what is nitrogen fixation? mention 2 diff nitrification and denitrification?
Nitrogen fixation is a process of conversion of Nitrogen (N 2 ) into ammonia (NH 3 )
.There are two methods that change atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms through the process of nitrogen fixation:
[1]. High temperature and pressure in the air convert atmospheric nitrogen into oxides of nitrogen during lightning and thunder that can dissolve in water to produce nitric and nitrous acids. These fall along with rain.
[2]. Some forms of bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms such as nitrates and nitrites. Such nitrogen fixing bacteria are commonly found in the roots of leguminous plants.
These usable forms of nitrogen are absorbed by plants to produce many compounds such as amino acids, which in turn form proteins.
Denitrifying bacteria: Thiobacillus denitrificans, Micrococcus denitrificans
Nitrifying bacteria: Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, Nitrococcus