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What does it mean to say the "need of nitrogen in the atmosphere"? Needed for who, for what? Nitrogen is in the atmosphere regardless of who needs it.Is the nitrogen gas used for something? Definitely. Certain organisms are able to convert nitrogen gas, N2, in the atmosphere into NH3, ammonia, which is used as a plant nutrient. This is generally called nitrogen fixation.
Denitrification which is the process of nitrofen returning to the atmosphere which also involes denitrifying bacteria( convert nitrate back into nitrogen gas)
These enzymes are called nitrogenases.
By lightening and by nitrogen fixing bacteria in the roots of certain plants (eg the legumes).
When organisms die, decomposers return nitrogen to the soil as ammonia. The ammonia may be taken up again by producers. Other soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas in a process called denitrifrication. this process releases nitrogen into the atmosphere once again.
Bacteria are the only organisms that can convert nitrogen into a usable form. Diazotroph or nitrogen-fixing bacteria are types of bacteria that perform this ability.
Bacteria Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites
Bacteria =========================== Specifically a particular type of bacteria that live in nodules on the roots of certain plants (eg the Legume family) called "Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria" . Not other bacteria decompose organic material and release nitrogen back into the atmosphere.
Decomposers have a very important role in the nitrogen cycle. They convert nitrogen found in other organisms into ammonia so it can be returned to the soil. Some use a process called denitrification to return nitrogen directly to the atmosphere.
Bacteria Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites
A few plants, especially, legumes (or pulses: pod bearers), of which there is a wide variety; are able to convert nitrogen gas (N2) from the atmosphere to produce Ammonia NH3, a fertilizer. They do this with the symbiotic help of a bacteria (Rhizobium).Lichens, Blue-green algae, and some soil bacteriaalso produce and contribute ammonia to natural ecosystems.Other organisms, chemoautotrophic bacteria, Nitrosomonas, and Nitrobac­ter, convert ammonia to compounds of nitrous oxides culminating in mineral Nitrates (compounds of the form (M)NO3), fertilizers. Examples are Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3) and Potassium Nitrate (KNO3).
Living things that need nitrogen to make complex nitrogen compounds are called nitrogen-fixing organisms. These organisms have the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) into usable forms such as ammonia or nitrates, which can be incorporated into various biological molecules. Examples of nitrogen-fixing organisms include certain bacteria and some plants, such as legumes.