In the nitrogen cycle illustrated above, nitrification occurs in which of the following steps?
Question: In the nitrogen cycle illustrated above, nitrification occurs in which of the following steps?
Nitrification occurs in the second step of the nitrogen cycle illustrated above.
Step 1: Nitrogen fixation: Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is converted into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria and archaea.
Step 2: Nitrification: Ammonia is converted into nitrite (NO2-) and then nitrate (NO3-) by bacteria.
Step 3: Assimilation: Plants and other organisms absorb nitrate from the soil and use it to build proteins and other essential molecules.
Step 4: Ammonification: When plants and animals die, their nitrogen-containing compounds are broken down by bacteria and archaea to form ammonia.
Step 5: Denitrification: Nitrate is converted back into nitrogen gas by bacteria in anaerobic conditions.
Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle because it makes nitrogen available to plants in a form that they can use. Nitrification also helps to remove ammonia from the environment, which can be toxic to plants and animals at high levels.
Nitrification is carried out by two groups of bacteria: ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria convert nitrite to nitrate.
Nitrification is a slow process, and it is affected by a number of factors, including temperature, pH, and the availability of oxygen. Nitrification rates are highest in warm, moist soils with a neutral pH.
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