Nitrogen Cycle Overview

Nitrogen Cycle

• Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted into ammonia (NH4+) by atmospheric fixation, biological fixation, and industrial fixation.
• Biological fixation is carried out by free-living bacteria in soil and symbiotic bacteria in root nodules of legumes.
• Atmospheric fixation occurs during lightning, converting atmospheric nitrogen into nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
• Industrial fixation converts atmospheric nitrogen into nitrate during the production of chemical fertilizers.
• Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium compounds into nitrites and then nitrates.
• Plants absorb nitrates and use them to synthesize proteins.
• Plant proteins enter animals through food chains.
• Decomposers convert nitrogenous compounds in dead organisms into ammonium compounds (ammonification).
• Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates back into atmospheric nitrogen.

Environmental Pollution

• Environmental pollution refers to the discharge of pollutants that negatively impact the natural environment.
• There are three main types: soil pollution, water pollution, and air pollution.

Factors Affecting Environmental Pollution

• Waste materials contribute to environmental pollution.
• These materials can be classified as decomposing or non-decomposing, and further categorized by their origin, such as domestic waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste, electronic waste, and nuclear waste.

Agrochemical Waste

• Agrochemicals are synthetic chemicals used in agriculture, including fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.
• Short-term benefits of agrochemicals are outweighed by their negative effects on the environment and human health.

Heavy Metals

• Heavy metals are pollutants that negatively affect the ecosystem and human health.

Greenhouse Gases

• Greenhouse gases contribute to climate change.

Particulate Matter

• Particulate matter is a type of air pollution that negatively affects human health.

Domestic Waste

• Domestic waste includes food waste, plastic, metal, paper, glass, and electronic materials.

Electronic Waste

• Electronic waste (e-waste) is a significant environmental concern.

Nuclear Waste

• Nuclear waste poses a significant environmental hazard due to its radioactivity.

Environmental Impacts of Pollution

• Pollution negatively affects biodiversity, human health, and the economy.

Factors Affecting Human Lifestyle

• Industrialization, urbanization, commercial agriculture, and irrigation systems have significantly impacted human lifestyel..

Urbanization

• Urbanization occurs as people migrate to cities for employment and a more comfortable lifestyle.

Commercial Agriculture

• Commercial agriculture involves large-scale farming with the primary goal of profit, not just subsistence.

Irrigation Systems

• Irrigation systems, such as tanks, ponds, reservoirs, canals, and dams, provide water for agricultural purposes.

Problems Arising from Changes in Lifestyle

• An increase in non-contagious diseases, such as cancers, pulmonary diseases, and diabetes, is a major health concern.

Chronic Kidney Disease

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing problem in agricultural areas.
• CKD is characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function, including urine production.

Solutions for Environmental Sustainability

• Using organic fertilizers is an environmentally friendly way to improve soil structure and fertility.
• Reforestation is essential to reestablish environmental balance and reverse deforestation.
• Traditional agricultural practices, such as using local seeds and cultivation methods, are vital for sustainable agriculture.

This quiz covers the nitrogen cycle, detailing how atmospheric nitrogen is converted into usable forms for plants through various processes. Learn about biological fixation, nitrification, and the role of decomposers in returning nitrogen to the atmosphere. Understand the importance of nitrogen in ecosystems and food chains.