http://new.music.yahoo.com/amy-bronson/tracks/nitrogen-cycle-song--218107710
nitrogen composes 79% of our atmosphere
and nitrogen is very important for sustaining life here.
Let me tell you a little story about
nitrogen fixation.
Well lightning struck, and N2s joined with O2s to make nitrates and the little NO3s dissolved into rain and fell down to the ground to be absorbed by trees so proteins could be produced.
Then an animal ate some of the trees leaves for protein
to survive, until it died, boo hoo
and decomposed into
ammonia, then nitrites, then nitrates
with a little bit of it turned back into nitrogen gas
by denitrifying bacteria for the sake of balance.
Then a human ate some of the trees leaves so it could have protein, too, but it didn’t die, no, it just peed
in woods, oo,
but that’s alright because urine contains urea which is
ammonia which turns into nitrites and then nitrates
with a little bit of it turned back into nitrogen gas
by denitrifying bacteria for the sake of balance, hey balance, hey balance.
Well, lightning’s not the only way for nitrogen to fixate, that is, to turn into nitrates,
ask any vegetarian and they will tell you that legumes are an important source of protein but why?
Well in the roots of these legumes live
tiny nitrogen fixating bacteria and they too
can make O2s join with N2s to make nitrates
and the little NO3s dissolve into rain and fall down to the ground to be absorbed by trees so proteins can be produced
and the animals and the people can eat them and pee
and die and decompose into
ammonia, then nitrites, then nitrates with a little bit of it turned back into nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria for the sake of balance, hey balance, hey balance.
And this is a cycle so it happens over and over and this song’s over, it’s over, it’s over.
The End.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
What is the impact of human intervention on the cycle?
By burning fuels we contribute large amounts of nitric oxide into the atmosphere. When this happens the gas is converted into nitrigen dioxide and nitric acid which returns to the surface as acid rain.
We contribute to the addition of nitrous oxide in our atmosphere by adding anaerobic bacteria to livestock wastes and commercial inorganic fertilizers which we apply to the soil. The gas that is released warms the troposhphere and depletes the ozone.
By destroying forests grasslands, and wetlands we release large quantities of nitrogen into the troposphere. The fourth way we affect the nitrogen cycle is by adding extra nitrates into agricultural runoff which discharges from municipal sewage systems and upsets aquatic ecosystems.
When we harvest crops that are rich in nitrogen, irrigate crops, and burn or clear grasslands we also remove nitrogen from topsoil.
By increasing the inputs of nitrogen into air, soil, and water we are paving the way for life forms to adapt and survive on nitrogen rich nutrients.
We contribute to the addition of nitrous oxide in our atmosphere by adding anaerobic bacteria to livestock wastes and commercial inorganic fertilizers which we apply to the soil. The gas that is released warms the troposhphere and depletes the ozone.
By destroying forests grasslands, and wetlands we release large quantities of nitrogen into the troposphere. The fourth way we affect the nitrogen cycle is by adding extra nitrates into agricultural runoff which discharges from municipal sewage systems and upsets aquatic ecosystems.
When we harvest crops that are rich in nitrogen, irrigate crops, and burn or clear grasslands we also remove nitrogen from topsoil.
By increasing the inputs of nitrogen into air, soil, and water we are paving the way for life forms to adapt and survive on nitrogen rich nutrients.
What are the chemical reactions involved in the Nitrogen Cycle?
Nitric Oxide (NO) is released into the atmosphere when any type
of fuel is burned. This includes byproducts of internal combustion
engines.
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is released into the atmosphere through
bacteria in livestock waste and commercial fertilizers applied to
the soil.
- Removing nitrogen from the Earth’s crust and soil when we mine
nitrogen-rich mineral deposits.
- Discharge of municipal sewage adds nitrogen compounds to
aquatic ecosystems which disrupts the ecosystem and kills fish.
- Many organic molecules in the bodies of plants, animals and humans include nitrogen compounds (for example amino-acids, proteins and DNA)
of fuel is burned. This includes byproducts of internal combustion
engines.
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is released into the atmosphere through
bacteria in livestock waste and commercial fertilizers applied to
the soil.
- Removing nitrogen from the Earth’s crust and soil when we mine
nitrogen-rich mineral deposits.
- Discharge of municipal sewage adds nitrogen compounds to
aquatic ecosystems which disrupts the ecosystem and kills fish.
- Many organic molecules in the bodies of plants, animals and humans include nitrogen compounds (for example amino-acids, proteins and DNA)
Pathway of Movement
First, my nitrogen must be fixed so it can be less mobile and more useful. This is done by combining my nitrogen with hydrogen which makes ammonia. Next, bacteria that forms nitrites combines the ammonia with oxygen to form nitrites. A different group will then transform my nitrites to nitrates. Plants will then be able to absorb the nitrates. But then they are reduced to ammonium which will make amino acids. (These amino acids will act as building blocks for peptides and proteins.)
To reenter the environment, my nitrogen usually travels through dead organisms. When the bodies decay,, fungi and bacteria grow on them and release ammonia and ammonium. However, nitrogeneous compounds can also be released through leaves, flowers, fruits,skin, excrement, or urine. When these products decompose, the soil is replenished.
To reenter the atmosphere,a process called denitrification takes place. Bacteria that lives deep in soil, swamps, marshes etc. use nitrates instead of oxygen for respiration thus reducing them to nitrogen gas again.
In conclusion, I can be summed up in four steps:
1.Nitrogen Fixation
2.Decay
3.Nitrification
4.Denitification
To reenter the environment, my nitrogen usually travels through dead organisms. When the bodies decay,, fungi and bacteria grow on them and release ammonia and ammonium. However, nitrogeneous compounds can also be released through leaves, flowers, fruits,skin, excrement, or urine. When these products decompose, the soil is replenished.
To reenter the atmosphere,a process called denitrification takes place. Bacteria that lives deep in soil, swamps, marshes etc. use nitrates instead of oxygen for respiration thus reducing them to nitrogen gas again.
In conclusion, I can be summed up in four steps:
1.Nitrogen Fixation
2.Decay
3.Nitrification
4.Denitification
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Inorganic and Organic Reservoirs
Organic reservoirs that contain Nitrogen, are amino acids, peptides, nucleic acids, and protiens; which are all moleecules that organsims cannot exist without. Inorganic molecules are added to the soil by precipitation as fertilizers when this is done, it makes it easier for plants to turn organic forms Nitrogen into an inorganic forms so that they can draw energy from the substance. Examples of inorganic molcules are ammonium (NH4+).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)