Nitrogen and phosphorous Flashcards
Name 3 nitrogen pools
Atmosphere
Soil
Organisms
Oxidation of nitrogen:
Ammonia to nitrite then nitrite to nitrate
Denitrification of nitrogen
In the absence of oxygen, nitrate is reduced to nitrite by denitrifying bacteria
High carbon : Low nitrogen =
Slow decomposition
Low food quality
Long residence time in soil
e.g. wood
Low carbon : High nitrogen =
High food quality
Rapid decomposition
e.g. young leaves and meat
Give examples of sources of atmospheric pollution:
Industry
Vehicle exhausts
Farm animals
Fertiliser dusts
High nitrogen input =
Low species diversity
What is phosporous required for?
ADP -> ATP
Membranes
Nucleic acids
Why is the phosphorous cycle not really complete?
Gaseous phosphorous is negligable
Fill in the gaps:
“Highly weathered soils have more - and - which ‘locks up’ - . Less than -% of total - is available in older soils”
Aluminium Iron Phosphorous 1 Phosphorous
What is adsorbed phosphorous?
Phosphorous attached to Al and Fe ions
What is occluded phosphorous?
Phosphorous stuck inside a clay particle
Phosphorous seems to limit…
Photosynthesis
