Nitrogen cycle: characteristics, stages and importance

cycle of nitrogen

cycle of nitrogen

The biosphere depends on several biogeochemical cycles that are essential for the proper functioning of life. On the one hand, we have the carbon cycle which guarantees a constant flow of nutrients for the organisms. On the other hand, we have the cycle of nitrogen. All organisms depend on this biogeochemical cycle for growth and development.

Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you all the characteristics and importance of the nitrogen cycle.

What is the nitrogen cycle

plants and nitrogen cycle

plants and nitrogen cycle

It is a set of chemical and biological processes that allows to supply living beings with nitrogen for their development. There are various reservoirs, stages and it has great importance for human life on this planet. As with the carbon cycle, there are sources of emission of this element and sources of absorption. The global nitrogen balance must be stable for things to work properly. Since humans are causing various environmental impacts on a global scale, this nitrogen cycle is being seriously affected.

Among the characteristics that we find of this biogeochemical cycle we see its origin. It originates from the creation of new atomic nuclei, non-metallic chemical elements in a gaseous state. This cycle manifests itself in various organic and inorganic chemical forms. The operation of these elements begins from the loss of electrons that makes it possible to make amino acids, DNA and proteins. Thanks to this composition, the nitrogen cycle plays a fundamental role in the growth of plants and in the tissues of organisms.

Since this biogeochemical cycle is fundamental for the development of life, we must learn to conserve it.

Nitrogen reservoirs on a global scale

nitrogen balance

nitrogen balance

We are going to analyze which are the nitrogen reservoirs around the planet. The first part of this reservoir is the atmosphere. The presence of nitrogen in the atmosphere it is 78% and it is the majority of all this layer of air. Although nitrogen is inert and does not perform any type of reaction with the rest of the gases, it fulfills its role in all this.

The other part of the nitrogen reservoir is found in sedimentary rocks. There is an amount of 21% nitrogen mixed with organic matter and distributed throughout the oceans. Let’s not forget that in marine life nitrogen is also needed to be able to develop properly. There are many living beings that need nitrogen in their day to day to be able to fulfill their functions.

The last part of the nitrogen reservoir are the microorganisms. The microorganisms participating in the nitrogen cycle are fixatives, nitrifiers and denitrifiers. Fixers are those that fix nitrogen in your body an in another body. Nitrifiers are those that feed on nitrogen as part of the rest of the organic matter. Denitrifiers are those that remove nitrogen as a result of some chemical reaction.

Phases of the nitrogen cycle

nitrogen in agriculture

nitrogen in agriculture

Nitrogen will alternate in all its parts of the cycle. Throughout the nitrogen cycle we find different phases in which this gas takes on one relevance or another. We are going to analyze which are the main phases of the nitrogen cycle:

  • Fixation: In this phase, atmospheric nitrogen is obtained by all living beings that can use it through the abiotic way. The abiotic way is one that does not have life, such as the electrical energy contained in lightning and cosmic radiation. On the other hand we have the biotic pathway, which is the part in which nitrogen is obtained from the microorganisms that exist in the soil.
  • Assimilation: during this phase nitrates stand out. Here the plants play a fundamental role. Nitrates are reduced to nitrite in the cytoplasm of plant cells. This is incorporated through the roots of the plants. These living things use nitrogen as food in order to grow and reproduce.
  • Ammonification: It is the phase of the nitrogen cycle where nitrogen is converted into ammonium ion due to the action of aerobic microorganisms.
  • Nitrification: it is the part of the process that consists of the biological oxidation of ammonia by aerobic microorganisms. Nitrification allows the ammonia nitrogen to return to the soil to be used by the plants in nitric.
  • Immobilization: it is the opposite process to nitrification.
  • Denitrification: it is the opposite process of fixation. In this case, anaerobic respiration (in the absence of oxygen) is what returns nitrogen to the atmosphere and nitrate dissolved in water. Denitrification is the last phase of the nitrogen cycle where everything returns to its origin.

Importance

Finally, we are going to analyze the importance of the nitrogen cycle for the development of life as we know it. As we have mentioned before, the nitrogen cycle is of great importance for living organisms and will always be biologically usable by them. It is essential for the manufacture of DNA, amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids. It also becomes a fundamental element for the development and productivity of agriculture. Let’s not forget that the vast majority of fertilizers used in agriculture for rapid crop growth are made up of nitrogen.

This cycle involves all movement of nitrogen from the atmosphere, where this element is most abundant, and the biosphere, which is where all living things inhabit. Another fundamental aspect is that the main human activities affect the nitrogen cycle. Given the degrading activities that are taking place today, some activities such as the following are harmed: intensive cultivation, excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers in the soil, felling of trees, spill or cream of fuels that have nitrogen, thermal power plants and other activities.

All these human activities are generating various impacts on the nitrogen cycle and generating problems such as pollution, acid rain and an increase in the greenhouse effect.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the nitrogen cycle and its importance.

Nitrogen cycle: characteristics, stages and importance

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