Nature's Natives,  Climate, Water, Oil Spill, Greenhouse Effect, Photosynthesis, Water Cycle, Nutrient Cycle, Nutrition, Nitrogen Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Peace of Mind, Nature, Environment, Sun, ozone, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon, bacteria, iron, magnesium, calcium
NITROGEN CYCLE
Nitrogen changes so it can be used by plants.

Nitrogen          Ammonia


Ammonia         Nitrite


Nitrite               Nitrate

Plants take
in nitrate.
There is a lot of nitrogen in the air.  78% of our air is nitrogen.
Nitrogen has to get down into the soil for plants to use it.
But, plants don't take
in ammonia.
Bacteria change ammonia
into nitrite.
Bacteria change nitrite
into nitrate.
SOMETIMES NITRATE IS NOT USED BY PLANTS.
THE PROCESS IS REVERSED.
NITROGEN GOES BACK INTO THE AIR.
Nitrate is changed into nitrite.
Next, nitrite is changed
into ammonia.
Then ammonia is changed
into nitrogen.
Nitrogen is a source of nourishment from food. Nitrogen moves in the nitrogen cycle.
Plants need nitrogen. But air nitrogen can't get in.
Bacteria to the rescue!
Bacteria change nitrogen
into ammonia.
But, plants don't take in nitrite.
Plants can take in nitrate!
Bacteria to the rescue.
Nitrogen goes into the air.
Copyright ©2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Tell a friend about this page
Nature's Natives® is a simplified representation of how nature works.
FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION