9/11 APES Phosphorus + and Nitrogen Cycle

Never Forget

Phosphorus is the key element in many organic molecules

such as DNA, RNA, and ATP

Phosphorus sinks are

rock, soil, sediment, and oceans

Like nitrogen, Phosphorus _____ in concentration in surface water

increases

Nitrogen is the _____ cycle to learn

hardest

Nitrogen in atmosphere is inert and cannot leave atmosphere without

ASSISTENCE

Nitrogen is essential in

DNA RNA and PROTEINS

Sometimes inert nitrogen enters the

nitrogen cycle

To become biologically available, what has to happen to nitrogen?

nitrogen fixation

Nitrogen fixation combines ______ and _______ to form ________

Nitrogen, hydrogen, ammonia (NH3)

Nitrogen fixing bacteria convert nitrogengas into

ammonia

What is the most important nitrogen fixing plant

Legume (because of bacteria)

Nitrification

Different bacteria convert ammonium ions into ni-TRITE ions, and then into ni-TRATE ions, which plants can directly take

These ions can also be added to soil via

fertlizer

Decomposers obtain and release nitrogen from

dead matter

Denitrifying bacteria will then convert nitrates back into

nitrogen gas, which sends it back to atmosphere and completes the cycle.

Nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen fixation has historically been a

bottleneck

Haber Bosch process _______ artificially fixes nitrogen

artificially

_______ nitrogen from haber-bosch

Inorganic

How to manage nutrient enrichment

-reducing farm and lawn fertilizer application

-Planting vegetation buffs or use wetlands (act the same)

-improve sewage treatment tech

-Reduce fossil fuel consumption