Nitrogen Cycle

• Air = 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 0.9% Argon, 0.04% Carbon Dioxide
• N2 is triple bonded
• Nitrogen Fixation is when fixing bacteria convert N2 into ammonia which forms NH4+ ions

  • Bacteria found in root nodules of legumes
• Ammonification is when saprobiotic bacteria break down N2 into ammonium ions in the soil
• Nitrification is the process of nitrifying bacteria oxidising ammonium into nitrites then into nitrates, then actively transporting them into plants for animals to absorb them via digestion
• Decomposition is the process of breaking down faeces and dead matter to gain nitrogen from waste urea, proteins and DNA