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Nitrogen Cycle
Ch.2.2
Bacteria Decomposers in the
Nitrogen Cycle
Bacteria as decomposers:
Legumes: Root nodules
Legumes are
plants with root
nodules
 Fix nitrogen in
soil
 Using Bacteria
 Produce usable
Nitrate

Legumes have root nodules
Nitrogen Diagram:
A-C Nitrogen gas is fixed by
lightning to nitrate in the soil
(Nitrogen fixation)
B-G Ammonia from waste
decomposes to nitrite by bacteria
(nitrification)
G-C Nitrite is converted to nitrate
by bacteria (nitrification)
D-A Soil nitrate becomes nitrogen gas
(denitrification)
C-E Nitrate is used as fertilizer by
plants
E-F plant protein nitrogen becomes
animal protein when eaten
F-B Animal protein waste decomposes
to ammonia by bacteria
IV. Nitrogen cycle:
 Plants
only use nitrate
 Muscle tissue is made of amino
acids
 Decomposition of protein makes
ammonia
 Ammonia converts to nitrite
 Nitrite converts to nitrate
V. Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrification: ammonia to nitrite




& nitrite to nitrate by bacteria in the soil
Denitrification: nitrate to nitrogen gas by
bacteria
Decompostion: ammonia in wastes to
nitrite by bacteria
Nitrogen fixation: nitrogen gas to
nitrateby lightning or nitrite by plant/
bacteria