Feeding a Nitrogen Fixation

Even though nitrogen is the most abundant element in the atmosphere, most of it can t be used by organisms as it is quite inert. Before nitrogen can be used by an organism, it must first be fixed, or broken apart. Nitrogen fixation is accomplished in multiple ways and is one part of the nitrogen cycle. 

For plants and animals to access the abundance of nitrogen in the air, it must first be converted to a useable form. The process of nitrogen fixation that breaks apart the N2 molecule is summarized by this formula  

This process can happen in three different ways by lightning in the atmosphere, by bacteria in the soil, or by manmade processes. 

Atmospheric fixation occurs when lightning supplies the energy to break apart the N2 molecule, forming nitric oxide molecules  

The nitric oxide that is produced further combines with oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide (NO2)  

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