THE NITROGEN CYCLE

SOME BASIC QUESTIONS?

YES , THE
ANSWER
IS
NITROGEN

 Nitrogen is the important

essential element for all living
organisms by the synthesis of
amino acids, minerals and
enzymes.

 BUT WHAT
HAPPENS IF
THERE IS NO
NITROGEN?

 Root systems and plant

growth are stunted.
Older leaves turn yellow.
There would be a decrease in
crop production.
Soil micro-organisms life
would become dangerous

 WHAT IS NITROGEN CYCLE?

The circulation or cyclic
movement of the nitrogen from
the atmosphere (physical or
abiotic component)into a biotic
component and back into the
atmosphere is known as nitrogen
cycle

 THERE ARE FIVE STEPS IN NITROGEN

CYCLE.
nitrogen fixation
nitrogen assimilation
Ammonification
nitrification
denitrification

BUT WHY NITROGEN

SHOULD BE
CONVERTED?
Plants cannot utilize
atmospheric
nitrogen so it should be
converted into
utilizable form as
ammonia.

1.NITROGEN FIXATION
The conversion of atmospheric
nitrogen into ammonia for living
organisms is known as nitrogen
fixation.
This process is carried out by
leguminous plants such as
groundnut, even some bacteria can
fix atmospheric nitrogen

 Examples:
Azotobacter ,
clostridium ,
rhizobium ,
nostoc and
anabaena

 2.NITROGEN ASSIMILATION
The process of absorbing nitrates
and ammonia into organic nitrogen.
This is transferred into animals body
when plants are eaten by animals.

3.AMMONIFICATION
The process of converting organic
nitrogen into ammonia when animals
die is known as ammonification /
mineralization .
This process is carried out by
saprophytes like fungi and bacteria.

4. NITRIFICATION

This process is done by nitrifying bacteria.

Ammonia is first converted to nitrites
Examples
Nitrococcus, nitrosomona
Nitrites are converted to nitrates .
Examples
nitrobacter

5.DENITRIFICATION
Nitrates are converted into molecular
nitrogen through nitric oxide is
known as denitrification .
Nitrates( No3)
nitric oxide
(No)
atmospheric
nitrogen(N2).
Examples
Thiobacillus denitrificans
pseudomonds denitrificans
Micrococcus denitrificans.

PROBLEMS BY INCREASE OF
NITROGEN
Acid rain
Acidification of lakes and ponds.
Increase in death of plants

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