forms. The nitrogen component of air is inert. So this
means plants and animals cannot use it directly. To be able to use
nitrogen, plants convert atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates, nitrites
and ammonia compounds by a process called the nitrogen cycle.
What is Nitrogen Cycle?
Nitrogen Cycle is a biogeochemical process which transforms the inert
nitrogen present in the atmosphere to a more usable form for living
organisms.
Nitrogen Cycle is a process through which nitrogen is converted into
many forms, consecutively passing from the atmosphere to the soil to
organism and back into the atmosphere.
Nitrogen cycle consists of four main steps:
1. Nitrogen Fixation
2. Assimilation
3. Ammonification
4. Nitrification
5. De-nitrification
Nitrogen Fixation:
It is the initial step of the nitrogen cycle. Here, Atmospheric nitrogen
(N2) which is primarily available in an inert form, is converted into the
usable form -ammonia (NH3).
Types of Nitrogen Fixation
1. Atmospheric fixation: A natural phenomenon where the energy
of lightning breaks the nitrogen into nitrogen oxides, which are
then used by plants.
2. Industrial nitrogen fixation: It is a man-made alternative that
aids in nitrogen fixation by the use of ammonia. Ammonia is
produced by the direct combination of nitrogen and hydrogen
under high pressure. Later, it is converted into various fertilisers
such as urea.
3. Biological nitrogen fixation: The entire process of Nitrogen
fixation is completed by symbiotic bacteria, which are known as
Diazotrophs. Azotobacter and Rhizobium also have a major role
in this process. These bacteria consist of a nitrogenase enzyme,
which has the capability to combine gaseous nitrogen with
hydrogen to form ammonia.
Nitrification:
Nitrification is a two-step process in which NH3/ NH4+ is converted to
NO3– by the presence of bacteria in the soil.
(Nitrosomonas) ( Nitrobacter)
NH4+ ————————— > NO2- ——————> NO3-
Ammonium nitrite nitrate
Nitrites are formed by the oxidation of ammonia with the help
of Nitrosomonas bacteria species. Later, the produced nitrites are
converted into nitrates by Nitrobacter. This conversion is very
important as ammonia gas is toxic for plants.
The reaction involved in the process of Nitrification is as follows:
2NH3 + 3O2 → 2NO2– + 2H+ + 2H2O
2NO2– + O2 → 2NO3–
Nitrogen Assimilation:
Primary producers (plants) take in the nitrogen compounds from the soil
with the help of their roots, which are available in the form of ammonia,
nitrite ions, nitrate ions or ammonium ions and are used in the formation
of the plant and animal proteins. This way, it enters the food web when
the primary consumers eat the plants.
Ammonification:
When plants or animals die, the nitrogen present in the organic matter
is released back into the soil. The decomposers, namely bacteria or
fungi present in the soil, convert the organic matter back into
ammonium. This process of decomposition produces ammonia, which
is further used for other biological processes.
Denitrification:
Denitrification is the process in which the nitrogen compounds make
their way back into the atmosphere by converting nitrate (NO -) into
3
gaseous nitrogen (N ). This process of the nitrogen cycle is the final
2
stage and occurs in the absence of oxygen. Denitrification is carried out
by the denitrifying bacterial species- Clostridium and Pseudomonas,
which will process nitrate to gain oxygen and gives out free nitrogen
gas as a byproduct.