What is nitrogen cycle short answer?
Nitrogen is a necessary element for all organisms. Nitrogen is a component of important organic molecules in animals, such as proteins and DNA, and it accounts for 1 to 3 percent of the dry weight of cells. Despite the fact that nitrogen makes up 78 percent of our atmosphere, it is not a common element on Earth. Although nitrogen is necessary for plant growth, it is chemically inactive and therefore must be fixed before the large bulk of biomass can incorporate it.
Nitrogen is fixed by special nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in soil and water; thus, microorganisms play an important role in nitrogen cycling in the environment. Nitrogen fixation is the ability of these microorganisms (bacteria) to take nitrogen gas out from air and convert it to nitrate. Most of these bacteria are found in the soil as free-living organisms. Others coexist with plants in a symbiotic association.
Nitrogen related symbiotic relationship:
A symbiotic relationship is a close relationship between two organisms of different species that benefits both partners. A nitrogen-related symbiotic relationship can be seen in the roots of peas, for example. Small swellings run the length of these roots.
These contain millions of symbiotic bacteria that can take nitrogen gas from the atmosphere and convert it to nitrates that the plant can use. After the growing season, the plant is ploughed back into the soil to increase the nitrogen content.
The Nitrogen cycle:
The nitrogen cycle, according to Price (1984), is an example of "a largely complete chemical cycle in ecosystems with little leaching out of the system."
Simply put, the nitrogen cycle serves as a link between atmospheric reservoirs and biological communities. Nitrogen is fixed in the atmosphere through natural or industrial processes, such as lightning or soil bacteria that convert it to ammonia, then nitrite, and finally nitrates, which plants can use.
Nitrogen is produced by nitrifying bacteria from animal waste.
Nitrates are converted back to nitrogen by denitrifying bacteria and released as nitrogen gas. If too much nitrate, for example, enters the water supply as fertiliser runoff, it causes an algae bloom, which is an overabundance of algae. If fertiliser runoff enters a body of water, algae may proliferate to the point where they form a blanket over the surface. This is most common in the summer, when the high light levels and warm temperatures promote rapid growth.
Urea is a form of nitrogen found in wastewater. Urea is converted into ammonia nitrogen during wastewater treatment. Because ammonia has a negative effect on BOD and chlorine demand, high levels of ammonia in industrial wastewaters effluents are undesirable.
The nitrification process is used to transform ammonia to nitrates. Nitrification is a biological process in which oxygen is added to wastewater. If additional treatment is required, a biological process known as de-nitrification is used. Nitrate is converted into nitrogen gas during this process, which is then released into the atmosphere. Nitrogen and phosphorus are both considered major obstacles for productivity by wastewater operators. Pollution is caused by phosphorus discharged into streams. Nitrogen is the more difficult to manage of the two, but it is found in smaller volumes in wastewater.
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