Question

Is Azotobacter a nitrogen fixing bacteria?

Answer 1

Hint: Bacteria are unicellular, prokaryotic microorganisms having a number of different shapes. They are the biological cells and are present in vast numbers in various environments. They were the first life forms on the earth and are present in almost all of the habitats.

Complete answer:
Bacteria are unicellular, prokaryotic microorganisms having a number of different shapes and are present in almost all habitats. They are a type of biological cell and contribute a large number to prokaryotes. They are of few micrometers in length which are invisible to naked eye and can be only seen through a microscope.

They were the first life forms on the earth and are present in almost all of the habitats. They inhabit soil, water, hot springs, radioactive wastes and deep in the earth also. The study of bacteria is bacteriology which is a branch of microbiology. Some species can live under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. Almost all of the animals are dependent on bacteria either directly or indirectly.

In animals including humans the largest number of bacteria are present in the gut and on the skin. It is estimated that more bacterial cells are present in our body than human cells. However, most bacteria are harmless, some are helpful and very few are disease causing.

Azotobacter is an oval shaped bacteria which forms cysts and may produce a large number of slimes. They are aerobic, free living in soil and they play a major role in the nitrogen cycle. They convert the free nitrogen into ammonium ions into the soil for plants to obtain them.
Yes, Azotobacter is a nitrogen fixing bacteria.

Note:
Bacteria are unicellular, prokaryotic microorganisms having a number of different shapes and are present in almost all habitats. Azotobacter converts the free nitrogen atoms to ammonium ions to make them accessible for plants. As plants cannot absorb direct nitrogen, it is converted to ammonium ions with the help of Azotobacter.