Which two distinct microbial processes are responsible for the release of fixed nitrogen as dinitrogen gas (N2) to the atmosphere ?
- Anaerobic ammonium oxidation, and denitrification
- Aerobic nitrate oxidation, and nitrite reduction
- Enteric fermentation in cattle, and nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium in root nodules of legumes
- Decomposition of organic nitrogen, and conversion of dinitrogen to ammonium compounds
Answer
(1) Anaerobic ammonium oxidation, and denitrification
Solution
Fixed nitrogen returns to the atmosphere as N2 by two microbial routes:
(i) Denitrification: as per NCERT, nitrate present in the soil is reduced to nitrogen by denitrification, carried out by bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Thiobacillus: NO3- NO2- N2.
(ii) Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox): ammonium is oxidised by nitrite under anaerobic conditions: NH4+ + NO2- N2 + 2H2O.
⇒ Nitrogen fixation, ammonification and enteric fermentation do not release N2.
Answer: (1)