Describe Nitrogen Cycle-Nitrogen cycle in simple terms

Summary

This video explores the nitrogen cycle, essential for life as it facilitates the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants and animals. It begins with nitrogen fixation, where atmospheric nitrogen combines with hydrogen to form ammonia, facilitated by bacteria and lightning. Ammonia is then converted to nitrite and nitrate by nitrifying bacteria, allowing plants to absorb it. Some nitrate returns to the atmosphere through denitrification. In animals, nitrogen is recycled through waste and decomposition, re-entering the cycle as ammonia for further nitrification.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen, which is essential for life but not directly breathable by humans.
• 🌱 Nitrogen is a critical component of DNA and proteins, and it must be absorbed through food by living organisms.
• 💧 Nitrogen enters the soil through precipitation such as rain or snow, initiating the nitrogen cycle.
• 🌿 Nitrogen fixation is a process where atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia by bacteria in the soil, aided by lightning.
• 🚫 Ammonia is toxic to plants, so it is further processed by bacteria into less harmful forms.
• 🔄 Nitrification is the process where ammonia is converted to nitrite and then to nitrate, making it usable by plants.
• 🌱 Plants assimilate nitrogen from the soil, using it for growth, but not all nitrogen is taken up.
• 🔙 Denitrification is the process by which bacteria convert nitrate back into nitrogen gas, releasing it back into the atmosphere.
• 🐛 Animals consume plants and incorporate nitrogen into their bodies; when they die or excrete waste, nitrogen is recycled.
• 🔁 Ammonification is the process where nitrogen from animal waste or dead organisms is converted back into ammonia, restarting the cycle.

Q & A

What is the nitrogen cycle?

The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted into different forms that allow it to be used by plants and animals, and then returned to the atmosphere.

What percentage of the atmosphere is made up of nitrogen?

The atmosphere is composed of approximately 78% nitrogen.

Why can't we directly breathe in nitrogen like oxygen?

We can't directly breathe in nitrogen because it is inert and does not react with the human body in a way that provides energy or supports life processes like oxygen does.

How does nitrogen move from the atmosphere to the soil?

Nitrogen from the atmosphere falls to the Earth through precipitation such as rain or snow.

What is the role of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?

Bacteria play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle by fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere, converting it into ammonia, and further processing it into nitrite and nitrate, which plants can absorb.

What is nitrogen fixation and how does it occur?

Nitrogen fixation is the process where atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia, which plants can use. This occurs through the action of certain bacteria in the soil, and also through natural processes like lightning.

What happens to ammonia in the soil?

Ammonia, which is toxic, is further processed by bacteria in the soil through a process called nitrification, where it is combined with oxygen to form nitrite.

How do plants absorb nitrogen?

Plants absorb nitrogen through their roots, specifically through a process called assimilation, where they take up nitrate from the soil.

What is denitrification and how does it relate to the nitrogen cycle?

Denitrification is the process by which certain bacteria convert nitrate back into nitrogen gas, which is then released into the atmosphere, completing the nitrogen cycle.

How does nitrogen get back into the cycle after being part of an animal?

After an animal consumes plants and dies or excretes waste, bacteria and decomposers break down the nitrogen in the waste through a process called ammonification, allowing it to re-enter the nitrogen cycle.

What is the significance of the nitrogen cycle for life on Earth?

The nitrogen cycle is significant for life on Earth as it allows nitrogen, a key component of proteins and DNA, to be recycled and made available for use by plants and animals.