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Although the air is made up of about 70% nitrogen, plants cannot use nitrogen in this N2 form. Nitrogen fixing bacteria change nitrogen into the form of soluble nitrates so that plants can use it. Other bacteria, known as de-nitrifying bacteria, change nitrates back into N2, which completes the nitrogen cycle Updated by: Levi Levitt
Nitrifying bacteria converts ammonia compounds into nitrites and nitrates while denitrifying converts the nitrates into atmospheric nitrogen gas. It is confusing as at first I thought that the denitrifying bacteria would convert the nitrates into ammonia, but that is wrong. Denitrification is the opposite to nitrogen fixation, not nitrification.
Nitrogen used by plants and animals is returned to the atmosphere by the action of bacteria. Bacteria break down proteins to obtain energy, releasing nitrogen back into the air in the process.
denitrification is soil bacteria converting nitrates into nitrogen gas, is process releases nitrogen into the atmosphere. If there wasn't any bacteria, there would be no process and therefor the nitrogen wouldn't make it into the atmosphere.
NO. Nitrogen is a required nutrient for plants but it is obtained from ammonia or nitrates used as fertilizers. Some plants can "fix" (convert nitrogen in the air to an usable form) with the assistance of microorganisms living at the roots.
Although the air is made up of about 70% nitrogen, plants cannot use nitrogen in this N2 form. Nitrogen fixing bacteria change nitrogen into the form of soluble nitrates so that plants can use it. Other bacteria, known as de-nitrifying bacteria, change nitrates back into N2, which completes the nitrogen cycle Updated by: Levi Levitt
Nitrifying bacteria converts ammonia compounds into nitrites and nitrates while denitrifying converts the nitrates into atmospheric nitrogen gas. It is confusing as at first I thought that the denitrifying bacteria would convert the nitrates into ammonia, but that is wrong. Denitrification is the opposite to nitrogen fixation, not nitrification.
denitrification
Although nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere, atmospheric nitrogen features a triple bond that is difficult to break. Bacteria in the soil are mainly responsible for breaking this bond to create organic nitrates that are used by the plants. Such bacteria are called "nitrogen-fixing bacteria" because they take nitrogen from the air (N2) and "fix" it into ammonium (NH4+). Then other bacteria called nitrifying bacteria convert this ammonium to nitrate and nitrite. The nitrates are assimilated by plants through the root systems and incorporate them into nucleic acids and proteins. Animals eat these plants and can use the nitrogen stored within. Then the consumers further up the trophic levels can obtain their nitrogen from the herbivores.
Nitrogen used by plants and animals is returned to the atmosphere by the action of bacteria. Bacteria break down proteins to obtain energy, releasing nitrogen back into the air in the process.
Nitrogen fixation occurs in1 free living bacteria and archaea e.g. Azotobacter, Klebsiella, Clostridium, and Methanococcus,2 bacteria living in symbiotic association with plants such as legumes e.g. Rhizobium3 cyanobacteria e.g. Nostoc, Anabaena, and Trichodesmia.
All bacteria that are called saprophytes break down the remains of dead organisms. These bacteria recycle oxygen, nutrients, and other valuable resources that can be used over by other organisms. THE CORRECT ANSWER: nitrogen compounds
Nitrogen is the major component of earth's atmosphere. It enters the food chain by means of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and algae in the soil. This nitrogen which has been 'fixed' is now available for plants to absorb. These types of bacteria form a symbiotic relationship with legumes--these types of plants are very useful because the nitrogen fixation enriches the soil and acts as a 'natural' fertilizer. The nitrogen-fixing bacteria form nitrates out of the atmospheric nitrogen which can be taken up and dissolved in soil water by the roots of plants. Then, the nitrates are incorporated by the plants to form proteins, which can then be spread through the food chain. When organisms excrete wastes, nitrogen is released into the environment. Also, whenever an organism dies, decomposers break down the corpse into nitrogen in the form of ammonia. This nitrogen can then be used again by nitrifying bacteria to fix nitrogen for the plants. For more information please visit this website, it is has a great explaination of the entire process in great detail: http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=98 Also, to see a good diagram that explains it visually check out this image http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/earth_system/nitrogen_cycle_EPA.jpg
Lightning has enough energy to break the incredibly strong bonds between molecules of nitrogen gas, producing nitrogen radicals that bond with other radicals in the atmosphere to produce molecules that plants can harness for growth. N2-> 2N 2N+ 202-> 2NO2
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Decomposers produce nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb through their root systems. Both plants and animals synthesize complex nitrogen compounds, such as purines and pyrimidines (the bases in nucleic acids) and proteins. When these organisms die, when animals leave droppings, and when plants drop leaves, these proteins and other organic nitrogen compounds accumulate on the ground in a form that plants cannot use. If there were no decomposers, nitrogen would be locked up in this dead-end form, out of circulation. Decomposers metabolize the organic nitrogen compounds, converting them into nitrates that plants can take up through their roots.
denitrification is soil bacteria converting nitrates into nitrogen gas, is process releases nitrogen into the atmosphere. If there wasn't any bacteria, there would be no process and therefor the nitrogen wouldn't make it into the atmosphere.