1. NITROGEN CYCLE Explains how NITROGEN moves through an ecosystem.
Atm. Is 78% Nitrogen
NOT in an immediately usable form.
Must be CONVERTED into usable compounds for use by plants and animals.
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2. 4 PART Nitrogen CYCLE
1. NITROGEN FIXATION=
The process of converting N gas to Ammonium ions.
Accomplished by “Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria”

3. WHERE ARE THE BACTERIA? IN SOIL IN NODULES (LEGUMES) OF ROOTS
EX. OF LEGUMES: ALFALFA, PEANUTS, CLOVER,,PEAS

4. N2 gas converted to NH4+(ammonium ions)
IONS released into SOIL
IONS released into roots of bacteria’s host plant

5. IONS then used to make organic compounds
Which helps the PLANT GROW

6. 2. NITRIFICATION
NH4+(AMMONIUM IONS) are changed into NITRITES (NO2-) or NITRATE (NO3-)
Again this is used in the plant to MAKE ORGANIC PRODUCTS

7. 3. AMMONIFICATION
BREAKING DOWN NITROGEN CoMPounDS IN THE REMAINS OF ORGANISMS INTO AMMONIA (NH3)
PERFORMED BY DECOMPOSERS (bacteria and fungi)

8. 4. DE-NITRIFICATION
Conversion of NH3, NO2-, or NO3- into free N2 GAS and released back into the atmosphere.
Performed by BACTERIA in the SOIL