How does lightning contribute to nitrogen fixation?

Lightning contributes to nitrogen fixation through an abiotic process that breaks the strong bonds of atmospheric nitrogen ($N_2$). Under the intense heat and energy generated by a lightning strike, nitrogen gas reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere to form nitric oxide.123

This process effectively converts relatively inert atmospheric nitrogen into more reactive nitrogen compounds, such as nitrates and nitrites, which can then be utilized by plants. While lightning is a natural mechanism for fixing nitrogen, it accounts for only a small portion of the total nitrogen fixed in nature; the vast majority is performed by nitrogen-fixing bacteria and cyanobacteria.231