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| Nitrogen Cycle | Nitrogen is an element that is found in both the living portion of our planet and the inorganic parts of the Earth system. Nitrogen moves slowly through the cycle and is stored in reservoirs such as the atmosphere, living organisms, soils, and oceans along the way. |
| Nitrogen | composes 78% of atmosphere gas and is used for DNA and protein. |
| Nitrogen-fixation | Conversion of nitrogen gas into usable form for plants by special nitrogen-fixing bacteria The first step is turning the N2 into ammonia (toxic) |
| Nitrification | Converting ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate |
| Assimilation by Plants | Absorbing nitrogen from the soil and incorporating them in the plant and animal bodies (nitrates) |
| Ammonification by Decomposers | Converting the dead organic nitrogen of plants or animals back into ammonium (like a salt) |
| Denitrification | Conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas from bacteria. |
| Decomposers | A chemical reaction that breaks down compounds into simpler products to return nutrients to the cycle |
