Role of nitrogen in the biosphere

The growth of all organisms depends on the availability of mineral nutrients, and none is more important than nitrogen, which is required in large amounts as an essential component of proteins, nucleic acids and other cellular constituents. There is an abundant supply of nitrogen in the earth's atmosphere - nearly 79% in the form of N2 gas. However, N2 is unavailable for use by most organisms because there is a triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms, making the molecule almost inert. In order for nitrogen to be used for growth it must be "fixed" (combined) in the form of ammonium (NH4) or nitrate (NO3) ions. The weathering of rocks releases these ions so slowly that it has a neglible effect on the availability of fixed nitrogen. So, nitrogen is often the limiting factor for growth and biomass production in all environments where there is suitable climate and availability of water to support life.

Microorganisms have a central role in almost all aspects of nitrogen availability and thus for life support on earth:

· some bacteria can convert N2 into ammonia by the process termed nitrogen fixation; these bacteria are either free-living or form symbiotic associations with plants or other organisms (e.g. termites, protozoa)

· other bacteria bring about transformations of ammonia to nitrate, and of nitrate to N2 or other nitrogen gases

· many bacteria and fungi degrade organic matter, releasing fixed nitrogen for reuse by other organisms.

All these processes contribute to the nitrogen cycle.

We shall deal first with the process of nitrogen fixation and the nitrogen-fixing organisms, then consider the microbial processes involved in the cycling of nitrogen in the biosphere.

Nitrogen fixation

A relatively small amount of ammonia is produced by lightning. Some ammonia also is produced industrially by the Haber-Bosch process, using an iron-based catalyst, very high pressures and fairly high temperature. But the major conversion of N2 into ammonia, and thence into proteins, is achieved by microorganisms in the process called nitrogen fixation (or dinitrogen fixation).

The table below shows some estimates of the amount of nitrogen fixed on a global scale. The total biological nitrogen fixation is estimated to be twice as much as the total nitrogen fixation by non-biological processes.

To illustrate the importance of biological nitrogen fixation, the image below shows part of the Lower Sonoran desert in Arizona. Every plant that we see in this scene depends ultimately on biological nitrogen fixation. Both free-living cyanobacteria and the cyanobacterial associates of lichens initially contributed nitrogen to the soil by forming a cryptobiotic crust. Now numerous leguminous plants occur in this desert, with nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium in their root nodules. Examples are the green-stemmed brush-like trees at the right and left of the image (Parkinsonia species, common name "paloverde"), and several acacias and mesquites (not seen in this image).

Date: 2015-01-29; view: 1776