The nitrogen cycle involves emissions of nitrogen gas from land back into the atmosphere. This emission is controlled by microbial organisms living in water-saturated areas, and is called ________. The Role of Microbes in the Nitrogen Cycle

The Role of Microbes in the Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle is a process of nutrient cycling and is essential for the health of our planet’s atmosphere. It involves the conversion of nitrogen gas (N2) from the atmosphere into a form that can be used by living organisms. This conversion is carried out by microbes, which live in water-saturated areas and emit nitrogen back into the atmosphere. This process, known as denitrification, is an important part of the nitrogen cycle and helps maintain the planet’s atmospheric balance (Neufeld and Mohn, 2018). Denitrification is achieved by two groups of bacteria, nitrate-reducing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Nitrate-reducing bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, use nitrate as an electron acceptor and reduce it to nitrogen gas (Neufeld and Mohn, 2018). Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, such as Paracoccus, use nitrite as an electron acceptor and oxidize it to nitrogen gas (Neufeld and Mohn, 2018). These two groups of bacteria are essential for the process of denitrification, as they help to return nitrogen gas to the atmosphere. Cont…