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Nitrogen Cycle W Questions

Nitrogen is essential for life but difficult for plants to absorb. The nitrogen cycle involves nitrogen fixation by lightning or bacteria, which makes nitrogen available to plants. Plants and animals incorporate nitrogen into amino acids, DNA, and other molecules. Decomposition returns nitrogen to the soil as ammonium or nitrates through ammonification and other processes, allowing the cycle to continue. Bacteria play a key role in fixing, converting, and returning nitrogen to forms usable by plants and other organisms.

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201 views2 pages

Nitrogen Cycle W Questions

Nitrogen is essential for life but difficult for plants to absorb. The nitrogen cycle involves nitrogen fixation by lightning or bacteria, which makes nitrogen available to plants. Plants and animals incorporate nitrogen into amino acids, DNA, and other molecules. Decomposition returns nitrogen to the soil as ammonium or nitrates through ammonification and other processes, allowing the cycle to continue. Bacteria play a key role in fixing, converting, and returning nitrogen to forms usable by plants and other organisms.

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emma
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Nitrogen Cycle Worksheet

Introduction:
 Animals are able to obtain nitrogen through eating plants and animals.
 Plants have much harder time obtaining nitrogen as they can only absorb nitrogen when it is
mixed with oxygen or hydrogen.
 Nitrogen is mixed with oxygen or hydrogen through a process called nitrogen fixation.
 There are two ways nitrogen can be fixated:
1. Lightening
2. Bacteria in the soil or bacteria found in nodules of legumes
 Nitrogen is a necessary component of life as plants need it to grow and animals need it to
create DNA.
 The speed of decomposition is the key to keeping the nitrogen cycle moving as the majority
of fixated nitrogen comes from bacteria breaking down dead matter and feces.
 The warmer an area is the faster decomposition will occur.

Processes in the Nitrogen Cycle

 Fixation - Fixation is the first step in the process of making nitrogen usable by plants. Here
bacteria change nitrogen into ammonium.
 Nitrification - this is the process by which ammonium gets changed into nitrates by bacteria.
Nitrates are what the plants can then absorb.
 Assimilation - This is how plants get nitrogen. They absorb nitrates from the soil into their
roots. Then the nitrogen gets used in amino acids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll.
 Ammonification - This is part of the decaying process. When a plant or animal dies, decomposers
like fungi and bacteria turn the nitrogen back in ammonium so it can reenter the nitrogen cycle.
 Denitrification - Extra nitrogen in the soil gets put back out into the air. There are special
bacteria that perform this task as well.
Questions:

1. Explain why bacteria are the most important part of the nitrogen cycle.
Bacteria turn the nitrogen into ammonia which starts the whole cycle, and provides most of
the nitrogen in the system.

2. 2. If nearly 79% of the atmosphere is made of nitrogen, how could there be a shortage of
nitrogen in soil?
Plants can only take in nitrogen with hydrogen and Oxygen.

3. How do animals obtain usable nitrogen? Why is it important? Through consuming plants and
other organisms. Nitrogen is a necessary component of life as plants need it to grow and
animals need it to create DNA.

4. Give the two ways nitrogen can be fixated so plants can use it to grow.
Through Lightening and Bacteria in the soil or bacteria found in nodules of legumes

5. Explain the problem if too much nitrogen enters an aquatic ecosystem.


Too much nitrogen can cause issues with the body functions.

6. Explain the statement “Nutrients do not flow in one direction in the ecosystem, they recycle
through the ecosystem.”
Nitrogen can be recycled at any time. It doesn’t just end; it is “reborn” back into the
ecosystem.

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