NITROGEN

CYCLE
 WHAT IS IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN?

◼ Atmospheric nitrogen is a stable diatomic

molecule with the formula N2.
◼ The atoms are held by a triple bond.
◼ Nitrogen is an important component of all life.
◼ It is a major constituent of biomolecules such as
proteins, nucleic acids
◼ It forms other cellular constituents too which are
essential for all forms of life.
NITROGEN CYCLE
NITROGEN FIXATION – ATMOSPHERIC AND BIOLOGICAL
Nitrogen Fixation is a biological process in which the nitrogen gas is converted into a usable form for plants and other
microbes.
In this process, nitrogen gas present in the atmosphere is converted into nitrates, ammonia and other related
nitrogenous compounds.
AMMONIFICATION/DECAY

◼ 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.
◼ Decomposition produces ammonia, which is
further used for other biological processes.
NITRIFICATION
NITRIFICATION IS THE BIOLOGICAL CONVERSION OF AMMONIA OR AMMONIUM TO NITRITE OR NITRATE.
 ◼ Denitrification is the process of converting or reducing the nitrates back
into inert nitrogen gas.
DENITRIFICATION ◼ The process is carried out during the absence of oxygen by
DENITRIFYING bacterial species such as Clostridium and
Pseudomonas.
VIDEO LINK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOpRT8BRGtk
SIMPLIFIED
NITROGEN
CYCLE
IMPORTANCE OF THE NITROGEN CYCLE

◼ The nitrogen cycle helps bring in the inert nitrogen from the air into the biochemical
process in plants and then to animals.
◼ Plants need nitrogen to synthesize chlorophyll.
◼ During the process of ammonification, the bacteria help degrade decomposing animal and
plant matter. This helps in naturally cleaning up the environment.
◼ Due to the nitrogen cycle, nitrates and nitrites are released into the soil which helps in
enriching the soil with nutrients needed for cultivation.
◼ As plants use nitrogen for their biochemical processes, animals obtain the nitrogen and
nitrogen compounds from plants. Nitrogen is needed as is an integral part of the cell
composition. It is due to the nitrogen cycle that animals are also able to utilize the nitrogen
present in the air.