LEARNING OBJECTIVES

You will be able to

 Define nutrient cycling
 Classify its types
 State %age of nitrogen in air
 Outline the steps of nitrogen cycle
 Illustrate each step
 NUTRIENT CYCLING
A Functioning ecosystem uses both energy and
inorganic nutrients.
 As Energy flow is one way, constantly supplied by
sun
 Inorganic nutrients need not be supplied from
outside as they can be recycled. Carbon, nitrogen
and water are the main nutrients necessary for
maintenance of life. Their recycling is brought
about by physical, chemical and biological
processes.
 NITROGEN CYCLE

 The nitrogen cycle is the

biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is
converted into multiple chemical forms as
it circulates among atmosphere, terrestrial,
and marine ecosystems.
1. NITROGEN FIXATION

This is the first step of the nitrogen cycle. This step is characterized by the
conversion of atmospheric N2 into ammonia (NH3).
Nitrogen fixation can occur in any of the following ways
Biological nitrogen fixation: Bacteria like Azotobacter and Rhizobium have
a major role in this process. They are harbored
in the roots of the leguminous plants in swellings called root nodules
and help convert inert nitrogen to ammonia.
Atmospheric fixation (involves lightening),
Industrial fixation(manufacturing ammonia under high temperature and
pressure condition)
Nitrogen cycle consists of four main
steps namely:
1.Formation of nitrates
2. Assimilation
3.De-nitrification
 
 SYMBIOSIS

 Rhizobium bacteria and leguminous plants both provide benefit to each

other.
 Plants provide ready made food and shelter to bacteria while bacteria
provide nitartes to plants
 2. AMMONIFICATION

 This is another process by which ammonia can be generated. Organic remains

of plants and animals are broken down in the soil by some bacteria to release
ammonia into the soil. These dead and waste matter is used by these 
microorganisms as food and they release ammonia into the soil.
 These bacteria are called ammonifying bacteria.
 3.NITRIFICATION

 Ammonia is further oxidized into nitrite and then nitrates. This oxidation is
called NITRIFICATION
 Nitrosomonas present in the soil convert NH3 to NO2-, and
 another bacterium, Nitrobacter converts NO2- to NO3-. These bacteria gain
energy through these conversions.
 3.ASSIMILATION

 Nitrates formed by above processes are absorbed by plants and are utilized
for making proteins
 Animals take nitrogen compounds from plants
 The utilization of nitrates by organisms is called assimilation
 5. DENITRIFICATION

 Last step of nitrogen cycle

 Reverse of nitrogen fixation
 Is the reverse of nitrification that occurs in the deep layers of soil where
the bacteria convert NO3- is converted into gas. This occurs because in
deep layers of soil, oxygen is not available and the soil bacteria use these
nitrogen compounds instead of oxygen.
IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN CYCLE

 helps bring in the inert nitrogen from the air into the biochemical process in
plants and then to animals.
 to synthesize chlorophyll 
 helps in naturally cleaning up the environment.
 Increases soil fertility
 As plants use nitrogen for their biochemical processes, animals obtain the
nitrogen and nitrogen compounds from plants. It is due to the nitrogen cycle
that animals are also able to utilize the nitrogen present in the air.
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=HOpRT8BRGtk