Nitrogen
Cycle
Prepared By: Angelica A. Berongoy
OBJECTIVES
At the end of discussion, students were able to :
Distinguish the flow of Nitrogen Cycle
Explain the different stages in Nitrogen Cycle
Display interest in learning the role of
Nitrogen in the environment and in our daily
living
What is Nitrogen?
N?
The French chemist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier
named nitrogen azote, meaning "without life".
The name became nitrogen, which derives from
the Greek word nitron genes, which means
"nitre" and "forming"and the Latin word nitrum
(nitre is a common name for potassium nitrate,
KNO3)
For the discovery of the element is generally
given to Daniel Rutherford, who found it could
be separated from air in 1772.
Nitrogen is a chemical element with the symbol
N and atomic number of 7.
Nitrogen, a component of proteins and nucleic
acids, is essential to life on Earth
Through a series of microbial transformations,
however, nitrogen is made available to plants,
which in turn ultimately sustain all animal life.
The majority (78%) of the Earth’s atmosphere is
N2.
How can we use Nitrogen?
In order for plants and animals to be
able to use nitrogen, N2 gas must first be
converted to more a chemically available
form such as ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate
(NO3-).
Nitrogen Cycle
The circulation or cyclic movement of
Nitrogen from the atmosphere
(physical or abiotic) component to soil
(Biotic component) and back into the
atmosphere.
NITROGE
N CYCLE
Nitrogen Fixation
Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into
Usable form like Ammonia for living
organisms.
(N2 --> NH4+)
HOW?
Biological
Environmental
Humans
Biological Bacteria (called Nitrogen-
fixing bacteria)
These bacteria form symbiotic
relationships with host plants.
The bacteria live in nodules
found in the roots of the
legume family of plants (e.g.
beans, peas, and clover)
This reaction is performed exclusively by using an
enzyme complex termed nitrogenase.
The reactions occur while N2 is bound to the
nitrogenase enzyme complex.
Examples of nitrogen-fixing bacteria (* denotes a photosynthetic
bacterium)
Free living Symbiotic with plants
Aerobic Anaerobic Legumes Other Plants
Azotobacter Purple sulphur Rhizobium Frankia
(High metabolism) bacteria (contain oxygen-
Cyanobacteria Green sulphur scavenging
bacteria molecules such
as
leghaemoglobin)
ENVIRONMENTAL High-energy
natural events which break the bond N2
lightning
hot lava flows
forest fires
HUMAN IMPACT
using synthetic nitrogen
Burning fossil fuels fertilizers
cultivation of legumes all fix nitrogen
Nitrogen Assimilation
☼The process of
absorbing Nitrates
and Ammonia from
the soil into Organic
nitrogen
☼This organic nitrogen
is transferred into
animal’s body when
plants are eaten by
animals.
Ammonification
☼ Part of the decaying process.
☼ Also known as Mineralization
☼ This process was carried out by
some Saprophytes like Fungi
and Bacteria
☼ When plants and animals dies,
decomposers turn the Nitrogen
back into ammonium so it can
reenter the nitrogen cycle
☼ Ammonia is also produced from
volcanic eruptions and excretory
products of animals.
Nitrification
☼ The Bacteria which is involved in nitrification is known
as Nitrifying bacteria.
☼ Ammonia is first converted to nitrites.
☼ Nitrites are converted to Nitrates.
☼ Nitrates are what the plants can then absorb
Nitrifying bacteria
☼ Nitrosomas- convert ammonium/ ammonia to nitrite
(No2-)
☼ Nitrobacter- convert nitrite to nitrate (No3-)
☼ The nitrifying bacteria are found in most soils and
waters of moderate pH, but are not active in highly
acidic soils.
☼ Use CO2 as their source of carbon to synthesize
organic compounds.
☼ chemoautotrophs - they gain their energy by
chemical oxidations (chemo-) and they are autotrophs
(self-feeders) because they do not depend on pre-
formed organic matter. Their use of CO2 to produce
organic matter is no different in principle from the
behaviour of plants.
Denitrification
Removing of extra Nitrogen
in the soil, and converts it
back to atmospheric N2.
(Denitrifying) Bacteria do it.
Ex. Thiobacillus denitrificans
and Micrococcus denitrificans
NITROGEN CYCLE
Ammonium is also assimilated by plants, bacteria and fungi!
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction is performed by anaerobic respiring bacteria.
Problems with increase of Nitrogen
Acid Rain Formation
Acidification of soil and lakes
Increase in death of plants
What happen if there’s no Nitrogen?
Root system and plant growth are stunted.
Older leaves turn yellow.
Decrease in crop production.
Soil micro-organisms life become
dangerous
Nitrogen was sometimes
referred to as "burnt"
or air without oxygen.
Your body is 3%
nitrogen by
weight.
Nitrogen is responsible
for the orange-red, blue-
green, blue-violet, and
deep violet colours of
the aurora
Nitrogen gas is often used as an
alternative to carbon dioxide
for storing beer in pressurized
kegs
Liquid Nitrogen is
frequently used to store
sperm, eggs and other cells
used in medical research or
fertility clinics
Liquid Nitrogen is used in
storing food and helps in
preserving their flavor,
texture and moisture
Nitrogen gas is used as a non
flammable protective atmosphere.
The liquid form of the element is
used to remove warts, as a computer
coolant, and for cryogenics.
