The Nitrogen Cycle

Noah Carter Rio Chamberlain Morgan Howell

Pathway of

•      

Movement:

The Nitrogen Cycle starts with Atmospheric Nitrogen (N Atmosphere. 2 ) , This form of Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the It makes up 78% of the Atmosphere Then N 2 is converted to ammonia(NH 3 ) by Rhizobium, bacteria living in small nodules on the roots of plants, such as Alfalfa and Soybeans through the process of Nitrogen Fixation.

After N 2 is converted to NH converted to Nitrite ions(NO 2 3 , it is -),Toxic to the plants, and then to Nitrate ions(NO which is referred to as Nitrification. 3 -) which then can be used as a nutrient, Assimilation, in which plants can absorb inorganic Ammonia, Ammonium, and Nitrate ions, they use these to make Nitrogen Containing organic molecules such as DNA, amino acids, and proteins.

Then during the process of Ammonification, decomposer bacteria convert nitrogen containing organic compounds into simpler nitrogen containing inorganic compounds such as NH 3 and NH 4 +. The last step of the Nitrogen cycle is Denitrification, which is the process by which NH Gas. 3 and NH 4 + are converted back to Nitrite and Nitrate, and the into Nitrogen  Then the cycle starts over again!!

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IMPACT OF HUMAN INTERVENTION ON THE NITROGEN CYCLE:

Burning Fossil Fuels increases Nitrogen Levels, the nitrogen released combines with sulfur to form acid rain Human impact has nearly doubled the amount of global Industrial Nitrogen Fixation Have impacted the availability of Nitrogen in ecosystems • The unnatural addition of Nitrogen by humans has caused unequal amounts of nutrients in trees, changes in forest areas, and decrease of Biodiversity Fertilizer runoff from farms and fields can leak into aquifers of our drinking water Our affects we have on the Nitrogen Cycle leads to the affecting other cycles as well • Ex.) An increase in Nitrogen due to Industrial Nitrogen Fixation on a worldwide scale causes a change in carbon storage.

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Inorganic and Organic Reservoirs of Nitrogen:

• • • • • 

Organic Reservoirs:

Contains Carbon and derives from the environment, essential.

Amino Acids Proteins Nucleic Acids such as DNA and RNA Atmosphere(N 2 ) Groundwater(NO 2 -) and (NO 3 -) • • • 

Inorganic Reservoirs:

Man-made and doesn’t contain Carbon Ammonia(NH 3 ) Ammonium(NH 4 +) Fertilizers

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During Nitrogen Fixation:

Atmospheric Nitrogen to Ammonia N 2  to NH 3 NH

During Nitrification:

Ammonia to Nitrites 3 - to NO 2  Nitrites to Nitrates NO

During Nitrification:

2 - to NO 3 

During Ammonification:

Waste into Ammonia(NH 4 -) Ammonium(NH 4 +)

During Denitrification:

 From Ammonia to Atmospheric Nitrogen NH 3 - to N 2 5

Chemical Reactions Involved:

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Works Cited

 "The Nitrogen Cycle: Processes, Players, and Human Impact." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2013. .