What do you mean by Nitrogen Cycle?

Nitrogen Cycle- It is the circulation of nitrogen in where it is converted into various chemical forms as it circulates among the atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems.

It is a continuous or an endless cycle where nitrogen moves from the atmosphere to earth, through soils and back to the atmosphere.

Usually, the nitrogen cycle has five steps:

1. Nitrogen fixation (N₂ to NH₃/ NH₄+ or NO₃-).

2. Nitrification (NH₃ to NO₃-).

3. Assimilation (Incorporation of NH3 and NO₃- into biological tissues).

4. Ammonification (organic nitrogen compounds to NH₃).

5. Denitrification(NO₃- to N₂).

Process

First of all nitrogen-fixing microorganisms capture atmospheric nitrogen by converting it to ammonia (NH₃)which can be taken up by plants and used to make organic molecules. Now, the nitrogen-containing molecules are passed to animals when they eat plants. They may be embodied in the animal's body or broken down and excreted as waste, such as the urea found in urine.

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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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