Why is Nitrogen important?
- Atmospheric nitrogen is extremely important for the proper functioning of
- Proteins found in cells are made up of amino acids, which are in turn made up of nitrogen
- Many other compounds important for the cells are made up of nitrogen.
What is Nitrogen Fixation?
It is the process which converts the elemental form of nitrogen to simpler forms so that it can be used by living organisms.
Humans cannot take nitrogen directly from the atmosphere so they get it from plants. Plants also cannot take the nitrogen directly from the atmosphere. They seek the help of several bacteria and blue-green algae present in the soil. These organisms are called Nitrogen-Fixing Organisms. These nitrogen-fixing organisms convert the atmospheric nitrogen into consumable compounds for the plants. The animals then consume these plants to get the nitrogen. This process is called Nitrogen Fixation.
Apart from the bacteria, even lightning can convert nitrogen from the air into consumable compounds.
What is the Nitrogen Cycle?
The process of cyclic flow of Nitrogen from the atmosphere to the living world and back into the atmosphere is called the Nitrogen Cycle.
The roots of some leguminous plants have small bead-like structures called Nodules. These nodules are homes for a group of nitrogen-fixing bacteria called Rhizobium. Thus, the roots can directly get benefited due to the activity of these bacteria. In non-leguminous plants, the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil and the blue-green algae help in converting the atmospheric
nitrogen into usable compounds. These compounds will be absorbed by the plant and utilized further. When animals consume these plants, and carnivorous animals consume these herbivores, the nitrogen enters their body.
When these organisms or plants die, their bodies get buried in the soil. The decomposers present in the soil help to breakdown the various compounds containing nitrogen. It results in releasing the nitrogen trapped inside the organism’s body back into the soil. The soil also has another category of bacteria called Denitrifying Bacteria. They release the nitrogen molecules from these compounds, present in the soil, back into the atmosphere. The entire process flows in a cyclic manner referred to as the nitrogen cycle.
Summary
| Importance of Nitrogen | Important for the proper functioning of cells. Proteins found in cells are made up of amino acids, which are in turn made up of nitrogen molecules. Many other compounds important for the cells are made up of nitrogen. |
| Nitrogen Fixation | The process which converts the elemental form of nitrogen to simpler forms so that it can be used by living organisms is called Nitrogen Fixation. |
| Nitrogen Cycle | The process of cyclic flow of Nitrogen from the atmosphere to the living world and back into the atmosphere is called the Nitrogen Cycle. |