How does the nitrogen cycle work?
The nitrogen cycle is nitrogen moving among atmosphere, soil, water and organisms through changes in chemical form.
How the process forms and its main drivers
Microbes fix N2, nitrification produces nitrate, organisms incorporate nitrogen into molecules and denitrification returns some to the atmosphere.
Evidence, applications and limits
Excess fertilizer can cause eutrophication and nitrous oxide emissions. Chemical form and environment matter as much as total nitrogen. Local outcomes vary with climate, geology, topography and human influence, so they require long-term measurements.
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