Printable Interactive

Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Text
 Back to
GLOBAL WARMING
Intro Page ATMOSPHERE

N2O INDUSTRIAL LIGHTNING,

NO FIXATION RAINFALL
N2 N2 FIXATION PLANT AND ANIMAL
HABER BOSCH
RESIDUES
SYMBIOTIC NON-SYMBIOTIC (1200°C, 500 atm)
MESQUITE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE 3H2 + N2 2NH3 MATERIALS WITH N MATERIALS WITH N
RHIZOBIUM AZOTOBACTER CONTENT > 1.5% CONTENT < 1.5%
ALFALFA CLOSTRIDIUM (COW MANURE) (WHEAT STRAW)
SOYBEAN FERTILIZATION

PLANT AMINO
LOSS ACIDS

NH3 AMMONIA
VOLATILIZATION
AMINIZATION
HETEROTROPHIC
ORGANIC R-NH2 + ENERGY + CO2
MATTER BACTERIA (pH>6.0)
pH>7.0
FUNGI (pH<6.0) R-NH2 + H2O
NH2OH AMMONIFICATION

IMMOBILIZATION
R-OH + ENERGY + 2NH3

Pseudomonas, Bacillus, N2O2- MICROBIAL/PLANT

Thiobacillus Denitrificans, 2NH4+ + 2OH-
SINK
and T. thioparus MINERALIZATION
FIXED ON
+ NITRIFICATION EXCHANGE +O2
NO2- SITES

NO3- NITRIFICATION
POOL 2NO2- + H2O + 4H+
OXIDATION STATES DENITRIFICATION LEACHING Nitrobacter + O2
LEACHING VOLATILIZATION
NH3 AMMONIA -3 NITRIFICATION Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen ADDITIONS
NH4+ AMMONIUM -3 TEMP 50°F Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
N2 DIATOMIC N 0 LEACHING LEACHING LOSSES
N2O NITROUS OXIDE 1
Shannon Taylor
NO NITRIC OXIDE 2 Heather Lees
NO2- NITRITE 3 LEACHING OXIDATION REACTIONS
-
NO3 NITRATE 5 pH 7.0 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences REDUCTION REACTIONS
Oklahoma State University
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss R-NH2 + Energy + CO2

Organic Matter
R-NH2 + H2O
N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial R-OH + Energy + 2NH3
Sink

NO3- Pool
2NH4+ + 2OH-
Soil exchange
sites

Leaching 2NO2- + H2O + 4H+ Back to

Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall
Symbiotic Non-Symbiotic
Rhizobium Azotobacter
Alfalfa Cyanobacteria
Mesquite Clostridium
Soybean
Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall
Haber-Bosch (1200C, 500 ATM)
3CH4 + 3O2 + 2N2  4NH3 + 3CO2

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss
Small
Percentage
Organic Matter

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool
Soil Exchange Sites

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Oxidation of N
N2 + 3O2  2NO3-
Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall
%N > 1.5 %N < 1.5
(Animal Manure) (Wheat Straw)

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter Temperature above or below 50°F?

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization
Heterotrophic
Aminization

Plant R-NH2 + Energy + CO2

Loss
Fungi pH < 6.0 pH > 7.0
Ammonification
Bacteria pH > 6.0
Organic Matter R-NH2 + H2O
Immobilization

N2, N2O, NO R-OH + Energy + 2NH3

Plant/Microbial
Immobilization Sink
+ H2O

NO3- Pool 2NH4+ + 2OH-

Soil exchange
sites

Back to
Back to Main
Temperature 2NO2- + H2O + 4H+
Cycle
Choice
Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant Amino
Loss Acids

Organic Matter
NH3
N2, N2O, NO NH2OH
NO2- Plant/Microbial
Immobilization Sink
N2O2-

Thiobacillus, T. Thioparus, Mineralization &

Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and NO3- Pool Nitrification
Dentrificans Denitrification

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool

Back to
Back to Main
Temperature
Cycle
Choice
Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter
Immobilization

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool
2NH4+ + 2OH-

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

Thiobacillus, T. Thioparus,
Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and NO3- Pool
Dentrificans Denitrification

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter
NH3
N2, N2O, NO NH2OH
NO2- Plant/Microbial
Sink
N2O2-

NO3- Pool

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization

Plant
Loss

Organic Matter

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall

Fertilizer Volatilization
Heterotrophic
Aminization

Plant R-NH2 + Energy + CO2

Loss
pH > 7.0
Ammonification
Organic Matter R-NH2 + H2O

N2, N2O, NO R-OH + Energy + 2NH3

Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Joanne LaRuffa Robert Mullen
Interactive Nitrogen Atmosphere
Wade Thomason Susan Mullins
Shannon Taylor
Heather Lees
Cycle Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

Industrial Plant and Animal

Processes Lightning,
N2 Fixation Residues
Rainfall
Haber-Bosch (1200C, 500 ATM)
3CH4 + 3O2 + 2N2  4NH3 + 3CO2

Fertilizer Volatilization
Heterotrophic
Aminization

Plant R-NH2 + Energy + CO2

Loss

Organic Matter

N2, N2O, NO
Plant/Microbial
Sink

NO3- Pool

Back to Main
Cycle Leaching Back to
Intro Page
 Nitrogen Information
Form taken up plant Enzymes that require N

Mobility Concentration in plants

Deficiency symptoms Effect of pH on availability

Soil pH deficiency Nutrient interactions

Role of N in plant growth Fertilizer sources

Role of N in microbial growth References

 • NH4+

• NO3-

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page
 • Soil
– NH4+; NO
– NO3- ; Yes
• Water Soluble
• Not influenced by soil colloids
• Plant
– Yes

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page
 • Chlorosis in older leaves

• Under severe deficiency lower leaves

are brown, beginning at the leaf tip and
proceeding along the midrib

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page
 • None due to nitrate’s mobility

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page
 • N assimilation into amino acids for
protein and amino acid synthesis

• Component of chlorophyll

• Vegetative growth

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page
 • Necessary for the synthesis for amino
acids

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page
 • Nitrate reductase

• Nitrite reductase

• Nitrogenase

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page
 • Wheat 1.7 to 3.0%
– Grain 2.0%
– Forage 3.0%
– Straw
• Corn 2.7 to 3.5%
• Soybeans 4.2 to 5.5%
• Grain sorghum 3.3 to 4.0 %
• Peanuts 3.5 to 4.5 %
• Alfalfa 4.5 to 5.0%
• Bermudagrass 2.5 to 3.0%

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page
 • Low pH
– None

• High pH
– None at pH > 8
– At pH > 7 NO2- accumulates

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page
 • Si: enhances leaf erectness neutralizing the
negative effects of high N supply on light
interception

• P: symbiotic legume fixation needs adequate

P, or a N deficiency can result

• Mo: component of nitrogenase, therefore

could have Mo induced N deficiency in N2
fixing legumes

• Fe: Necessary for nitrogenase and

ferredoxin, legume hemoglobin, deficiency
Back to N Text
reduces nodule mass, and nitrogenase Back to
Main Page Intro Page
 ammonium sulfate anhydrous ammonia
ammonium chloride ammonium nitrate
ammonium nitrate- ammonium nitrate
sulfate with lime
ammoniated ordinary- ammonium phosphate-
superphosphate sulfate
monoammonium phosphate diammonium phosphate
ammonium polyphosphate ammonium thiophosphate
calcium nitrate potassium nitrate
sodium nitrate urea
urea-sulfate urea-ammonium nitrate
urea-ammonium phosphate urea phosphate
Back to N Text Back to
Main Page Intro Page
 • Burford, J.R., and J.M. Bremner. 1975.
Relationships between the denitrification
capacities of soils and total, water-soluble
and readily decomposable soil organic
matter. Soil Biochem. 7:389-394.

• Marschner, H. 1995. Mineral Nutrition in

Higher Plants. Academic Press, London.

• Tisdale, S.L., W.L. Nelson, J.D. Beaton, and

J.L. Havlin. 1993. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers.
MacMillan Publishing Co., New York, N.Y.

Back to N Text Back to

Main Page Intro Page