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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

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Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
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Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

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Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme...
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The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

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Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
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The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

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Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
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Key Elements for Plant Nutrition02:35

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Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...
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Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Isolation and Analysis of Microbial Communities in Soil, Rhizosphere, and Roots in Perennial Grass Experiments
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Nitrogen mineralization dynamics in grass monocultures.

David A Wedin1, John Pastor1

  • 1Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota, 55811, Duluth, MN, USA.

Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Plant species significantly impact soil nitrogen dynamics by altering the labile fraction of potentially mineralizable nitrogen (N). This small change in soil organic matter influences overall system nitrogen cycling.

Keywords:
GrassesMonoculturesN mineralizationSoil organic matter

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Area of Science:

  • Soil Science
  • Ecology
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Previous research noted significant differences in nitrogen (N) mineralization among grass monocultures.
  • The underlying mechanisms driving these observed differences in N mineralization remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms by which different grass species influence soil nitrogen (N) mineralization.
  • To determine the relationship between plant species and the dynamics of soil organic matter pools.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of total soil carbon (C) and N, and soil C:N ratios over four years.
  • Year-long aerobic laboratory incubations to measure N mineralization rates.
  • Estimation of potentially mineralizable nitrogen (No) pool sizes and turnover rates using a two-pool model (labile and recalcitrant).

Main Results:

  • Grass species did not significantly alter total soil C or N, or the overall N mineralization in long-term incubations.
  • Short-term N mineralization rates (days 1-17) varied significantly among species and correlated with annual in situ rates.
  • A labile pool of potentially mineralizable N (Nl), comprising <3% of total N, showed species-specific size and turnover rates (h).
  • The rate constant (h) of the labile pool was highly correlated with annual in situ N mineralization (r = +0.96).

Conclusions:

  • Plant species exert significant control over ecosystem nitrogen dynamics by altering the turnover of a small, labile soil organic matter fraction.
  • Changes in the dynamics of less than 3% of soil organic matter can lead to substantial shifts in overall system N cycling.
  • The labile pool's characteristics are key indicators of species-driven differences in soil N availability.