Unit 5 Nutrient Cycles Flashcards
1
Q
Why is the nitrogen cycle important and what are the stages
A
•Is important to create nitrogen containing substances such as DNA, RNA, ATP, NADPH, NADH, FADH and Amino acids
- nitrogen fixation
- ammonification
- nitrification
- denitrification
2
Q
What happens in the nitrogen fixation
A
Nitrogen fixing bacteria (from soil or root) converts nitrogen from the air to ammonium ions
N2➡️NH4
3
Q
What happens in ammonification
A
Converts nitrogen from decomposition of protein/DNA to ammonium ions
Which is released into soil this is carried out by saprobionts
NH3➡️NH4
4
Q
What happens in the nitrification
A
Ammonium ions in soil are oxidised to nitrites then to nitrates by nitrifying bacteria
NH4➡️NO2-➡️NO3-
5
Q
What happens in denitrification
A
Converts nitrogen in compounds back to nitrogen gas
Usually anaerobic denitrifying happens bacteria
NO3-➡️N2
