Nitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen is taken from its relatively inert molecular form (N2) in the atmosphere and converted into nitrogen compounds useful for other chemical processes (such as, notably, ammonia, nitrate and nitrogen dioxide).
Nitrogen fixation is performed naturally by a number of different prokaryotes, including bacteria, actinobacteria and heterocysts, certain types of anaerobic bacteria. Many higher plants, and some animals (termites), have formed associations with these microorganisms.
Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF)
Biological Nitrogen Fixation is where atmospheric nitrogen is converted to ammonia by a bacterial enzyme called nitrogenase. Microorganisms that fix nitrogen are called diazotrophs. The formula for BNF is:
- N2 + 8H+ + 8e- + 16 ATP → 2NH3 + H2 + 16ADP + 16 Pi
Although ammonia (NH3) is the direct product of this reaction, it is quickly ionised to ammonium (NH4+). In free living diazotrophs the nitrogenase-generated ammonium is assimilated into glutamate through the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase pathway.
Leguminous nitrogen fixing plants
The best known are legumes such as clover which contain symbiotic bacteria called rhizobia within nodules in their root systems, producing nitrogen compounds that help to fertilize the soil. The great majority of legumes have this association, but a few genera (e.g. Styphnolobium) do not.
Non-leguminous nitrogen fixing plants
Plants from many other families have similar associations, including:
Chemical nitrogen fixation
Nitrogen can also be artificially fixed for use in fertilizer or in other industrial processes. The most popular method is by the Haber process. Artificial fertilizer production has achieved such scale that it is now the largest source of fixed nitrogen in the Earth's ecosystem.
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