Nitrogen Cycle and its importance in soil

So what is nitrogen?
Nitrogen is important for all organisms, and essential for life.
WHY? For two reasons!
Reason 1, because proteins are made from nitrogen, and proteins=growth. Reason 2 because 78% of the
atmosphere is nitrogen BUT there is a problem; plants and animals cant get it directly from the
atmosphere, which is where the nitrogen cycle comes in.
Nitrogen enters the ecosystems through a type of bacteria called nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which can be
found in 1 of 2 places. So the first place it can be found is in particular types of plant roots, and these
bacteria allow these plants to directly utilize nitrogen as a nutrient for growth. The second place nitrogen
fixing bacteria can be found is in the soil, and they perform a process called ammonification, which
turns N2 into NH4 +, ammonium. And once N2 is converted into NH4+ a different type of bacteria kicks
in, which is called nitrifying bacteria. And nitrifying bacteria turns NH4+ into NO2- (nitrites) and this is
called nitrification. So nitrogen fixing is taking nitrogen in the form of gas and converting into a solid,
so its converting gas into solid.
This part of the nitrogen cycle shows the importance of soil because the forms of nitrogen available for plant
uptake is through ammonium and nitrate. So as the nitrogen from the atmosphere is converted to ammonium,
the nitrogen is available for plant uptake through the process of ammonification. If the nitrogen cycle did not
undergo ammonification, the cycle would not be complete, and would not be able to recycle.
It gets confusing here because once ammonium turns into nitrite, more nitrifying bacteria turns nitrite
into nitrates NO3 Nitrites NO2- are converted into Nitrates NO3-, so if you remember the number of different vowels in
each of the terms, its easy to remember, which one is which.
So if you think about it, if nitrogen gas from the atmosphere needs to be converted for plants and animals for
proteins, the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that is found in the soil allows the process of ammonification, and if there
were no process of ammonification and nitrification, nitrogen would not be available for uptake.
After nitrogen is converted into nitrates, there are 2 possibilities, 1) assimilation, which is when nitrates
end up being absorbed into plant roots, and used in plants for nutrients, and after in this part of the
cycles, the plants can be eaten by different animals, so the nitrogen is passed to these animals. And both
the plants and animals, when they decompose, can add nitrogen back into the soil, and then
decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi will converts this nitrogen content back into ammonium, and it
restarts the cycles from ammonium.
The second path nitrogen can take after nitrates, is it goes back to the atmosphere, and in this case you
need denitrifying bacteria. So its reversing the process, and it finishes the cycle by taking nitrates NO3-,
and converting it back into nitrogen gas. And this completes the nitrogen cycle.
So again, the importance of soil is massive because it is required for plant development and to avoid deficiency.
Without nitrogen being processed in the soil, plant cannot use it for its purpose.
So quick summary, nitrogen goes from N2 into the plant roots and soil, then the nitrogen fixing bacteria
from the soil goes into NH4+ through nitrifying bacteria into NO2-, again through nitrifying bacteria into
NO3- and then back to denitrifying bacteria into N2, going back to the ecosystem.

What causes limiting nutrients and what happen when you have limiting nutrients?
CAUSES OF LIMITING NUTRIENTS:

Leaching
It is the process when water flows, and it carries nutrients out of the terrestrial
ecosystem; with the loss of nitrate as it moves out with soil water. So you lose nutrients as
the water is flowing to the lakes, streams, oceans, etc.

Gaseous loss (trace-gas emission)

It can occur during decomposition, for example, ammonia gas is released during the
breakdown of animal waste.

Soil erosion
Is important in agricultural purpose because when farmers cultivate and graze their
farms, they leave their soil bare, and when the soil is bare, the surface of that soil is
transported by wind. And the soil thats bare is where there are high nutrients such as
phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen.

Disturbances such as emigration and harvests

Animals moving between ecosystems can be the cause of limiting nutrients because
they come in large ranges and require resources from many different ecosystems.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE LIMITING NUTRIENTS? In short, it limits how fast plants and
animals can grow and reproduce.
Nitrogen Lack of nitrogen would mean less chlorophyll and would slow down the growth and seed
and fruit production as well as the quality and size of leaf would decrease.
Phosphorus Lack of phosphorus slows down the process of blooming and root growth, as well as
effecting photosynthesis and energy/ nutrient transport.
Potassium Lack of potassium exhibits chlorosis, which is loss of green color by the leaf margin and
tips. And other nutrients would not cycle through leaves, roots, and stems.
Source:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/littonc/PDFs/680_Lecture18-20.pdf
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9p.html
http://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/pdffiles/essnutr.pdf
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mauisoil/c_nutrients01.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4rppYVkQFk