Consider the following statements about the nitrogen cycle: Nitrogen i...
- Nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere cannot be directly used as a nutrient by plants or animals. It must be converted into its compound form of ammonia (NH4), nitrates or nitrites. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- This occurs through four steps, of fixation, nitrification, ammonification and denitrification.
- Nitrogen fixing bacteria feed off the root nodules of certain plant species such as beans, peas and alfalfa while they fix nitrogen. This nitrogen is then converted into ammonia to be used by those plants. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- Any unused ammonia undergoes nitrification. In the ammonification step, specialised bacteria and fungi feed and convert dead material (from animals) into compounds such as ammonia and watersoluble salts containing ammonium ions. These compounds are absorbed by plants for growth. In this manner, nutrients are recycled back from animals to plants.
- Finally, the denitrifcation step completes the nitrogen cycle as nitrogen leaves the soil and is released into the atmosphere as nitrogen or nitrous oxide gas. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
Consider the following statements about the nitrogen cycle: Nitrogen i...
The correct answer is option B: 1 and 2 only.
Explanation:
1. Nitrogen in the atmosphere cannot be directly used as a nutrient by any plants or animals:
- Nitrogen gas (N2) makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere. However, most plants and animals are unable to directly use atmospheric nitrogen in this form.
- Nitrogen gas is highly stable and requires special processes to convert it into a usable form.
- Plants and animals rely on nitrogen compounds, such as ammonia (NH3) and nitrates (NO3-), as sources of nitrogen for growth and development.
2. Ammonia can be a direct source of nitrogen for some plants:
- Ammonia (NH3) is a compound that contains nitrogen and can be used as a direct source of nitrogen by some plants.
- Certain bacteria, known as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, have the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia through a process called nitrogen fixation.
- These bacteria form symbiotic relationships with certain plants, such as legumes (e.g., soybeans, peas), and provide them with a direct source of nitrogen by converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.
3. The nitrates present in the soil are reduced to nitrous oxide gas by the process of ammonification:
- Ammonification is the process by which organic nitrogen compounds, such as proteins and nucleic acids, are converted into ammonia or ammonium ions (NH4+).
- This process is carried out by certain bacteria and fungi, which break down organic matter and release ammonia as a byproduct.
- However, ammonification does not involve the reduction of nitrates to nitrous oxide gas. The reduction of nitrates to nitrous oxide gas occurs through a process called denitrification, which is carried out by specific bacteria in oxygen-limited conditions.
In conclusion, statement 1 is correct because atmospheric nitrogen cannot be directly used as a nutrient by plants and animals. Statement 2 is correct because ammonia can be a direct source of nitrogen for some plants through the process of nitrogen fixation. Statement 3 is incorrect because the reduction of nitrates to nitrous oxide gas occurs through denitrification, not ammonification. Therefore, the correct answer is option B: 1 and 2 only.
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