Nitrogen Cycle

The largest single source of nitrogen is in the atmosphere.

Nitrogen makes up 78% of our air!

 What happens to
atmospheric nitrogen
(N2) in the nitrogen
cycle? N
N
N

N N
 Atmospheric nitrogen is converted
to ammonia or nitrates.
N
N

Atmospheric
Nitrogen (N2)
N N

Ammonia (NH3) Nitrates (NO3)

Nitrogen combines Nitrogen combines
with Hydrogen to make with Oxygen to make
Ammonia Nitrates
 N
N

Why does N

N
atmospheric nitrogen
need to be
converted?
N N
 It is one of nature’s
great ironies…
Nitrogen is an essential
component of DNA, RNA,
and proteins—the building
blocks of life.
Although the majority of the
air we breathe is nitrogen,
most living organisms are
unable to use nitrogen as it
exists in the atmosphere!
 How does
N
atmospheric N

nitrogen get
changed into a
form that can be
used by most
living organisms?
 By traveling through one of the four
processes in the Nitrogen Cycle!

(1) Nitrogen Fixation

(4) Denitrification

Nitrogen
Cycle

(3) Nitrification (2) Ammonification

The first process in the
nitrogen cycle is…
Nitrogen Fixation!
(1) Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen
Cycle
 What is N
N

“nitrogen fixation”
and
what does it mean
to say
nitrogen gets
“fixed”?
“Nitrogen Fixation” is the process that causes the strong
two-atom nitrogen molecules found in the atmosphere to
break apart so they can combine with other atoms.
N
Oxygen Hydrogen N

Hydrogen

N
N

N Oxygen N

Nitrogen gets “fixed” when it is combined with oxygen or

hydrogen.
There are three ways that
nitrogen gets “fixed”!
(a) Atmospheric Fixation

(b) Industrial Fixation

(c) Biological Fixation

Bacteria
 Lightning “fixes” Nitrogen!
Atmospheric Fixation
(Only 5 to 8% of the Fixation
Process)
The enormous energy of
N
lightning breaks nitrogen N O
molecules apart and enables Nitrogen
combines
the nitrogen atoms to with Oxygen
combine with oxygen Nitrogen oxides forms
forming nitrogen oxides (N2O) Nitrogen
(N2O). Nitrogen oxides (NO3) oxides dissolve
dissolve in rain, forming in rain and
nitrates. Nitrates (NO3) are change to
nitrates
carried to the ground with
Plants use
the rain. nitrates to grow!
 NN
H
Industrial Fixation
Under great pressure, N
H3
at a temperature of
600 degrees Celcius,
and with the use of a Industrial Plant combines
catalyst, atmospheric nitrogen and hydrogen

nitrogen (N2) and Ammonia is formed

(NH3)
hydrogen are combined
to form ammonia
(NH3). Ammonia can
be used as a fertilizer.

Ammonia is used as fertilizer in soil

 Biological Fixation
(where MOST nitrogen fixing is completed)
There are two types of “Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria”

Free Living Bacteria

(“fixes” 30% of N2) Symbiotic Relationship Bacteria
(“fixes” 70% of N2)
 Free Living Bacteria
Highly specialized bacteria (Azotobacter) live in the
soil and have the ability to combine atmospheric
nitrogen with hydrogen to make ammonia (NH3).
N
N H

NH3
Free-living bacteria live
in soil and combine
atmospheric nitrogen
with hydrogen

(NH3)

Nitrogen changes
into ammonia

Bacteria
Symbiotic Relationship Legume plants
Bacteria
Bacteria (Rhizobium)
live in the roots of
legume family plants N

and provide the plants

with ammonia (NH3) in
NH3
exchange for the
plant’s carbon and a
N
protected home.

Roots with nodules

where bacteria live

Nitrogen changes into

ammonia.
Most atmospheric nitrogen
(N2) is “fixed” and changed to
ammonia (NH3). Ammonia is
highly toxic to many
organisms.
Can plants use
ammonia?
Very few plants can use
ammonia (NH3)…
(1) Nitrogen Fixation

(2) Ammonification

…but, fortunately the

second process
Ammonification can help!
 What is
ammonification?
 Ammonification: Bacteria decomposers break down
amino acids from dead animals and wastes into nitrogen
ammonium.

Bacteria decomposers break down amino acids into ammonium

 Why is
ammonification
necessary?
Because plants cannot use the organic forms of
nitrogen that are in the soil as a result of:
(1) wastes (manure and sewage)
(2) compost and decomposing roots and leaves
 How does
ammonification
occur?
 Microorganisms convert the organic nitrogen to
ammonium. The ammonium is either taken up by the
plants (only in a few types of plants) or is absorbed into
the soil particles. Ammonium (NH4) in the soil is stored
up to later be changed into inorganic nitrogen, the kind
of nitrogen that most plants can use.
Bacteria converts organic nitrogen to
ammonium (NH4)

Ammonium (NH4) is used by

some plants
Bacteria

Ammonium (NH4) is
stored in soil.
 What happens to
ammonium (NH4) stored
in the soil?
 It travels through the
third process
of the nitrogen cycle called
Nitrification!

(1) Nitrogen Fixation

(3) Nitrification (2) Ammonification

 Nitrifying bacteria in the ground first combine
ammonia with oxygen to form nitrites. Then
another group of nitrifying bacteria convert nitrites
to nitrates which green plants can absorb and use!
Nitrifying bacteria in soil
combine ammonia with oxygen

Ammonia changes to nitrites

Nitrifying bacteria in soil

convert nitrites to nitrates

Ammonia Nitrites Nitrates Plants absorb nitrates

and grow!
(NH3) (NO2) (NO3)
 NITRIFICATION
• Conversion of ammonium (NH4+) into nitrate (NO3-)
ions which can be taken up by plant
• However, some of the ammonia produced by decay is
converted into nitrates.
• 2 Step:
1)Nitrosomonas - oxidize NH3 to nitrite(NO2-)
Eqn: NH3 + + 3/2 O2 NO2- + H+ + H2O

2)Nitrobacter - oxidise nitrite to nitrates(NO3-)

Eqn: NO2- + ½ O2 NO3-

• These 2 groups of autotropic bacteria - nitrifying bacteria

 ASSIMILATION
• A process by which plants roots
absorb inorganic ammonia,
ammonium ions, and nitrate ions to
make nitrogen containing organic
molecules (DNA, RNA, Proteins).
– Animals then get their nitrogen by
eating plants.
 How does
nitrogen
reenter the
atmosphere
in the
nitrogen
cycle?
 Through the fourth
process called
Denitrification!
(1) Nitrogen Fixation
(4) Denitrification

(3) Ammonification (2) Nitrification

 What does
denitrification
do?
 DENITRIFICATION
• An anaerobic process-denitrifying bacteria
• Convert NH3 and NH4+ back to nitrite (NO2- )
and nitrate (NO3-) ions and then into nitrogen
gas (N2) and nitrous oxide gas (N2O) to
complete the cycle.
• Occurs in waterlogged, anaerobic soils,
oxygen-depleted sediments, and bottom
waters in aquatic ecosystems.
How does the
denitrification
process work?

Nitrates in soil
 Denitrifying bacteria live deep in soil and in aquatic
sediments where conditions make it difficult for them
to get oxygen. The denitrifying bacteria use nitrates as
an alternative to oxygen, leaving free nitrogen gas as a
byproduct. They close the nitrogen cycle!
Nitrogen in atmosphere
closes the nitrogen cycle!

(N2)

(NO3)

Denitrifying bacteria live

deep in soil and use
nitrates as an alternative
to oxygen making a
byproduct of nitrogen gas.
 Other ways that nitrogen
returns to the atmosphere…

Emissions from industrial combustion and Volcano eruptions

gasoline engines create nitrous oxides emit nitrous oxides
gas (N2O). gas (N2O).
 (a)
N2 (b)

N2O
(4) Denitrification (1) Nitrogen Fixation

(c)

Nitrogen
Cycle
(3) Nitrification (2) Ammonification

NO3
NH3
Ammonia is converted Organic nitrogen is
to nitrites and nitrates. Nitrates in Soil converted to ammonium.
 HUMAN EFFECTS ON
NITROGEN CYCLE
 Agriculture:
✓ Haber process/production of artificial
nitrogenous fertilizers
✓ Increased use of manure from intensive
stock farming
✓ Increased artificial fixation (conversion of
N2 to NH3) such as increased cultivation
of nitrogen-fixing legumes
Acid Rain
✓Sulfur dioxide and NOx are the two key air
pollutants that cause acid rain
✓As lakes and streams become acidified, the
number of plants and animals present decreases
✓Combustion of coal and oil at electric power
plants
 Combustion of Fossil Fuels
✓Nitrogen compounds are also emitted into the
air by cars, trucks, electric utilities, and
industry where they can be deposited on land
or directly into water bodies