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NITROGEN CYCLE
NITROGEN CYCLE
FOR YOUR NOTEBOOK
Nitrogen Fixation- For Nitrogen to be used by different life forms on Earth, it must change into different states. Nitrogen in the atmosphere is N2 and is converted to other states of nitrogen including Nitrates (NO3), Nitrites (NO2), and Ammonium (NH4).
Nitrification- ammonium is converted into NO3 by bacteria and absorbed by plants.
Assimilation- plants absorb nitrates from the soil through their roots.
Ammonification- decay; when plants and animals die, decomposers convert nitrogen into ammonium to allow it to reenter the cycle.
Denitrification- some soil bacteria convert NO2 and NO3 back to N2 into the atmosphere.
