Test: Nitrogen Cycle and its Relevance to the Environment - 2 - JAMB MCQ

Photosynthesis is a process by which plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. It is not directly involved in the nitrogen cycle.

Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, typically through the action of nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nitrifying bacteria are responsible for the process of nitrification, which involves the conversion of ammonia (NH₃) to nitrite (NO₂^-) and further to nitrate (NO₃^-).

Denitrifying bacteria play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle by converting nitrate (NO₃^-) back into atmospheric nitrogen (N₂), completing the cycle.

Excessive use of synthetic fertilizers can lead to an increase in nitrogen levels in the soil, promoting denitrification and causing the loss of usable nitrogen from the ecosystem.

Industrial pollution, especially from the burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes, releases nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, leading to imbalances in the nitrogen cycle.

Ammonia (NH₃) is the form in which nitrogen primarily enters the food chain. It is produced through ammonification, which is the breakdown of organic nitrogen compounds by decomposers.

Ammonification is the process in which organic nitrogen compounds, such as dead plants and animals, are broken down by decomposers into ammonia (NH₃).

Agricultural activities, including the use of synthetic fertilizers and livestock manure, contribute significantly to nitrogen oxide emissions in the environment.

The nitrogen cycle plays a crucial role in ensuring the availability of essential nutrients, primarily nitrogen, for plant growth. This, in turn, sustains the balance and productivity of ecosystems.