Question

The atmosphere is full of nitrogen gas (N2). But plants cannot use nitrogen in this form. Summarize the roles of bacteria in making nitrogen available to plants and in returning nitrogen to the atmosphere.

Answer 1

They absorb nitrates from the soil into their roots. Then the nitrogen gets used in amino acids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll. When a plant or animal dies, decomposers like fungi and bacteria turn the nitrogen back into ammonium so it can reenter the nitrogen cycle.