1. Nitrogen Fixation: The first step in the nitrogen cycle is nitrogen fixation. This process involves converting atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) into a usable form of nitrogen such as ammonia (NH3) or nitrate (NO3-).
2. Nitrification: The second step is nitrification. In this process, the ammonia (NH3) produced during nitrogen fixation is converted into nitrite (NO2-) by nitrifying bacteria, and then further oxidized into nitrate (NO3-) by other nitrifying bacteria. Nitrate is a form of nitrogen that plants can easily absorb and utilize.
3. Denitrification: The third step is denitrification. This process occurs in oxygen-limited environments where certain bacteria convert nitrate (NO3-) back into atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2), completing the cycle. Denitrification helps regulate the amount of nitrogen available in ecosystems and prevents excessive accumulation of nitrogen compounds, which can be harmful to the environment.
The three steps of nitrogen cycle in order, starting with nitrogen, gas in the atmosphere are
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