13.3 Nitrogen Cycle

    Cards (29)

    • Which two types of bacteria are involved in nitrogen fixation?
      Free living & mutualistic
    • What's another name for decomposers?
      Saprobio
    • How do nitrate ions enter plant roots?
      Via active transport
    • Why is good drainage important in some soils?
      To maintain aerobic conditions
    • Where are nitrate ions converted back to atmospheric nitrogen?
      During denitrification
    • What are the two steps involved in nitrification?
      1. Oxidation of ammonium ions to nitrate ions
      2. Oxidation of nitrate ions to nitrite ions
    • What conditions are required for nitrification?
      Aerobic soil with plenty of oxygen
    • What conditions are required for denitrification?
      Anaerobic, waterlogged soil
    • Which process occurs naturally when lightning passes through the atmosphere?
      Nitrogen fixation
    • What do peas and beans contain lots of?
      Root nodules for nitrogen-fixing bacteria
    • What do saprotrophs feed on?
      Nitrogen-containing compounds
    • What do saprotrophs release when they feed on dead organisms?
      Ammonia
    • What do ammonia and saprotrophs form in the soil?
      Ammonium ions
    • What type of microorganisms are involved in nitrification?
      Nitrifying bacteria
    • What is the process of nitrification?
      Conversion of ammonium ions to nitrate ions
    • What do nitrifying bacteria require to complete their oxidation reaction?
      Oxygen
    • What is nitrogen fixation?
      Conversion of nitrogen gas into compounds
    • What do free-living N₂-fixing bacteria convert nitrogen gas into?
      Ammonia
    • What do free-living N₂-fixing bacteria use ammonia to make?
      Amino acids
    • What happens to nitrogen-rich compounds when nitrogen-fixing bacteria die?
      They are released into the soil
    • How do nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules benefit plants?
      They provide amino acids
    • What do nitrogen-fixing bacteria obtain from plants?
      Carbohydrates
    • What occurs in waterlogged soils with low oxygen concentration?
      More anaerobic denitrifying bacteria are found
    • What do anaerobic denitrifying bacteria convert soil nitrates into?
      Gaseous nitrogen
    • Why do plants need nitrogen-containing compounds?
      For photosynthesis and protein synthesis
    • What is necessary for productive soils?
      Well aerated conditions
    • What is the chemical formula for nitrate ions?
      NO₃⁻
    • What is the chemical formula for nitrogen gas?
      N₂
    • 4 main processes of the nitrogen cycle:
      • Ammonification
      • Nitrification
      • Nitrogen fixation
      • Denitrification
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