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Contents
Processes
Nitrogen fixation
Assimilation
Ammonification
Nitrification
Denitrification
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium
Anaerobic ammonia oxidation
Other processes
Marine nitrogen cycle Schematic representation of the flow of nitrogen
New vs. regenerated nitrogen through the ecosystem. The importance of bacteria
in the cycle is immediately recognized as being a
Human influences on the nitrogen cycle key element in the cycle, providing different forms
Consequence of human modification of the of nitrogen compounds able to be assimilated by
nitrogen cycle higher organisms
Impacts on natural systems
Impacts on human health: nitrate
accumulation in drinking water
Impacts on human health: air quality
See also
References
Processes
Nitrogen is present in the environment in a wide variety of
+
chemical forms including organic nitrogen, ammonium (NH4 ),
− −
nitrite (NO2 ), nitrate (NO3 ), nitrous oxide (N2 O), nitric oxide
(NO) or inorganic nitrogen gas (N2 ). Organic nitrogen may be
in the form of a living organism, humus or in the intermediate
products of organic matter decomposition. The processes in the
nitrogen cycle is to transform nitrogen from one form to
another. Many of those processes are carried out by microbes,
either in their effort to harvest energy or to accumulate nitrogen
in a form needed for their growth. For example, the nitrogenous A simple diagram of the nitrogen cycle. The
wastes in animal urine are broken down by nitrifying bacteria in blue boxes represent stores of nitrogen, the
the soil to be used by plants. The diagram alongside shows how green writing is for processes that occur to
these processes fit together to form the nitrogen cycle. move the nitrogen from one place to another
and the red writing are all the bacteria
involved
Nitrogen fixation
Plants can absorb nitrate or ammonium from the soil by their root hairs. If nitrate is absorbed, it is first reduced
to nitrite ions and then ammonium ions for incorporation into amino acids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll. In
plants that have a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia, some nitrogen is assimilated in the form of ammonium
ions directly from the nodules. It is now known that there is a more complex cycling of amino acids between
Rhizobia bacteroids and plants. The plant provides amino acids to the bacteroids so ammonia assimilation is
not required and the bacteroids pass amino acids (with the newly fixed nitrogen) back to the plant, thus
forming an interdependent relationship.[25] While many animals, fungi, and other heterotrophic organisms
obtain nitrogen by ingestion of amino acids, nucleotides, and other small organic molecules, other heterotrophs
(including many bacteria) are able to utilize inorganic compounds, such as ammonium as sole N sources.
Utilization of various N sources is carefully regulated in all organisms.
Ammonification
When a plant or animal dies or an animal expels waste, the initial form of nitrogen is organic. Bacteria or fungi
convert the organic nitrogen within the remains back into ammonium ( ), a process called
ammonification or mineralization. Enzymes involved are:
Nitrification
Denitrification
Denitrification is the reduction of nitrates back into nitrogen gas (N2 ), completing the nitrogen cycle. This
process is performed by bacterial species such as Pseudomonas and Paracoccus, under anaerobic conditions.
They use the nitrate as an electron acceptor in the place of oxygen during respiration. These facultatively
(meaning optionally) anaerobic bacteria can also live in aerobic conditions. Denitrification happens in
anaerobic conditions e.g. waterlogged soils. The denitrifying bacteria use nitrates in the soil to carry out
respiration and consequently produce nitrogen gas, which is inert and unavailable to plants.
In this biological process, nitrite and ammonia are converted directly into molecular nitrogen (N2 ) gas. This
process makes up a major proportion of nitrogen conversion in the oceans. The balanced formula for this
+ −
"anammox" chemical reaction is: NH4 + NO2 → N2 + 2H2 O (ΔG° = −357 kJ⋅mol−1 ).[31]
Other processes
Though nitrogen fixation is the primary source of plant-available nitrogen in most ecosystems, in areas with
nitrogen-rich bedrock, the breakdown of this rock also serves as a nitrogen source.[32][33][34] Nitrate reduction
is also part of the iron cycle, under anoxic conditions Fe(II) can donate an electron to NO3 − and is oxidized to
Fe(III) while NO3 − is reduced to NO2 −, N2 O, N2 , and NH4 + depending on the conditions and microbial
species involved.[35]
Ammonium is thought to be the preferred source of fixed nitrogen for phytoplankton because its assimilation
does not involve a redox reaction and therefore requires little energy. Nitrate requires a redox reaction for
assimilation but is more abundant so most phytoplankton have adapted to have the enzymes necessary to
undertake this reduction (nitrate reductase). There are a few notable and well-known exceptions that include
most Prochlorococcus and some Synechococcus that can only take up nitrogen as ammonium.[38]
The nutrients in the ocean are not uniformly distributed. Areas of upwelling provide supplies of nitrogen from
below the euphotic zone. Coastal zones provide nitrogen from runoff and upwelling occurs readily along the
coast. However, the rate at which nitrogen can be taken up by phytoplankton is decreased in oligotrophic
waters year-round and temperate water in the summer resulting in lower primary production.[41] The
distribution of the different forms of nitrogen varies throughout the oceans as well.
Nitrate is depleted in near-surface water except in upwelling regions. Coastal upwelling regions usually have
high nitrate and chlorophyll levels as a result of the increased production. However, there are regions of high
surface nitrate but low chlorophyll that are referred to as HNLC (high nitrogen, low chlorophyll) regions. The
best explanation for HNLC regions relates to iron scarcity in the ocean, which may play an important part in
ocean dynamics and nutrient cycles. The input of iron varies by region and is delivered to the ocean by dust
(from dust storms) and leached out of rocks. Iron is under consideration as the true limiting element to
ecosystem productivity in the ocean.
Ammonium and nitrite show a maximum concentration at 50–80 m (lower end of the euphotic zone) with
decreasing concentration below that depth. This distribution can be accounted for by the fact that nitrite and
ammonium are intermediate species. They are both rapidly produced and consumed through the water
column.[38] The amount of ammonium in the ocean is about 3 orders of magnitude less than nitrate.[38]
Between ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate, nitrite has the fastest turnover rate. It can be produced during nitrate
assimilation, nitrification, and denitrification; however, it is immediately consumed again.
Nitrogen entering the euphotic zone is referred to as new nitrogen because it is newly arrived from outside the
productive layer.[37] The new nitrogen can come from below the euphotic zone or from outside sources.
Outside sources are upwelling from deep water and nitrogen fixation. If the organic matter is eaten, respired,
delivered to the water as ammonia, and re-incorporated into organic matter by phytoplankton it is considered
recycled/regenerated production.
New production is an important component of the marine environment. One reason is that only continual input
of new nitrogen can determine the total capacity of the ocean to produce a sustainable fish harvest.[41]
Harvesting fish from regenerated nitrogen areas will lead to a decrease in nitrogen and therefore a decrease in
primary production. This will have a negative effect on the system. However, if fish are harvested from areas
of new nitrogen the nitrogen will be replenished.
Ammonia (NH3 ) in the atmosphere has tripled as the result of human activities. It is a reactant in the
atmosphere, where it acts as an aerosol, decreasing air quality and clinging to water droplets, eventually
resulting in nitric acid (HNO3 ) that produces acid rain. Atmospheric ammonia and nitric acid also damage
respiratory systems.
The very high temperature of lightning naturally produces small amounts of NOx , NH3 , and HNO3 , but high-
temperature combustion has contributed to a 6- or 7-fold increase in the flux of NOx to the atmosphere. Its
production is a function of combustion temperature - the higher the temperature, the more NOx is produced.
Fossil fuel combustion is a primary contributor, but so are biofuels and even the burning of hydrogen.
However, the rate that hydrogen is directly injected into the combustion chambers of internal combustion
engines can be controlled to prevent the higher combustion temperatures that produce NOx .
Ammonia and nitrous oxides actively alter atmospheric chemistry. They are precursors of tropospheric (lower
atmosphere) ozone production, which contributes to smog and acid rain, damages plants and increases
nitrogen inputs to ecosystems. Ecosystem processes can increase with nitrogen fertilization, but anthropogenic
input can also result in nitrogen saturation, which weakens productivity and can damage the health of plants,
animals, fish, and humans.[28]
Decreases in biodiversity can also result if higher nitrogen availability increases nitrogen-demanding grasses,
causing a degradation of nitrogen-poor, species-diverse heathlands.[47]
Increasing levels of nitrogen deposition are shown to have a number of negative effects on both terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems.[48][49] Nitrogen gases and aerosols can be directly toxic to certain plant species, affecting
the aboveground physiology and growth of plants near large point sources of nitrogen pollution. Changes to
plant species may also occur, as accumulation of nitrogen compounds increase its availability in a given
ecosystem, eventually changing the species composition, plant diversity, and nitrogen cycling. Ammonia and
ammonium - two reduced forms of nitrogen - can be detrimental over time due to an increased toxicity toward
sensitive species of plants,[50] particularly those that are accustomed to using nitrate as their source of nitrogen,
causing poor development of their roots and shoots. Increased nitrogen deposition also leads to soil
acidification, which increases base cation leaching in the soil and amounts of aluminum and other potentially
toxic metals, along with decreasing the amount of nitrification occurring and increasing plant-derived litter.
Due to the ongoing changes caused by high nitrogen deposition, an environment's susceptibility to ecological
stress and disturbance - such as pests and pathogens - may increase, thus making it less resilient to situations
that otherwise would have little impact to its long-term vitality.
Additional risks posed by increased availability of inorganic nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems include water
acidification; eutrophication of fresh and saltwater systems; and toxicity issues for animals, including
humans.[51] Eutrophication often leads to lower dissolved oxygen levels in the water column, including
hypoxic and anoxic conditions, which can cause death of aquatic fauna. Relatively sessile benthos, or bottom-
dwelling creatures, are particularly vulnerable because of their lack of mobility, though large fish kills are not
uncommon. Oceanic dead zones near the mouth of the Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico are a well-known
example of algal bloom-induced hypoxia.[52][53] The New York Adirondack Lakes, Catskills, Hudson
Highlands, Rensselaer Plateau and parts of Long Island display the impact of nitric acid rain deposition,
resulting in the killing of fish and many other aquatic species.[54]
Ammonia (NH3 ) is highly toxic to fish and the level of ammonia discharged from wastewater treatment
facilities must be closely monitored. To prevent fish deaths, nitrification via aeration prior to discharge is often
desirable. Land application can be an attractive alternative to the aeration.
Leakage of Nr (reactive nitrogen) from human activities can cause nitrate accumulation in the natural water
environment, which can create harmful impacts on human health. Excessive use of N-fertilizer in agriculture
has been one of the major sources of nitrate pollution in groundwater and surface water.[55][56] Due to its high
solubility and low retention by soil, nitrate can easily escape from the subsoil layer to the groundwater, causing
nitrate pollution. Some other non-point sources for nitrate pollution in groundwater are originated from
livestock feeding, animal and human contamination and municipal and industrial waste. Since groundwater
often serves as the primary domestic water supply, nitrate pollution can be extended from groundwater to
surface and drinking water in the process of potable water production, especially for small community water
supplies, where poorly regulated and unsanitary waters are used.[57]
The WHO standard for drinking water is 50 mg NO3 − L−1 for short-term exposure, and for 3 mg NO3 −
L−1 chronic effects.[58] Once it enters human body, nitrate can react with organic compounds through
nitrosation reactions in the stomach to form nitrosamines and nitrosamides, which are involved in some types
of cancers (e.g., oral cancer and gastric cancer).[59]
Human activities have also dramatically altered the global nitrogen cycle via production of nitrogenous gases,
associated with the global atmospheric nitrogen pollution. There are multiple sources of atmospheric reactive
nitrogen (Nr) fluxes. Agricultural sources of reactive nitrogen can produce atmospheric emission of ammonia
(NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx ) and nitrous oxide (N2 O). Combustion processes in energy production,
transportation and industry can also result in the formation of new reactive nitrogen via the emission of NOx ,
an unintentional waste product. When those reactive nitrogens are released to the lower atmosphere, they can
induce the formation of smog, particulate matter and aerosols, all of which are major contributors to adverse
health effects on human health from air pollution.[60] In the atmosphere, NO2 can be oxidized to nitric acid
(HNO3 ), and it can further react with NH3 to form ammonium nitrate, which facilitates the formation of
particular nitrate. Moreover, NH3 can react with other acid gases (sulfuric and hydrochloric acids) to form
ammonium-containing particles, which are the precursors for the secondary organic aerosol particles in
photochemical smog.[61]
See also
Planetary boundaries
Phosphorus cycle
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