Mineral Transformation

RIMSHA
BS BOTANY 7th
Semester
 . Mineral Transformation

Earth is a close system where the overall quantity of matter remains constant.
Microorganisms need electron energy and nutrients to grow. They are responsible
for cyclic transformation of compounds and therefore are called biogeochemical
agent’s.
They carried out transformation of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus and
iron etc. This cycling of elements is called biogeochemical cycling.
 Nitrogen
 Nitrogen makes up about 78% of our atmosphere.
 Nitrogen in the atmosphere it’s mostly in the form of N2 which is a gas that
plants and animals can’t use.
 The process of converting nitrogen into compound that can be used by plants
and animals is called nitrogen cycle.
 Nitrogen Fixation

 Nitrogen Fixation is the process in which N2 compound in the atmosphere

break’s and combines with other compunds.
 Nitrogen is fixed when it combines with hydrogen or oxygen .
Way’s to Fix Nitrogen

 Special Bacteria convert the nitrogen gas (N2) to ammonia (NH3) which only
some plants can use ( peas, bean’s ) .
 Lightining strikes convert N2 to NO2 or NO3.
 Industrial production:
 Chemical manipulation turns into NH3 fertilizers.
Non Biological Fixation
 1. N2 + O2 lightning2 NO (Nitric oxide)
 2. 2NO + O2 oxidation 2NO2 ( Nitrogen per oxide)
 3. 2NO2 + H2O HNO2 + HNO3
 4. 4NO2 + 2H2O + O2 4HNO3 (Nitric acid)
 5. CaO + 2HNO3 Ca (NO3)2 + H2O (Calcium nitrate)
 6. HNO3 + NH3 NH4NO3 (Ammonium nitrate)
 7. HNO2 + NH3 NH4NO2 (Ammonium nitrite)
 Biological Fixation

 Fixation of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogenous salts with the help of

microorganisms.
 There are two types :
 Symbiotic
 Non- Symbiotic
 Symbiotic

 Fixation of free nitrogen by microorganisms in soil living symbiotically inside

the plants.
 Symbiosis - coined by DeBary
 There are three categories:
 Nodules formation in leguminous plants.
 Nodule formation in non leguminous plants.
 Non nodulation.
 Non – Symbiotic

 Fixation carried out by free living microorganisms.

 Aerobic , Anaerobic and blue green algea.
 Bacteria : special type ( Nitrogen Fixing bacteria) type.
 Free Living Aerobic: Azotobactor.
 Free living anaerobic: Clostridium
 Free living Photosynthetic: Chlolorobium .
 Free living Chemosynthetic : Thiobacillus.
 Biochemistry of Nitrogen Fixation

Sol
 The fundamental requirements for nitrogen fixation are:
 a. Nitrogenase
 b. Ferredoxin
 c. ATP
 d. Aerobic conditions
 Nitrogenase Enzymes

 Plays key role.

 Active in Anaerobic condition.
 Made up of two protein subunits.
 Non heme iron protein.
 Iron molybdenum protein.
 Proteolysis

 Process in which a protein is broken down partially, into peptides, or

completely, into amino acids, by proteolytic enzymes, present in bacteria and
in plants but most abundant in animals.
 Proteolysis is therefore an important process in the nitrogen cycle and is
considered as a limiting factor in soil nitrogen mineralization.
 Ammonification

 Ammonification is the process where microscopic organisms like bacteria or

other types of decomposing organisms, break down nitrogen-containing
chemicals from dead organic matter, into simple substances like ammonia.
These simpler substances help in sustaining the ecosystem.
 Microorganisms in Ammonification

 Microorganisms responsible are Proteus, and bacillus etc .

 The ammonia produced has different fates:
 Its volatile it may leave the soil.
 It may solubilized in water and ammonium ions are produced.
 Ammonium ions can be utilized by Plants and microorganisms.
 It may oxidized to nitrates by process called nitrification.
 Nitrification

 Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia to nitrate via the

intermediary nitrite. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle in
soil.
 Two-step process; in the first step ammonia is oxidized
to nitrite.
In the second step nitrite is oxidized to nitrate.
 Denitrification

 The process in which nitrogen compounds convert back into atmospheric

nitrogen (N2 or N2O ) .
 This process is performed by bacteria in the soil and it can also happened by
burning of fossil fuels.
 The process enhanced by:
 Presence of organic matter.
 Temperature between 25 to 60C.
 Neutral to alkaline pH.
Nitrogen Cycle
 Carbon Cycle

 The carbon cycle is one of the most important to humans because it is

important to our existence.
 One of the primary elements forming the biosphere and the human tissues
necessary to plants, the basis of human food.
 It is important to the climate system which sets the background for our
environment.
 Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are greenhouse gases which help
set global temperatures.
 Steps of Carbon Cycle

Carbon present in the atmosphere is absorbed by plants for photosynthesis.

These plants are then consumed by animals and carbon gets bioaccumulated into
their bodies.
These animals and plants eventually die, and upon decomposing, carbon is
released back into the atmosphere.
Some of the carbon that is not released back into the atmosphere eventually
become fossil fuels.
 These fossil fuels are then used for man-made activities, which pump more
carbon back into the atmosphere.
Carbon Cycle
 Important of Carbon Cycle

 It plays a vital role in balancing the energy and traps the

long-wave radiations from the sun. Therefore, it acts like
a blanket over the planet. If the carbon cycle is disturbed
it will result in serious consequences such as climatic
changes and global warming.
 The carbon cycle, along with the nitrogen cycle and
oxygen cycle, plays a vital role in the existence of life on
earth.