NITROGEN CYCLE

What is the Nitrogen Cycle?

• Nitrogen Cycle is a biogeochemical 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 is a biogeochemical process which

transforms the inert nitrogen present in the
atmosphere to a more usable form for living
organisms.”
CONCENTRATION OF GASES
IN THE ATMOSPHERE
Why living organisms are unable to use
the nitrogen directly from the
atmosphere?

Nitrogen gas (N2) is unreactive because of

the presence of strong triple bonds and is
not easily converted into other compounds.
• Nitrogen is a key component of the bodies of living
organisms. Nitrogen atoms are found in all proteins
and DNA.

• Nitrogen gas exists in both organic and inorganic

forms. Organic nitrogen exists in living organisms,
and they get passed through the food chain by the
consumption of other living organisms.

• Inorganic forms of nitrogen are found in abundance

in the atmosphere. This nitrogen is made available
to plants by symbiotic bacteria which can convert
the inert nitrogen into a usable form – such as
nitrites and nitrates.
 How does atmospheric
nitrogen (N2) get changed
into a form that can be
used by most living
organisms?
 Process 1 : Nitrogen Fixation

It is the process in which the free N2 in the

atmosphere converted into usable form. The
nitrogen is fixed when it combines with
hydrogen or oxygen.
Three ways to fix
nitrogen……
I. Physical fixation

II. Chemical fixation

III. Biological fixation with the help

of bacteria in the soil or bacteria
found in nodules of legumes.
1. Physical fixation / Atmospheric fixation
A natural phenomenon
where the energy of
lightning breaks the
nitrogen into nitrogen
oxides and is then used
by plants

N2 + O2 Lightning → Thunder 2N0 (Nitric Oxide)

• During the rains, NO2 combines with rain
water to form nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric
acid (HNO3).

• The acids fall on the soil along with rain

water and react with the alkaline radicals to
form water soluble nitrates (NO3-) and
nitrites (N02-).

• The nitrates are soluble in water and are

directly absorbed by the roots of the plants.
2. Industrial nitrogen fixation/
Chemical fixation

• 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 and
later, it is converted into various fertilizers
such as urea.
 Chemical fixation
• Haber process combines
nitrogen from the air with
hydrogen into ammonia.
• In this process, nitrogen
reacts with hydrogen at
high temperatures (500°C)
and high pressures (250
atmospheres)

N2 + 3H2  2NH3
 3. Biological fixation
• Bacteria like Rhizobium
and blue-green algae
transform the unusable
form of nitrogen into
other compounds that
are more readily usable.
• These nitrogen
compounds get fixed in
the soil by these
microbes.
 Biological fixation
• With the help of living organisms

• Certain soil organisms have the special

ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen to
ammonium.

• In the soil, nitrogen fixating organisms can

form special relationships with plants,
called “symbiotic” associations.

• Best example is shown by Legume -

Rhizobium association.
Legume -Rhizobium association
Rhizobium is a nitrogen fixing bacteria
found in the root nodules of legumes like
beans and peas.
2.Nitrification
• The conversion (as by bacteria)of ammonia
to nitrites and the further conversion of
nitrites to nitrates.

• Nitrosomonas bacteria convert ammonia

into nitrite (NO2-)

• Nitrobacter convert nitrite to nitrate (NO3-).

 3. Assimilation
Nitrates (NO3¯) are
commonly
assimilated (taken
in/absorbed) by
plants through their
root hairs.
4. 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.
Decomposers E.g.: bacteria(clostridium),
fungi
 Decomposition
• When plants and animals die, decomposers will
convert nitrogen containing nutrients back into
ammonium salts and ammonia.
• Nitrogenous waste and feces are also decomposed by
this bacteria.

Organic Nitrogen (proteins)

 5. Denitrification
• When the oxygen (O2) supply in soil becomes limited,
denitrifying bacteria (Thiobacillus,Pseudomonas) can
convert usable nitrates in the soil back to free nitrogen.

• Most commonly this occurs in wet or waterlogged soils

where the oxygen supply for respiration is restricted.
 THE NITROGEN CYCLE
L.O. – To describe the various steps in the 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 (N2) gas is an unreactive gas due to the strong

triple bonds. This cannot be easily converted into other
compounds.

• Nitrogen is present in DNA and also in protein.

The Main steps in the nitrogen cycle are:-
1. Nitrogen fixation
2. Nitrification
3. Assimilation
4. Ammonification
5. Denitrification
1. Nitrogen fixation
It occurs in three ways:-
• Biological fixation- Through rhizobium bacteria in the root
nodules of leguminous plants (e.g- pea plant) that convert
N2  NH3
• Physical fixation- During lightning, free N2 in the air is
broken and converted into nitrates.
• Chemical fixation- Haber process in labs and factories.
N2+ 3H2  2NH3
(ammonia))
2. Nitrification

(Nitrite) (Nitrate)
3. Assimilation
The nitrates in the soil are absorbed by the plants
through roots.
4. Ammonification
Decomposers feed on dead or excrete matter and turns it
into ammonia(NH3)
5.Denitrification
Nitrifying bacteria Denitrifying bacteria
NH3 NO3- N2
 Importance of Nitrogen Cycle
• Helps plants to synthesize chlorophyll from the nitrogen
compounds.
• Helps in converting inert nitrogen gas into a usable form
for the plants through the biochemical process.
• In the process of ammonification, the bacteria help in
decomposing the animal and plant matter, which
indirectly helps to clean up the environment.
• Nitrates and nitrites are released into the soil, which
helps in enriching the soil with the necessary nutrients
required for cultivation.
• Nitrogen is an integral component of the cell and it forms
many crucial compounds and important biomolecules.