Nitrogen cycle: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	nitrogen budget

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Diagram illustrating the nitrogen cycle, showing how nitrogen moves between the atmosphere, biosphere, and soil through natural processes like nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification, as well as through human activities such as fertilizer use and industrial emissions. Blue arrows indicate natural activities, and red arrows indicate human activities.

Close-up of two green broad bean (Vicia faba) pods growing on a plant with broad leaves.

Colorful diagram of the nitrogen cycle showing how nitrogen moves through the atmosphere, biosphere, and soil. It illustrates natural processes like nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification, as well as human activities such as fertilizer use and industrial emissions, with arrows and labels connecting elements like plants, animals, bacteria, and factories.

The importance of nitrogen and phosphorus in ecosystems

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Topics

nitrogen fixation nitrogen assimilation ammonification denitrification nitrification How the Nitrogen Cycle Works Why is nitrogen essential to life?nitrogen Biogeochemical cycle Water cycle Phosphorus cycle Carbon cycle Oxygen cycle Sulfur cycle Biogenic gas

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Key People

Pierre-Eugène-Marcellin Berthelot

Pierre-Eugène-Marcellin Berthelot

French chemist

Jean-Baptiste Boussingault

Jean-Baptiste Boussingault

French chemist

Cross section of Earth showing the core, mantle, and crust

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