Not Enough Nitrogen in Soil
Scientists Working Around the Clock to Fix the Problem
Scientists Studying the Nitrogen Cycle to Learn More About the Problem
Step 1
Nitrogen starts in the Atmosphere. Nitrogen must go through Nitrogen Fixation to be put back into the soil and be used by plants. There is Atmospheric Fixation, Fixation through Fertilizers, and Fixation through nitration-fixing bacteria such as legume root nodules.
Step 2
The Nitrogen now in the soil is used by plants to grow. Animals then eat the plants to get Nitrogen.
Step 3
Animals lose the nitrogen through Ammonification which is when the animal excretes waste or dies.
Step 4
Decomposers then break down the animal and its waste to put Nitrogen back into the soil.
Step 5
Soil bacteria then changes nitrates into Nitrogen gas through denitrification to get energy. The Nitrogen gas is put back into the atmosphere. This starts the cycle over again.
The Nitrogen Cycle
Scientists Think the Problem is coming from the Soil Bacteria
Not enough Soil Bacteria
Scientists think the Problem is coming from the soil bacteria that changes Nitrates to Nitrogen gas after studying the Nitrogen cycle. Scientists believe that if more soil bacteria was put into the soil there would be more denitrification and the Nitrogen levels will return to normal in the area.