THE NITROGEN CYCLE

Atmospheric
Plants nitrogen,. N2
I

' •.,,

\
Dentirification
.
~.Qefnllj:rrying ,.
battei1a. •••
••

Ammmlff:eation

~ltirogen ' Nitro;en-fixln;

fixati<Jn bacteria in .son
here is nitrogen found in
the environment?
The largest single source of nitrogen is in the atmosphere.

Nitrogen makes up 78°/o of our air!

 hat happens to
atmospheric nitrogen
N in the nitrogen
cycle? N
•
N
---. N
. ,,; t;:;£:;r.,
N

N N
 Atmospheric nitrogen is converted
to ammonia or nitrates.
N
N
Atmospheric
Nitrogen (N2)
N N

Nitrates (N03)
Nitrogen combines Nitrogen £'t>111/1i11e,..,·
J.Vit/1 HJ,dr1>ge11 I<> make
with O.\J'ge11 to 111,,ke
A1111111>11i,1
Nitrates
 N
N

hy does N

atmospheric nitrogen N

need to be
converted?
N N
...----------._It is one of nature's
---~

great ironies ...

Nitrogen is an essential
component of DNA and
proteins the building blocks
of life.
Although the majority of the
air we breathe is nitrogen,
most living organisms are
unable to use nitrogen as it
exists in the atmosphere!
 How does
N
atmospheric
nitrogen get
changed into a
form that can be
used by most
living organisms?
 By traveling through one of the four
processes in the Nitrogen Cycle!

(1) Nitrogen Fixation

(4) Denitrijication

(3) Nitrification (2) Ammonification

The first process in the
nitrogen cycle is ...
Nitrogen Fixation!
(1) Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen ·
Cycle
 N
hat is
"nitrogen Ixation ''
and
what does it mean
to say
nitrogen gets
'' ixed"?
 ''Nitrogen Fixation" is the process that causes the strong
two-atom nitrogen molecules found in the atmosphere to
break apart so they can combi=- :l:tr~+h nther atoms-c,
N
Hydroge N

ydrogen

N
N
N N

Nitrogen gets ''fixed'' when it is combined with oxygen or

hydrogen.
There are three ways that
nitrogen gets ''fixed''!
(a) Atmospheric Fixation

(b) Industrial Fixation

(c) Biological Fixation

Baeteria
 Lightning "fixes" Nitrogen!

Atmospheric Fixation
(Only 5 to 8°/o of the Fixation
Process)
The enormous energy of
lightning breaks nitrogen Nitrogen
combines with
Oxygen
molecules apart and enables
the nitrogen atoms to combine
with oxygen forming nitrogen Nitrogen oxides forms

oxides (N20). Nitro gen oxides (N20)

dissolve in rain, forming Nitrogen oxides dissolve
in rain and change to
nitrates

carried to the ground with the

•
rain. I Plants use nitrates to grow!
 Industrial Fixation
Under great pressure, at
a temperature of 600
degrees Celcius, and Industrial Plant combines nitrogen
with the use of a and hydrogen
catalyst, atmospheric
nitrogen (NJ and
hydrogen are combined (NH3) Ammonia is formed

to form ammonia (NHJ.

Ammonia can be used as
a fertilizer.

Ammonia is used a fertilizer in soil

 Biological Fixation
(where MOST nitrogen fixing is completed)
There are two types of ''Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria''

Free Living Bacteria

("fixes'' 30% of N2) Symbiotic Relationship Bacteria
("fixes'' 70% of N2)
 Free Living Bacteria
Highly specialized bacteria live in the soil and have the
ability to combine atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen
to make ammonia (NHJ.

Free-living bacteria live

in soil and combine
atmospheric nitrogen
with hydrogen

Nitrogen changes
into ammonia

Bacteria
 Symbiotic Relationship I Legume plants I

Bacteria
~

Bacteria live in the roots of

legume family plants and
provide the plants with
ammonia (NH) in
exchange for the plant's
carbon and a protected
home.

Some of the ammonia

escapes into the
surrounding soil enriching Roots with nodules
where bacteria live
it with usable nitrogen for
all plants. Nitrogen changes into
ammonia.
Most atmospheric nitrogen
(N is "fixed" and changed to
ammonia (NH . Ammonia is
highly toxic to many
•
organisms.
Can plants use
ammonia?
Very few plants can use
ammonia (NH ...
(1) Nitrogen Fixation

(2) Ammonification

... but, fortunately the

second ;process
Ammonification can help!
 hat is
ammoni Ication?
 Ammonification: Decomposition by bacteria and fungi
breaks down amino acids from dead animals and wastes into
•
ammonia.

)y :-

............
n_ • •-• ::_., .~---._ ...
•

. ·--

Bacteria decomposers break down amino acids into ammonia

 hy is
• •
ammont ication
necessary?
Because plants cannot use the organic forms of
nitrogen that are in the soil as a result of:
( 1) wastes ( manure and sewage)
(2) compost and decomposing roots and leaves
 How does
• •
ammont ication
occur?
 Microorganisms convert the organic nitrogen to
ammonis. The ammonia is either taken up by the plants
(only in a few types of plants) or is absorbed into the
soil particles. Ammonia (NH) in the soil is stored up to
later be changed into forms of nitrogen that most plants
can use.
Bacteria converts organic nitrogen to
ammonia (NH3)

Ammonia (NH3) is used by

some plants
Bacteria

Ammonia (NH3) is
stored in soil.
 hat happens to
ammonia NH stored
in the soil?
 It travels through the
third nrocess
of the nitrogen cycle called
Nitrification!

(1) Nitrogen Fixation

(3) Nitrification (2) Ammonifieation

 Let's ''run
through'' a
general
overview of the
Nitrification
Process
 N itrifying bacteria in the ground first combine
ammonia with oxygen to form nitrites. Then another
group of nitrifying bacteria convert nitrites to nitrates
which green plants can absorb and use!
Nitrifying bacteria in soil
combine ammonia with oxygen

Ammonia changes to nitrites

' .
Nitrifying bacteria in soil
convert nitrites to nitrates

Plants absorb nitrates

and grow!
 How does
nitrogen
reenter the
atmosphere
in the
nitrogen
cycle?
 Through the fourth
process called
denitri Icationl
(1) Nitrogen Fixation
(4) Denitrification

(3) Ammonification (2) Nitrifieation

 ?
.,,
• •
hat does
denitri Ication
do?
Denitrification converts nitrates (NOJ in the soil to
atmospheric nitrogen (N) replenishing the
atmosphere.
I Nitrogen in atmosphere (N2)

Nitrates (N03)
in Soil
 . . ~~~~~~~-
' '•
-
How does the
denitri Ication
process work?

Nitrates in soil
 Denitrifying bacteria live deep in soil and in swampy
sediments where conditions make it difficult for them to
get oxygen. The denitrifying bacteria use nitrates as an
alternative to oxygen, leaving free nitrogen gas as a
byproduct. They close the nitrogen cycle!

Nitrogen in atmosphere
closes the nitrogen cycle!

Denitrifying bacteria live deep

in soil and use nitrates as an
alternative to oxygen making a
« byproduct of nitrogen gas.
 Other ways that nitrogen
returns to the atmosphere ...

Emissions from industrial combustion and Volcano eruptions

gasoline engines create nitrous oxides emit nitrous oxides
gas (N20). gas (N20).
 (a)
--~1111N (b)
2

(1) Nitrogen Fixation

(4) Denitrification
Nitrogen in the atmosphere is
converted into nitrates or ammonia
Nitrates are converted
back into atmospheric
nitrogen
Nitrogen
Cycle

(2) Ammonification

(3) Nitrification

.,,.--.; • .• ~..:-

Ammonia is converted Decomposition converts

to nitrites and nitrates. Nitrates in Soil
dead material into ammonia
 THE NITROGEN CYCLE
Atmospheric
Plants 11ilrogen, N2
•
I
' -

. Nitrogen
Asslmllatlon
·.-Qenitdfying , fixation
ti.acterla
rfmogeri-tlilog:
ba-ctetiia ill •
Ammonlffcation plant roots ,.