Removing Denitrification from the Nitrogen Cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle cycles nitrogen throughout the Earth, changing its form to other forms, including N2 (nitrogen gas), NO3 (nitrate ions), NO2 (nitrite ions), and NH3 (ammonia). Nitrogen cycles and goes through various abiotic and biotic items, changing form often, and continuing to cycle constantly. N2, the nitrogen gas form of nitrogen makes up around 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere. NO3 and NO2 are nitrogen forms that are found in waste products of living organisms, as well as within organisms that are deceased (dead) and/or decaying. Human activity helps to release nitrogen in the form of nitrate into the atmosphere which is often then used in plant fertilizers. N2 can only be used by some organisms in this form; other organisms can use nitrogen once it has changed its form through processes such as bacterial nitrogen fixation, a process in which bacteria organisms, legumes, or atmospheric nitrogen fixation, to change its form from N2 to the other forms of nitrogen. On the other hand, a different type of bacteria in the soil goes through denitrification converting NO3, NO2, and NH3 to N2 and releasing this nitrogen gas back into the atmosphere.

Denitrification is very important to the Nitrogen Cycle. If it were to be removed, then many things would be affected in return. When nitrogen gas, N2, moves into the soil and goes through bacterial nitrogen fixation, it is turned into NO2, NO3, or NH3. Once it is turned into one of these products, plants and other organisms can use it and then it eventually gets passed on to other organisms. For example, when a primary consumer consumes a producer, the nitrogen gets passed on from that producer to the primary consumer. It will eventually go through soil bacterial nitrogen fixation and be released into the atmosphere, however, without denitrification; it will not be transformed back into N2 or get released back into the atmosphere. Eventually, over time, N2 will no longer be N2 because it will all be ‘stuck’ in organisms and the soil. N2 currently makes up 78% of the atmosphere, so the effect it could have on Earth’s atmosphere could be very severe. Also N2 helps humans in food digestion and overall body growth. It forms 3% of our body weight. It is too, an essential component in cellular respiration. It is used to help make ATP (energy) molecules for organisms.

Another use for N2 is a variety of industrial uses. Industries and businesses use N2 to be able to produce their products, to complete a variety of different projects. Two types of industries that use N2 are oil and gas industries. Both of these industries are essential in keeping life as we know it from being turned completely upside down. By removing all the nitrogen gas from the atmosphere, it all becomes too much for the needs of organisms it is transferred into and there would be no way to rid of it, as well as a total disturbance in everything that uses the N2 form of nitrogen to operate properly. If N2 runs out by being stuck in other forms of nitrogen, the effects will be very noticeable.

Too many NO2 molecules are very harmful for all living organisms. In the video, “The Nitrogen Cycle – It’s Easy!” by MyFishCare101, the illustrator shows a picture at the time of 1:03 that shows this by drawing arrows which represent nitrites and pointing up towards a dead fish within the aquarium. This can happen with anything that is too abundant for our needs and ability to rid of it.

 

Resources and Citations

 

Bora, Chandramita. "Uses of Nitrogen." Buzzle.com. Buzzle, 20 Sept. 2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2012.  http://www.buzzle.com/articles/uses-of-nitrogen.html .

Johnson, Priya. "Nitrogen in the Atmosphere." Buzzle.com. Buzzle, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/nitrogen-in-the-atmosphere.html .

"Nitrogen Cycle: Denitrification." My Agriculture Information Bank. My Agriculture Information Bank, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. http://agriinfo.in/?page=topic&superid=5&topicid=165 .

"The Nitrogen Cycle and How Your Plants Benefit From It." The Nitrogen Cycle and How Your Plants Benefit From It. Landscape Connection, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. http://www.landscapeconnection.net/nitrogen-cycle.php .