Bacteria
Bacteria
The bacteria in the soil that can break down ammonia into gaseous nitrogen are primarily known as denitrifying bacteria. These bacteria, such as those from the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus, convert ammonia (NH3) and nitrites (NO2-) into nitrogen gas (N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O) through a process called denitrification. This process is an essential part of the nitrogen cycle, helping to reduce excess nitrogen in the soil and return it to the atmosphere.
Plants need nitrogen. Unfortunately, gaseous nitrogen from the air is triple bonded and entering the soil thus make it unusable to plants because they have not way to break the triple bonds. There is a bacteria in a mutalistic, symbiotic relationship with plants and this bacteria has the proper enzymes to fix nitrogen into usable forms such as ammonia.
Bacteria in the soil break down ammonia through a process called nitrification. This involves two types of bacteria: ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). AOB convert ammonia into nitrite, and NOB then convert nitrite into nitrate. This process releases nitrogen into the soil, which is essential for plant growth.
The nitrogen cycle begins with nitrogen fixation, where nitrogen gas is converted into ammonia by bacteria. Ammonia is then converted into nitrites and nitrates by nitrifying bacteria. Plants take up nitrates as nutrients, which are then consumed by animals. Finally, denitrifying bacteria break down nitrates back into nitrogen gas, completing the cycle.
Some bacteria have the ability to "fix" nitrogen, that is they can utilize gaseous (atmospheric) nitrogen to produce organic compounds. (They can all break down compounds to free nitrogen too.)
Bacteria use a process called nitrogen fixation to convert nitrogen gas in the air to ammonia. This process involves specialized enzymes that break the strong triple bond in nitrogen gas and convert it into a form that can be used by plants and other organisms.
N2 molecules break apart via nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Animals ingest nitrogen in nitrate-containing food after plants use nitrogen containing compounds. Organic matter decays via decomposers. N2 is formed via denitrifying bacteria.
N2 molecules break apart via nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Other living entities such as plants and animals ingest nitrogen in nitrate-containing compounds. Organic matter decays via decomposers. N2 is formed via denitrifying bacteria.
Nitrogen fixation: Bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Nitrification: Ammonia is converted into nitrites and then nitrates by nitrifying bacteria. Assimilation: Plants and other organisms take up nitrates to build proteins and nucleic acids. Ammonification: Decomposers break down organic matter releasing ammonia back into the soil. Denitrification: Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates back into atmospheric nitrogen, completing the cycle.
In the nitrogen cycle, decomposers break down nitrogen-containing organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, as well as waste products. This process releases nitrogen in the form of ammonia through decomposition. Ammonia can then be further processed by nitrifying bacteria into nitrites and nitrates, which are usable forms of nitrogen for plants. Ultimately, these processes help recycle nitrogen back into the ecosystem.
Actually nitrogen exist in the atmosphere in dinitrogen (N2) form and cannot be utilized directly. As such bacteria help in converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia which then can be used by the plants.
Nitrogen Cycle occurs in the aquarium.Fish produce ammonia which is toxic. In a well established aquarium, Some beneficial bacteria will break down the ammonia into nitrite, and a second species of bacteria will break down nitrite into less harmful nitrate. The whole process of converting ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate is called nitrogen cycle.Although, only well established fish tanks have this nitrogen cycle going normally.For new aquariums, fish keepers must do fishless nitrogen cycle before they add any fish at all, or the fish will risk dying to ammonia poisoning due to insufficient amount of good bacteria. The whole fishless nitrogen cycle process can take 6~8 weeks.