Plants transfer nitrogen through their role in the nitrogen cycle, primarily by absorbing it from the soil and making it available to other organisms.
Here's a breakdown of how this process works:
Plant Nitrogen Acquisition
- Absorption from Soil: Plants cannot directly use nitrogen gas (N2) from the atmosphere. Instead, they absorb nitrogen in the form of nitrates (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+) from the soil. These forms of nitrogen are created through processes like nitrogen fixation by soil bacteria.
Utilization Within Plants
- Building Blocks: Once absorbed, plants use this nitrogen to create essential biomolecules. These include:
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)
- Chlorophyll, which is essential for photosynthesis.
Nitrogen Transfer
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Being Eaten: The primary way plants transfer nitrogen is by being consumed by animals.
- When animals eat plants, they break down the plant material. This allows them to utilize the nitrogen that the plants have stored within their tissues. This becomes a primary source of nitrogen for herbivores.
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Decomposition: When plants die, their tissues are broken down by decomposers like bacteria and fungi. This process releases nitrogen back into the soil, where it can be used by other plants.
Summary of Plant Nitrogen Transfer
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Acquisition | Plants absorb nitrates or ammonium from the soil through their roots. |
| Utilization | They use the nitrogen to create essential proteins, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll. |
| Transfer | Plants transfer nitrogen to animals by being eaten, and to the soil during decomposition. |
Plants play an essential role in the nitrogen cycle as they are a key source of nitrogen for the food chain. They take nitrogen from the soil and make it available to animals. Through processes like being consumed and decomposition of plant matter, the nitrogen is continually cycled through the ecosystem.
