Question

Three different means by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into soil.

Answer 1

Hint: Nitrogen gas (N₂) diffuses into the soil from the atmosphere, where it is converted by bacteria into ammonium ions (NH₄⁺), that plants can utilize. Nitrogen is important in the plant because it ensures that energy is available whenever the plant requires it to maximize yield.

Complete answer:

Three different means using which the atmospheric nitrogen can be converted into soil are:

Lightning, Industrial nitrogen fixation and Biological nitrogen fixation.

Lightning transforms nitrogen in the atmosphere into ammonia and nitrate, which are then deposited in the soil by rain. Lightning helps in breaking off the nitrogen molecule and which in turn helps in adding the nitrogen to the soil. Nitrogen does not enter the soil directly as it is known that the 78 percent of nitrogen that is present in the atmosphere is in N₂ form and these two atoms of nitrogen are held together tightly. 

Industrial nitrogen fixation Under high pressure and at a temperature of 600 degrees Celsius, air nitrogen and hydrogen are mixed with the help of a catalyst to form ammonia, which may then be used as fertilizer.

Biological fixation occurs when nitrogen gas diffuses into the soil from the atmosphere and is converted into ammonium ions, which can then be utilised by plants. Farmers' legumes are also significant because they have nodules on their roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Note: Nitrogen is an essential component of all living organisms. Nitrogen is one of the molecular components of amino acids, which are molecules that make up proteins. Nitrogen is also important in the genetic blueprints of all living organisms on the earth, DNA and RNA. Without nitrogen, life as we know it would be unable to live.