Fixation is the conversion of nitrogen gas into a more usable form. Assimilation happens when plants take up nitrogen and absorb organic matter via their roots. Decomposition is when waste material from digestion, along with dying plants, animals, and fungi, return the nitrogen compounds in the organic matter to the soil. Ammonification is the process of microbes or other organisms in the soil breaking down organic matter into simpler compounds. Nitrification is the conversion of ammonia into nitrite; then to nitrate. The denitrification process returns nitrate back into gaseous nitrogen. Gianna Williams

FADAND: Fixation- Converting nitrogen gas into a more usable form occurs through a process called fixation. Assimilation- Plants take up nitrogen and absorb it into their organic matter via their roots. Decomposition- Animals then absorb those compounds by eating the plants. Waste material from dying plants, animals, and fungi, return the nitrogen compounds in the organic matter to the soil by decomposition. Ammonification- Microbes or other organisms in the soil break down the organic matter into simpler compounds. Nitrification- Nitrifying bacteria found in soil or aquatic environments convert ammonia into nitrite then to nitrate. The compounds released from this process are all absorbed from the soil by plants and then utilized. Dentification- This process is when nitrate goes back into nitrogen using denitrifying bacteria.

Nitrogen Cycle FADAND:

1. Fixation Converting gaseous nitrogen into usable forms.

2. Assimilation Plants absorbing nitrogen through their roots.

3. Decomposition Microorganisms break down organic matter.

4. Ammonification The decomposers turn the organic matter into simpler compounds like ammonia.

5. Nitrification An aerobic process where nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia into usable forms such as nitrite to nitrate.

6. Denitrification An anaerobic process where denitrifying bacteria use nitrogen instead of oxygen, releasing nitrogen gas.

Fixation-- a process that makes nitrogen gas convert into a more usable form. Assimilation-the absorption and digestion of food or nutrients by the body or any biological system. Decomposition-the state or process of rotting; decay. Ammonification- any chemical reaction in which NH2 groups are converted into ammonia or its ionic form, ammonium (NH4+), as a product. Nitrification- the process of combining, mixing, or filling with nitrogen or one of its compounds especially the oxidation of ammonium salts to nitrites and then to nitrates. Nitrification Denitrification- the conversion of soil nitrate to the nitrogen gases N2O and N2 by a diverse array of bacteria that use nitrate as a terminal electron acceptor in the absence of oxygen.

The Nitrogen Cycle’s Decomposition Process: Fixation - The first part of the nitrogen’s decomposition process is fixation. It converts nitrogen gas (N2) into a more usable form. Assimilation - Is the absorption and digestion of food or nutrients by the body or any biological system. This relates to nitrogen because plants must absorb it in order to use it. Decomposition – Next is decomposition which is the breaking down of organic matter. This is done through bacteria and fungi. Ammonification – In this part of the nitrogen cycle, organisms receive essential nitrogen for survival. This is done through turning nitrogen compounds into ammonia. Nitrification - When ammonia is converted to nitrite by nitrifying bacteria. The plants can more easily absorb this nitrogen compound. Denitrification – The last step in the nitrogen cycle. This is where denitrifying bacteria or the act of leaching sends nitrogen gas back into the atmosphere.

Fixation – Conversion of nitrogen into a usable form of energy. Assimilation - The digestion of food or nutrients by the body or any biological system. Decomposition – The breaking down of dead matter to reuse as nutrients in soil or further loop the energy cycle. Ammonification – Where plants take nitrogen from soil.
Nitrification – A process in which oxygen turns nitrogen compounds/molecules back into its elemental compound. Denitrification – The process in which bacteria turns nitrogen compounds/molecules into nitrogen gas.

The Nitrogen Cycle (FADAND):

Fixation – conversion of nitrogen into a usable form of energy

Assimilation - The absorption and digestion of food or nutrients by the body or any biological system.

Decomposition – when dead matter breaks down by a decomposer to return the nutrients back in the energy cycle.

Ammonification - the process where microscopic organisms like bacteria or other types of decomposing organism break down nitrogen.

Nitrification is where ammonia is converted into nitrite.

Denitrification is where nitrate is converted back into a gaseous state N2

Fixation: is the process by which nitrogen is taken from its molecular form in the atmosphere and converted into nitrogen compounds useful for other biochemical processes

Assimilation: is the process by which plants and animals incorporate the NO3- and ammonia formed through nitrogen fixation and nitrification.

Decomposition: Plant and animal wastes decompose, adding nitrogen to the soil.

Ammonification: Various fungi and prokaryotes then decompose the tissue and release inorganic nitrogen back into the ecosystem as ammonia

Nitrification: Nitrification is the process that converts ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate and is another important step in the global nitrogen cycle.

Denitrification: It happens when certain types of bacteria take in nitrate and convert it back to nitrogen gas.

Fixation is the process by which atmospheric nitrogen is extracted and transformed into nitrogen molecules useful for other biological reactions. Plants and animals integrate NO3- and ammonia produced by nitrogen fixation and nitrification through a process called assimilation. The process of recycling nutrients that have been consumed by an organism (plant or animal) to create its body begins with decomposition. Ammonification is the process by which bacteria and other tiny, decaying organisms convert the molecules that contain nitrogen from dead organic matter into more basic compounds like ammonia. Reduced nitrogen molecules, usually ammonia, are successively oxidized to produce nitrite and nitrate during the microbial process of nitrification. The process of denitrification removes bioavailable nitrogen from the environment by converting nitrate to nitrogen gas.

Assimilation: is the process by which plants and animals incorporate the NO3- and ammonia formed through nitrogen fixation and nitrification.

Decomposition: Plant and animal wastes decompose, adding nitrogen to the soil.

Ammonification: Various fungi and prokaryotes then decompose the tissue and release inorganic nitrogen back into the ecosystem as ammonia