Nitrogen Flashcards
What’s the nitrogen cycle
Is one of the biochemical cycles and is very important for ecosystems
Nitrogen is stored in
Reservoirs Atmosphere Living organisms Soil Oceans
Where is most of nitrogen
In our atmosphere
80% in atmosphere is 2 n bonded together to make N2
Y do things need nitrogen
To make amino acids proteins and DNA but the nitrogen in the atmosphere is not a form they can use
What is nitrogen
An element found in living and dead things on earth.
NO3
N atoms can be fixed to oxygen atoms wich creates nitrate NO3
3 ways to get fixed
Lightning strikes or fires
Certain types of bacteria assoiciated with legume
In the soils with water
N and plants
Limiting factor for plant growth
Animals and n
Get it by consuming plants or other animals that have molecules that are partly n
How it get back into cycle
When organisms die body decomposes puts n back in soil and oceans
N is made into inorganic forms like ammonium salts NH4 (minerization)
NH4 absotprbed into soil then made to nitrates NO2 and NO3 this is the only form plants and animals can use
Dentrification
Nitrates are dissolved into water and pulled out of the soil system and can be returned into the atmosphere by certain bacteria
What can cause change to n cycle
Humans, fertilizer, fossil fuels and forests and farming
Fertilizer
We put extra n in fertilizer to make plants grow better
Use of n in f causes nitrates to wash into streams and ponds
No3 levels make plants grow use of n they will die
Herbivores increase when plants increase
When heribivore slept no food cause plants dieng they die
Fossil fuels and forests
Burning fossil fuels and forests reales solid forms of n2into atmosphere and soils. And n2 is not usable for plants and animals
Farming
Animal waste from livestock farming reales a lot of n into soil and water
